Planning a vacation? Or maybe you are just headed out on a business trip to a new city or state.
Either way, you’re likely going to need to rent a car when you arrive. Most people don’t spend a lot of time planning their rental car situation, and as a result, they either overpay or don’t have a car that suits their needs.
But choosing rental cars that actually work for you isn’t that hard. There are just a few things to keep in mind if you want your next trip to be much smoother than the last.
Keep reading to learn about the rental car features that you need to know before locking in your next vehicle today.
1. Choose Rental Cars Big Enough for the Family
The cheapest cars that you can rent are small sedans. Go figure, the smaller the car, the smaller the price tag.
However, if you are traveling with your kids, a sedan is never a good idea. Even if you only have one or two kids, your small rental car is going to fill up fast. After all, you’re going to have tons of luggage and will likely acquire lots of stuff and trash as you travel around.
Instead, choose rental car options that are too big for your family. Traveling with a family of five? Choose a car that seats seven or eight. You’ll realize very quickly that the extra space is going to come in handy.
A car that is too small is an easy way to ruin your vacation for everyone.
2. Consider Fuel Efficiency
On the flip side of getting a bigger car, make sure you consider fuel efficiency. If you’re going to do a lot of driving in your rental car, then you’re going to use a lot of fuel.
If you just need something to get you to and from your hotel and local restaurants, fuel economy isn’t that much of a concern. But if you plan to do a lot of driving each day, opt for something more fuel-efficient.
That might means getting a crossover rather than a full-sized SUV. Or go for the large sedan instead of the crossover.
Also, it’s almost always a good idea to fuel the vehicle yourself, rather than prepay for fuel at the car rental service counter. And there’s likely a gas station within one mile of your dropoff location, so it shouldn’t be an issue to fuel it yourself before dropping it off.
3. Storage Space is Important
When you travel, you’re going to have stuff with you. If you’re just one person, with a backpack or two, then you can probably select any rental car and be fine.
But as a few people with luggage, you want a vehicle with a large trunk. Trunk space is vital for keeping your rental car clean and organized during your travels.
Also, it might help to choose a car where the rear seats can fold down. That way, you can store large items with ease or fit multiple suitcases in the car.
Maybe you brought a snowboard, or a surfboard, or a bike, and don’t have a rack to keep it on. You’ll need a large cargo area to store these oversized items with ease.
4. What Features Would You Like?
You can find rental cars with every feature imaginable. Plan ahead as to what type of driving you’ll be doing, and select a car with the right features.
If you are leaving winter behind for somewhere warm and tropical, consider a car with a sunroof or a convertible, so you can soak up every single ray.
Want to be able to use your phone without any cords? Choose a car that offers Bluetooth compatibility. A car with a reverse camera is always helpful, especially if you are driving a larger vehicle in busy cities.
5. Try Before You Buy
Are you in the market for a new car? You can be strategic with your car rental options by choosing a car that you are considering purchasing for yourself.
Or maybe you are considering a new type of vehicle, like a sports car, or an SUV. Utilize your car rental as an opportunity to see if that type of vehicle is right for you. Companies like https://mphclub.com/ specialize in luxury and exotic car rentals, giving you the chance to spend multiple days in a high-end car.
6. Treat Yourself or Save Money?
Everyone vacations a little bit differently. For some people, their goal is to save as much money as possible, so that they can take the longest vacation possible. This means their car rental budget is very small, and they’ll stick with the $30 per day sedan, even if it’s uncomfortable.
For others, every aspect of the vacation is an opportunity to have fun. That means that no expense is spared when getting a rental car, as driving a fancy car is just as important as sitting on the beach.
Consider your vacation style and choose a rental car, company, and price point that fits your values.
Also, be sure you’re reading online reviews of any rental company you are considering. You want to be aware of any iffy practices, such as trying to tack on extra charges, or nitpicking customers when they bring the vehicle back.
Avoid places that make life difficult, as many major rental companies make pickup and dropoff super easy these days.
7. Get Insured
When renting a car, you are always given the option of insuring the rental against unforeseen damage. It’s tempting to forgo insurance in an attempt to save money, but just one small issue could end up costing you a lot of money without the rental insurance.
It’s best to get it, especially in other countries. That is unless you have a travel credit card that provides rental car coverages on your behalf. If so, just make sure to book the rental car with that particular card.
Book a Rental Car with Confidence
As you can see, there’s a lot to consider when choosing rental cars. It pays to spend a little bit of time planning the best option for you.
Once you know what you are looking for in a rental, you’ll be prepared for every upcoming trip, as your travel style will usually be the same each time. So spend some time planning and you’ll be able to book with confidence.
Looking for more travel tips like this? Head over to our blog to find other helpful articles today.
