What Day of the Week Is the Best To Rent a Car?

What Day of the Week Is the Best To Rent a Car - Value Rental Car

Whether you’re traveling for business or pleasure, renting a car is an essential part of any trip. However, most legacy car rental companies have confusing pricing policies that can change without warning. Even your vehicle options can be limited without an obvious cause or notice. If you want the best deal it’s important to know what day of the week is the best to rent a car. Here’s a quick rundown of the best times to rent a car so you can get the vehicle you want for the best price.

How Do I Get the Best Prices?

If you’re planning a vacation or business trip, don’t wait until the last minute to book a rental car. A good rule of thumb for renting a vehicle is to book at least two weeks in advance. In some areas on the East Coast it’s beneficial to book almost a month in advance.

If you’re unable to book in advance and have to rent a car a car within a few days, try renting in the weekend. Most traditional vehicle rental agencies have different weekday and weekend rates. In some cases, the weekend rates can be almost half their regular daily price. This is because fewer people rent on the weekend than during any other time. There’s also a good chance that you’ll get a free upgrade to a better vehicle on the weekend.

Keep in mind that other factors can change the daily price of your rental vehicle. Many companies charge a fee for extra drivers. However, if you’re married there’s a good chance your spouse is covered in the standard rate. You should also double check your car insurance before buying the insurance sold at the rental counter. In some cases, your personal car insurance will cover the rental car. If you do need rental insurance, make sure you’re not buying more than you actually need. Large car rental companies make a lot of money on insurance policies that aren’t required to get on the road.

How do I Get the Vehicle I Want?

What Day of the Week Is the Best To Rent a Car - Car Keys

A single car rental location can serve dozens of customers per day. With that many people renting and returning cars daily the sooner you book your vehicle the better. When you make a reservation in advance, there will be a wide selection of vehicles. Again, booking at least two weeks in advance will give you the best options.

If you don’t have the luxury of booking weeks in advance, don’t worry. Make sure you get to the car rental agency early in the day. If you arrive before noon, there’s a good chance you’ll get a wider selection of vehicles at a better price.

When you reserve a vehicle in advance, be sure to get there at the designated time. If you’re late, the rental company won’t keep your reservation waiting around for you. Many legacy car rental companies have a policy that if you’re more than an hour or two late for pickup, they will rent your vehicle to a different customer.

Some Things You Should Know

Whether you rent two weeks ahead of time, or on a specific day, here are a few tips to make sure you get the best prices and service.

Whenever possible, you should book your rental directly from the car rental location you’re going to.  Call the location first to see if they’re running any special promotions or offer discounts for booking directly with them. After that, check the rates on their car rental website. Book though whichever is cheaper. Car rental agencies are often franchised, so every location can have different policies and promotions at different times. Cover your bases before booking to get the best price.

If you’re flying into a major city, avoid car rental franchises inside the airport. Their rates are often the highest of anywhere in the local area. When you get off a long flight the last thing you want to do is shop around for a rental car. Airport car rental locations take advantage of that by charging additional fees and higher rates than their nearby counterparts. You’ll save a considerable amount by taking a taxi to a nearby independent car rental agency and picking up your vehicle from there.

What Day of the Week is the Best to Rent a Car?

At Value Rental Car, every day is the best day to rent a car. Our independent locations in Inglewood and Pasadena offer competitively priced rentals for drivers of all budgets. We also offer cash rentals and rentals for drivers under 21. Take advantage of our complimentary pickup and drop-off to skip the lines and get on the road today.

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