Road trips can be fun while traversing the country or even countries and experiencing different climatic conditions and cultures. They bring a big change from the boredom of the daily office life or the familiar home you have known for years. You get to sample different dishes and meet new people who change your view of the world.
As you plan for your next road trip, book hotels, map your routes and destination, and noting must-visit sites and can’t miss events, you have to address one issue: which vehicle will you use, yours or a rental? It is also critical to know who will drive. This article looks at some of the reasons for renting a car on your next road trip and how to save on it.
Reasons to rent a car for your road trip
While renting a car for a road trip seems like a costly option, below are some reasons you may consider it:
- To get a fuel-efficient car
If you own a car that is not fuel-efficient, renting one that is fuel-efficient could save you a decent sum of money. You need to consider the rental rates and availability of an economical car. Besides that, rentals offer protection products at a little extra cost that takes care of vehicle damages in case of accidents. You are better off using a rental if you are to take a long road trip since the longer the trip, the higher the chances of accidents.
- To avoid wear and tear on your car
Long road trips could take a heavy toll on your car, leading to future repairs at very high costs. Driving about 15-20 hours with few stopovers to cover over 1,000 miles may also make your car break down if it is old. It is no-brainer that to protect your car from wear and tear, renting, especially at good rates, is a better option.
- To have the right vehicle
You may own a small car but want to go for a family road trip that may involve some off-road drives. In such cases, getting a reliable, comfortable SUV from a rental, for example at https://milanirentals.com, would be the best option.
- To have fun as a gang
Taking a road trip in a convoy of small vehicles slows down the journey and kills the fun. Instead, you can rent a 7-seater SUV or a 12-seater van and drive in turns as you have your fun and move faster. You could also hire an extra driver from the rental at an additional fee so you greatly enjoy the trip.
Tips to save on car rentals
While renting a car for a road trip, you may use the tips below to save some money:
- Check several rentals
You need to visit several rentals to compare the rates and even use online resources by visiting big sites to compare prices. Try the small rentals since they sometimes have incredible deals.
- Keep away from airport rentals
Due to the high demand from visitors who want convenience and high operating costs among other factors, rentals based in airports tend to be more costly, so avoid them if you can.
- Rent on off-peak days
Most business executives travel on Sunday night or Monday morning, and vacationers rent mostly from Thursday to Saturday. Visiting the rental on Wednesday could get you better rates. The idea is to opt for off-peak times to get better deals.
Final thoughts
Renting a car for your road trip is the better option most of the time due to the reasons discussed above. Furthermore, it adds fun and excitement to drive a different car on such an adventure. However, if the rates and other costs are so high and your vehicle is in good shape, you may opt to use it. You may also want to drive the car you are used to or are certain about its condition, which makes sense to use yours.