Car Rental Tips
The last car I rented was in South Africa, where I drove on the left-hand side of the road for the first time. Miraculously we made it to and from wine country alive.
The time before that was in Cuba. I had driven a stick shift about five times in my life whole life, and each time I was accompanied by a proficient manual driver guiding me through the motions.
I asked the car rental agent for a quick “refresher course” on the streets of Havana, which is a circus of pedestrians, rickshaws, stray dogs, kids playing, and the bustle of daily life unfolding on city streets. I was was so determined to take a road trip, not even my expired license could stop me from driving that car out of Havana and across the country.
And this brings me to my next rental car experience in Hawaii, where I have learned some helpful tips:
#1. Insurance: Do not pay extra for the car rental company’s insurance. If you have a major credit card (Visa, Mastercard, Amex) you will be covered for theft and damages. Take five minutes to call the number on the back of your credit card to make sure this applies to you. Be aware that you have to decline all other insurance options to be eligible for your credit card’s car insurance.
#2. Length: Bulk prices apply. If you are renting a car for at least a week the price usually drops significantly. In Kauai the car rental prices dropped by $57 per day when we extended our rental from 5 days to 7 days.
#3. Timing: On Hotwire.com, I discoverd that shifting the pick up and drop off times (even by just one hour) could change the daily price of a car by as much as $20 per day. If you have the flexibility, play with your times until you find the sweet spot.
#4. Holidays: Do not expect to pay reasonable prices over holiday periods ($135-$180 vs. $20-$50). We found budget alternatives (Kihei Rent A Car & Aloha Car Rental) but all the vehicles were booked, so make sure you reserve your car with as much advance notice as possible. The early bird gets the worm!
