If you’re going to see the countryside at all during your trip and have the flexibility to go where and when you want, you’re probably going to need to rent a car on your vacation. And with that necessity comes the dreaded task of deciphering, understanding and being comfortable with varying car rental rules and regulations, so you don’t make costly rental car mistakes.
We’ve been renting cars for years all over the world, but no matter how many times we’ve done it, there’s always something that surprises and confounds us.
If you don’t have your facts straight when standing at the car rental counter, jetlagged and bleary-eyed, dozens of other customers impatiently waiting behind you, you may be bamboozled into services and extras you don’t need. In this post, we will cover 12 of the most pervasive car rental mistakes, so you can avoid them.
» You might also want to read about these top travel scams to avoid.
Avoid These Costly Rental Car Mistakes
This list of 12 costly car rental mistakes you don’t want to make serves as a cautionary note to you as much as a reminder to ourselves, so we don’t fall into the car rental trap next time we’re headed out on the road.
As every situation, every car rental company and every country you may be visiting has varying rules and regulations, not all of these mistakes may apply, but it’s always good to be prepared and aware!
Mistake #1: Buying Extra (Unnecessary) Insurance
The most obvious, and the most costly, mistake people make while renting a car is buying extra insurance that isn’t needed. We’ve made this mistake more than once, I hate to admit.
Many rental agencies offer insurance coverage for a per-day fee, like Supplemental Liability Insurance, Loss Damage Waiver (LDW), and one or two others. If you don’t know what all of these mean, how do you know if you need them or not? Since you have to use a credit card to rent a car (in most cases) you might already be covered by the credit card you use to pay for the rental.
Before you rent a car, you should always check your credit card coverage to make sure your card offers coverage, and exactly what it covers. When our rental car sustained damage in Spain, where we had already been talked into buying premium insurance (which of course did not cover the type of damage sustained), we learned that you must refuse the coverage offered by the rental car agency to receive rental car insurance benefits from your credit card.
All four major card networks offer rental insurance, but the benefits and requirements vary substantially. Some only offer secondary insurance, which will kick in after the coverage you have on your own personal car insurance policy. Others, like the Chase Sapphire Preferred Card, offer primary car rental insurance at no extra charge.
Needless to say, if you’re planning to use your credit card for rental car insurance, you should read all of the fine print before you go. Here is a pretty comprehensive article on credit card insurance coverage to use as a guide, but double check your own card’s benefits so you know for sure.
Mistake #2: Not Refilling the Gas Tank Yourself
If you’re too lazy, or in too much of a hurry – as we once learned the hard way, to stop at a gas station on your way back to the airport, then you should bet on spending way more on gas than is necessary – and I mean WAY more. Not only is the per gallon price the car rental agency charges more than you would pay at a gas station, there’s that little disclaimer you probably didn’t read when you chose the lazy way out.
According to Budget’s website, when you select their fuel plan, you can bring the car back without filling up the tank and they’ll “charge you for a full tank of fuel at a reduced price per gallon”. Did you notice that in the fine print? Even if you bring it back with an only half-empty tank, they will charge you for a full tank anyway. “Any fuel left in the tank at time of return will not be credited.”
Instead of paying the exorbitant prices per gallon charged by the rental car agency, just build in extra time to get gas on the way back. To avoid the frantic search for a gas station, take note of any that you see while leaving the airport, so you already know where to go when you return.
Mistake #3: Not Using Discount and Coupon Codes
There are dozens of possible discounts you could use when renting a car. The most obvious is to use a budget or discount booking tool to find your car rental. For example, I priced a car rental directly through the rental agency website and then found a deal for half that price through Priceline.
Many credit cards and banks offer their members discount codes to use when booking a rental. My bank offers a great discount, plus other perks like free additional driver, when I use their code. Some Visa cards offers discounts on car rentals too, as does AAA.
Sometimes you can even find discount codes online or directly from the car rental agency. It pays to look around for a code before booking. You can often save up to 25% on the rental fee.
Do be aware though that when you rent through a network, like rentalcars.com, that you won’t get the car rental agency’s perks, like Hertz Gold Club perks.
Mistake #4: Not Joining the Club
If you’re not signing up for the rental car agency’s club program, you’re leaving perks and money-saving benefits and discounts on the table. One of the biggest perks to being a club member is the ability to skip the long line and walk right out to your car instead.
Programs like Hertz’s Gold Plus Rewards allow you to skip the counter, find your car’s lot number on a board and then drive right off without waiting. You’ll also earn points toward future rentals and upgrades, plus get an extra driver added, and all of this is free.
