Due to super high prices people have been asking me for months for a video to save money on rental cars, so if you enjoyed this video, please give it a THUMBS UP as it helps me in the RUclips algorithm and subscribe! 😀 What are some of your cheap rental car secrets??👇 Comment Below 👇 CHECK OUT CHEAP HOTEL HACKS 2024 HERE: ruclips.net/video/zxCZGmRHpxY/видео.html
Thanks Matt!! I literally just booked a car yesterday afternoon directly on Avis with an AARP discount. I watched your video last night and cancelled the reservation this morning. I then booked the exact same car through Costco and it saved me $50!! My wife and I are big fans of your channel and look forward to your videos every month!! Appreciate all your hard work!!
Matt, you have outdone yourself with this one! This is exactly what I need to know. I appreciate you researching this for us because car rentals have gone way the heck over the top with their prices. Thank you!
I like to rent from Budget, and plan my arrival in the afternoon or evening because they are almost always sold out of the smaller cheaper vehicles. They put you into the next larger vehicle they have available, often a luxury car for the same rate. You can always upgrade at the destination if you wish, but if when they are out of the smaller cars you get that upgrade for free. 😊
Turo is apparently not subject to the conventional rental companies rules. A $126 car on Turo with the subhead: "Total, taxes and fees included," but when you tried to rent it the charge was $165 after "Trip Fee" and tax was ADDED! Like Air BNB, they work by different and not very consumer friendly rules.
Sometimes they even close earlier (one Enterprise site closed at 3pm on a Saturday-I missed it by 5 minutes and even though I called they couldn’t wait, and I had to take the Uber to another location, where they were open until 4pm🤦🏼♀️)
Another great advantage with Costco is that you can cancel at any time with no penalty and it's really easy. I often book 5 or 6 months in advance. I then go back every 3 or 4 weeks to check prices. When prices drop for the same size car (and often the same rental company) I simply cancel old reservation and book the new rate. Going to PSP this past Thanksgiving I changed reservations 3 times and ended up saving almost $200 from 1st booking in July...
I had the same refueling fee issue with Avis at PHX 2 months ago. I returned the car completely full. My fuel receipt and dashboard photo enabled prompt resolution. The entire rental experience with Avis at PHX was a complete Clown Show.
Another slightly related hack for Ubers is to take a free airport hotel shuttle to a hotel that is closer to where you want to be and then to take an Uber from there. Usually it’s much cheaper because you don’t have to pay all the surcharges for an airport pickup, plus if you plan it right you can be closer to your final destination. I did this at Ohare airport in Chicago this past week because the airport train shuttle was not running and there were hundreds of people trying to take the few buses and cabs that were available.
Same when we went to Chicago. Unlike Atlanta, Boston, Seattlle, etc. the metro wasn't reliable and it was difficult to find in the airport anyway. We just used Lyft to get to Ukrainian village but staying on the Magnificent Mile there was plenty to do and it was walkable.
Be sure to read the fine print if you’re going out of state. I used kayak to get a better price but was charged PER MILE for going out of my tri-state area. Cost me hundreds more
Thank you for sharing!! I was a rental agent at Avis in the early 90’s and knew all the ins and outs, but since the internet, all the rules have changed.
Absolutely fantastic tips, Matt! Especially the photographic evidence tips. And always check your itemized bill BEFORE you pay! This topic gets so complicated (for me) that I'd watch this video 5 or 6 times, and take notes, before I even started researching. Really appreciate you!! Have a great day!
Matt has to have saved me more money than any person in my life. You’re an absolute legend!! For younger people like me trying to get an edge in my business this will really add up.
Turo host here… thanks for the shoutout. Turo is an excellent alternative to the big rental companies and you get to choose the EXACT car you’ll rent - not some nondescript class of car.
How expensive depends on what you’re getting, and who you’re renting from. Luckily, all that information is available upfront. We rented a Porsche for a week in LA, and our experience was fantastic. It was pricey, but not appreciably more than what we would’ve paid at a rental company for a regular vehicle.
I had an experience with a rental that got a crack in the windshield while I was using it. I was charged by the rental agency not only for repairs, but also loss of use. Since I had to pay for the new windshield anyway, I should have taken it to a repair shop myself before returning the car and skipped the loss of use fees.
I initially did a car rez 2 weeks ago at YYZ (Toronto's airport) for $404 CDN for 3 days-compact. Two days ago, it's now $225 CDN and you can always cancel without penalty. i will still check every 2-3 days for an even lower rate.
Be sure to check with the car rental place for rental dates. I had to rent on a same day when I was deployed for hurricane relief last year... I got to the airport...BIG SIGN ...no same day rentals...so I changed the date & picked up the next morning. But just double check 😊😊
While it can be expensive, if you're not comfortable in the size of the car, I always recommend the extra insurance. I've driven little cars for most of my life and I needed a quick rental, they switched me to a truck at the last moment because of overbooking (I booked a sedan). I told them I was uncomfortable and they ignored it, andI took the insurance just in case. And I needed it! While still being super careful with the car, I did not under stand the turn radius and gouged a foot and a half long dent in the side of it from a tall concrete pole that was at turn corner in a tight parking lot. No cost to me besides the initial insurance. I felt bad, but told them the issue beforehand. All other rentals have been pretty ok though.
