Although it’s usually a breeze to book a rental car online, it’s not always easy to know when you’re getting a great deal or whether you’re getting taken for a ride. There are some factors to consider that will help you find great deals on rental cars.
Research is Essential:
Like anything in life, you will get out of the car rental process what you put into it. If you’re in a rush and only check one or two websites, you are not going to find the best deals. Before you book, check out the major travel discount sites as well as the websites of different car rental companies in East Africa.
Book Your Trip in Advance:
If you’re booking a rental car to drive around during the holidays in East Africa, then try to book as early as possible to avoid paying more as the demand rises. If you are simply planning a vacation for yourself, you can save money by not booking during the busiest months of June to August, and most costly times of the year, such as the festive seasons December to February.
Meanwhile, to get the best deal on a 4×4 rooftop tent car rental, look for economy models, not luxe ones. If you book a smaller car (economy car) ahead of time, and the rental agency runs out of that size when you arrive, they will definitely upgrade you to the next largest size without an extra charge.
Beware of Hidden Fees:
If you don’t book directly through the rental car company website, you might not be quoted a price that includes standard fees, such as the added driver fee or minor driver fee. Make sure you know what those costs are and keep them in mind when comparing quotes so that you’re looking at apples to apples, not oranges. Before you sign for the car, be sure to read the entire rental contract and look out for hidden fees.
Avoid Renting a Car at the Airport:
Renting a car from the airport will most likely be costly compared to when you do book online through an authorized car rental company. It is always better to land on the airport when you already rented the car earlier through a rental agency which will bring it to you at your convenient location, either at the airport or at your hotel.
Refuel on Your Own:
It might be tempting to avoid the hassle of filling up your rental car’s gas tank, but rolling up with just fumes in the tank is a great way to pay a huge rate per gallon, and sometimes, pay additional fees.
Long term holidays:
If you need to have the best deals for car hire in East Africa, you should consider going for long term holidays like for a week and above. The car rental companies will offer the best discounts to those who go for long term trips with their fleets unlike with those who go for the three days’ holiday. The more your days for your trip are many, the better discounts you get.
