Car rental companies make renting a car seem simple, often streamlining the process so that it goes as fat as possible for the renter. While this can seem like a great thing for the renter, it often means that they are unaware of all of the things in the contract that could result in them paying more than they expect for their car rental. Each car rental company is allowed to set their own fee policies, so these additional charges can vary from company to company. Here are some of the things you should know before signing a car rental contract.
You Will Pay More For Returning The Car Early
When choosing a car to rent, many people opt for the weekly deals that gives them a lower price for renting the car for an entire week. After renting the car, they assume that if they must return the car early, they will receive a discount for not having the car as long as expected. Unfortunately, in many cases returning a car early can result in a higher cost as the discount for having the car all week is canceled and they pay the per day rate. The rental company may also opt to charge an early return fee, which is typically around $15. Be sure you know what the early return policy is before you sign the contract so you are aware of what will happen if you must return the car earlier than expected.
You Will Pay More For Renting At An Airport
Renting a car from an airport location can cost you considerably more than renting from the same company at a location that is not based at an airport. This is generally due to two factors: the rental companies must pay a premium for being located on airport property and many travelers choose to rent from airport locations for convenience, not worrying about the additional cost. If you want to save money on your rental, choose a car rental location away from the airport that you can get to by taxi or that will come pick you up at the airport and drive you to their location to pick up the car you rented.
Driving One-way Will Cost More Than A Round Trip
Taking a rental car on a one-way trip can cost more than twice the amount you would pay to take the car on a round trip journey. This is because the car rental company must then find someone to bring the car back or must transfer the car to the location where the car was dropped off, which creates a significant expense for the company. Taking a bus or train to your location would be a much more cost effective option.