I have had good luck using the Alaska Airlines car rental section. The worst has been the Allegiant, which I only used once, as their prices seemed really good, but didn't include taxes and fees! Several months ago, visiting a friend in Montana, when picking up the rental, the tank didn't seem full, so I took a time stamped photo of the tank and the mileage and sure enough, a few miles down the road, I saw the tank really go down, so I pulled over and documented again. When returning with a full tank and receipt, I was credited with a full tank credit. Also, as you mentioned, being nice and polite pays benefits; when my return flight was cancelled, I was able to return to the car company and get a really good price for a couple more days. Thanks for the great tips!
Great video Matt! We rent cars all the time when traveling to save wear and tear and keep mileage down on our own vehicles. I'm always searching for savings and this video will DEFINITELY help us save even more. Some I already knew but others I had no idea of. Thank you bunches!! 😊
@@CoupleDrinksWhat company do you use ? For instance, I need a vehicle to travel to Disney for a week. Going from New Jersey to Florida , about 1000 miles.
@@iTzGaMEtiME1 I’m Canadian but I always use Enterprise. I was just in Florida and used them there as well, no issue. I’ve used them in Europe and North America and have always had a great experience. I’ve also used Avis once last year as enterprise had none available, and it was good with them as well.
Love Autoslash. For my next rental, I booked through Costco for $349. I then had Autoslash track it. Every week the price it has gone down a few dollars and today it’s $267 through Hertz. I rebook every time the price goes down, cancel the old reservation and have Autoslash track the new rental. BTW, there are also much cheaper rentals through agencies I’ve never heard of, but for me I’ll stick to major companies.
I always use Costco for rental cars. And I almost always rent from the airport. I've never had an issue with pick-up or drop-off. Definitely worth the membership if you travel a lot.
Im guessing you need the Costco membership to use that option correct? I have a membership at BJ's which is like Costco. I wonder if they offer something like that.
Hi, Matt! Great video! I was wondering if you would be interested in making one about how to figure out buying a car, all the basic tricks and tips, but also if buying used is actually cheaper than buying new (especially in today's economy!)?
The single most underrated thing when renting a car: Being nice. I'm always polite and I ask for an upgrade, and I almost always get it. I said renting a car, but being nice and polite is a good life hack for anything really.
I always go to the airport for a car rental in Tampa is cheap no matter what car you get and walk-ins at enterprise in TPA have this chart price daily/weekly/monthly and boi it’s dirt cheap
Ugh! I just booked with Avis because they were cheaper but I wish I would've watched this first! I love your videos and appreciate the time you spend to make such useful content. I'm active duty so if you have an Amex Plat, your annual fee is waived and they do offer rental car insurance 😊
Matt my wife and I love your videos. You are doing a fantastic job, I recommend your channel all the time and it has helped me and my friends save a lot of money. Keep up the work. It is greatly appreciated.
thanks Deal Guy, you nailed it with this one. They do try to confuse you to the best of their ability. Totally important to NEVER drop the ride off later than picking it up - you will pay an extra day. Rental companies sell in bulk to travel web sites like expedia - and apparently Costco - who will be more willing to flog it cheaper than Hertz or Avis, which have already sold the rentals on. Ready for my next vacation! Thanks again
Thanks for the info. I wanted to mention if not renting ditectly from the airport, please check the hours of operation of the rental location. I was in the Caribbean and chose this option and when I tried to return the vehicle it was closed. Thankfully I had a good gap in my airport time but it could have been an issue. I never thought about it since the airport location didn't close.
On an unscheduled business trip, landed in New Orleans and was unable to find a rental on or off airport. Called Home Depot and reserved a pick up truck. Problem solved.
Great information. Thank you for sharing. It seems like car rental companies always offer me upgrades because they don't have enough vehicles. But be careful with the updates. For example, we booked a minivan once because we have 7 ppl. They offer us a 3 row SUV upgrade at no extra charge. This seems like a good deal. But while the 3 row SUV also has 7 seats, it hardly has room for our luggage and the 3rd row seats are very uncomfortable. Plus, its gas mileage is much worse than a minivan. Another time, I booked a sedan and they gave me a free upgrade to an SUV. I own SUVs at home and love driving them. But when vacationing, I prefer a sedan so I can hide my stuff in the trunk while parking during the trip.
Tip for parking at LAX. If you park in the center parking it will cost $60/day. You can ask my wife how we know that one. Save yourself lots of money and book ahead of time somewhere nearby with shuttle service lol
I have done alot of domestic traveling and its not always true that you will get a lower rate if you book farther out. That does not always apply as the rates are not just based on "time and availability" but also if the market is slow (economic trends, ect).
I was wondering if anyone has used them AND what that experience is like. I'm sure there are some nightmare experiences (when people are involved, anything can happen), but overall it should be pretty good. What i wonder is IF you can negotiate rates with the owners?
@@heswatchnuYes. Me. First off make sure of the mileage limit. It's often 200 miles. Then they charge extra. Also: I once rented a car for two months. When I returned it, he said everything was fine. One week later I received a damage report. He had several pictures with "damages" you couldn't even see. He literally had pictures of him pointing at the damages and there still was nothing to see. A few bumps on top of that. Good thing I took pictures and videos proving the bumps were not there when I dropped the car of. Turo canceled his account. A few days later it was back up with a different name. My account was then canceled a month later. No explanation.
