Amy's Amazing Auto Service and Repair Blog

Four Ways to Save Money When Renting a Truck

by Derek Davidson

If you are in need of renting a truck, whether to pick up some furniture or simply because a pickup truck is your preference, there are certain ways to save on the costs. Here are some easy tips for reducing your final truck rental bill.

Avoid Renting From an Airport Location

Unless it can't be avoided, do not rent the truck near the airport. These rental places always hike up the price for convenience. People who are traveling often get off the plane, then want a rental car or truck from the nearest place available. It is worth it to take a cab to the other side of town and get a rental truck, or if you aren't traveling, simply go a little further to the next rental truck location.

Use Your Own Vehicle Insurance Only

Rental truck companies will try to sell you on their vehicle insurance. They might tell you that your insurance policy has certain stipulations against covering rental vehicles, and that you won't get the coverage you need. It is best to contact your insurance company before getting the rental truck and find out exactly what is covered. If you get modest coverage for a rental truck, just use your own insurance and pass on the rental company's insurance policy. You will save a good deal of money that way.

Don't Pay for Unnecessary Extras

Rental truck companies may also try to get you to add extras that you don't really need. For example, they might try to charge a fee if you don't return the vehicle with a full tank of gas so they can fill it up, or will try to get you to choose the truck with the most advanced stereo system or GPS device. You have GPS on your phone, so that is typically not necessary. Go for a modest, small-sized truck if that is all you need. Avoid extra gadgets and fill up the gas tank on your own to avoid those little extra fees.

Take Advantage of Weekend Deals

While hotels and airfare might be more expensive during the weekend, many rental truck companies actually lower the price on Friday, Saturday, and Sunday. However, this isn't the case for every rental truck company, so you need to do a little research first. Start by requesting quotes for the weekend from different rental locations in your area. You are bound to find one that has considerably lower rates over certain days of the week, which tells you when to schedule the rental.

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