It’s no secret to anyone who tries to leave town now and again that renting a car is expensive, if there are any cars left. But staying in all weekend isn’t the solution. With a little pluck and some savvy researching, you’ll be on your way in no time.
ASK AROUND
Call that Avis/Hertz/ whatever location on your block and ask them what kind of price they can give you before you take to the Internet. Online, make sure to do plenty of comparing. A good way to get lots of rates at once is to check kayak.com.
NO EQUALITY
You’ll always pay more than you think you should, but you won’t get the same bang for your buck with every company. Some include unlimited mileage as a rule, some offer better roadside assistance than others, while some like to penalize drivers for crossing state lines not pre-approved in the contract.
LEAVE TOWN!
For the second week in June, Enterprise shows rates of $89 per day for an economy car at its Manhattan locations. In Jersey City, rent that same weekend for $61 per day. At Newark Penn Station, a day will cost $57. Hello, PATH train!
THINK SMALL
Always book an economy car. If, on arrival, there are no cars available in the category you booked, you should be upgraded free of charge. If you are not offered an upgrade, ask.