Amazing! I was trying to get a good rental deal for an upcoming trip. Your video was perfectly timed! You just saved me about $400! Thank you and bye bye!
Got to lax @ 12:30 am friday morning. Probably 50 people waiting and we were told no cars for at least 3-6 hours. We had paid for rental and decided to uber to where we were going and did without a car. these companies need to be regulated like airlines and not overbook without compensation.
Find out when you get to the counter if your company has a discount. If you have business card, email or id your rate could be half. This comes in handy because those rates are always the same. Even around the holidays.
Once you leave the airport it’s a whole different price bracket. I strongly suggest it for everyone. I did not know about the Costco hack. Definitely will be using that in the future. Thanks Matt! 😊
In NY it's the opposite, airport is cheaper 10 out of 10 times. I used to rent on weekends instead of using taxis, always was just cheaper to go to the airport and renting there. I know in Florida, locals get treated worse (bigger deposits and mile restrictions, etc.)
Awesome just used autoalash to save on my rental in Honolulu in early July vs the Costco rental reservation I had. 287 total with autoalash/Priceline/Hertz Ford focus vs 350 with Costco/budget.
I had to go through the pain of going through a repair on a rental. It was just a stupid crack in the windshield. Like you said, the credit card is only supplemental to your car insurance. I did make sure my car insurance does carry rental car insurance, so I'm not paying the exorbitant rates at the car rental. The car insurance pays everything up to your deductible, and then the credit card ends up paying your deductible. Therefore, i was out no money, but you still had to go through the hassle of all the paperwork.
Thanks for this! Great hacks as always. Can you do the same for those wanting to do courier work and need to do monthly rentals for cargo vans? How would you go about finding the cheapest rates for larger hauling vehicles like cargo vans and box trucks?
We've used the Amex rental insurance, and the two claims we had to file - both times we were hit while parked! - were very very easy. A couple of pictures uploaded with an online form, and that was it. And we have that with a no-fee Amex card.
At 6:26 you said it would be cheaper to venture away from the airport to rent a car but in the graphics, it shows that it would be cheaper at the airport if you look at the graphic on the right it shows pick up at Atlanta Airport for 802.99 pay later but on the right it shows the Loews hotel for 1233.99 for pay later. Not sure if this was an editing error but it's confusing
I am blown away by these tips! I am preparing to travel and it will be my second time getting a rental...like ever lol! Thank you for all of these tips!! You helped me save big time!!
Truly Outstanding In Depth Comprehensive Research Job... Thank you so very much for exploring numerous aspects to renting a car... Your presentation was spot on!! This video should set the gold standard to research and presentation... Again thank you so much!!
The option through Costco is it a one time thing. We got a discount on the first reservation. We tried to make another reservation and the price nearly doubled.
@holmeselectric9 Most credit cards provide a benefit that pays for any damage to a rental car after your car insurance. Some cards, like the Venture X provide primary insurance that doesn't require you going through your car insurance first. Pull up your card's guide to benefits and check to see if you have it.
Tip 6. Same goes for Denver airport that has a huge airport tax on car rentals. Take the train to the downtown area to pick up a car and drop it off at the airport (no extra charge)
For anyone doing that, always make sure to check renter requirements at the non-airport location first! So many folks end up not being able to pick up due to only having a debit card and being from out of state, etc.
@jenbrown5307 This. Getting a credit card saves a lot of hassle. If you can't get a real credit card try getting a secured one. They usually have $200 credit (which is often the security deposit) so you'll have to overpay it to the amount needed. That should work.
Go early to drop off or sit 35 mins after your flight LANDS to pick up the car. Check to see what their "grace period" drop off time is and you can work that!
As a general rule, auto rental companies charge you by the day. Consequently, if the return time is even 30 mins later than the pick-up time, you will be billed for that time differential as a complete day. The same is usually true for parking garages, while they ALSO charge by the calendar day rather than 24hr clock. Meaning, if you park today at noon and depart tomorrow at noon, you will be charged for (2) days.
So an FYI on going to pick-up a car from outside the airport. It can save lots of money but it can get scary. My brother in-law did this in Toronto and his pick-up wasn't in a good neighborhood. So picking up at 10pm was a very interesting experience to say the least.
Great video. Another question I, have for you. I'm confused. So, does the company called, "Transfercar" pay you for actually transferring a car from one location to another? Or, Are they just allowing you the PRIVILEGE of using the car for the length of time that it takes you to drive the car or RV to the requested pick up location, for the next customer?
I didn't hear you mention it in this video but how do you feel about pre-paying the gas? My last couple times I rented a car, I pre-paid the gas. When I flew out to Arizona the guy at the rental place told me the gas there was something diabolical like $9 a gallon and he suggested I pre-pay to avoid paying what the gas stations was charging.
silly question, but why would you want to be upgraded? I am ask that question and offered the free upgrade every single time I rent a car of course I always turn it down because when you are upgraded, it's usually a larger car which will cost you more gas to fill it up...... also, I agree with you. I have always videotaped a walk around and look through the car just to make sure I am never charged for somebody else's damage.
