Clark Howard: Rent a car for your next road trip

Jacksonville, Fl. — If flying is not your cup of tea when it comes to traveling, Consumer Warrior Clark Howard suggests getting a rental car.

"Particularly if you're in a seven-day block, renting a vehicle could be a lot cheaper than effectively putting all those additional miles on your own vehicle."

Clark says depending on your needs whether you need a bigger car or a smaller one, renting a car can just work out so well in your favor. Clark says this a great start to start thinking about rental cars because of the deals.

"Car rental companies are feeling pressure from people not renting cars who used to. They are using Uber or Lyft instead of renting a car and that has softened the demand in the car-rental industry."

If you have made the decision that you will be renting a car the next time you hit the road, Clark wants you to book your rental weeks in advance.

"But then the week you're going to take the trip, re-shop the car rentals. Because often car rental prices drop significantly in the last week before your rental date."

But one thing Clark wants to stress before you solidify your travel plans and show up to the rental counter is to run everything through your insurer. You’ll want to check if your insurance covers you for temporary use of a vehicle and have them explain how long temporary is. If you’re fitting the requirements under your own car insurance, you don’t have to worry about taking on the insurance car rentals push at the counter.

Now there is a ‘Gotcha’ Clark wants you to look out for and that is the gasoline in the rental.

"Always tell them you will fill up the car."

Clark says if you don’t fill up like you said you would – gasoline would cost you typically ten times at the car rental company what you would pay filling up the tank on your own.

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