Rental Car Companies
All of the national rental car companies, and many of the smaller ones, now have some sort of fast-track checkout and return procedures. The larger companies also maintain V.I.P. checkout and return systems for their frequent renters. If you are a business traveler, you owe it to yourself to learn about and join a rental car company “frequent renter” program. Once you join one or several of these clubs you will be inclined to rent with company particularly if you are not actually paying the bill!
The prospective renter should be aware that vehicle classification systems vary depending on a company’s own definitions for rental cars. For example, one rental car company’s three offerings of "compact," "mid-size," and "full-size" may not be the same as another rental car company’s three choices of “economy”, “premium” and “luxury”. Even more confusing is the fact that many of the nationally know rental car companies have added a litany of terms to their rental car inventories. It is not uncommon to find a larger rental car company offering economy, compact, intermediate, standard, full-size, premium, luxury, minivan, sport utility, pickup truck and cargo rentals!
Today rental car companies’ websites can be invaluable tools to sift through different companies terminology in order to obtain the knowledge necessary for both a fair product and price comparison.
Once the renter has a vehicle size in mind, with a good handle of price comparison, the renter should call several rental car companies for their actual price estimates. He or she should also check these rates with their travel agent asking about discounts based on length of stay. Many companies, large and small, offer better rates for weekly, weekday and/or long weekend bookings. In addition, some companies offer substantial seasonal price breaks depending on the destination location.
If you have the luxury of being able to plan your vacation, you may benefit from substantial rental car savings, with a certain companies, by visiting your destination off-season. However, many of these discount programs offered by rental car companies have severe limitations and restrictions including blackout dates, so make sure you investigate this type of deal thoroughly.
As mentioned above, if price is your total motivator, lower prices are often available at smaller unknown or local rental companies. However, these companies may be located some distance away from the airport and lack certain conveniences such as rapid check out and rapid vehicle return. When making a reservation with an off-airport company, find out their location and hours of operation and make sure they have a regular shuttle service to and from their lot.
Remember it pays to shop around. Rental car companies with the lowest prices can vary drastically from week to week and location to location. Rental car companies are constantly “trying harder” to be “number one” so vigilant shopping and comparison can save valuable vacation dollars.
Lock in Programs
With some rental car companies you can reserve a specific make and model for weekend or weekly rentals. Be careful, because this service may not be available nationwide. With companies offering to “lock you into a specific model”, you generally must have a confirmed reservation available online through their website or via specific telephone reservation line.
At present, this type of program appears to be limited to larger rental car markets and vacation destinations. But as these programs gain acceptance among renters, you can expect the program’s availability to be expanded.
Frequent Renter Programs
Many companies offer a “frequent-renter membership”. Usually, upon joining this program, the renter has chosen a rental group category such as full-size, midsize and compact or subcompact. Under this type of program, when a renter gets to the car lot they are allowed to select from whatever models are available.
In a frequent renter program, the specific models subject to reserve are usually very limited. For example, the renter may only have the option to reserve one vehicle limited to either the mid-size or midsize special-sporty category. However, members of the frequent renters program who have chosen the more popular category of vehicles, such as SUV’s or Economy, may have a wider selection to choose from. In most frequent renter programs, if you like a certain vehicle available in your category, you can lock in that preference. But if you prefer some other model in a category which you have not chosen, you must wait until you arrive at the rental station and see what's available just like non-members.
Rarely do the larger nationwide rental car companies offer the lowest prices. Most offer corporate discounts with a “free” rental day after every 15 or so rentals. This generally never exceeds a 7% discount. However many discount agencies, websites and group memberships offer more than 10% discounts on nationally advertised rates for these larger rental car companies. The smart consumer will always examine the true underlying cost of a “free” rental. Upon closer examination, he or she will find there still is no such thing as a “free” lunch or rental car for that matter. The cost is defrayed to the individual over the period of rental. The ultimate cost is generally comparative to that charged by the competition.
Discount Coupons
Discount coupons received in credit card statements are worthless. These coupons are usually applied to the nationally advertised price of a rental car company. Lower prices are always available from your travel agent or discount websites. Many times nationwide car rental companies that authorize the issue of these coupons are running promotions that that exclude discount coupons. However, if you have a “free day” type of coupon, that is exclusion free, it may be worth its weight in gold when renting a vehicle for several days. Read the restrictions and applications written on these coupons very carefully!
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