Great information. It is confusing all the prices on car rentals. This helps to know how to go about getting the best rate. I’m keeping this video for future reference. Thanks. Would you consider doing the same type of video for booking airline tickets? And maybe one for hotels?it can take me days trying to find the best deal and I don’t really know all the best ways to get deals.
It would’ve been very unfortunate if I went out to Florida with my dad’s side of the family today because I definitely would’ve missed all of these pretty cool car rental hacks and money saving tips
2 weeks ago I ended up using Turo instead of using a regular Rental company. 4 days $300 for a van VS Alamo for $600 for a truck that was the cheapest vehicle available
Cheaper than both these and with more protection is renting through Costco and you can cancel for free up to that day. Also, if you rent one, then check back a couple of times, you will often get it at an even lower price. And you are protected by Costco.
One thing I'd be very clear on with the Amex Platinum coverage: It is also secondary coverage _unless_ you pay for the flat rate $19.95 per rental premium coverage they provide. The Chase Sapphire Preferred/Reserve, and US Bank Altitude Reserve are primary insurance as base included with the annual fee.
are you implying that Amex Platinum coverage provides zero insurance coverage unless you pay for the $19.95 rental car premium coverage through Avis or Costco? Also, to be further clear, the Amex Platinum coverage coverage will not ever work as primary insurance, ever? And if you don't have primary insurance, they will not provide any insurance??
@manp1039 The AmEx Plat has secondary coverage for rentals as base (i.e. your own car insurance is primary), if you pay the $19.95 though it becomes primary coverage.
I had already made a reservation for the week of July 4th. After watching this video, I was able to immediately make a new reservation for almost $300 less and cancel the old one. Thank you!
Many credit cards offer primary car rental insurance rather than secondary. With secondary youll probably have to pay your deductible if you file a collision claim!
Never pre-pay. It doesn't guarantee they will have one for you. Always call the location directly if possible usually local not airport. They usually have manager specials which are usually cheaper then published rates.
Is Transfercar service a one-way deal only? I know some RV rentals will offer discounts for one-ways so that they don't have to ship vehicles to and from destinations where their customers can do it for them. The catch is that it's usually always one-way.
Due to super high prices people have been asking me for months for a video to save money on rental cars, so if you enjoyed this video, please give it a THUMBS UP as it helps me in the RUclips algorithm and subscribe! 😀 What are some of your cheap rental car secrets??👇 Comment Below 👇
CHECK OUT CHEAP HOTEL HACKS 2024 HERE: ruclips.net/video/zxCZGmRHpxY/видео.html
Awesome hacks as usual. Thanks for sharing. Can you do the same for those wanting to do courier work and need to do monthly rentals for cargo vans?
Matt, this is so awesome!!! Thank you! Really helps, as I may be needing this info soon, however, do you have flight hacks too??? 🧡
Wow! I just tried autoslash and it was $20 less than the website even after putting in all my codes. Other companies were $50 off! Thanks!
Especially dealing with avis and budget. Hold onto the photos for 5-7 years depending on your states statute of limitations. I email them to myself
Awesome
Thanks Matt!! I literally just booked a car yesterday afternoon directly on Avis with an AARP discount. I watched your video last night and cancelled the reservation this morning. I then booked the exact same car through Costco and it saved me $50!! My wife and I are big fans of your channel and look forward to your videos every month!! Appreciate all your hard work!!
On our last trip to Texas/San Antonio, Costco also had the best price for hotels [a 5-day stay near one of the military bases].
Matt, you have outdone yourself with this one! This is exactly what I need to know. I appreciate you researching this for us because car rentals have gone way the heck over the top with their prices. Thank you!
I have used Costco rental and they are awesome including their own rental insurance which is far cheaper than any company out there.
I like to rent from Budget, and plan my arrival in the afternoon or evening because they are almost always sold out of the smaller cheaper vehicles. They put you into the next larger vehicle they have available, often a luxury car for the same rate. You can always upgrade at the destination if you wish, but if when they are out of the smaller cars you get that upgrade for free. 😊
Much the same for Saturday pickup times!
I need to try this hack 🤔
Great tip !!!!
Turo is apparently not subject to the conventional rental companies rules. A $126 car on Turo with the subhead: "Total, taxes and fees included," but when you tried to rent it the charge was $165 after "Trip Fee" and tax was ADDED! Like Air BNB, they work by different and not very consumer friendly rules.
Great tips...One thing to keep in mind about non-airport locations is that many have daytime only hours (9-6)
Yep, we ran into that. That's why I just rent from the airport.
Sometimes they even close earlier (one Enterprise site closed at 3pm on a Saturday-I missed it by 5 minutes and even though I called they couldn’t wait, and I had to take the Uber to another location, where they were open until 4pm🤦🏼♀️)
Another great advantage with Costco is that you can cancel at any time with no penalty and it's really easy. I often book 5 or 6 months in advance. I then go back every 3 or 4 weeks to check prices. When prices drop for the same size car (and often the same rental company) I simply cancel old reservation and book the new rate. Going to PSP this past Thanksgiving I changed reservations 3 times and ended up saving almost $200 from 1st booking in July...
I've done this for my last 3 trips and saved over $500!