Almost every car rental agency has a rewards plan, so be sure to check that out online before you go. The price you pay through the agency might be more than through a network, but the perks might make up for that.
Mistake #5: Turning Away Award Points or Miles
You’re a savvy traveler, so you know you can earn free travel by saving up enough reward credits, so you would never turn away your earned miles intentionally, right? Maybe you are and you don’t know it. If you haven’t signed up for the car rental agency’s free award program, you are definitely leaving award miles on the table.
Even if you’re not a member of their program, you can often get bonus miles on an airline or hotel award program. Most car rental agencies have partnerships with the major airlines and hotels to offer award miles for car rentals.
For instance, with each qualifying car rental with Budget you could get 1,000 Best Western Rewards points or 500 Hilton HHonors points. Or you could earn 500 miles per rental in American Airlines AAdvantage miles. It pays to look into the additional miles perks that are offered by the rental car agency so you don’t leave valuable miles on the table. Learn how here.
Mistake #6: Paying for a GPS or Extra Services
You’re in a new city and you don’t know how to get around. A GPS offers great peace of mind that you’re heading in the right direction and won’t get lost down some back alley somewhere, but you don’t really need to spend $14.45 per day to rent one from Budget, or $12.99 from Enterprise.
Instead of paying these costly rental fees, you could just use Google Maps on your mobile phone, even if you don’t have a sim card or data. If you download the off-line maps for your destination before you leave home, you can use the phone on airplane mode to give directions. Or just purchase a sim card at the airport when you arrive before picking up the car. Sim cards are
we picked up a used Garmin GPS unit on eBay and load it up with the latest maps for the city we’re headed to. It’ll cost you around $40 for a used one, or $80 for a new GPS on Amazon. It’ll pay for itself in just one week-long car rental.
Other services are also a costly car rental mistake. I know it’s terribly inconvenient to take along a child’s car seat, but doing so could save you $70 over a week-long car rental.
Did you know that you can actually rent a mobile phone with local SIM card from the car rental agency now? How about paying $7/day for “extended roadside assistance” when you already pay for services like AAA. Satellite Radio will cost you another $7/day.
Mistake #7: Pairing Your Phone with Bluetooth
Most cars now offer the ability to pair your cell phone with the car’s navigation or satellite system through bluetooth. That’s great because it allows you to play your music or make a hands-free call. But beware that when you’re setting it up it will ask to sync your contacts and phone details. If you select yes, all of your personal information will be loaded into the car and will likely remain there for future car renters to access.
The last car we rented was still loaded with the previous renter’s information and we were able to access his name and personal information, as well as access is contacts and call logs. Do you really want that information floating around out there?
Mistake #8: Ignoring Existing Rental Car Damage
Whenever we rent a car, we spend the first 5 minutes scouring the outside of the car for any pre-existing damage, then we document said damage on the provided diagram as well as with time-stamped photos. This is the only way to be sure that damage someone else made to the car before you took possession doesn’t get billed to you. You can be 100% certain that they aren’t going to just take your word for it, if you have no evidence.
Doing a walk-around of the car when you return it, and take note of any differences you see compared to when you picked it up. The drop-off process has been streamlined so much that you rarely even see an employee at the return, but you need to have proof if they find something.
The problem is that if they find damage on the car after you’ve dropped it off and left the airport, you have no way of proving that the damage was was actually there when you left it. Sure, 9 times out of 10 there won’t be a problem, but in that one case when you’re charged for damage, you’ll definitely wish you’d stuck around for an inspection.
Mistake #9: Failing to Note Specific International Rental Laws
Have you ever heard of a road tax charge? In some countries, like Italy, you’ll be charged $5 a day for this fee. An environmental fee of up to $10 a day may also be added. Also in Italy, there is a mandatory $20 per day fee for theft protection. When renting in Mexico, third-party liability insurance is mandatory and will not be covered by credit card insurance.
Ireland is one of only a handful of countries where Collision Damage Waiver (CDW) is not provided with a rental. Check your credit card to see if you’re covered or expect to add that coverage. The point here is that every country has their regulations and handle car rental differently. Before you rent in a new country, be sure to check the rules so you know what to expect.
Mistake #10: Taking a Rental Car Over the Border
There are special rules that apply any time you drive a rented car or truck from one country to another. We were going to rent a car in Portugal and drive into Spain on a trip we took last fall, but quickly decided against that plan when we saw the astronomical fee the rental agency was going to charge us to drop off the car in a different country. It was around $650.
