Is It Much better to Bring or Rent a Child Seat for Your Rental Auto?

Planning a family road trip? You might be wondering if it is better to bring or rent a car seat. Rental car companies have plenty of car seats on hand—infant, toddler and booster. But they come at a steep cost. Happily, there are several ways to get a car seat for free if you plan ahead.

Renting a Car Seat From a Rental Car Company

The first thing you might consider when weighing whether to bring or rent a car seat is money. If you rent a car seat from the rental car company, be prepared to pay through the nose. Rental car companies charge $10-$15 per day, per seat, plus tax. These fees can add up quickly, especially if you have more than one child. Also, don’t forget that there’s tax on top of that as well.

Thankfully, most companies have a maximum charge per rental for each seat, with the Enterprise, National, and Alamo coming in lowest at $66 per rental, Avis and Budget at $70, and Hertz, Dollar, and Thrifty being the most expensive at $98 per rental. For that amount of money, you could buy a brand new car seat and not have to deal with the germs and dirt of a hundred previous renters.

Child Safety Seats From Rental Car Companies

Depending on the booking channel, a car seat may be able to be requested at the time of booking, though requests aren’t guaranteed, and the fee to rent the car seat will not be included in the quote provided by the rental car company. To maximize the chance of having a car seat available for your trip, we recommend calling the rental car company directly after you book to have it added to your reservation.

Forget to book a car seat in advance? Don’t sweat it. Rental car companies tend to have a ton of child safety seats on hand because, like most services offered by commission-based agents at the rental car counter, they are highly profitable.

Note that due to the potential liability of incorrectly installed car seats, most rental car companies forbid staff from helping to install child safety seats. Really. Instead, they are likely to place the car seat loose inside the car or even on top of the car and give parents installation instructions. The bottom line: If you’re putting a car seat in a rental car, you must be prepared to install it yourself.

Free Car Seats in Rental Cars for AAA Members

There are two ways for AAA members to get a free car seat with a rental car. The first is available only if you’re renting from one of the companies under Hertz Global Holdings (Dollar, Hertz, and Thrifty) in the United States and Canada. When renting from one of these companies, a AAA member is entitled to the waiver of the fee for one child safety seat. Note that your rental car must be booked under the AAA rate code, which is likely not the lowest rate available. Also, you must present your AAA membership card when you pick up the car.

Want to booked under the AAA rate code? After entering a quote request, simply contact us to let us know need to be booked under the AAA rate code and that you want a free car seat.

The second possibility for AAA members comes as a benefit at some of the regional affiliates. AAA is actually a consortium of these affiliates. Some—but not all—affiliates offer loaner car seats. You would need to confirm availability by calling the local AAA affiliate. Of course, this benefit is only available for AAA members.

Free Car Seats in Rental Cars for National PTA Members

Are you a member of the National PTA? The group also has an affiliation with Hertz that allows a free car seat when booked under the National PTA’s CDP code. Members of the organization can send us an email at support@autoslash.com when booking under CDP code 1929580. Membership in the PTA is ordinarily cheaper than the AAA, but the AAA offers a multitude of other great benefits. Be aware that the rental car company staff could ask for proof of PTA membership at the time of pickup, just like with any other membership organization that entitles a user to benefits.

Bringing Your Own Car Seat for a Rental Car

Does your trip include flying in a plane with a child under the age of 2? It may make more sense to simply bring your own car seat.

According to FAA guidelines, a child under 2 may be held on the lap of an adult—however the recommendation is for the child to be restrained in a car seat with two labels stating the following in red lettering:

“This child restraint system conforms to all applicable Federal motor vehicle safety standards,” and “THIS RESTRAINT IS CERTIFIED FOR USE IN MOTOR VEHICLES AND AIRCRAFT”

Even if you don’t plan to use your car seat on the plane, every U.S. airline will allow you to check your car seat for free.

When considering whether to bring or rent a car seat, the advantages of bringing your own car seat are obvious. Your child has access to an appropriate seat from the start of the trip to the end. You, the parent, are familiar with the seat and your child knows the seat. Also, your seat may be of higher quality than one offered by the rent car company, which will not have bought the most expensive option.

Frequently Asked Questions

What does my car insurance include for rental cars abroad?

