The timing can be crucial when in pursuit of a rental car. You might stumble upon a low rate, but waiting for a lower price could lead to missed opportunities. However, there are concealed methods to secure the best possible price. Utilise these insider techniques to conduct a comprehensive search for the most budget-friendly rental car, and you might even secure an upgrade.

Explore Membership Sites:

Membership sites require subscriptions, but they can be exceptionally rewarding, especially if you have numerous upcoming travel plans. If you are already a member of travel clubs, these should be your initial destinations to hunt for deals. Instead of offering their own fleet of rental cars, these organisations utilise their size and customer base to negotiate advantageous deals. For instance, Costco Travel consistently provides lower rates compared to major online agencies, and AAA often features discounts on Hertz rentals.

Check Airline Programs:

Frequent flyer programs might offer appealing discounts. Nevertheless, these discounts sometimes entail specific conditions, such as renting exclusively from airline partners or restricting your pickup and drop-off locations to airports. Even in the absence of discounts, booking through the airline can provide an opportunity to accumulate additional points. For example, in 2023, Delta announced a new SkyMiles partnership with Hertz, offering four miles for every $1 spent on a Hertz rental car — this becomes even more lucrative for Gold members, who earn six miles per $1, and Diamond medallion members, who earn eight miles per $1.

Explore Traditional Booking Sites:

When you are indifferent to the rental car provider, consider checking "opaque" websites like Priceline and Hotwire. These platforms offer significant discounts but withhold the rental agency's name until after a nonrefundable purchase is made. Since you can't predict where the best deal will be found, it's worth conducting a preliminary search on these sites if you want to secure the most economical car rental price possible.

Try Car Sharing Alternatives:

If you can list your house on Airbnb, why not your car? Nowadays, numerous peer-to-peer car-sharing companies like Getaround and Turo enable you to rent vehicles directly from their owners, who set the pricing and mileage restrictions. After booking, you'll meet the owner in person to collect the keys and the car, and you're ready to go. This type of car rental offers unique benefits, such as reading reviews for the specific vehicle you'll be driving and the possibility of picking up the car near your home. If driving someone else's car makes you uneasy, you can explore options on Zipcar, a membership-based platform that allows instant car bookings.

Search for Transfercars:

Rental companies often struggle to maintain their inventory in high-demand locations due to customers picking up and dropping off cars in different places. This necessitates hiring drivers to relocate vehicles to where they are needed most, presenting an opportunity for savvy travellers with flexible schedules. Transfercar is a platform where you can find cars with predetermined destinations for the cost of insurance and fuel. For instance, you might discover a station wagon that needs to be driven from Las Vegas to San Francisco within three days, a nine-hour drive that allows for stops at Yosemite National Park or Lake Tahoe. If RVs are your preference, imoova.com offers a similar platform for RV rentals.

Try the Two-Minute Trick:

If you have patience and two minutes to spare each week, this simple trick recommended by Scott Keyes, the founder of Going (formerly Scott's Cheap Flights), can help you secure a better deal. First, book your car rental at the rate you need. Then, set a weekly calendar reminder to check the rate for the same car. If the rate has dropped lower than your initial booking, you can cancel the first reservation and rebook at the reduced rate, provided your rental provider doesn't impose a cancellation fee. The earlier you book, the more opportunities you have to benefit from price drops.

Compare with Direct Booking Rates:

Prior to booking through a third-party website, always visit the rental company's website directly and enter your booking details. You might discover that it is considerably cheaper to book directly, and you can earn points directly through the company's loyalty program. This ensures you have all your bases covered.

Seek out Coupons:

You may extract extra savings by using coupons from AutoSlash.com, a website that searches a database of coupons for the best rates. Simply input your rental car dates, and customise your search based on your travel memberships, credit cards, and frequent flyer programs. Subsequently, you'll receive an email containing potential discounted rates. Alternatively, you can browse available coupons on the site, categorised by rental companies, if you prefer to explore your options.

Opt for a Manual Transmission:

When travelling abroad, you'll notice that manual transmission cars are the standard in most parts of the world due to their fuel efficiency. While automatic cars are available, they often come at a higher cost due to lower demand. Learning to drive a manual transmission can save you money in such situations.

Avoid Insurance Expenses:

Your credit card, personal car insurance, or travel insurance might provide coverage for your rental vehicle. Before renting, verify the coverage and carefully review the terms and conditions. This can save you $15 to $25 per day on your car rental. Remember to carry proof of your insurance coverage, as rental companies increasingly request it before handing over the keys. Websites like Insuremyrentalcar.com can offer stand-alone insurance policies at a fraction of the cost charged by rental companies.

Avoid Airport Rentals:

Rental vehicles at airports often come with higher prices due to additional taxes and fees. Typically, renting from an off-airport location can yield savings of 20 percent or more. You can use public transportation options at the airport to reach the city centre and pick up your car, or take a taxi to a nearby off-airport site.

Be Wary of Extra Fees:

If you plan to earn frequent-flyer miles with your car rental, be aware that you may incur additional fees, sometimes up to $1 per day. Other extraneous fees to watch for include toll transponder rentals (around $5 per day), GPS navigation systems (consider using your smartphone instead), and satellite radio (which can cost as much as $8 per day). To avoid paying marked-up prices for such items at the airport, consider bringing your own car accessories, like chargers or smartphone holders, from home.

Compare Rates for the Entire Week:

Occasionally, booking a car for an entire week might be more economical than reserving it for just the days you need it. Compare the difference between returning the car on your departure day and a few days later. If it proves cheaper to keep the car for an extended period, book accordingly and return it when convenient. However, ensure that the rental car company does not impose early return fees.

Reserve the Smallest Car:

Rental car companies often overbook to compensate for no-show reservations. You can use this knowledge to your advantage by booking the smallest and least expensive car available, increasing your chances of receiving an upgrade. Nonetheless, exercise caution and avoid booking a car that cannot accommodate your entire party.

Designate a Single Driver:

If you plan to take turns driving with your travel companions, be aware that each additional driver you add to the reservation may incur fees, typically starting at $10 per day. To save on fees, consider designating only one driver. However, refrain from letting other individuals drive, as getting into an accident or committing a traffic violation with an unauthorised driver can result in substantial expenses. Some rental car companies may offer deals or coupons that waive additional driver fees, so depending on your itinerary, this could lead to significant savings on your rental car."