If you’re just driving the car into another country and back, you probably won’t pay an extra fee, but you might be voiding your insurance, and you might be detained at the border by customs. Always ask for the rules before doing this. And make sure you’ve disclosed all of the locations you will be taking the car.
One country may require an International Driver’s License, while the other doesn’t, or the car might require special permits to enter. All of these issues will be costly if you’re caught.
Mistake #11: Not Returning the Car on Time
If you rent a car on Saturday and return it on Monday, you very well may be charged for 3 days, rather than 2. Most companies charge on a 24-hour basis, so if you keep the car for 26 hours, you’ll be charged for 2 full days. Remember when you reserved the car online and you put in what time you’d pick and and return the vehicle?
Those times might seem arbitrary, but you can be certain the rental car company took note of it and will charge you accordingly. If you return the car late, some companies will give a 29-minute grace period before charging either by the hour or a full extra day. You might imagine that returning a rental car a day or two early would come out in your favor, but you’ll probably have to pay for that too.
Some car rental companies will offer you a prorated refund if you return the vehicle early, but others will charge you an early return fee of $15 dollars, or more. You could also end up paying a hefty rate difference, particularly if your shortened rental period means that you no longer qualify for an advertised special rate you received.
Mistake #12: Not Asking About Tolls
Some freeways are still free. But most are not. It is in your best interest to inquire about toll charges while you’re at the counter. I’ve noticed that rental cars in areas near tolls include a fast pass that can either be enabled to work at all toll booths, or disabled so that must stop and pay the toll yourself.
We used the fast pass in Washington DC and up to Philadelphia on a recent trip, and while it was super convenient to breeze through the toll booths, it cost us an extra “convenience fee” of $3.95 per day just to use it. Worth it? Maybe. Maybe not. But you should at least be aware of the policy before you decide.
CONCLUSION
Surely you’ve made a few of these mistakes yourself a time or two, but now you can avoid these costly rental car mistakes and save the money you would have needlessly spent. What are your tips for avoiding car rental mistakes? Share them in the comments!
Be Prepared For Travel
Planning is the most important part of any successful trip. Do it the easy way:
🧳 Travel Packing List | ✔️ Why You Need Travel Insurance | ✈️ What to Do Before You Leave Home
- Find and book the best hotel (our favorite booking site is Expedia)
- Research flight options (our favorite tool is Skyscanner)
- Book a tour (we always use Viator to find the best tours)
- Rent a car through Discover Cars (they search the best deals for you!)
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Laura Lynch, creator and writer of Savored Journeys, is an avid world traveler, certified wine expert, and international food specialist. She has written about travel and food for over 20 years and has visited over 75 countries.
I rented a van in New Zealand and just automatically paid for extra insurance. It is nice to know that maybe I do not need to do that next time I rent a car/van. You mentioned that your credit card may cover you but what about the travel insurance you purchase for your trip? Can this also cover you for renting a car too?
Thank you so much for your insightful article!!
Lauren, some travel insurance plans include coverage for rental cars or offer it as an optional add-on. You’d have to read the fine print or call the company to make sure you are covered by them. The other things to remember is that they sometimes only cover theft of the car or breakins, but not necessarily bodily injury or stolen items inside the car. It pays to ask!
Definitely agree with #2 – we stupidly did that for one car rental in south Spain and got caught by the irrationally high price the rental car company charge to refuel! Won’t be doing that again….! Another tip, not sure if it’s relevant to the post, is to just shop around. We spent an hour browsing through and looking through all the car rental options and it’s amazing the variations in quotes you can get for what is pretty much the same thing!
That’s absolutely true. I often even shop around again a month or so after booking and right before going, because the prices might have dropped in that time and you can save a bunch of money.
Renting a car is something we haven’t done yet while traveling, so it’s great to read your tips! Sounds like there is a lot to consider.
I ALWAYS prefer not to rent a car if we can get away with it, but sometimes it’s the best/only option. Anyways, when you do it for the first time, come back for a refresher before you rent!
Unfortunately, we learned about a lot of these mistakes first-hand like tolls and not refilling the tank before returning. Luckily, it’s never been a costly mistake like ignoring damage.
Forgetting to refill the tank once cost us more than the entire price of the car. They charge a fortune for that! But yes, ignoring damage is way worse.
Great post! We have rented cars all over the world as well. Ireland is one of the worst places for figuring it all out. Credit card coverages don’t always work and things like tire or windshield damage isn’t included even with the LDW. And the cars are tiny! In the US they almost always upgrade you but not so in Europe so best to just order what you actually need! Also for Europe it’s best to rent through actual European sites rather than in the US!
