Car Rentals Guide
Car Renting Tips & Tricks
Renting a car might seem straightforward, but it can be quite a hassle. Standing in long lines at airport rental counters for 45 minutes to an hour with tired, crying kids is no fun. Here are some tips to make your car rental experience smoother and less stressful.
Go with Higher Rated Rental Companies
Skip the poorly reviewed off-airport rental companies unless you need a car for an extended trip. Stick with reputable brands like National, Hertz, Enterprise, and Avis, which are conveniently located at airports. While cheaper companies might offer good deals, it’s worth paying a bit more for better service. For instance, during our last rental with Hertz, a dead battery was quickly resolved by sending AAA and offering a replacement car at any Hertz location.
How We Rent a Car
- Book Early: Secure your rental as soon as possible.
- Use Costco to book (Or Priceline/Expedia): Costco almost always beats all other platforms. Go with other options in case you don’t have a membership.
- Track with Autoslash: Autoslash monitors rental prices and alerts you if they drop. Book the new rate, track it again, and repeat. We managed to reduce our 12-day rental cost at Alaska from $1250 to $400 this way.
Get Status with Rental Car Companies
Credit cards like Amex Platinum and Capital Venture X can help you achieve higher status with car rental companies. We earned Hertz’s Presidential Circle status through Capital Venture X and matched it with Avis for their President’s Club status. This was a game changer. With status, we skipped the counter, went straight to the Presidential Circle area, and chose from a selection of upgraded cars. This cut our rental process time from 30-90 minutes to just 15 minutes.
Corporate Booking
Check for employee discounts through your employer. Many companies offer portals for business bookings and also allow personal use, like Concur Travel, with deeply discounted corporate rates.