If there is a silver lining in the gray cloud of record high gas prices it’s that a slew of rental car companies are offering deep discounts to summer travelers in need of wheels.
As the price for a single gallon of unleaded fuel tops the $4 mark many major rental car companies are offering an array of deals to retain customers despite the fact that may automakers have cut back on the number of vehicles allocated to car rental companies, which means that there are fewer fuel-efficient cars for travelers to rent.
The new promotions being offered by rental car giants such as Avis, Enterprise and Hertz are worth considering. The companies have been trying to entice travelers—-many of whom are dealing with high gas prices and exorbitant airfares—-with special deals in which rates are cut by 50 percent.
Right now Hertz is offering rental car customers a great deal on full-size cars (think Chevy Impala). For example, if you are traveling to Los Angeles you can take a car out on a Friday and return it by Monday for just $49.50. The discount applies to the weekend rate before taxes, fees and airport charges, which raises the total rental to $74.82, with unlimited mileage. The normal rate is $124.32.
Alamo is also offering noteworthy deals to its customers–if you reserve your vehicle on the company’s website and pre-pay with a credit card, you will automatically receive a 10% discount on the rental.
Other companies, like Alamo and National, are discounting certain options, such as navigation systems. Instead of paying the normal daily rate of $11.95, renters are getting the navigation systems for $5.98. Alamo is also offering outstanding deals on mid-size (see: gas-guzzling) SUVs. Right now you can rent a mid-size SUV, like the Chevrolet Equinox for $37.99 a day, or $20 to $25 less than a compact SUV, like the Kia Sportage or Chevrolet Uplander minivan.
The deals are budget savers, but some of them do come with restrictions. For example, some of the deals rental agencies are offering are set to expire at the end of June (though some agencies such as Enterprise say they will likely extend the discounts through the peak travel months of July and August). Also, most of the deals don’t apply to drivers age 25 and younger, and a 24-hour advance reservation is required.
Related Articles:
Should You Rent a Vehicle in a Foreign Country?
Travel Savings—Rental Cars and Destinations
The High Price Of Renting A Car