8 Things You Need to Know Before Renting a Car

1. Your Credit Card May Provide an policy policy

When you rent a cable car, you ‘ll be offered expensive rental car policy to cover any damages. This can cost upwards of $ 10 to $ 25 per day, and you may not need it, even if your car insurance does n’t cover rental cars. many major recognition cards provide indemnity on cable car rentals at no extra price. But be certain before you bank on it. Some credit cards limit coverage, while others offer none at all. Call and check beginning. You may be able to save on the extra cost of rental insurance.

2. But Credit Cards May not Cover Everything

When you call to check your credit rating wag ‘s policy on rental cars, ask specifically what they cover. Some credit card companies may cover any damages you incur on the rental car, but will not pay fees assessed by the rental cable car company. These fees can add up. If you decide that you need extra coverage, you may opt for impermanent car policy, a kind of short-run policy that will protect you for a limited time period of clock time .

3. Every driver Counts — and Costs

evening if all your drivers are over the age of 25, you will likely pay a fee for each extra driver registered when you rent the car. Think cautiously about how many drivers you need. Designate one or two to keep from incurring extra fees .

4. youth Drivers Cost even More

For a long time, lease car companies would n’t even allow drivers under 21. now, most do, but a hefty tip can be part of the young driver ‘s experience—usually, a daily fee for putting a young driver ( under 25 ) on the registration .

5. stick to the Paved Roads

It ‘s easily to miss some of the details rattled off when the rental cable car spokesperson walk you through the company ‘s policies. There ‘s one you ‘ll decidedly want to note : most companies prohibit the practice of their cars on unpaved roads. If you do purchase a collision damage release or other rental car insurance, this will most likely be voided if you drive on annoy or an unpaved road. Stick to the beat lead, unless you want to pay for your off-road adventures .

6. Fill Up the tank Before Returning the vehicle

One catch is all-important on your way to return your rental car, and that ‘s the local flatulence station. Most rental companies require a full cooler when you return the car. Fail to do this and you ‘ll get charged for a fill-up. And lease car companies charge significantly more for flatulence than local gas rates.

7. Avoid the Extra Airport Fee

If you rent a car at the airport end, you ‘ll be assessed a surcharge for an airport tip. lease cable car companies pay these surcharges to the airport and pass them along to the consumer, so there ‘s no way of avoiding the tip if you rent at the airport. You can, however, hop a shuttle and rent a car outside of the airport .

8. Save Money by Bringing Your own Extras

It ‘s the little things in life that count, and that ‘s true for rental cars. Need a child seat or a GPS system ? Want to listen to the radio ? Equip yourself and save big. You could easily pay $ 3 per day for satellite radio, and casual fees higher than that for a child safety seat or GPS organization. Pack your own travel extras and be surely to have the lease company remove theirs—from the car and the bill—before you drive off the lot .

The Bottom Line

You can enjoy the appliance of having a lease car, without racking up unexpected fees, if you go in prepared. Do a little inquiry and ask batch of questions, so you know precisely what you ‘re getting—and what you ‘re paying for—with your rental car .