Great tips on getting the most out of your car rental. The one about not synching your Bluetooth is one I hadn’t heard of and quite scary, thanks for the heads up!
Sure, Brianna. Hopefully that doesn’t happen too often to unsuspecting renters.
I will admit that I’ve often overpaid because I just didn’t feel like arguing or doing research ahead of time. But these are all great reminders that we need to pay more attention. Especially the tip about becoming a club member.
I think a lot of people just accept what they’re told at the counter, and you feel like it would be arguing if you say no, but they bet on that!
All very valid and important remarks. I think nowadays there is barely need for GPS. Google maps, which is free, works incredibly well and all you need is a local SIM card which will be handy in many other occasions. Plus Google maps will tell you if there is traffic and offer alternative routes and it is also great for walking around a city. I always use this and since today it also works offline you can even preload it before you set off. Definitively fill the tank, a wasted money otherwise. I will call my Amex now and find out about the coverage! Great tips
Mar, that’s a great point about Google maps. Some people do still have phones that don’t allow changing out the SIM card or aren’t smartphones, so I can see wanting a GPS, but anyone else should just be using Google Maps.
Good post some are true, we just rented a car in Ireland and the rental car company gave us a cheaper rate on gas then we could get on the street without any fees. But that was because we were returning renting customers. So it costed us less to just bring the car back on low.
That’s good to know, David! It pays to ask.
I used to work for Avis – #8 is so important. I never feel relaxed renting a car, because I used to work for a car rental company and I think that speaks volumes! Great tips.
Yes, it definitely does! We’re always trepidatious too. So many things could go wrong (though they rarely do) and you’ll be charged a fortune for it.
Having rented cars in Australia and overseas during three decades of travelling I thought we knew just about everything but your tip on not pairing your mobile (cell) phone with the car is a real eye-opener.
In relation to taking cars across borders, you are right, it can be tricky. We have driven across borders in Sth America a few times and while we have always done our homework beforehand getting the paperwork right it can be very a very stressful thing to do.
Yeah, now that rental cars are equipped with Bluetooth more regularly, it’s definitely something to remember. It’s a very good point that you need to fill out appropriate paperwork with the company if you’re going to take the car over a border.
That’s really cool that your credit card may offer coverage for your rental. I would have thought, if anything, your existing car insurance might also cover a rental. Also, definitely fill up the gas tank yourself before you return the car! They will fill it up again, and charge you so much more. These are great tips, and I will use this to prove to my husband that I wasn’t insane to say we should skip extra coverage on the rental car!
It’s a little scary to skip the extra insurance, but you really are usually covered by your credit card (as long as you pay for it with that card) and your existing home policy.
Indeed, stopping by a gas station before dropping off a rental can save you a lot of money. Also, cleaning it off can also shave off a bit of the price as well, especially if you rented a truck and it was hauling dirt or something in it’s bed. I didn’t know about the boarder thing though, that is good to keep in mind next time you take a trip.
Thanks you for sharing friends
Thanks for the tip about refilling the gas tank myself. I am planning on renting a truck next week when I go to Florida, and I have never heard of filling it up before you turn it in. I don’ think that’s fair, but I’ll do it. I don’t want any hidden fees to be attached!
They’ll try to get you however they can. Definitely fill it up before and waive the pre-paid fuel option.
Maybe joining the rent car club for perks and bonuses would be a good idea for me to think about. It’s one thought that I would need to keep in mind for my trip to Las Vegas for next week. This would be my first time of renting a car so, it’s all new to me.
It’s a great way to get some extra perks, like not having to wait in line to pick up your car!
My boss told me that I will need to rent a car for my business trip next month. I’m new to this process and have no idea how to do this properly. This article has some great points on what to do to avoid making some major mistakes and plan making sure that I fuel up myself and not worry about getting a GPS with the car.
It can be a stressful process, Jason, but you’ll go in prepared now!
Hi! Your post is quite essential for me because I am intending to do rental car. And you are right that I don’t want to make any rental car mistakes.
Hello,
Great post. Few of mistakes are already done by me on my trip. Now, i’ll keep in mind and stay away from it.
Thanks
Hello,
Good article for rental car mistakes . These mistakes, I’ve already done on my UAE trip.
Now, I’ll keep in mind and stay away from it.
Thanks
It is helpful to have insurance but to have the extra insurance might be an overkill. I think it is nice to have a rental vehicle but I don’t think you will need to get all the side things that come with it. Most people aren’t going on a safari with the rental car.