🎉WONDERFUL TIPS!!! thank u so very very much 👏 🙌 🙏
I had the same refueling fee issue with Avis at PHX 2 months ago. I returned the car completely full. My fuel receipt and dashboard photo enabled prompt resolution. The entire rental experience with Avis at PHX was a complete Clown Show.
Another slightly related hack for Ubers is to take a free airport hotel shuttle to a hotel that is closer to where you want to be and then to take an Uber from there. Usually it’s much cheaper because you don’t have to pay all the surcharges for an airport pickup, plus if you plan it right you can be closer to your final destination. I did this at Ohare airport in Chicago this past week because the airport train shuttle was not running and there were hundreds of people trying to take the few buses and cabs that were available.
Same when we went to Chicago. Unlike Atlanta, Boston, Seattlle, etc. the metro wasn't reliable and it was difficult to find in the airport anyway. We just used Lyft to get to Ukrainian village but staying on the Magnificent Mile there was plenty to do and it was walkable.
Be sure to read the fine print if you’re going out of state. I used kayak to get a better price but was charged PER MILE for going out of my tri-state area. Cost me hundreds more
Oh wow. Good to know
😯😯 WOW!!
How do they know where you’ve traveled
@@cman5337 I’m assuming the miles you put on the car I guess😨
@@cman5337 They probably have GPS tracking in their rentals - similar to the scooters you see in big cities.
Thank you for sharing!! I was a rental agent at Avis in the early 90’s and knew all the ins and outs, but since the internet, all the rules have changed.
Absolutely fantastic tips, Matt! Especially the photographic evidence tips. And always check your itemized bill BEFORE you pay! This topic gets so complicated (for me) that I'd watch this video 5 or 6 times, and take notes, before I even started researching. Really appreciate you!! Have a great day!
Matt has to have saved me more money than any person in my life. You’re an absolute legend!! For younger people like me trying to get an edge in my business this will really add up.
Turo host here… thanks for the shoutout. Turo is an excellent alternative to the big rental companies and you get to choose the EXACT car you’ll rent - not some nondescript class of car.
Turo is low-key expensive
@@PermanentHighit’s actually high key expensive
How expensive depends on what you’re getting, and who you’re renting from. Luckily, all that information is available upfront. We rented a Porsche for a week in LA, and our experience was fantastic. It was pricey, but not appreciably more than what we would’ve paid at a rental company for a regular vehicle.
I had an experience with a rental that got a crack in the windshield while I was using it. I was charged by the rental agency not only for repairs, but also loss of use. Since I had to pay for the new windshield anyway, I should have taken it to a repair shop myself before returning the car and skipped the loss of use fees.
I initially did a car rez 2 weeks ago at YYZ (Toronto's airport) for $404 CDN for 3 days-compact. Two days ago, it's now $225 CDN and you can always cancel without penalty. i will still check every 2-3 days for an even lower rate.
Be sure to check with the car rental place for rental dates. I had to rent on a same day when I was deployed for hurricane relief last year... I got to the airport...BIG SIGN ...no same day rentals...so I changed the date & picked up the next morning. But just double check 😊😊
6:35 - The problem with Turo is that they literally charge like 50% in fees over the cost of the rental.
yes, and watch the insurance caveats...
Thanks for the tips!!! Car rental prices are INSANE. I have saved and shared this with all my traveling friends! Thanks again for the GREAT content!!
Wow! I've rented cars for years & this year has been HORRIBLE!! My typical $200 car rental has gone to $700.00!!! Thank you for these tips
It is pretty insane what's happening with these prices
While it can be expensive, if you're not comfortable in the size of the car, I always recommend the extra insurance. I've driven little cars for most of my life and I needed a quick rental, they switched me to a truck at the last moment because of overbooking (I booked a sedan). I told them I was uncomfortable and they ignored it, andI took the insurance just in case. And I needed it! While still being super careful with the car, I did not under stand the turn radius and gouged a foot and a half long dent in the side of it from a tall concrete pole that was at turn corner in a tight parking lot. No cost to me besides the initial insurance. I felt bad, but told them the issue beforehand. All other rentals have been pretty ok though.
Great tips! For the airport hack you should have the return set to the airport itself for more convenience.
I have had good luck using the Alaska Airlines car rental section. The worst has been the Allegiant, which I only used once, as their prices seemed really good, but didn't include taxes and fees! Several months ago, visiting a friend in Montana, when picking up the rental, the tank didn't seem full, so I took a time stamped photo of the tank and the mileage and sure enough, a few miles down the road, I saw the tank really go down, so I pulled over and documented again. When returning with a full tank and receipt, I was credited with a full tank credit. Also, as you mentioned, being nice and polite pays benefits; when my return flight was cancelled, I was able to return to the car company and get a really good price for a couple more days. Thanks for the great tips!
Great video Matt! We rent cars all the time when traveling to save wear and tear and keep mileage down on our own vehicles. I'm always searching for savings and this video will DEFINITELY help us save even more. Some I already knew but others I had no idea of. Thank you bunches!! 😊
Renting cars sure has turned into a shitshow nowadays
Haven’t had any issues
@@CoupleDrinksWhat company do you use ? For instance, I need a vehicle to travel to Disney for a week. Going from New Jersey to Florida , about 1000 miles.
