Traveling has been the topic of conversation for thousands of years. From the earliest days of humans, there was a need to move around in order to survive. Constantly moving and exploring the world required more than we get as a species so naturally we had to use animals and build vehicles, all while coming up with ways to use them. The remaining issue of anyone who wants to go further away than their legs can carry them is the fact that they need some sort of a vehicle to do so. For the furthest of destinations people nowadays use airplanes and ships. Each has their advantages and disadvantages of course, and each is used in certain situations in which the other one is not an option. But for land transportation as well as everyday commuting, it is the car that has established itself as the most dominant form of transport.
Don’t Have Your Own?
But what happens when somebody does not have their own car and needs to go somewhere? Cars can also be used for traveling especially between states and countries that are neighbors and if the circumstances allow it. What if one does not have a car but wants to go on a road trip and explore their own country? Well, there is always the option of renting a vehicle. Renting cars has been incredibly successful for decades. It involves driving a borrowed car that you pay for and look after just like you would your own, and then giving it back after the agreement period expires. It is a great business opportunity and a very useful service for anyone who does not have their own car. Also, it is quite popular in tourist destinations where many people come and where nobody can bring their own car.
Whatever the situation in your life is, you can rent a car easily. It is a fun experience to say the least and it has so many benefits for those who do it. Not only do you get to drive a car for a day or few, but you can also pick which one you want, you can reach places that you would not be able to on foot, and get faster to the destinations that you are planning to visit. Not everything is always as peachy however, as many people are unsure what is the right way to rent a car, nor when to do it. Are there any rules to it and if so, what are they? Most importantly for this article, is it cheaper to wait until the last minute to rent a vehicle? We answer these questions in the following paragraphs so stick with us. What is more, make sure to check out https://www.carngo.com/car-rental/usa-orange-tx-hertz for more about car rentals.
How to Do It
There are actually not that many rules when it comes to how one rents a car. The experience can be tailor-made to suit your every needs and it is entirely up to you and what you want. For example, if you are doing it in your own country, it should be very clear and simple. You go to a car rental, tell them what you want or need, they give you the paperwork to fill, and you pick a car that you want. Each vehicle falls into a certain category and there are different prices based on the size, fuel consumption, exclusivity, equipment, and type. Once you make a decision, you get the keys and the car is yours for however long you are renting it. When that period ends, you drive it back, relieve the keys and pay for the service. Sometimes you pay for everything in advance while it is also possible to pay something in advance and something at the end.
If you are doing it abroad, the process is quite similar but it usually lasts longer. You have to make sure your license is compatible and that you can even do it with your passport and license. Most places accept a wide range of documents so you should be fine. Again, you fill out the paperwork, pay for the car you want and the fuel if it is a no-refill deal, and figure out how long you need it for. You get the keys and are escorted to the car. One thing that is possible and not enough people realize it is the option to leave the car elsewhere, at their other office in a different state or town. For example, you can rent a car in Los Angeles, drive to Las Vegas, and leave it there without going back. This allows for a much easier time planning the trip and calculating expenses.
When to Do It
Finally, let us talk about when is the best time to rent a car, or rather how much in advance or prior to actually needing it you should rent a vehicle. As the titular question asks, can it be cheaper if you wait until the last minute? Let us say you need it for four days, from Monday morning to Thursday morning. Do you rent it on Monday morning to minimize the cost or do you do it earlier, and how much of a difference does it make?
Well, the answer is definitely not easy to come by because it all depends on the circumstances. First of all, it matters if you are taking the car back to the same place and how far it is from your destination. If you need a day to get there and a day to get back, that means you need two extra when planning in order to spend the desired amount of time wherever you are going. Then there’s the matter of the car rental’s policy. Do they have different deals that you can take advantage of? Is there an incentive to rent for more days and pay less per day? How many hours of a day do they take as a full day? If even an hour of the next day is calculated as a full day, you should pick it a day earlier to make the most of it.
It all comes down to the specifics of your situation, but in general yes, it is the cheapest the fewer days or hours you have the car in your possession. But then again, not every trip can be planned for so narrowly. It is always better to be safe than sorry and to have breathing room and time to work with. Think about renting the car at least half a day earlier and bringing it back before the final day of the rental period expires.
