How to save on car rental

Traveling to unknown countries in a rented car is an invaluable experience: on the one hand, freedom of movement, the ability to look into every amazing corner, and on the other — a serious test of strength. And it's not even in the features of national roads and the limits of the recklessness of local drivers. Adventures begin with the choice of cars: here you need and with the Agency not to lose, and guarantees to get, and somehow manage not to overpay for air. On the "Subtleties" - proven recipes for those who want to save on renting a car, not overshadowing the pleasure of vacation.

Where to book

The fastest and easiest way to rent a car over the Internet. And more profitable: at the airport or train station, as a rule, 30-40% more expensive. Almost every self-respecting office has a website where you can choose the right brand, examine the prices, pay for the reservation and, if necessary, cancel it.

The most famous players in the world market — Avis and Hertz: a network of offices in many countries, proven quality of the fleet, reliable protection against risks — but the prices are appropriate. Prices from international companies like Budget, Europcar, Sixt and Alamo are slightly lower, but the absolute leaders in cheapness are still local distributors. They work exclusively within the country or even the city and also gradually acquire online representations. That's just on the website most often — a rough directory and feedback form, and the car is much more frayed, questionable contracts, guarantees — precarious.

At your own risk, betting on local distributors, you can neglect the technology and walk through the offices on the spot. In a lively conversation, connecting the natural gift of persuasion, there is a chance to bargain a good discount.

But the easiest and most convenient option is to use a proven aggregator like Rentalcars.com . First, the range is maximum: all the key companies (both international and local) operating in 160 countries (more than 900 partners in total) are represented at once. Secondly, the service provides round-the-clock support from the beginning of the reservation until the end of the trip.

It is more convenient and cheaper to use aggregators like Rentalcars, cooperating with dozens of reliable distributors around the world.

Third, the procedure is simplified to the utmost — just select the country and city, place of receipt and return, date and time, additional options (for example, a full insurance package or a child seat), pay by credit card, get a voucher for confirmation and present it at the office "rent-a-car". And most importantly, it is really profitable: rent in most cases is cheaper than when referring directly to companies, and regular customers are waiting for all sorts of bonuses.

What to book

The smaller the car, the lower the price. On the websites of aggregators cars prudently sorted into categories: small, medium, roomy, station wagons, SUVs, minivans and premium beauty. For comparison, a compact "Opel-Adam" in Budapest costs 19 EUR, a large like " Skoda-rapid "-already 33 EUR, and a minivan" Ford-s — Max " - from 80 EUR per day. Although in Naples, for example, the difference is not so noticeable: a crumb of "Citroen-si-1" can be taken for 21 EUR, and the same "Ford-s-Max" — for 36 EUR per day. Prices on the page are for August 2018.

When booking more often chosen not a specific model and class of car, so that instead of a stylish subcompact " Mercedes "in the office can wait a little less presentable"Daewoo Matiz".

Machines with manual transmission are cheaper than those with automatic. It is not necessary to avoid cars on diesel: overpayment for rent can be 3-5 EUR per day, but the fuel will save more. And in some countries, and do not need to rent a four-wheeled transport: in Thailand or India with their crazy traffic and chaos on the roads is quite suitable moped or scooter. Wallet, by the way, will also be grateful, because for the iron horse somewhere in Pattaya will have to pay only 5-8 EUR per day.

Life hack: cheap compact cars are disassembled the fastest, and there is a possibility that at the time of arrival of the client cars of the booked class will not be available. Of course, first the distributor will offer to pay for a more representative model, but if you stand your ground and demand justice, it is possible to get it for the same money.

What to look for

You need to book a car in advance: the closer the cherished date, the higher the prices. In addition, you can simply not have time: in high season, good cars in tourist Barcelona, Rome or Dubrovnik are busy for a couple of months in advance. For a few days-always cheaper than a day: for long-term rental, the distributor can even provide an individual discount.

The next important point is insurance: the rental price often includes only the basic package, and the client is offered to expand the range of options for a fee. On Rentalcars, for example, there is a "Full protection" covering the franchise (the amount that otherwise will have to pay for yourself in an accident), damage to all mechanical parts of the car, as well as the costs of towing, replacement keys and other force majeure. In General, the choice of insurance depends on the situation: in Vietnam with its road madness or Kenya with its urban crime would be foolish not to overpay for safety.

Large network agencies and aggregators allow you to rent a car in one place and return it in another, but it is usually more expensive. In addition, even one extra hour of rental costs as the whole day.

Damage to the wallet is also caused by additional options: the installation of a child seat (from 3-5 EUR per day), the entry into the contract of the second driver (from 3 EUR per day), GPS navigation (from 3.50 EUR per day), etc.and if the safety of the child is not worth risking, and in long trips it will not hurt to replace the wheel, then maps are easy to download to your smartphone.

Often distributors set a daily mileage limit, and each km in excess of it will have to pay separately: for long journeys it is better to take the car more expensive, but with unlimited mileage than to unfasten 0.10-0.50 EUR for each km of extra distance.

Do not neglect the rules specified in the contract: raising a cigarette in the cabin, you can say goodbye to 50 EUR. Have the value and conditions of refueling: it is more profitable to take a car with a full tank and return with the same, so as not to run into a fine several times higher than the cost of fuel. And, of course, do not need to be reckless: you never know what lurks on unfamiliar roads, and fines for speeding up to 1500 EUR is unlikely to be a pleasant surprise.