Understanding Pricing

The internet has really made shopping a lot simpler, whether you plan to reserve a vehicle online or just want to do some comparison shopping. Since most of the one way car rental companies or the traditional return type car rentals all have websites, it is easy to compare different types of packages, rates for different types of vehicles or even the options for cars and trucks that each company offers. Car rental deals tend to be quoted at what is called the "base rate". This rate is the lowest rate that you should expect to pay, provided that you meet all the requirements and criteria in the advertised package. Usually these car rental discounts are limited to specific makes or styles of vehicles, often the small, economy type cars.

The package may also require that you rent the car for a specific number of days to qualify for the advertised rate. Typically car rental discounts tend to be more significant the longer that you rent the vehicle for. This only makes sense for the company, as they are assured that the car will be rented out and making money for them as opposed to just sitting on the lot. After the base rate is established on the type of vehicle as well as the term of the rental, there are additional costs that are added on. These will include taxes, surcharges, various mandatory types of insurance policies, as well as additional items that you may require. Each state or country will have different requirements with regards to these charges, but knowing what you need and what you don't will really help you keep the cost of renting a vehicle down.

Taxes are set by the government, so there is generally little room to negotiation on the taxes you will pay for the rental. Typically these taxes are relatively small and are based on the total dollar value of the rental. The mandatory charges for insurance will vary from company to company and these are often substantial charges. It is important to know what coverage you already have through your current vehicle insurance and what coverage you may have through your credit card with regards to car rental insurance. Many of the car rental discounts can be literally wiped out by overpaying for insurance that you don't need. If you aren't sure what coverage is offered through your credit card or through your current auto insurer phone the company and get the information before going to the rental company. Keep in mind that additional driver coverage will be required is someone else is driving other than the individual that rented the car.

Finally, the more options you select on the car the more costs you can expect to pay over the base rate. Some discount car rental companies offer extras such as navigation systems in the vehicle, child seats and even mileage overage charges if you go beyond a certain preset number of miles for the rental period. Always find out if there are any of these extra charges before agreeing to the contact and actually driving the vehicle off the lot. Keep in mind that most discount car rental companies charge on a 24 hour period that starts when you actually sign the contract, not at a specific time of day. Late fees returning a vehicle can be huge, so always confirm what time the vehicle is to be dropped off by and plan to meet that deadline.