If you bought a full tank in advance but drop the car off with still two-thirds full in the tank, you do not get a refund for the leftover gasoline you ended up not using. Purchasing fuel in advance only pays off if you somehow manage to drop the car off needing exactly that much fuel. One agent recommends filling up within 10 miles of the drop-off location and keeping that receipt as proof. The thing is, it's not that hard to fuel up close to the rental drop-off and avoid being charged the upwards of $10-per-gallon refueling penalty. Some companies also offer partial tanks and yadda yadda. How it works: you pre-purchase a full tank of gas so you don't have to worry about refueling before you drop off the car. Prepaid fuel is not a good deal unless you're just lazy Otherwise, rely on the free and magical automation that tools like Autolash provide. If you see a great deal several months out, book it, then check every few weeks to see if it has changed and request your price adjustment. If it's a holiday weekend or peak travel time (like Spring Break), inventory gets booked sooner and rates will go up. Unlike a plane ticket, you do not have to pay in advance for a rental car reservation, and if you do, the price point is usually not going to save you.īy not prepaying in advance, you can easily cancel and lock in on a better rate should your preferred rental agency decide to lower rates based on demand.Įach company has software that links to the online travel sites and adjusts prices according to both other listed prices and the company's available inventory. If your travel plans are a little bit more determined, then it’s a very good idea to book as far in advance of the trip as possible and track the rental car rate using an automated tool like Autoslash. “We leaned into near on-demand access with just two hours lead time and no need to plan far in advance.”īook as far in advance as possible, then check the rates regularly to see if they've fallen “We built Valet for an on-demand and delivered world as we heard from users time and time again that they want to rent a car the way they order an Uber ride,” he says. It’s a new in-app function and service launched earlier this year, explains Caleb Varner, Global Head of Uber Rent. The biggest difference was the valet-like service. This brand spanking new car was a fun way to cruise up I-95, and it was on par with what the cost of a sedan at Enterprise (which can also pick you up). "Recent travel and supply chain disruptions have caused consumers to flock to innovators in the travel and transportation industry like Turo," says Albert Mangahas, Turo’s Chief Data Officer, "who are transforming the car booking process from a chore into an exciting part of the vacation planning process."Īnd when I needed last minute wheels on a moment's notice to visit family in New Jersey, I reserved my rental car with ride-hailing app Uber and received a performance-driven Dodge Charger with only 11 miles on the car. But even the regular service saved me $300 on a week-long rental of a fuel-efficient sedan in Florida compared to what Hertz had to offer. Turo has just expanded to all 50 states and offers spontaneous deals-like $25/day rentals from New York to the Hamptons on all weekends throughout July. These services also offer some variety in vehicles, including accessible vans, rugged pickup trucks, electric cars, and swanky luxury sedans. You should always compare between the big guys (Hertz, Avis, Enterprise-to name just three) and some of the up-and-coming disruptors giving them a run for their money, such as Turo, Sixt, and Uber Valet.Ĭar-sharing is a relatively new concept, where individual people can lend their personal cars to you at a moment’s notice, and best of all they’ll drop the car wherever you are. martin-dm/E+/Getty ImagesĬonsider car-sharing and ride-hailing apps disrupting the space To find out how we asked rental car experts (read: car rental agency employees who agreed to spill if we kept them anonymous) for their tricks of the trade. But recently quite a few disruptors have broken into the industry, which has seen some dents along the way, including a pandemic-driven rental car shortage.Įven with all the price volatility and changes we’ve seen, there are still some very reliable ways to tip the scales in your favor to save on your next trip. Renting a car used to be pretty rigid-you selected from one of the big three: Hertz, Avis, or Enterprise. No matter how much pain at the pump you experience, there’s always an upcharge tacked on by the rental car agency. that’s if you have no idea what you’re doing.įun fact: Rental car aficionados never wait in line. Did somebody say road trip? If you’re taking to the open road but lack a set of wheels, then that probably means you’ll be waiting endlessly in line at a rental car counter soon.
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