As part of their policy coverage, insurance companies are increasing covering rentals in countries other than the United States. You may be able to get insurance coverage for damage or loss caused by renting a car in Europe from Hertz. Mexico is no different. Some policies offer additional protections, such as waivers for liability and collision damages. These types of policies can be discussed with your agent.

How can I rent an automobile in another country?

A rental agency like Europcar, Avis or Hertz is the best way to accomplish this. These agencies offer services for both short-term rentals, and long-term leases.

They provide customer support 24 hours a day, 7 nights a week.

They don’t require any prior experience to rent from you. They provide insurance and breakdown protection. All you have to do is know where to find them and when they will be there.

Can I rent an automobile and drive around Europe by renting it?

Yes, you can. You will need to make a reservation for an organized tour, and then pay for each day separately. There are many companies that offer these tours.

If you prefer flexibility, you may want to hire a vehicle through one of the primary agents. These agencies offer many services, including car rentals or city transfers.

They often partner with local suppliers that specialize in quality vehicles at competitive prices.

Chase Sapphire provides car rental insurance for Ireland.

Yes, you can insure your vehicle for an extra EUR15 daily. You also have the option to add a variety of optional extras such as breakdown assistance or theft insurance, as well personal accident insurance.

How old are you to rent a vehicle in Europe?

To drive legally in most European countries, one must be 21 years of age. However, if you are under 18, you may still be allowed to rent a car from an adult (usually over 25), but the age limit for renting cars varies by country. In some cases, you might be able even to rent cars without being older than 15.

Which is the biggest car rental company worldwide?

Hertz Corporation is America’s largest car rental agency. Harry Hertz founded Hertz Corporation back in 1919.

Hertz Corporation owns over 6,000 locations in North America. Additionally, Hertz Corporation owns several other businesses including hotels and real estate holdings as well as financial services and automotive parts manufacturing.

Today, there are almost 4,000,000 employees around the globe.

Statistics

If you’re a member of AAA, you might also be able to snag discounts of 10 percent at Thrifty, and 8 percent at Dollar. (afar.com)
The perks vary from partner to partner, but you can expect discounts of up to 35 percent on some rentals and the ability to earn anywhere from 50 bonus American AAdvantage miles per day or 500 per rental. (afar.com)
American Airlines, for example, offers AAdvantage members 35% off Budget and Avis — but you need to rent from an airport. (nerdwallet.com)
I’d say 70% of the time, we have a hassle-free encounter, but there have been certain companies that we prefer not to use anymore. (theworldpursuit.com)
Automatics are more expensive (usually about 50 percent more) and may only be available if you upgrade to a bigger, pricier car. (ricksteves.com)

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How To

How to report a rental vehicle accident

It’s possible that something could happen when you drive a rented vehicle. You can get in an auto accident, your luggage may be stolen, or someone could be hurt. If this happens, you’ll want to know how to file a claim against the insurance company so that you don’t lose any money because of what happened.

In the United States, if you were involved in a car accident, it should be reported right away. This will allow police to take a detailed record of the incident and inform you of the results of their investigation. The police will issue you a ticket, or take a note at the scene. Then, they’ll file a lawsuit against your driver’s license.

After getting in an accident, dial 911 immediately. The dispatcher will ask you basic questions about the accident and whether any injuries were sustained. After answering basic questions, a dispatcher will let you know where to go or who to call next. The first thing you should do in dealing with an accident is exchange information with the other side. Most likely, the other person will give you their name and telephone number. Next, you’ll make sure everyone involved is okay. You will try to assist anyone who is disabled or injured.

You should document all incidents, even if no one was injured. Keep track of the time, date, location and weather conditions. Make sure to also note any injuries. It is important to get medical attention for anyone who was hurt. You will also need to keep track and record your damages, which may include damage to your car or the vehicle of the other party.

Then, follow up with your insurance. First, you will need to fill in an online claim. Your insurance provider may offer to pay the initial deductible amount before you receive the remainder of the claim. After the claim has been paid, both you and the other driver will need to sign a release agreement. Finally, you will be issued a check by the insurance company.

Now that you’ve filed a claim, you’ll want to stay within the guidelines set by your insurer. If your policy covers renting a car or allowing you to drive it yourself, these are the rules.

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