Last Updated on January 12, 2025 by Kristin
While renting a car seems straightforward, many people end up paying more than they should. Whether it’s racking up unnecessary extra charges or missing out on significant discounts, there are plenty of ways to unnecessarily hike the price of your car rental bill. The good news is that with just a little bit of planning, these added costs are usually easy to skirt. Here are some common mistakes to avoid if you don’t want to make your rental car more expensive.
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Paying too much for the CDW
One of the most common mistakes when renting a car is overpaying for the rental car company’s collision damage waiver (CDW) or additional insurance products. This often happens because the renter is not aware of how much coverage they already have. At between $20-30 per day, the CDW can add up extremely quickly. In many cases, you can safely decline the CDW from the rental company and rely on your personal auto policy or a credit card benefit.
Buying unnecessary extra insurance
The agent at the counter may also push other types of insurance products that you may not need. For example, supplemental liability insurance (SLI) might be unnecessary if you have sufficient coverage through your personal auto plan. Similarly, your homeowners insurance policy may render the rental company’s extra Personal Effects Coverage (PEC) unnecessary. Always do your homework in advance to understand insurance laws in the state in which you’re renting, and know what your personal policy or credit card covers.
Accepting too many optional add-ons
Another common mistake that quickly increases your rental bill is adding on too many extras. Before checking out, you’ll be offered an array of added options ranging from satellite radio, mobile wi-fi hotspots and extra insurance products. Reconsider whether you really need these products.
Prepaying for gas
Overpaying for fuel can also make your rental car more expensive. Before you drive off the rental car lot, the agent will likely ask if you’d like to prepay for gas. Accepting this offer is usually a bad idea. The per-gallon price rental car companies will charge is more than what you would pay at a local gas station, and you’d need to return a nearly empty tank to get your money’s worth. The only time where prepaying for gas may be a good idea is if you think you might not have time to fill up the tank at a gas station before dropoff or simply do not want the hassle of having to make an extra stop. In other words, prepaying for gas typically means that you’re paying a premium for convenience.
Instead, decline the prepaid gas. But always take a picture of the dashboard showing the mileage and fuel level at the time of return, and save your receipt from your last fill-up. These proofs can come in handy if you get hit with a wrongful refueling charge.
Forgetting to document the vehicle’s condition
Another unwanted scenario is finding a surprise charge on the final bill for mystery damages. Luckily, this is avoidable. Before and after you take possession of the vehicle, make sure to take detailed photos of the inside and outside of the rental car for your records. It’s crucial to note even the smallest scratch, scuff, ding or upholstery tear. Keep the photos for at least a few months after the final bill arrives, just to make sure you do not encounter any unwanted surprises.
Not taking a photo of the car’s dashboard
Just like you should take photos of the car’s interior and exterior before returning it to avoid false damage charges, it’s also important to take a photo of the vehicle’s dashboard. First, it shows the mileage when you returned the car, which is important if your rental agreement has a mileage limit. Taking a photo of the dashboard also shows how much fuel was in the car before turning over the keys. A photo will come in handy if the rental company incorrectly adds extra fees for insufficient fuel later on. In addition, a dashboard photo can show that there were no maintenance lights illuminated when you returned the car.
Not taking advantage of all your membership discounts
Another huge mistake is passing up discounts and special rates you’re entitled to. Chances are you have a membership that provides a discount on car rentals or have the right to special rates through school or work. Costco, the American Automobile Association (AAA) and the American Association of Retired Persons (AARP) are just some of the organizations that provide members with double-digit discounts. When you request a quote from AutoSlash, we automatically factor in all your memberships and apply eligible discounts to your quote.
Only checking one pickup location
Another common mistake when renting a car is not checking multiple locations. Rentals at airport locations, for example, typically incur special taxes and fees that neighborhood rental offices often do not charge. The price difference can be striking, even when factoring in the extra cost of transportation to get to an alternative location. So, always check both on-airport and off-airport locations and weigh the difference in cost versus convenience.
Pro Tip: Reserving a one-way rental, picking up off-airport and returning to the airport, can be a great way to save on taxes and fees and still have the convenience of returning the car back to the airport for your trip home. Just keep in mind that off-airport locations typically have more limited hours than the airport.
Forgetting to add your flight information to a reservation
When renting a car at an airport location, you should see a spot to add your flight number. While the extra step of looking up your ticket can seem like a small detail, do not skip this step. Rental car companies use this information to know when delayed flights are coming in and stay open late to wait for customers. If you do not add your flight information, the rental office may not stay open for you. They may even record that you were a no-show, which can mean extra charges and severely limit your options for getting a last-minute reservation at the same price.
Not being flexible on your pickup time
Being willing to adjust your pickup time can reap huge dividends. When requesting a quote from AutoSlash, try the so-called “half-hour hack:” Ask for a quote with your desired pickup time at, say, 9 am; then request a second quote for a pickup time one half hour earlier, 8:30 am, or later, at 9:30 am. We’ve noticed that this experiment can often result in a big price drop. Likewise, if your dates are flexible, try checking a few different dates to see how much prices can vary.
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Not joining the rental car loyalty program
Not joining the club can make your rental car more expensive. Signing up for a rental car loyalty program is free, easy and often provides special perks, and yet many renters leave it all on the table. Signing up for the rental car company’s loyalty program not only ensures that special promo codes end up in your inbox, but offers the possibility of nabbing free rental days or being able to skip the line and waive additional driver fees.
No understanding toll pass gotchas
Purchasing a toll pass over the counter can add a significant sum to your rental bill. Now that many states have turned to electronic tolling, paying in cash at a toll booth is no longer an option everywhere. When renting a car, you have two choices — pay extra to use the rental car’s transponder, toll sticker or pay-by-plate enrollment, or figure out how to pay tolls on your own. If you’re already familiar with the local roads, you may be able to use your own toll transponder and avoid these charges.
But be forewarned — if a cashless toll camera snaps a photo of the rental car’s license plate and you didn’t opt for the rental company’s toll program, the company will likely pass the bill onto you along with a hefty extra fee. Every state handles tolls differently, so make sure to understand how you’ll pay for these charges before picking up the rental car.
Pulling a no-show or late return
Car rental companies may ding you for turning in the car later than agreed or forgetting to cancel a prepaid reservation. Pre-paying for a car rental and not showing up can cost up to a big loss. Believe it or not, turning in a car early can also carry an extra charge at some companies. So be sure to keep the rental car company in the loop about any changes to your reservation—especially if you prepaid.
Not getting a receipt when you drop off the car
Sometimes the last thing we want to do is wait around for a receipt when we have a flight to catch. But getting a receipt when you drop off the rental is crucial to avoid headaches and prove that you returned the car. While rental car companies often allow after-hours drop-offs, administrative or technical mix-ups do happen. The rental car company may accidentally register that you returned a car late or — even worse — not at all. Getting a receipt after dropping off the rental is also important because it can help quickly resolve any issues with unexpected charges on the spot. If you’re already at the rental office, it’s much easier to track down an agent who can help resolve a disputed charge in the moment instead of dealing with it weeks later on the phone.
Not following up on adjusted charges
While you should get a bill after returning the car, it may not be a final bill as rental car companies can tack on extra charges well after you return the vehicle. These charges are often related to damages, cleaning fees or insufficient fuel levels. You should always check your credit card and debit card statements to ensure not only that you did not get charged more than you bargained for, but to make sure you received your security deposit back. If you paid with a debit card, it could take several weeks for those funds to be delivered back into your account.
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