@@iTzGaMEtiME1 I’m Canadian but I always use Enterprise. I was just in Florida and used them there as well, no issue. I’ve used them in Europe and North America and have always had a great experience. I’ve also used Avis once last year as enterprise had none available, and it was good with them as well.
😂
Agreed 100$
You seriously make the best videos that are practical & useable for everyone. Thank you.
Thank you for watching!
Love Autoslash. For my next rental, I booked through Costco for $349. I then had Autoslash track it. Every week the price it has gone down a few dollars and today it’s $267 through Hertz. I rebook every time the price goes down, cancel the old reservation and have Autoslash track the new rental. BTW, there are also much cheaper rentals through agencies I’ve never heard of, but for me I’ll stick to major companies.
Agencies im interested lol
I always use Costco for rental cars. And I almost always rent from the airport. I've never had an issue with pick-up or drop-off. Definitely worth the membership if you travel a lot.
Im guessing you need the Costco membership to use that option correct? I have a membership at BJ's which is like Costco. I wonder if they offer something like that.
Hi, Matt! Great video! I was wondering if you would be interested in making one about how to figure out buying a car, all the basic tricks and tips, but also if buying used is actually cheaper than buying new (especially in today's economy!)?
Yes, please!
Great information on rentals Matt. Will definitely use in future. Thanks so much. Our favorite Deal Guy!!
The single most underrated thing when renting a car: Being nice. I'm always polite and I ask for an upgrade, and I almost always get it. I said renting a car, but being nice and polite is a good life hack for anything really.
I love your newer "regular" content, but I definitely have missed your original hack videos like this!!! Keep up the hard work, Matt!!
I always go to the airport for a car rental in Tampa is cheap no matter what car you get and walk-ins at enterprise in TPA have this chart price daily/weekly/monthly and boi it’s dirt cheap
Ugh! I just booked with Avis because they were cheaper but I wish I would've watched this first! I love your videos and appreciate the time you spend to make such useful content. I'm active duty so if you have an Amex Plat, your annual fee is waived and they do offer rental car insurance 😊
Thank you for your service Autumn’
Matt my wife and I love your videos. You are doing a fantastic job, I recommend your channel all the time and it has helped me and my friends save a lot of money. Keep up the work. It is greatly appreciated.
thanks Deal Guy, you nailed it with this one. They do try to confuse you to the best of their ability. Totally important to NEVER drop the ride off later than picking it up - you will pay an extra day. Rental companies sell in bulk to travel web sites like expedia - and apparently Costco - who will be more willing to flog it cheaper than Hertz or Avis, which have already sold the rentals on. Ready for my next vacation! Thanks again
Thanks for the info. I wanted to mention if not renting ditectly from the airport, please check the hours of operation of the rental location. I was in the Caribbean and chose this option and when I tried to return the vehicle it was closed. Thankfully I had a good gap in my airport time but it could have been an issue. I never thought about it since the airport location didn't close.
On an unscheduled business trip, landed in New Orleans and was unable to find a rental on or off airport. Called Home Depot and reserved a pick up truck. Problem solved.
Great information. Thank you for sharing.
It seems like car rental companies always offer me upgrades because they don't have enough vehicles. But be careful with the updates. For example, we booked a minivan once because we have 7 ppl. They offer us a 3 row SUV upgrade at no extra charge. This seems like a good deal. But while the 3 row SUV also has 7 seats, it hardly has room for our luggage and the 3rd row seats are very uncomfortable. Plus, its gas mileage is much worse than a minivan.
Another time, I booked a sedan and they gave me a free upgrade to an SUV. I own SUVs at home and love driving them. But when vacationing, I prefer a sedan so I can hide my stuff in the trunk while parking during the trip.
Tip for parking at LAX. If you park in the center parking it will cost $60/day. You can ask my wife how we know that one. Save yourself lots of money and book ahead of time somewhere nearby with shuttle service lol
The Parking Spot is a pretty good, secure place to park at LAX. We only park there.
I have done alot of domestic traveling and its not always true that you will get a lower rate if you book farther out. That does not always apply as the rates are not just based on "time and availability" but also if the market is slow (economic trends, ect).
Dare I say this is the best, most valuable video to date! Thanks again Matt! Incredibly useful information and learned several new tricks
Costco has always been great for us, sometimes more than half.
I’m a big fan of Turo. I’ve been using them for years now. I think you could make a full video on them tbh
Turo is great!!
I was wondering if anyone has used them AND what that experience is like. I'm sure there are some nightmare experiences (when people are involved, anything can happen), but overall it should be pretty good. What i wonder is IF you can negotiate rates with the owners?
@@heswatchnuYes. Me. First off make sure of the mileage limit. It's often 200 miles. Then they charge extra.
Also: I once rented a car for two months. When I returned it, he said everything was fine. One week later I received a damage report. He had several pictures with "damages" you couldn't even see. He literally had pictures of him pointing at the damages and there still was nothing to see. A few bumps on top of that. Good thing I took pictures and videos proving the bumps were not there when I dropped the car of. Turo canceled his account. A few days later it was back up with a different name. My account was then canceled a month later. No explanation.
