Renting a car can give you freedom not available from public transit or other modes, but the rental process may appear daunting at first.
Renting cars typically requires a major credit card in your name as well as proof of insurance. Companies often sell additional policies; however, you may already be covered under your auto or credit-card policies.
Personal Freedom
Unleashing your freedom, renting a car gives you access to hidden mountaintop restaurants, breathtaking vistas, and other local experiences without being bound by schedules from car rental companies. Furthermore, this also gives you freedom of route planning without needing to worry about bus or train schedules for transportation around town.
Many premium credit cards provide collision damage waiver insurance for rentals within the U.S. and abroad. To ensure you obtain maximum benefit from your policy/waiver products in your country of choice. Please review your benefits details prior to renting as these may work differently in different regions.
Some rental companies require that drivers are at a certain minimum driving age to rent vehicles from them, while others may prohibit you from renting due to past moving violations or accidents on your record. Furthermore, most rental agencies place an authorization hold against your credit or debit card for the cost of rental and this can prevent you from making other purchases as it can reduce available funds on either account if it nears its limit or balance.
Easy Access to a Wide Range of Vehicles
Car rental companies provide an assortment of vehicles ranging from economy to luxury models, with Hertz being known to include special features such as rear camera technology and lane departure warnings. Furthermore, their API connections facilitate white-label booking.
Getaround and Turo offer alternative car rental solutions by connecting people who own them directly with those renting them, creating an authentic peer-to-peer rental experience and giving access to some unique cars that may otherwise be difficult or impossible to locate through traditional rentals.
Zipcar, an on-demand car rental service, allows users to book cars by the hour or day for easy travel in New York City during rush hours when traffic can impede short distance travel. Some services also provide equipment rental such as bike or ski racks – just remember to reserve these in advance!
Save Money
Costly car rentals can quickly rack up, with multiple fees that add up quickly if you don’t shop around, book early and avoid add-ons. But it may be possible to lower costs by shopping around, booking early and skipping add-ons.
Renters should be mindful of rental companies’ refueling policies, which often charge inflated fees to top off tanks. To avoid additional charges when returning the car to them, fill your tank on your way back from filling up and avoid this extra step.
Rossman recommends that people should check to see if their premium credit cards offer primary rental coverage; this could save the cost of rental insurance offered by rental companies and can reduce rental insurance premiums significantly. He mentions Chase Sapphire Reserve as one card offering such coverage.
Other ways of saving on car rentals include searching out deals before booking, planning to return it in good condition, avoiding additional fees such as GPS systems, toll plans, accessing XM radio or child seats as well as membership-based discounts such as BJ’s Wholesale Club or Costco membership or organizations such as AARP membership discounts.
Avoid Traffic Congestion
Traffic congestion is a widespread urban issue that impedes productivity and causes delays, increasing stress levels and negatively affecting the environment. Cities around the country are taking measures to combat it through car sharing programs or similar initiatives.
Driving around Manhattan in your New York City rental car rental can be an exhilarating experience! Some intersections may be orderly while others could turn into chaos! It is essential that you follow traffic rules and allow plenty of time for your journey.
Be sure to add an EZ Pass transponder to your rental car, which can save both time and money at toll points.
Be familiar with your car rental company’s policies and restrictions before renting one, such as additional driver charges or waiver fees for spouses/domestic partners/spouse-like applicants. Some credit card companies provide complimentary rental coverage; it would be wise to check what coverage options exist through yours as well. Furthermore, make sure you fully comprehend any admin charges when returning your hire car if this fee applies.