Step by step: picking a rental
- Compare across several sites. Check comparison sites and the rental companies' own sites. The same car can be priced differently in different places.
- Airport vs. neighborhood pickup. Airport locations are convenient but often add airport fees and taxes. A neighborhood branch a short ride away can cost less, so compare the total including the ride there, and check its hours.
- Book timing. Booking early usually gives you more choice, especially on holidays and in busy seasons. If you book a free-cancellation rate, you can check again later and rebook if the price drops.
- Pick the right car class. Choose the smallest car that fits your people and luggage comfortably. Smaller cars usually cost less to rent and use less fuel. Think about long drives, mountains or snow before going too small.
What to check before you book
- Fuel policy: "Full to full" means you return it full. Prepaid fuel can cost more if you bring the car back with gas in the tank.
- Mileage limits: Many rentals include unlimited miles, but not all. Check before a long road trip.
- Young-driver and extra-driver fees: Drivers under a certain age often pay a daily surcharge, and adding a second driver can cost extra. Some companies waive the extra-driver fee for spouses or members of certain programs, so ask.
- Deposits and credit card holds: Companies usually put a hold on your card at pickup. Debit cards may face stricter rules or bigger holds. Make sure you have enough available credit.
- Cancellation: Know whether your rate is refundable and the deadline to cancel.
- Tolls: Ask how tolls are billed. Rental toll programs often add a daily service fee on top of the tolls themselves. Your own transponder or paying tolls another way may be cheaper where allowed.
Pickup and return checklist
- Walk around the car before you leave and take a photo or video of every side, the wheels, windshield and interior. Point out any damage to staff and make sure it's noted.
- Photograph the fuel gauge and odometer at pickup and return.
- Refuel close to the return location and keep the fuel receipt.
- At return, do another walkaround video and ask for a closed receipt before you leave.
Insurance basics, explained plainly
This is general information, not insurance advice. Coverage varies by policy, card and state.
- Collision damage waiver (CDW / LDW): Offered by the rental company. It's not technically insurance; it's an agreement that the company won't charge you for damage to or theft of the car, subject to its terms.
- Liability coverage: Covers damage or injury you cause to other people or their property. Rentals include at least state-minimum liability in many places, and extra liability is often sold at the counter.
- Personal effects coverage: Covers belongings stolen from the car. Your homeowner's or renter's policy may already cover this.
- What you may already have: Your own auto policy may extend to rental cars, and some credit cards offer rental car coverage when you pay with the card and decline the counter waiver. Coverage can be primary or secondary and often has exclusions (certain countries, vehicle types or long rentals).
Before you go, call your insurer and your card issuer and ask exactly what they cover for rentals, where, and what you'd need to do to file a claim. Then decide what, if anything, to buy at the counter.
What can go wrong (example scenarios)
These are illustrative examples, not real people or real events.
Illustrative exampleThe parking-lot dentA renter declines all coverage, assuming they're protected, but their own policy doesn't extend to rentals. Someone dents the door in a parking lot. The rental company bills for the repair plus "loss of use" fees for the days the car is out of service. Bills like this can run into the hundreds or thousands.
Illustrative exampleThe break-inA family leaves luggage visible in the back seat while stopping for lunch. The window is smashed and bags are taken. The car damage and the stolen belongings may be covered by different policies, or by neither, which is why it pays to check before the trip and to keep valuables out of sight.
Illustrative exampleThe fender-bender that went smoothlyA driver had confirmed ahead of time that their card's rental coverage applied, paid with that card, and took pickup photos. After a minor bump, they reported it right away, gathered the paperwork, and the claim was handled with little hassle.
Illustrative exampleThe fuel and toll surpriseA renter returns the car a quarter tank low and drives through cashless tolls without asking how they're billed. Weeks later, refueling charges and toll service fees show up on their card.