How to get good deals and when to book? Top 5 tips on rental cars
Car rental is one of the smartest ways to travel, especially if you want to do road trips and explore everything conveniently and at your own pace. However, renting a car can be expensive whether for a business trip or family vacation.
The good news is that car rental is expensive only if you don’t know the following tips on when to book and how to find top deals. If you are familiar with them, then you can be sure that you will travel on a budget!
The key is to book early and be aware of hidden costs, but let’s read further to understand the full strategy to rent a car at a low price.
Book early and constantly check the prices
The best spot to book a car is 2-3 months before your trip. As the date approaches and availability drops, then prices tend to rise, but you avoid that if you plan early.
Another option is to book with free cancellation and check the rates daily so that you can find the lowest price prior to your journey.
If you plan to travel in a touristic destination during the high season, you may need to book the car even 6 months before your departure.
Be flexible with pickup and drop off locations
Airport rentals are convenient, but they often come with higher fees. If your schedule allows that, you can compare prices with nearby locations, such as the city center or a smaller town in a close distance, where you can find significantly better rates.
Another thing to take into consideration is to avoid one-way rentals, which cost more.
Choose the right car category
To travel on a budget with your rental car, the key is to hire a car that can keep the expenses low.
Thus, we recommend you hire a compact and economy car, which offers you the following:
- Cheaper rental rates compared to SUVs and large family cars
- More fuel-efficiency
- Easier (and cheaper) parking in busy cities.
However, if you travel as a group of friends, family or colleagues, it is more value for money to rent a van than to rent multiple cars.
Book directly
While comparison sites are useful for research, booking directly with a car rental agency has significant advantages:
- Better flexibility on changes or cancellations
- Clearer communication
- Access to discounts or upgrades
Direct bookings also reduce the risk of misunderstandings at pickup.
Avoid high season
Rental prices fluctuate based on demand, so you should expect higher rates during:
- Summer months
- Holidays (Easter, Christmas)
- Long weekends
- Big events or conferences
If your travel dates are flexible, shifting your trip even by one or two days can make a huge difference.
Bonus tip: The cheapest option isn’t always the best deal. Take into account reliability, transparency and customer support, such as those offering Abbycar, to enjoy a stress-free journey.
Read also: How to get a cheap rental car: The 10+1 cleverest tips
Rent a car with Abbycar and travel on a budget with the safest cars!
