Rental car charges that can be avoided

Renting a car always seems to be more expensive than expected when all the extra fees are added, and unfortunately, many of the fees are not negotiable. Some are, however, according to a recent report.

Customers typically have to pay for the convenience of renting a vehicle at an airport or hotel, and what is called a “concession recovery fee” will generally add 11 to 13 percent to the rental bill.

Fuel costs can also lead to additional costs. Rental car companies offer up to three choices to their customers for purchasing fuel. A full tank can be paid for up front, the customer can fill up the tank before returning the car, or the tank can be refilled by the rental company when the car is returned. In almost every case, filling up the tank yourself before returning the car is the best bet.

There are also annual costs to the rental car company to register a vehicle. Customers can expect that the company will pass along these annual costs, and the amount will appear in a fee that averages $2 daily, and is non-negotiable.

A rental customer’s own automobile insurance policy will generally cover damage to a rental car, and most gold or platinum credit cards used for the rental charges will cover any deductibles. It’s a pretty good idea, then, to pass on the collision-damage waiver, and save some on the daily rental costs.

Making reservations through a discount online site will generally end up with a customer paying lower rates, as the actual rental company isn’t usually disclosed until the transaction is completed. For customers wanting to know the rental company in advance, Alamo, Avis and Hertz typically provide pricing quotes will all fees disclosed.

www.alamo.com