Additional Charges You Should Be Aware of Before Committing to a Car Hire

Additional Charges You Should Be Aware of Before Committing to a Car Hire

When shopping for a car rental, you're not only shopping for the price, but also for the features you will need for your trip. However, be aware that there could be additional charges added to the rental fee.

This is why it's important to decide in advance every feature you'll need before committing to a car rental.

Additional Expenses that Can Affect Your Rental Price

1. Fuel

Fuel prices can affect your rental price coming and going - literally. Check your rental company's policy for fuel in advance. Some companies will have you to leave the lot on empty and return the car with a full tank. Others may require just the opposite. Be careful if you must return the car with the tank on empty. You don't want to lose money you've invested in a full tank of gas in the end. You'll have to guess at how much fuel you'll actually use during your stay.

Another Fuel Tip

Steer clear of vehicles that don't have a good gas mileage rating. This could make a huge difference in your fuel bill. Traveling for one week in some rental cars may cost you $30 in fuel while others could cost $60. It's important to know ahead of time what to expect with gas prices. You may even want to ask the rental company to give an average retail gas price in that particular location to get an idea of how much gas will cost you.

2. Insurance

You'll need to check with your rental company to find out if there are additional charges for insurance. Most rental companies do provide liability insurance, however, you may be required to purchase additional insurance that is not covered by their policy.

This will depend solely on the rental company you choose. Also, your credit card company may provide a specific amount of coverage as well. All insurance requirements should be established beforehand to guarantee appropriate coverage.

3. Taxes, Surcharges and Anything Else!

Be aware that many counties have allotted a huge burden of taxes to the car rental industry. After paying your local, state and federal taxes for your car rental, you could see a significant "hike" in the final price. Although taxes can't simply be avoided, you may be able to shop around and find a rental company who doesn't attach many other small charges to the bill.

Some of these charges might include mileage fees, fuel charges, out-of-state charges, license fees, recovery surcharges, underage driver fees, etc., etc. You name it, it can become an "added fee", which can add up quickly at the bottom of your rental bill.

4. Child Restraint Seats

Another additional charge you may incur is the price of renting child seats for your little ones. This is another charge you'll want to investigate before agreeing to a car rental.

Finding the perfect car rental can be frustrating when considering all of the possible charges, but being aware of them is your first step to savings and satisfaction.

Written by Candice Pardue