Looking for a cheap car rental? Your AAA membership—the same one known for rescuing stranded motorists—can also give you access to car rental deals.
AAA Delivers Some Terrific Car Rental Deals
Once you join AAA, you’ll get a membership card and access to a mobile app to unlock discounts at more than 130,000 locations. Membership rates vary depending on the plan and region, but generally cost between $40 and $75 per year for a basic plan. Often, a second household member can be added to the plan for free during the first year.
Even if you have never needed AAA roadside assistance or a towing service, you should strongly consider joining the club, since the basic membership fee could easily pay for itself after just one car rental.
Hertz: The AAA and Hertz have a longstanding partnership for offering rental car discounts. AAA members can save up to 20 percent on the base price with a special promo code. Other perks include waiving the young renter fee for drivers under 25 and adding an additional driver for free. You can also combine your AAA membership code with the Hertz Gold Plus Rewards loyalty program to receive bonus points that can be redeemed toward free rental days.
Dollar: Budget-friendly Dollar a Car provides a 10 percent discount on car rentals, plus a free additional driver.
Thrifty: Dollar’s sister company, Thrifty, has a partnership with AAA members to provide an 8 percent discount on car rentals.
Sometimes AAA’s Best Car Rental Deal Can Be Beaten
AAA has partnerships with Hertz, Thrifty and Dollar—so it always delivers multiple deals for you to compare. But AAA does not have partnerships with other major brands like Alamo, Avis, Budget, Enterprise and National. It also does not support reputable discount brands like Sixt or Advantage.
In addition, AAA does not support prepaid rates, which may be significantly lower than the “Pay Later” rates offered. To know for sure if you’re getting the best price, you need to do a more comprehensive search—or better yet, ask AutoSlash to do it for you.
The bottom line is that AAA offers great deals but there’s a big caveat: If you rely exclusively on AAA discounts, you’re never going to be 100-percent sure you’re getting the best deal because there is a limited pool of rental car brands and types of bookings. In short, you might be able to do even better.
How to Always Get the Best Car Rental Deal
To get the best deal every time, you need to comparison shop—or let AutoSlash do it for you. When you ask AutoSlash for a quote, we will always search for the best rates and publicly available discounts and factor in memberships you have at organizations like AAA, AARP and Costco. We always recommend that you join clubs like AAA and then let us search for the very best rate, taking all of your profile information into consideration. That’s how you can be confident that you’re getting the best price possible.
Note: If you reserve a rental car with an AAA discount code, you will need to show your membership card when you pick up the car. If you can’t provide proof of membership, you can be denied the discount.
Frequently Asked Questions
Is it possible for you to rent a car and then drop it off at Spain?
The answer is yes, you can do this. It’s called “car hire”. You will find many companies offering this service online.
You just need to check if the Spanish and Portuguese authorities license them.
Contact them on their websites for the best way to get this information. They should have all of the information that you require.
What is the daily cost of a car rental in Europe?
We are not sure, but it seems to be somewhere between $100-200 daily.
We recommend renting at least for two days to take advantage of the many attractions and activities in the area.
You might consider purchasing a vehicle for around $2000-$3000 if you plan to stay longer.
You could even travel free around Europe!
It’s also worth looking into whether your credit card company offers any rental discounts.
What separate insurance do I need to drive in Europe with my car?
If your current insurance doesn’t provide cover, consider buying additional coverage for foreign drivers.
This is because the rules for who is responsible in an accident involving two vehicles from different countries may be different.
You should carefully read all the fine print before you sign up for this additional cover. Some policies may exclude certain types.
You should also check if your current policy covers overseas trips. You might be able to purchase it separately, also known as an ‘extended warranty’.
What should I do to document any damage that may have occurred before the rental car was returned?
Take all necessary documentation with you, including photos. You can ask the agent for assistance if the damage is not obvious. You may need to pay extra for an inspection if there is any damage.
Can I rent a car and drive around Europe?
Yes, you can. You will need a booking and to pay for each day individually. There are many companies that offer these tours.
You might consider hiring a car through a primary travel agent if you want more flexibility. These agencies usually provide various services, including car rentals and city transfers.
They often work with local suppliers who are experts in providing high-quality vehicles and competitive pricing.
Which countries accept US driver’s licenses
The United States does not recognize other countries’ driver’s permits as valid on their roads. However, Canada, Mexico, and the District of Columbia recognize them.
Canada recognizes American driver’s licenses issued in all 50 states and District of Columbia.
Mexico also recognizes American driver’s licenses, but at this time, they are only recognized in the state of Chihuahua.
The District of Columbia is open to American driver’s licences from all 50 United States states, with the exception of Alabama and Mississippi, Texas, Texas, West Virginia, West Virginia, West Virginia, West Virginia, West Virginia, West Virginia, Texas, Texas, Texas, and Texas.
Can I rent a car in Italy and drop it off in France?
Renting a car from an Italian company and driving it across Europe may not be possible. You could try Europcar which provides rentals across Europe. You would need to contact them directly for information on renting cars in Italy and dropping them off at another location.
Statistics
- For canceled trips two days or shorter, a guest is charged 50% of one day’s trip cost. (insider.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)
- In 2019, the most crucial factor is the cost and fees of the rental (accounting for 28% of overall satisfaction with the rental experience), followed by the rental car itself at 25% and the pick-up process at 23%. (cnet.com)
- You can rent an automatic but these cars can cost as much as 50% more than a manual vehicle. (earthtrekkers.com)
- Save up to 30% on your rental car in Europe when you book with us today. (autoeurope.com)
External Links
kayak.com
enterprise.com
avis.com
jdpower.com
How To
How to book a rental car
What are the things you should consider before renting a car?
You must consider the following factors when you book a rental car.
- You have the option to choose from a variety of car types (small, medium, large, and SUVs as well as minivans).
- The type of vehicle will determine the rental cost. It starts at $15 per day for small compact vehicles, while larger ones cost much more.
- There are additional charges that depend on how much you rent the vehicle. These include mileage fees and the daily price.
- Additional fees will be charged if you hire your vehicle.
- You can rent a car to go anywhere at any time of the day. But, there are some restrictions. You cannot rent your car during rush hour.
- Make sure you have a budget when choosing a car model. It is also important to check whether the car features air conditioning. This is very useful in hot weather.
- If you need a specific kind of car, make sure to reserve it well in advance. Sometimes people don’t realize that they have a car until it is too late.
- Rental cars come with many safety features. It is recommended that you have a first aid kit and blanket in case of an emergency.
- You might consider adding a collision damages waiver to your rental. You can save money by adding this waiver to your rental agreement.
- You can request special needs during your reservation process or upon arrival if you have special needs.
- Be sure to pack everything you own and bring your credit and ID cards.
- While driving, make sure you stay alert. Concentrate on your driving and avoid distractions.
- Contact the police immediately after you’ve been in an accident.
- Make sure that you return the vehicle to its original location after you are done using it. Otherwise you’ll be fined.
