Book directly with the rental company, not through a third-party site
The lowest price you see on Kayak, Expedia, or Autoslash is often not the lowest price available. Third-party booking sites take a commission from the rental company, and that cost gets passed to you. When you book directly on Enterprise, Hertz, Avis, Budget, or Alamo's own website, you remove that middleman markup — sometimes by $10 to $30 per day depending on location and season.
Direct booking also gives you a clearer view of what you're actually paying. Third-party sites sometimes hide fees in the fine print or show a price that changes at checkout. When you book on the rental company's site, the total price is what you pay, and you can see exactly which fees explore to your reservation.
One exception: if you have a membership discount code from your employer, credit card company, or loyalty program, check whether that code works on the third-party site before you assume direct booking is cheaper. Some codes only work through specific channels.
Key Takeaways
- Booking directly on the rental company's website usually costs less than booking through Kayak, Expedia, or similar sites because you avoid the third-party commission.
- Decline the insurance offered at the counter if your personal auto policy or credit card already covers rental cars — this is often where rental companies make their profit.
- Rent from an off-airport location instead of the airport terminal, which typically charges a 10 to 15 percent facility fee on top of the daily rate.
- Return the car with a full tank of gas; rental companies charge $6 to $8 per gallon for fuel they add themselves, far more than you pay at a pump.
- Book on a Tuesday or Wednesday for weekend travel, and avoid peak travel dates like holidays and school breaks when rates spike.
Skip the rental company's insurance if your own coverage already applies
The rental counter agent will offer you collision damage waiver (CDW), loss damage waiver (LDW), or supplemental liability coverage. These are expensive — often $15 to $30 per day — and they are usually redundant. Before you rent, check whether your personal auto insurance policy covers rental cars. Most standard policies do, though some exclude certain vehicle types or rental locations.
If your personal policy does not cover rentals, check your credit card. Many premium credit cards (especially those with annual fees) include rental car coverage as a cardholder benefit. Call the card issuer's customer service line and ask whether the card covers collision, theft, and liability for rental cars. Write down the coverage limits and what you need to do to set up it — usually this means charging the entire rental to that card.
If neither your auto insurance nor your credit card covers rentals, then buying the rental company's insurance makes sense. But if you already have coverage, declining it at the counter saves hundreds of dollars over a week-long rental.
Rent from an off-airport location instead of the terminal
Airport rental locations charge a facility fee — typically 10 to 15 percent of your daily rate — on top of the base rental price. A $50-per-day car becomes $57.50 to $57.50 per day just because you picked it up at the airport. Over a week, that's $35 to $52 in fees that have nothing to do with the car itself.
Instead, rent from a location a few miles away from the airport. You can take a rideshare, taxi, or rental shuttle to reach it, and the savings on the facility fee often exceed what you spend on transportation. Use Google Maps or the rental company's location finder to see which off-airport branches are closest to the airport terminal, then call or check the website to confirm their hours and whether they have the car type you need.
This strategy works best if you are renting for three days or longer. For a one-day rental, the transportation cost to an off-airport location might eat up the savings.
Return the car with a full tank to avoid inflated fuel charges
Rental companies charge $6 to $8 per gallon when they refuel a car you return empty or partially empty. You pay $3 to $4 per gallon at any gas station. The difference is substantial — returning a car on empty can cost you $40 to $60 in fuel charges alone.
Before you return the car, fill the tank at a gas station near the rental location, not near the airport or in an unfamiliar area where prices are higher. Some rental companies offer a prepaid fuel option at the time of booking — you pay a set price per gallon upfront, usually closer to market rate. If the rental company offers this, calculate whether it's cheaper than filling the tank yourself. It often is, especially if you are unsure how much fuel you will use.
Check your rental agreement for the fuel policy. Some companies charge a flat refueling fee ($15 to $20) plus per-gallon charges if you return the car empty. Knowing the exact penalty helps you decide whether to fill the tank yourself or use the prepaid option.
Book on Tuesday or Wednesday for weekend travel
Rental rates fluctuate based on demand. Rates are typically lowest on Tuesday and Wednesday, when fewer people are booking travel. If you need a car for a weekend trip, book it on a Tuesday or Wednesday rather than waiting until Friday. You will lock in a lower rate even though you are not picking up the car until Saturday.
Avoid booking during peak travel periods: school holidays, major holidays like Thanksgiving and Christmas, spring break, and summer vacation weeks. Rates during these periods can double or triple compared to off-season weeks. If you have flexibility on your travel dates, moving your trip by even a few days can save significantly.
Set up price alerts on the rental company's website or use a tool like Hotwire or Priceline to track rates for your dates. Some tools let you see how prices have moved over the past week, which helps you decide whether to book now or wait a few days.
Choose an economy or compact car instead of an upgrade
The rental counter will often offer you an upgrade to a mid-size or full-size car for a small additional fee — sometimes $5 to $10 per day. Declining the upgrade saves money, and the smaller car uses less fuel, which saves more. Economy and compact cars are also easier to park in tight urban spaces.
The only reason to accept an upgrade is if the base car you reserved is not available and the company offers the upgrade at no charge as compensation. Otherwise, stick with what you booked.
Use a membership discount or loyalty program
If you rent cars regularly, join the loyalty program of one or two rental companies. Enterprise Plus, Hertz Gold Plus, Avis Preferred, and Budget Fastbreak are free to join and offer benefits like shorter checkout lines, discounted rates, and the ability to skip the counter entirely on return. The discounts are usually 10 to 20 percent off the base rate.
If you belong to AAA, AARP, or a military or government employee organization, check whether they have negotiated rental discounts. These discounts sometimes stack with loyalty program rates, though you should verify this before booking. Enter your membership number during checkout to see whether the discount applies.
Frequently Asked Questions
Is it cheaper to rent a car for a week or to rent by the day?
Weekly rates are almost always cheaper per day than daily rates. A car that costs $60 per day rented for one day might cost $35 per day when rented for a week. If you need a car for five or more days, ask the rental company for a weekly rate quote even if you plan to return it before seven days are up.
Should I buy the extra insurance if I have never rented a car before?
Not unless your personal auto insurance or credit card does not cover rentals. Call your insurance company or credit card issuer before you rent to confirm what is covered. If you have coverage, you do not need to buy the rental company's insurance. If you do not have coverage, then yes, buy it.
What happens if I return the car late?
Late fees vary by company but typically range from $25 to $75 per hour or a portion of a day's rental rate. Some companies charge a flat fee for returns up to a certain number of hours late. Check your rental agreement for the exact late fee policy, and plan to return the car during business hours to avoid surprise charges.
Can I save money by renting a car for one day instead of using a rideshare?
It depends on the distance and your local rideshare prices. For a single trip across town, rideshare is usually cheaper. For a full day of driving or multiple stops, a rental car often costs less. Compare the total cost of rideshare for all your trips that day against the rental rate plus fuel and parking before you decide.
Do I have to use the rental company's gas station to fill up before returning?
No. You can fill up at any gas station. The rental company only cares that the tank is full when you return it. Fill up at a regular gas station where prices are lowest, not at a branded station near the rental location.