| Renting
a Car in Australia Need
wheels on your next trip? Renting a car can
give you freedom and flexibility when you're
traveling, and in some parts of the world it's
the only feasible way to get around. But a rental
car can sometimes add complications to your
trip -- like trying to find the best deal or
sorting out exactly which insurance options
you need. Read on for our practical tips on
saving money, understanding your rental agreement
and avoiding problems with your car rental.
Choosing a Vehicle
Think carefully about what kind of vehicle you'll
need. If you're traveling with children or with
a lot of gear, you may want a large sedan or
SUV. If you're simply looking to save money
on rental rates and gas, you'll want to reserve
the smallest available model.
But size isn't the only factor. Looking for
something environmentally friendly? Check out
our Green Travel Resources. Can't drive a stick
shift? Be sure to reserve a car with automatic
transmission. (In many countries, a manual transmission
is the norm -- so read the fine print before
booking. Learn more in Renting a Car Abroad.)
Also, be sure that the company offers any extras
you might need or want, such as a ski rack,
car seat or GPS system.
Booking Your Car
How long will you be renting? If it's for less
than a week, you'll probably do best with a
major rental company, such as Alamo, Avis, Budget,
Dollar, Enterprise, Hertz, National or Thrifty.
For rentals of a week or longer, you may get
better rates from local companies, particularly
auto dealers. Remember, however, to be wary
of local companies if you plan to drive a lot;
if you break down or get into an accident, they
usually lack the support services of the majors.
Always shop around. Check the major booking
engines and aggregator sites (such as Travelocity
and Kayak) to get an idea of what rates are
available, but you should also visit the car
rental companies' Web sites as well -- they'll
often offer exclusive discounts, and you'll
avoid booking fees. Don't forget to check out
our selection of discount car rental deals before
making any reservations.
To lower your rate, ask about discounts for
any major national organizations, frequent flier
programs and credit card programs you may belong
to. They'll frequently offer deals on car rentals.
Those offered through AAA can be very good.
If you're employed by a company that frequently
rents cars, they may have a negotiated rate.
Make sure to check.
Before you book online, do an Internet search
for coupon or promotion codes to put into the
booking engine of your car rental company's
site. Just type in the name of the company followed
by "coupon code" into the search field
and you'll often find special promotion codes
that could save you anywhere from 5 to 20 percent
off the cost of your rental.
If you're not already, consider joining your
car rental company's loyalty program when you
book. These vary by company, but most of them
are free and entitle you to certain privileges
when picking up your vehicle; your information
will be on file ahead of time, allowing you
to simply jump into the car and go rather than
standing in a long line or filling out paperwork.
You could also be eligible for special discounts
or free upgrades.
Understanding Your Rental
If you're booking online, read the terms and
conditions carefully before confirming your
reservation. If you're booking on the phone,
ask the agent about restrictions. Be sure you
understand the conditions of your reservation.
Is there a penalty for no-shows? How long will
the car be held if you're stuck in traffic on
the way to the pickup station? Is there a fee
for additional drivers and must their names
be listed in the contract? Is your 20-year-old
daughter old enough to drive the car? (For liability
reasons, this is important.)
If pertinent, ask about any restrictions on
interstate travel. For your own protection in
case of breakdown, be sure the company has offices
in all the states on your itinerary.
For one-way rentals, ask about drop-off charges.
They can be exorbitant.
Always get a confirmation number. For airport
rentals, be sure to give the customer service
representative your flight number and scheduled
arrival time. This will usually protect your
reservation if the flight is delayed.
The True Cost of Car Rentals
Buyer beware: The rate you see advertised in
big print may become so inflated with state
and local taxes, airport surcharges, additional
driver fees, insurance, gasoline bills and drop-off
charges that you end up paying more than double
what you expected. Learn more about these extra
charges in Car Rental Hidden Costs.
Also, the advertised rate may be valid only
in off-season Florida or California, when many
cars are idle there, but not where you want
to rent. Finally, the rate may be only for a
car size that you would find unsuitable.
In recent years, the major booking engines
have become more transparent about rental car
rates, and they now usually show you the total
cost of your rental, including estimated taxes
and fees, early on in the booking process. Travelocity
offers total pricing, which guarantees that
the company's estimated amount will be within
one percent of the actual rate.
Like the airlines, the major auto rental companies
have adopted "yield management." That
means that their computers can quickly readjust
prices according to changes in the supply of
cars available, and so the rental rate you are
quoted is valid only at that moment. Unless
you reserve immediately, the rate is likely
to change.
At Pickup Time
If your first drive will be from an airport
to a hotel for the night, why not take a shuttle
van to the hotel instead? Doing this may save
you the price of a day's rental. Even if you
must drive the same day your flight lands, you
may not have to get the car at the airport.
By picking it up downtown, you can often avoid
hefty airport surcharges.
If you have personal auto insurance or charge
the rental to a major credit card, you will
probably be covered at least for collision damage
-- so you shouldn't have to purchase the car
rental company's collision or loss damage waiver
(CDW or LDW) insurance. If in doubt, ask your
insurance agent or credit card issuer.
Before you drive away from the pickup station,
inspect the car carefully for body damage. Be
sure the lights and turn signals are working
properly, and check the mileage odometer. Report
any defects at once.
Familiarize yourself with the workings of the
car before you leave the lot. Check which side
your gas tank is on, and learn how to use the
headlights, windshield wipers and turn signal.
It may seem obvious, but you'll also want to
memorize the make, model and color of your car
-- that way you won't lose it the first time
you park in a busy lot! For more, see Getting
to Know Your Rental Car.
Returning Your Car
Be wary of prepaid gasoline plans. Always fill
the tank yourself before returning the vehicle
so that you're only paying for the amount of
gas you actually used. Try to avoid the gas
stations right near the airport where you're
dropping off your car -- the prices tend to
be highest there. Instead, fill up a few miles
away. Even better: Check GasBuddy.com before
your trip to find out where the cheapest gas
stations are in your area.
It may seem counterintuitive, but returning
your car early may actually cost you money.
You'll often pay an early return fee (usually
about $15 a day), but even worse, your rate
structure will most likely change and you'll
be responsible for the difference. Of course,
returning the car late could cost you too --
many car rental companies only give you a 30-minute
grace period before beginning to rack up the
late fees.
Before leaving the vehicle, check to be sure
you haven't left any personal belongings. Don't
forget to check the trunk! The most common lost
articles include cell phones, sunglasses and
umbrellas.
Be sure that the check-in attendant inspects
the car's body in your presence and that you
agree about any damage. Examine your rental
agreement carefully for all charges and make
sure they credit any deposit to your account
while you wait.
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