Rental cars are expensive enough, but you might be overlooking an easy way to save
Before booking your next rental car, check your existing memberships. You could qualify for discounts and other money-saving perks.
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Renting a car is, inevitably, always at the bottom of my list of "things to do before a trip," somewhere between laundry and packing. It feels too easy to punt down the road, and it's just not as fun as looking at hotels, finding hikes or making restaurant reservations.
Oh, and it can also be expensive.
Though rental car prices have dropped from pandemic-era highs, they're still up about 9.1% year-over-year, according to NerdWallet's latest travel inflation report . And they can cost way more than the initial price tag when you factor in gas (which hit a record high for the season, according to AAA), tolls (ridiculous, according to me), and the unexpected charges you sometimes receive long after you return the rental.
This week, we ran a story full of tips and tricks for avoiding costly car rental mistakes . More than a few of those include steps you can take before you even arrive at the lot.
If possible, don't prepay for your car — just book one with free cancellation. That way, you can track prices to see if they drop. (AutoSlash founder Jonathan Weinberg tells Yahoo Travel that people who track their rate save about 20%.)
But one of my go-to budget travel tips for rental cars begins even sooner, with a membership I already have in my wallet.
If there's one tip I can give for saving money on a rental car, it's to always check for a discount before booking. You might have a discount code available simply by being affiliated with a certain company, member association or university (that goes for you too, alumni).
And for travelers who already have a Costco, AAA or AARP membership, all three programs can deliver great savings on car rentals.
AAA memberships, for example, can get you discounted rates at Hertz, Dollar and Thrifty (up to 20%, 15% and 10% off, respectively). Those savings are available through either AAA or directly with the car rental company using the Club Discount Program code on the back of your card.
In addition to lower rates, rental car bookings that leverage your AAA membership will generally waive additional or young driver fees, among other perks. Sometimes, these discount codes can also be stacked with coupons.
While you're looking around in your wallet to see what memberships you already have, take a peek at those travel rewards credit cards too. Some of them might give you status with car rental companies, which can lead to expedited service, free upgrades and other benefits that can make the overall car rental experience a bit more enjoyable.