This was genius! Thank you Matt for all your hard work and trying to save us money!
Amazing! I was trying to get a good rental deal for an upcoming trip. Your video was perfectly timed! You just saved me about $400! Thank you and bye bye!
Got to lax @ 12:30 am friday morning. Probably 50 people waiting and we were told no cars for at least 3-6 hours. We had paid for rental and decided to uber to where we were going and did without a car. these companies need to be regulated like airlines and not overbook without compensation.
Find out when you get to the counter if your company has a discount. If you have business card, email or id your rate could be half. This comes in handy because those rates are always the same. Even around the holidays.
5:30 in my experience, renting from airport, was always cheaper. I’ve never seen a better rate outside airports.
LOVE THIS! I just extended my Costco Minivan rental from 3 days to 6 days and it ended up being $44 cheaper overall ❤❤❤
Did you return it in 3 days even tho signed up for 6 toget the discount rate? If so, did they honor the price?
@@rolsonayita50 we ended up keeping the minivan for the entire 6 days
Greetings James. May I ask which company did you rent your minivan from?
Once you leave the airport it’s a whole different price bracket. I strongly suggest it for everyone. I did not know about the Costco hack. Definitely will be using that in the future. Thanks Matt! 😊
In NY it's the opposite, airport is cheaper 10 out of 10 times. I used to rent on weekends instead of using taxis, always was just cheaper to go to the airport and renting there. I know in Florida, locals get treated worse (bigger deposits and mile restrictions, etc.)
It's not always the case. I've experienced it both ways. Just need to confirm with the auto agency app or online portal prior to pulling the trigger.
Have you ever done one for booking hotels?
Awesome just used autoalash to save on my rental in Honolulu in early July vs the Costco rental reservation I had. 287 total with autoalash/Priceline/Hertz Ford focus vs 350 with Costco/budget.
I had to go through the pain of going through a repair on a rental. It was just a stupid crack in the windshield. Like you said, the credit card is only supplemental to your car insurance. I did make sure my car insurance does carry rental car insurance, so I'm not paying the exorbitant rates at the car rental. The car insurance pays everything up to your deductible, and then the credit card ends up paying your deductible. Therefore, i was out no money, but you still had to go through the hassle of all the paperwork.
*The Deal Guy* Bravo well done, thank-you sir for taking the time to create this type of content. GOD Bless.
Thanks for watching!
Thanks for this! Great hacks as always. Can you do the same for those wanting to do courier work and need to do monthly rentals for cargo vans? How would you go about finding the cheapest rates for larger hauling vehicles like cargo vans and box trucks?
We happened upon this video the day we were flying out to Colorado. We used AutoSlash & saved over $500 for a rental through Avis! THANKS SO MUCH!
Tried the hacks inside this video and did end up saving almost $50 for a week long trip to Orlando in over a month... Good stuff..
I envy you doing your due diligence looking for all this information. I’ve tried doing something similar but you sir are in god level
We've used the Amex rental insurance, and the two claims we had to file - both times we were hit while parked! - were very very easy. A couple of pictures uploaded with an online form, and that was it. And we have that with a no-fee Amex card.
At 6:26 you said it would be cheaper to venture away from the airport to rent a car but in the graphics, it shows that it would be cheaper at the airport if you look at the graphic on the right it shows pick up at Atlanta Airport for 802.99 pay later but on the right it shows the Loews hotel for 1233.99 for pay later. Not sure if this was an editing error but it's confusing
I am blown away by these tips! I am preparing to travel and it will be my second time getting a rental...like ever lol! Thank you for all of these tips!! You helped me save big time!!
Truly Outstanding In Depth Comprehensive Research Job... Thank you so very much for exploring numerous aspects to renting a car... Your presentation was spot on!! This video should set the gold standard to research and presentation... Again thank you so much!!
Great info. Have to earmark this for future!
Hello Mr deal guy. Can you please cover how to save money on hotel stay. Thank you
The option through Costco is it a one time thing. We got a discount on the first reservation. We tried to make another reservation and the price nearly doubled.
Always get the loss damage waiver or partial damage waiver. Any thing happens you sign the incident report and be on your way.
Yes someone hit my rental at Disneyland lmao
Always decline the loss damage waiver. Your credit card likely already covers it.
@@zacker150whaaat
@holmeselectric9 Most credit cards provide a benefit that pays for any damage to a rental car after your car insurance. Some cards, like the Venture X provide primary insurance that doesn't require you going through your car insurance first.
Pull up your card's guide to benefits and check to see if you have it.
@@zacker150 Is that not only if you have comp and collision?
Tip 6. Same goes for Denver airport that has a huge airport tax on car rentals. Take the train to the downtown area to pick up a car and drop it off at the airport (no extra charge)
For anyone doing that, always make sure to check renter requirements at the non-airport location first! So many folks end up not being able to pick up due to only having a debit card and being from out of state, etc.
@jenbrown5307 This. Getting a credit card saves a lot of hassle. If you can't get a real credit card try getting a secured one. They usually have $200 credit (which is often the security deposit) so you'll have to overpay it to the amount needed. That should work.
Thank you! I spend hours doing all these comparisons whenever I rent a car.
Great video. Can you please do a video on car ride apps like Uber and Lyft. I'd love to learn how to save money on apps like Uber and Lyft.