If you don’t own a car and are a frequent car renter, you may consider purchasing a non-owner liability policy. This not only provides liability protection when you rent a car but if you borrow someone else’s car.
If you are planning to rent a car outside the United States, find out what the insurance requirements are in the country you will be visiting and purchase the necessary coverage.
Very good tips. Thanks!
HI,
Yes this is comman mistake which we are doing normally, Amazing information thanks for sharing this information.
You’re welcome, Linda.
Great post. Thanks!
One tip I would add in regards to taxis. Sometimes a taxi is the best option especially if you don’t know an area well, if it’s late at night or if you have a lot of luggage.
When taking a taxi, I always insist on them using the meter if they have one. This can help to avoid an overinflated price made up specially for tourists.
If there is no meter, then arrange a price in advance and get a quote from more than one taxi driver.
Thanks Gokhan. And great tip about taking a taxi. It’s always a good idea to get a price beforehand. Also make sure they take credit cards if you need that option!
I’ve also found it pays to shop around for rental locations near the airport but not necessarily ‘THE’ airport location as the airport rental locations charge a lot more in additional taxes and fees. For example, I am headed to Boston later this month. I am taking an Uber to a rental location just outside of the airport which will cost me about $18 but will save me about $200 off of my week long rental. Plus I am figuring the line there will be a lot shorter (hopefully) to make up for the 10 minute Uber ride.
Thanks for few suggestions. This will really help me while renting a car
No problem, Kartik!
You have given me great information; I liked your information from your blog. You said about the rental car insurance this info is correct. Our credit card is also used for insurance when we rent a car. Nice to read your blog. Thanks for such post and please keep it up.
Thanks Darius!
My cousin is visiting from another state and she wants to go around the city without easily. My mom suggested renting a car to help her and shared this article with her. According to this, it’s important he’ll return the car on time or he’ll pay extra when returned too early or late.
Yes that’s always wise to remember. If you’re a couple hours late returning a car, they’ll charge you an extra day.
It’s good to know more about how to rent a car without mistakes. I didn’t realize that filling the gas up myself could save me so much money. It definitely is worth it to take the five minutes and fill up! I’m normally lazy, like you said, but I’d rather save money when I rent a car.
I very thankful to find this site on bing, just what I was searching for : D too saved to favorites.
Hi, Very nice blog. This content is really very helpful specially for me because I was about to rent a car and definitely I don’t want to make any car rental mistake. Good work keep it up author!
My brother will be going on a business trip and he wanted his transport to be smooth. It was explained here that when renting a car, he should be the one to refill the gas tank. Furthermore, it’s best to go to trusted companies when planning to rent a car.
You’re so right, Vanessa, it is super important to go with a trusted company. It’s also useful to choose one and become part of their loyalty program.
Great article for sure thru this post many would aware to avoid any rental car mistakes that we don’t want to make. Thanks for sharing!
Very insightful post basing on your personal experience. Great work! Laura. For an ordinary renter or frequent traveler, it’s always good to know how can you secure a lowest car rental rates.
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My husband and I are taking a trip this summer and we are thinking about renting a car to make it easier for us to get around to all of the sites we want to say. You make a great point that we should remember to refill the gas tank ourselves because this way we will save money when returning the car. Also, I appreciate you talking about returning the car on time because I did not realize how much money you can be charged for returning it late! I will remember these tips and be sure to share them with my husband before our trip! https://www.costless-rentacar.com/
My family and I want to go on vacation outside of the country, but we’re worried about our transportation during this trip, as we’ll have to leave behind our car. Your article had some great tips for renting a care we can use during vacation, and I liked how you said to be aware of any international road laws and fees, as some countries charge for a road tax, and environmental tax, and a theft protection fee in some places. Thanks; we’ll keep this in mind if we rent a car during our next vacation.
Glad it was useful for you, Jocelyn. Transportation can be worrisome, but it needn’t be.
I agree with your tips in joining the club for the rental agency. This will lead you to miss a lot of perks, benefits, and discounts. My brother is finding reputable car services in our area and she wants to rent one I’ll definitely advise your useful tip in getting perks. Thanks!
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I like that you mentioned refilling the gas tank. This hack can save a lot of money when you rent a car . Most of us don’t read the fine print, which we definitely should! Thanks for highlighting these mistakes and providing solutions to all of them.
Yes refilling the gas tank is a big one, especially right now. They are charging quite a lot to fill it for you.