Hi, (not you?) | Member Center | Sign Out
Listen weekdays from 1-3pm ET
(No audio? Try our help)
Recent shows | More media
Listen Live: Mon-Fri 1-3pm ET
- Home
- > Cars
- > Car Rentals
Car Rentals
• To get the best deal, book a car when you book your flight. Then re-check before you leave to see if there's a cheaper rate. Check car rental Web sites for bargains at both times.
• When you rent a car, don't accept the insurance options the company wants you to buy. Check with your own auto insurance agent to see if you're covered under your policy, or use a premium credit card that offers travel insurance.
• Check the rental car carefully before you leave the rental lot. If you see any damage, have an official of the company note it on the rental contract before you leave.
• If you're planning to go somewhere during peak season, make sure you can find an affordable car before you buy a non-refundalble airline ticket.
• Rent the smallest car available at the cheapest rate. About half the time, the rental company won't have the small car you ordered and will have to give you a larger car at the small-car price.
• Always take the car out with a full tank of gasoline and return it with a full tank.
• If you're renting for five days or more, a weekly rental will provide a large discount.
Beware these rental car contract rip-offs
Customers are getting bilked with add-on fees at the car rental counter -- even after declining them! There's only one way to stop this from happening to you the next time you rent a car.
Cheap options for new and used cars
With the average cost of cars right around $32,000, is it possible to buy one for less? You betcha! Car buyers keep pushing the price of cars up and up and they keep taking out longer and longer car loans. I read a recent report about some loans stretching out ...
Car rentals starting at $17 a day
Right now, there are some oddball opportunities to rent a car for cheap. Alamo, Avis, and Hertz have been advertising cheap deals ranging from $17 to $19 a day, before junk fees, if you can help them fill a need. The rental companies are looking for people willing to move ...
The Clark Smart steps for buying a new car
The new year looks set to be a great one for car sales both new and used. On the new car front, estimates from market research firm Polk suggest we'll see 15 million cars sold this year. Interest rates are low on auto loans and this is really a win ...
Car rental gotcha fees becoming harder to avoid
Many people only rent cars about twice a year, once during a summer vacation and once during the Christmas holidays. That leaves a lot of unsuspecting motorists open to common rip-off fees that the car-rental agencies like to push. Before you take your trip, be sure to find out if ...
Rental agencies' new policy on recalled vehicles
The nation's five major car rental companies have agreed to no longer sell or lease vehicles that have been recalled for safety issues. The decision by Enterprise, Hertz, Avis, Dollar Thrifty, and National is a no-brainer in my book. But in the past, the rental agencies were not taking recalled ...
The most stolen cars?
Sophisticated anti-theft technology has altered the pattern of what kind of cars are being stolen. The National Insurance Crime Bureau shows that recent model years aren't being stolen like in the past. The reason why? All the new technology in cars makes it tougher to steal them and easier to ...
Car rental business consolidates, yet rates will stay competitive
The car rental business has historically been one of the most competitive in the country. Yet the field has now been winnowed down to only three major players: Hertz, Avis, and Enterprise. Headlines have been warning that this move will result in higher prices due to the lack of competition. ...
GM owners can now use OnStar to rent out their cars
GM owners can now use OnStar to rent out their cars by the hour through RelayRides.com when they're not in use. The typical car sits idle for most of the 24 hours in a day. Unless you're a traveling salesperson or a courier, you probably only use your car for ...
Cell phone cameras help document rental car damage
You're used to using your smart phone to save you money in your everyday life, right? Well, I have a suggestion about how it can help keep more money in your pocket when it comes to rental car insurance. In the course of my travels for the show, I rent ...
Clark's Latest Tweets
.
You're Almost Done!
Select a display name and password
{* #socialRegistrationForm *} {* socialRegistration_displayName *} {* socialRegistration_emailAddress *} {* traditionalRegistration_password *} {* traditionalRegistration_passwordConfirm *}Tell us about yourself
{* registration_firstName *} {* registration_lastName *} {* registration_postalZip *} {* registration_birthday *} {* registration_gender *} {* agreeToTerms *}