Go early to drop off or sit 35 mins after your flight LANDS to pick up the car. Check to see what their "grace period" drop off time is and you can work that!
Thanks for the Autoslash tip. I'm bookmarking them and will check them out next time I travel and need a car.
As a general rule, auto rental companies charge you by the day. Consequently, if the return time is even 30 mins later than the pick-up time, you will be billed for that time differential as a complete day. The same is usually true for parking garages, while they ALSO charge by the calendar day rather than 24hr clock. Meaning, if you park today at noon and depart tomorrow at noon, you will be charged for (2) days.
Great to know all of this information as I have had to rent a car 4x in the past few months.
So an FYI on going to pick-up a car from outside the airport. It can save lots of money but it can get scary. My brother in-law did this in Toronto and his pick-up wasn't in a good neighborhood. So picking up at 10pm was a very interesting experience to say the least.
We are drowning in snow here but it's ok because I get to watch The Deal Guy 👋
Smothered in snow?
@@653j521 yes 80 inches and counting
Great video.
Another question I, have for you.
I'm confused.
So, does the company called, "Transfercar" pay you for actually transferring a car from one location to another?
Or,
Are they just allowing you the PRIVILEGE of using the car for the length of time that it takes you to drive the car or RV to the requested pick up location, for the next customer?
I didn't hear you mention it in this video but how do you feel about pre-paying the gas? My last couple times I rented a car, I pre-paid the gas. When I flew out to Arizona the guy at the rental place told me the gas there was something diabolical like $9 a gallon and he suggested I pre-pay to avoid paying what the gas stations was charging.
silly question, but why would you want to be upgraded? I am ask that question and offered the free upgrade every single time I rent a car of course I always turn it down because when you are upgraded, it's usually a larger car which will cost you more gas to fill it up...... also, I agree with you. I have always videotaped a walk around and look through the car just to make sure I am never charged for somebody else's damage.
Great information. It is confusing all the prices on car rentals. This helps to know how to go about getting the best rate. I’m keeping this video for future reference. Thanks. Would you consider doing the same type of video for booking airline tickets? And maybe one for hotels?it can take me days trying to find the best deal and I don’t really know all the best ways to get deals.
Watching half way and I already forwarded it to my husband 😂😊
It would’ve been very unfortunate if I went out to Florida with my dad’s side of the family today because I definitely would’ve missed all of these pretty cool car rental hacks and money saving tips
Costco travel. You can cancel and rebook with no penalty. Also you don’t have to pay upfront
Great info on this one Matt! Thx for all you do!
Thank you for sharing this information. Have a great week.
2 weeks ago I ended up using Turo instead of using a regular Rental company. 4 days $300 for a van VS Alamo for $600 for a truck that was the cheapest vehicle available
Turo at times isn’t less expensive at times, though
What if you total their car? Do they have insurance for that? Or you could just walk away Where the a rental place has insurance for that.
Excellent information!! Thank you!
The AutoSlash hack was gold. Got a local rental for $30 less AND no extra charge for a second driver. Thanks!
Cheaper than both these and with more protection is renting through Costco and you can cancel for free up to that day. Also, if you rent one, then check back a couple of times, you will often get it at an even lower price. And you are protected by Costco.
I'm renting a car in Vegas next month, thank you for this information!
One thing I'd be very clear on with the Amex Platinum coverage: It is also secondary coverage _unless_ you pay for the flat rate $19.95 per rental premium coverage they provide. The Chase Sapphire Preferred/Reserve, and US Bank Altitude Reserve are primary insurance as base included with the annual fee.
I just got the Sapphire card (they roped me in with a seemingly really good sign up bonus) so that's wonderful news
are you implying that Amex Platinum coverage provides zero insurance coverage unless you pay for the $19.95 rental car premium coverage through Avis or Costco? Also, to be further clear, the Amex Platinum coverage coverage will not ever work as primary insurance, ever? And if you don't have primary insurance, they will not provide any insurance??
@manp1039 The AmEx Plat has secondary coverage for rentals as base (i.e. your own car insurance is primary), if you pay the $19.95 though it becomes primary coverage.
I had already made a reservation for the week of July 4th. After watching this video, I was able to immediately make a new reservation for almost $300 less and cancel the old one. Thank you!
Matt, you’ve outdone yourself with this video!🎉🎉. So much great content. Thank you so very much ❤🎉❤
Many credit cards offer primary car rental insurance rather than secondary. With secondary youll probably have to pay your deductible if you file a collision claim!
I LOVE your videos! VERY helpful in saving money! Thanks for all your great tips :)
Thank you thank you thank you for the updated one
this info is invaluable to me! thank you!
Thank you Matt this couldn't have come at a better time, It's like you read my mind. Love your videos
Never pre-pay. It doesn't guarantee they will have one for you. Always call the location directly if possible usually local not airport. They usually have manager specials which are usually cheaper then published rates.
Wow! Thank you and God Bless You. This is such valuable information! I rent cars often, so I can use this info right away !!!
Is Transfercar service a one-way deal only? I know some RV rentals will offer discounts for one-ways so that they don't have to ship vehicles to and from destinations where their customers can do it for them. The catch is that it's usually always one-way.