People often rely on their car when taking trips. But if you want to reduce travel expenses or simply secure something bigger or more efficient than yours, Hire car in Portugal could be the better option. When renting, be sure to follow these steps for getting the best rate; earn reward points or cash back whenever possible, and have sufficient coverage in case anything should happen that requires insurance coverage.
Avoid Airport Locations
Airports typically offer the largest selection of rental stores, yet this doesn’t mean you should pick up and drop off your car from any one. Most car rental firms charge additional charges at airports such as Charlotte Douglas International Airport; for instance Avis charges an additional $4 “customer facility charge” daily if renting there; to avoid these extra fees pick up your vehicle at another Avis office located nearby instead.
Return your vehicle at a different location than where it was bought – for instance, picking up and dropping off at Hertz companies in Seattle could cost over $60 more in fines alone! To reduce expenses when planning single-way journeys, it is recommended that rental begins and ends in one location if at all possible.
Comparison shop
Before making a final decision, ensure you’ve done extensive research. Kayak and Priceline can combine prices from different providers while Autoslash provides estimates of car rental rates as well as recording your reservations to see where savings could be found and making use of any coupons you may qualify for. Once you find options that meet both your budget and timeframe you can visit their websites directly to see if the price matches what has been found online.
Be certain that you verify the information.
Car classification can be quite complicated. There are Economy, Compact, Standard, Intermediate Full-Size Premium, Luxury, Small SUV Large SUV Extra Capacity SUV various vans to consider when selecting your perfect vehicle. When making this decision, take into account many aspects: number of passengers it comfortably seats; features like power windows and audio system capabilities; transmission type desired (automatic or standard); as well as whether an automatic or standard transmission would better meet your needs.
Failing to perform due diligence could result in purchasing an automobile you aren’t meant to drive or can’t accommodate all your belongings and passengers. Luckily, automobile listings include this information so make sure to read them through before making a final decision!
Partnership can offer discounts and bonuses.
Car rental companies partner with other businesses such as hotels, airlines and credit card issuers to enable participants in their loyalty program to take advantage of discounts and offers from these partners.
AAA members may receive discounted rental car rates of up to 10% at Thrifty or 8 percent off with Dollar; Costco members also qualify for discounts; in certain instances membership (with organizations such as AARP and USAA) allows you to add an additional driver without incurring additional daily charges of $10-15 per day for such privileges.
Make Sure Your Rental Car Is Insured Insuring a rental car can be one of the most complex, stressful, and costly aspects of renting one. If you own your own auto or home insurance policies, they could extend coverage to include rental coverage as well – take time to read your policies closely to understand what’s included and what is not.
Some credit cards provide secondary rental car coverage that will kick in only after you’ve exhausted any other forms of coverage, while some provide primary rental insurance – this way you don’t need to buy an expensive policy from the rental company or rely solely on individual coverage should something arise on the road.
Consider roadside assistance options
Certain credit cards provide roadside assistance that’s useful if you experience a flat tire or require towing services, like Bank of America(r) premium Rewards(r). Their no-cost dispatch number helps in the search for assistance during emergency situations, including towing and locksmith services that may be provided – though any charges incurred will still apply for those services rendered.
Time to Pump Up the Tires
Now is the time for you to head down to the dealership and collect your new car, check its information, and obtain its keys. Before leaving the lot, take an extensive examination of your vehicle to look out for any dents, damage, or dings; most agencies don’t pay much attention to typical wear-and-tear or damage smaller than quarter size, however if any concerns you when driving, notify them and request they record it accordingly in their records; additionally if necessary take photos before leaving so as you’ll have proof of evidence should a claim is required later on in time.
Car rentals can be time-consuming and stressful experiences; however, they don’t need to be costly or complicated. By planning ahead and taking some simple steps you could earn additional reward points on both rental fees as well as expenses that arise; additionally you could find better offers for where you need to travel, knowing you are covered against accidents if they arise; otherwise it could waste both your time and money when better used for enjoying your trip!