Renting a car will allow you to travel at your own pace and you can explore every area of any city or town. Many people will rent a car at the airport because it is a quick and convenient way to start your adventure. Is it cheaper to rent a car at the airport, however?
The truth is it is almost always more expensive to rent a car at the airport compared to the rental company’s downtown counterpart. Convenience comes at a cost, and rental companies know tired travellers just want to get in the car and be on their way. Additionally, airports charge rental car companies to operate on their site, and the rental company will pass on these costs to the customers to make up for these fees.
How much money can you save with an off-airport car rental?
You can save quite a bit of money if you do not rent a car directly at the airport. In addition to savings, you may experience the following benefits if you choose to book a rental car offsite:
You might save time
While it may seem like renting a car at the airport is the fastest way to get started on your adventure, not all rental cars are located on-site. Many people assume they can walk straight from their gate to the rental car counter to receive the keys to the rental car, but this is not always the case, and some airports have a shuttle ride to the rental car facility.
If multiple big flights land simultaneously, you may face a very long line at the rental car counter, and it may be faster to hail a cab to rent a car off-site.
You will only pay for the days you need a car
Renting a car directly from the airport means you will be charged right away for the rental. This may not make sense if you only need a rental car for a portion of your trip. If you can get to your hotel with public transit, you will not need to pay for a car for additional days and can rent the car from the downtown location on the day you need it. This will result in savings, and you won’t have to worry about a rental car for a longer period than what you require.
This will also help you save on parking fees because you won’t need to find a place to park your rental car, which means you can avoid paying for unnecessary rental car days and parking charges, too!
Renting a Car at the Airport
It is important to consider your situation to determine which option makes sense. Sometimes, picking up your rental car immediately upon landing may be the better option, and you must decide whether this is the best way to proceed.
Savings are important, but convenience is also important, and you have to consider your travel plans to see which option makes more sense. Some off-site car rental locations have limited hours, whereas airport locations are often open 24/7. Fewer operating hours may affect your plans, and it may be better to rent a car at the airport in these situations.
You will still need to find a way to the off-site location, which can be challenging if there is no free hotel shuttle or easy public transportation. Having to take a taxi can eat into your travelling budget, and you may be better off renting a car at the airport.
Finally, off-site locations are not always cheaper, and you must compare costs to determine how much you will save. If the difference is minimal, you can go ahead and rent your car directly at the airport, but if you see the savings are significant, you can plan to rent a car from the company’s off-site location.
If you decide to rent a car from the airport, try booking last minute because while this is a gamble, you can sometimes save money. Booking one week in advance can lead to cheaper car rental prices than booking months in advance. You can also join loyalty programs to enjoy benefits and priority pricing.
Always analyze prices from different car rental companies to determine who is offering the cheapest rates.
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