Should I rent a car for a road trip? The pros and cons
When organizing a road trip, the first thing you consider is whether car rental is the best choice.
There are definitely pros and cons of renting a car for a long trip, but the truth is that it is better to rent a car for a road trip for many reasons.
Convenience, cost and time efficiency are only some of the benefits of renting a car, while for the only disadvantage, the necessary budget, there are great solutions for an affordable road trip.
Benefits of renting a car for a road trip
If you wonder whether you should rent a car for a road trip, the short answer is yes.
The advantages of car rental for road trips instead of public transport are the following:
- Flexibility: You can not only see more places, but also do so on your own terms, without having to adjust your plan to bus or train itineraries.
- Time efficiency: You don’t have to wait for hours for the bus or the train to come, so you can take the most out of your time to discover as many places as possible.
- Convenience: You don’t travel by overcrowded means of transportation, you can go easily wherever you want with kids and family and carry your luggage and/or sports equipment.
- Travel like a local: The whole point of road trip is to explore points of interest away from the crowds, go off the beaten track and generally visit authentic places where you can experience the local culture.
- Cost efficiency: If you travel as a large group of people, then car rental is definitely cheaper than booking tickets for multiple routes for many persons.
Also read: The ultimate road trip checklist: All you need for a safe and happy journey
Is it better to rent a car or drive your own car in a road trip?
Can I rent a car for a road trip or is it mandatory to travel by my own car? You may wonder.
The answer is that of course you can rent a car for a road trip, but be sure you rent a comfortable and safe car, ideal for road trips, such as a family car or an SUV. Plus, read carefully the rental agreement in order to ensure you have unlimited mileage.
By hiring a car instead of driving your own car, you take advantage of a modern, totally safe vehicle that is designed for long distances. Thus, you avoid using heavily your own car, risking expensive repairs afterwards.
Read: Which is the best road trip car? The top 5 suggestions regarding your travel style
How to avoid the high cost of car rental on road trips
Of course, you may wonder about the cost of car rental on road trips, which is the only disadvantage. As mentioned above, if you take into account the high cost of public transportation with multiple routes to organize a road trip, car rental may be more affordable, especially for families and group of friends.
Plus, there are some tips to significantly lower the cost and plan a budget-friendly road trip with car hire:
- Book early (even 6 months prior to your journey) to find top deals.
- Check the online platform of Abbycar for amazing deals all year round.
- Choose an all-inclusive package with local insurance to avoid extra fees and have all you need with additional benefits all in one rental agreement.
- Read our blog with insider tips for the destination you are interested in, so you can organize efficiently your road trip, visit only the worthwhile places and save time and money.
Read also: The 5 most important tips to remember about car rental for road trip
Find the best car rentals for road trips with Abbycar!
