Car Rental Secrets:
Congratulations! Few people pay enough attention when surfing the web. This web page was created to give net savvy folks the inside information they deserve. As you may have noticed, Sunshine Rent A Car treats its customers like friends and our friends like family. Regardless of who/where you rent from in the United States you should try the following:
Avoid paying 3rd party markups & commissions
Have you ever clicked on a link that offers $8/day cars? Soon you find the price is only available at a Ski Resort in the Northeast when you searched Google for a rental car in South Florida.
Travel web sites and car rental aggregates use various come-on's to get you to their site. In reality, these sites have three revenue streams:
1. Kick backs from the rental agency as a percentage and/or a booking fee. These fees push up your cost.
2. Offering Collision and Liability coverage that you probably do not need. (Learn more below)
3. Selling your data! Be sure to read their privacy policy!
Tip: Check the travel sites to find the least expensive agency, then go direct via the web or phone.
Declining Coverage & Using Your Own Insurance
1. Contact your Insurance Company and know exactly what coverages follow YOU into the rental vehicle. This is especially important if you are not the primary insured on the policy.
2. Contact your Credit Card company(s) to determine which card gives you the best 'Additional Coverage'. In our experience, these are the best cards to use in order of benefits:
A. Diners - offers primary coverage to damage on the rental vehicle (depending on the type of accident you may not have to even notify your personal auto insurance)
B. Visa Gold or Platinum level cards - only secondary coverage to the rental vehicle (you place the claim with your personal auto insurance and Visa covers the deductible). Some Visa Cards may cover Loss of Use.
C. Amex - Unless you purchase the Primary Coverage option offered by American Express, this card should be the last choice when renting a vehicle. When using an American Express we highly recommend purchasing Loss of Use Waiver at the rental counter.
Remember, no credit card offers 3rd party liability. If you do not own a car and want to keep your assets out of the sights of a Personal Injury Attorney, buy the Million Dollar Supplemental Liability Insurance at the rental counter. Learn more...
Upgrading for Less
In the past, you could book an economy car and hope that the rental agency was sold out and forced to give you a FREE Upgrade. Times have changed. Higher gas prices have a negative effect on the resale of large cars. Additionally, price conscious travelers tend to book the least expensive car available on the web page. This means car rental agencies have changed their fleet to reflect the wants of the market. In short, you should avoid booking a car you would not want to drive or be seen in ;).
At the counter, ask the rental agent which make and model you will be getting. Then simply ask, "Do you have any deals on something better?"
In most cases you may be able to get a better car for less than the original booking price. |
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