A few weeks ago, my wife and I took a road trip from our home in Northern California to San Diego. The drive was about four hours long and we were driving in the carpool lane, so it should have been relatively easy to find a rental car. But as it turns out, renting cars can be a really expensive proposition.
The Cost of Renting a Car
The average cost of renting a car in the United States is now over $100 per day. That’s a lot of money, and it adds up quickly. Consider these facts: the average American spends more than two weeks of their yearly vacation driving around in a rental car. That’s more than enough time to rack up a hefty bill!
Renting a car also has some clear benefits over buying one. For one, you can use the car as your primary means of transportation while you’re on vacation. This means that you don’t have to worry about finding parking or packing your own transportation when you go out. Plus, if something goes wrong with your rental car while you’re away, you won’t have to worry about getting stranded or spending lots of money on repairs.
The downside to renting a car is that it can be expensive. The average cost of renting a car in the United States is now over $100 per day. That’s a lot of money, and it adds up quickly. Consider these facts: the average American spends more than two weeks of their yearly vacation driving around in a rental car.
The Rental Car Industry
If you’re looking to take a vacation, chances are you’ll need to rent a car. But just how much does renting a car cost?
According to The Rental Car Industry Research Institute (TCII), the average rental car costs $128 per day. That’s more than triple the price of a daily parking ticket in most American cities!
Why are rental cars so expensive? There are a few reasons. For one, rental car companies have to pay fees to several different organizations, including the National Automobile Dealers Association (NADA) and the American Automobile Association (AAA). This makes it difficult for them to compete with each other on price. Additionally, many rental car companies use high-priced brands such as Audi and BMW. This means that even if you get a cheaper car from a competing company, it’ll still be more expensive than renting an economy car from your local gas station.
Fortunately, there are some ways to save on rental car costs. For example, you can try using an online search engine to compare rates before traveling. Or, if you’re traveling in a large city, try finding deals on short-term rentals instead of traditional rentals. Either
Why Renters Pay So Much More for Car rental than Owners
It’s no secret that renters pay much more for car rental than owners. Here are some reasons why:
-Renters typically have less flexibility when it comes to car rental dates and times. Car rental companies often require a minimum number of days notice before a rental can be made, which can be difficult for renters who are on a tight schedule.
-Renting a car often means dealing with different rates and policies from place to place. Some companies offer lower rates for online reservations, while others may have more expensive surcharges for using their facilities at night or during rush hour.
-Renting a car often requires taking the bus or train instead of driving. This can add up in terms of transportation costs, especially if the trip involves several stops.
-Most renters don’t own cars themselves, so they’re not as familiar with the costs and benefits of car rental as owner-drivers are. This can lead to costly mistakes, like not packing enough food or water when renting a car in an unfamiliar city.
Conclusion
If you’re looking to get a good deal on your rental car, you may be out of luck. The average price for a rental car in the U.S. is over $100 per day, and that’s not including fuel or insurance costs. Even if you plan to only use your rental car for short spurts, it can still be expensive to rent one from the ground up. If you want to save some money on your next rental car trip, try looking into discounted rates through a travel site or using a search engine that specializes in finding discount deals on rentals.