How To Rent A Car In Columbus

It might come in handy to know how to rent a car in Columbus when you plan on visiting Ohio State House, Columbus Museum of Art, and Columbus Park of Roses. By using a rental car, you don't have to depend on public transport schedules. You can come and go as you please.http://www.rentalcarmomma.com/cities/columbus.htm

Don't think it's just tourists that use rental cars. Columbus residents also use them. They might need a replacement car when their car is in the shop or maybe they need to transport more people or large cargo that their own car cannot hold. There are even people whom just use rental cars for a night out on the town. All these people have one thing in common, they all want to find an affordable and/or cheap car rental.

The major car rental companies like Hertz, Alamo Budget, Avis, and Enterprise have competitive rates and many promotional offers out there. You can find offers for free rental car upgrades, extra free rental days, and various discounts on rates. The many car rental offers and promos make it somewhat difficult to decide which company to go with. Let this page help you in your decision making process.

Car rental tips. How to get the best deal on rental cars

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Car rental tips - How to get the be...

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If you are wondering how to get a good deal on a rental car, this video might provide information that can be useful to you. The video mentions how you can get a good rate by reserving a rental car which doesn't require any money down. After a few days have passed, you call the car rental company asking for the current rate. If the rate is better than the one you initially got, you can replace your first reservation. It's also recommended to rent a smaller car than you really want because free upgrades are easily given since compact cars are in high demand.

Step 1: Hidden Costs and Fees

Before reading anything else, it's important the you know about the hidden costs and fees that come with renting a car. Once you know what they are, you will be able to avoid them.

UPGRADES: If you are trying to save money, you might want to decline offers of free upgrades to larger vehicles. Larger vehicles need more gas and will only result in more costs to you. Instead, you can try to ask for an upgrade to a more economical vehicle.

DROP OFFS: When dropping off the car rental, make sure you do it on time to prevent getting charged a fee. This means not too early and not too late. If you drop the car off too early, it might even affect the weekly or weekend rate you were given.

AIRPORT PICKUPS: After arriving at the airport in Columbus, Ohio it seems convenient and natural to go pick up a rental car. Most people don't realize that picking up a rental car at the airport is more expensive than when you pick a car up from a local neighborhood facility. Airport facilities charge taxes and fees that are added to your rental. http://www.edmunds.com/reviews/list/top10/116640/article.html

AGE RESTRICTIONS: Age restrictions to rent a car range from 18 to 25. In most states the restriction is set at 25. If you are under this age, you might have to pay a penalty. If you are under 21 this penalty might be even higher. Try looking into an independent car rental company since they are more flexible with things like this. http://www.carrentalexpress.com/tips/age_restrictions.html

CHILD CAR SEATS AND MORE: If you have a small child that requires a child safety car seat it is best to bring your own. Car rental companies charge daily rates to rent additional items like car seats, GPS devices, roof racks and such. If you want to save some money, bring your own add-ons.

Step 2: Do Your Research & Book Early

RESEARCH: The first thing you should do when planning on getting a rental car in Columbus, Ohio is to go online. Look on the internet at the different rates and vehicles that are available. Compare car rental companies and their offers. There are many benefits of using the internet for car rentals. The internet is 'open' 24/7. A car rental facility has opening and closing hours that might not be convenient for you. On weekends they might even close up shop sooner. Besides this, you will be able to look for different deals without having a salesperson trying to force you into a rental car. Many car rental companies offer discounts when you rent your car online.

BOOK EARLY: If you know at least a week before visiting Ohio that you are going to need a rental car, try reserving the car immediately. Car rental rates depend on how many cars are in the car rental lot at the time of your reservation. Reserving a rental car early will result in a better rate. Weekend and weekly rates are also cheaper compared to car rental daily rates. Depending on the length of your stay, you might want to inquire about these. http://www.edmunds.com/reviews/list/top10/116640/article.html

Step 3: Insurance & Coupons

CAR RENTER'S INSURANCE: When reserving a rental car in Columbus you will be asked if you also want rental car insurance. This insurance covers you in case of a collision and it covers the loss of the rental company. Car rental companies charge high rates for their insurance so before agreeing to take their insurance, check with your own insurance company first. You don't want to make the mistake of having double insurance. Contact your insurance agent and see if your current insurance covers rental cars. If it does there is no need to accept the coverage from the car rental facility. It will save you some money. Also check with your credit card company since they might cover you also. http://www.usatourist.com/english/tips/carrental.html

COUPONS: Car rental coupons, promos and deals can often be found on the Internet on websites such as retailmenot.com and rentalcarmomma.com. Coupons are either coupon codes, direct links or printable coupons. Promo codes can be redeemed by entering them online while reserving your vehicle. Direct links will take you to the web page where the discounts is applied, and printable coupons can be printed, clipped and redeemed at the participating car rental facility. Some coupons might only be valid when used on a certain kind of rental car of for a certain number of days. Other restrictions and exclusions might apply also, so check the small print on the coupons. Also, expired coupons are not accepted, so make sure the coupons are valid before redeeming them. http://www.retailmenot.com/coupons/carrentals http://www.rentalcarmomma.com/cities/columbus.htm

Independent Car Rental Companies in Columbus

Nationwide car rental companies like Enterprise, Thrifty, Avis, and Hertz have set rates and regulations that they go by. If you are under the age of 25, it might be better to look into renting from an independent company since they have more are more flexible because they make their own in-house rules. It is also said that independent companies provide better service because they really want your business. They know they are up against the big names in the car rental business.

INDEPENDENT CAR RENTAL COMPANIES:

Speedy Car Rental
2182 East Livingston Avenue
Columbus, OH 43209
Phone: (614) 239-0000

This car rental company rents to people of 18 years and older. They offer pick up and drop off service, low weekend and monthly rates and competitive prices. http://speedycarrental.net/