The prices of rental cars are too expensive in many countries, but it is possible to find very cheap car rental offers. On this page, you will find important tips and tricks that will help you get the perfect rental car for little money.
1. Planning well means saving money!
Booking in advance is the best – and easiest – option to secure a rental car at the best price. The closer to the time of rental, the higher the rental car prices because there are fewer available rental cars.
If you want to rent on vacation days, in summer or on weekends, it is advisable to complete the booking as early as possible. The demand is much higher, the selection of cars is rapidly declining, and the remaining cars are more expensive than on any Tuesday in winter, for example.
Usually, it is enough to book two months in advance. However, prices may drop two weeks before the rental.
Another advantage: You have enough time to calmly think about what you really need (car category, navigation system, insurance …), to inquire and compare prices.
The tip: Book as early as possible to secure good prices and the desired car category.
The trick: If the prices drop after booking, you can cancel your existing booking and make a new one. As a rule, it is possible to cancel the booking free of charge up to 48 hours before the rental.
2. Book multiple cars
If your travel plans are still unclear, but you still want to book in advance, you can do the following: make multiple bookings and cancel the bookings you don’t need.
It sounds strange – because you only need a rental car – but it is very useful if your travel date is not 100% certain or you find several good offers and need some time to consider which is the best option. You may be planning a trip with your friends, but it is still uncertain whether you need a 7-seater or a 9-seater. Simply book both! Many car rental companies require a very small deposit when booking, so there is usually a little risk.
This trick can also be beneficial to be, if you have not booked the flight, but would like to book your rental car already. You can often find cheap flight options a few weeks before departure, but the cheap car rental offers are already fully booked.
The tip: book several offers in advance if a lot is still unclear. Then cancel the excess bookings free of charge!
The trick: just cancel the bookings you don’t need! If you respect the cancellation deadline, it is free, and you are guaranteed to get your money back.
3. Plans canceled? Change travel date
If you suddenly cannot start your trip and you are outside the cancellation deadline, change the pick-up date *. Why? Because changing the data – if possible – for free usually is, but for a cancellation, in the worst case, the sum paid 100% of the car rental will be withheld or a penalty calculated.
The tip: if it is allowed to cancel the booking from 48 to 24 hours before the rental, change the date.
The trick: cancel your booking after changing the date to avoid extra costs.
4. No credit card? Do not worry!
Most car rental companies require a credit card as a form of payment. But if you don’t have one, it will be difficult for you to rent a car in Lahore. Do not worry! It gets more complicated, but not impossible because some companies also accept EC cards or cash, but unfortunately, there are very few.
If you can’t find a car rental company that accepts other payment methods, there is also a trick: some car rental companies allow the car rental and the deposit to be paid by the additional driver instead of the main driver. The only requirement would be that the additional driver also has a valid driver’s license, which must be shown at the car rental desk.
There are even rental car companies, where you can save yourself the additional driver surcharge! How it works? Here’s the trick: Sometimes, it is possible that another person pays the rental and deposit, even if that person does not have a driver’s license. This person is entered as the “payer” in the contract and must therefore also be present when you pick up the car to sign the contract. The person who will drive the car must, of course, also be there, and we are entered as the “main driver.”
The tip: Find a car rental company that accepts EC cards or cash as a payment for rent and deposit.
The tricks: If you can’t find one, there are two options:
- Add a companion as an additional driver who has a credit card.
- Find a car rental company that allows payers and drivers to be different people.
5. Pay attention to the age and surcharges for young drivers
If the main driver of the rental car is under 25 or has had a driver’s license for less than four years, most car rental companies will charge a surcharge. If you are accompanied by people older than 25 and/or are experienced drivers, it is better to leave it to the others so that you can save yourself these extra costs.
The tip: If you do not want to pay an extra fee, (normally), all drivers must be over 25 years old and have had their license for more than four years. If it is not the case for you, it would be better if someone else rented the car if there was a possibility.
The trick: compare young driver fees. You may find a company that does not charge drivers of your age!
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