12 ways to find cheap rental car deals

Having access to a car provides you with the ultimate freedom and flexibility on a road trip or big vacation. But dealing with rental car companies can seriously toy with your sanity, not to mention your bank account. 

There are, however, ways to cut costs and make your reservation less expensive. Check out our tips to get cheaper rates and find rental car deals, so you can save your money to try tasty local cuisine or see the best sights.

1. Check out aggregate sites

With so many rental companies out there, you could spend hours figuring out how to find the best rental car deals. Start by looking at aggregate sites, like Priceline and Kayak. They’ll essentially do the work for you by searching a variety of car rental companies and providing you with a long list of available car classes and prices. By searching on one of these sites, you’ll get a feel for what the going rate is for your dates and destination. Then you can use that information to compare prices across other sites, including specific rental agency websites, and determine whether booking direct or through a third-party site offers the best rental car deal. 

As you’re searching, remember that the base rates often don’t include hidden fees and taxes. For example, if you’re under 25, some companies may charge a daily “young driver” surcharge. And you’ll encounter extra taxes if you book at an airport location. Go through the checkout process to determine what the final all-in price will be in order to make an apples-to-apples comparison. 

2. Try budget companies

When you’re trying to figure out how to get a cheap rental car, keep in mind that the big rental agencies aren’t the only players out there. There are many lesser-known budget rental companies worth checking out — some of which are only in specific cities — and you may even get better prices. Pay careful attention to inclusions, exclusions and added fees. You may find a better daily rate, but after adding a second driver and factoring in insurance fees, for example, the overall price may be higher than elsewhere. 

3. Don’t rent at the airport

Renting a car straight from the airport may be the most convenient travel option when you’re hopping off the plane, but it also may not be the cheapest. You can easily end up paying extra for the convenience, which often still requires you to take a shuttle to a parking lot that is far from the airport.

Airport surcharges are sneaky. You may not even notice them until you compare prices with rental locations in town. Avoid the unnecessary costs by booking at a non-airport pick-up location. If the price is right, just take public transportation into town or book a ride share. 

4. Switch up pick-up and drop-off times

Rental car companies usually charge based on a full 24-hour cycle. If you pick up your car at 10 a.m. and return it at 11 a.m. the next day, you may get charged for a full extra day. Play with the pick-up and drop-off times to see how the price changes. And if that means you have to turn the car in an hour earlier than expected, it may just be worth it. 

5. Utilize memberships and discounts

You’d be surprised by all the rental car discounts out there. Have a Costco membership, for example? What about an AARP account? 

When you’re figuring out how to get the best rental car deals, read up on other memberships or travel programs, like AAA, frequent flyer programs, alumni or student discounts, military and government discounts. You can even check to see if the company you work for offers some sort of employee discount on rental cars. 

6. Don’t add a second driver

Adding a second driver to the mix may seem like a great way to ease the driving burden on a long road trip, but it often comes with a cost. Most (but not all) rental companies charge for a second driver — we’re talking upwards of an extra $12 a day or more. Rent a car for a week and that deal you scored just got way pricier. 

Like we said, not all companies charge for a second driver. Avail car sharing, for example, lets you add another driver at no extra charge. Some companies waive the fee if the second driver is a spouse, domestic partner or family member, but you may need to have the same address on your driver’s licenses. 

7. Book early and get an economy car

In most cases, car rental companies favor early bookers, so don’t wait until the last minute to make your reservation. You may end up with a limited selection of vehicle classes to choose from, as well as higher rates due to increased demand.‍

Getting in early and booking an economy car is a smart way to save and increase your potential for a free upgrade. Since economy cars are usually the cheapest, they’re also the most popular, and companies often overbook and run out of them. There’s a good chance you could show up to the rental office and get rewarded. As long as you aren’t expecting a big upgrade for your crew of seven, booking economy could be a win-win that gets you a car rental discount by way of a free upgrade. 

8. Waive the added insurance protection

You found a great deal and figured out how to get a cheap rental car! Then comes the insurance question — and your joy dissipates. 

Yes, rental companies use every trick in the book to get you to buy car rental insurance, but there’s a good chance you don’t need it. If you have your own car insurance, you’re likely covered. Just call your insurance company to make sure. If not, lots of credit cards offer rental insurance as a benefit. You simply have to book the car with that particular credit card to get coverage. 

9. Refuel and stay within mileage limits

Rental agencies require you to return the car with the same amount of gas as it had at pick-up, so you’ll likely need to get gas before you drop it off. If you don’t, and the company has to refuel for you, you’ll be charged a refueling fee and a higher cost per gallon than you’d pay yourself at the pump. Additionally, if your rental car has a daily mileage limit, do your best not to exceed it. Driving beyond the allotted mileage will likely lead you to pay an added per-mile fee. 

10. Ignore the upsells

Rental companies will try to sell you whatever they can to make extra cash. Maybe it’s roadside assistance, adding a toll transponder or upgrading to a car with GPS or satellite radio. If you have AAA, you’re already covered for roadside assistance. Additionally, there are several great navigation apps on your phone can help you with directions, so there’s no need for a GPS device. If you can bring your own (fill in the blank), then there’s no need to pay extra for it. 

11. Use a credit card

If you use a debit card to rent a car, the rental agency may charge a security deposit in addition to the daily rental costs. While deposits on credit and debit cards are standard, these holds may not drop off your debit card for up to 20 days after you return the vehicle. ‍

12. Borrow with Avail

Deal-finding and coupon-clipping to score a car rental deal can be time-consuming, stressful and flat-out exhausting. Car sharing can save you money without the added time commitment. Avail doesn’t charge extra to add a second driver. Allstate insurance protection is offered for every trip, but you can waive the insurance fee and save money by providing your own valid personal auto insurance information at checkout.

Avail also covers the cost to repair damage done to the Avail vehicle over $3,000, which can come in handy if there is severe damage! If you’re not comfortable with paying up to $3,000, you can select an alternative protection plan for an additional charge and limit your potential out-of-pocket cost to either $1,000 or $500. This protection is not insurance and only covers damage done to the Avail car.

Avail locations are spread around neighborhoods in Chicago and Denver, so you don’t have to worry about added airport fees either. Just grab the car keys from the on-site key box, get in the car and go without waiting in a single line.