5 ways to save on car rentals

Renting a car doesn’t have to cost you big bucks.

According to a Bank of America survey, consumers spend on average anywhere between $251 and $373 when they rent a car.However, ride share services are taking a bit out of the car rental industry. To remain competitive, rental companies are offering better deals.

Here are five ways to save more on your next car rental.

Check with your employer: If they have a contracted rate with a car rental service, see if there’s a policy allowing employees’ to use the corporate code for personal use. It can be a savings of up to 50%. You may assume only big corporations get contracted rates, but rental agencies aggressively pursue corporate business from companies of all sizes, so it’s worth looking into.

Sign up for rewards: Car rental company loyalty reward programs are not only free, but can include perks like upgraded cars, extra free days and skipping lines.

Explore coupons and discounts: Always ask if they offer any discounts. Check car rental company websites and other sites like GroupOn, Kayak, Priceline.com, AutoSlash.com or even Costco to compare prices and find coupons.

Don’t rent at the airport: Convenience has a price and it’s anywhere from 10% to 30% more than locations in town.

Share a ride: With Turo.com or Getaround.com, peer-to-peer car rental is just an app away. There’s even a new app, Lularides.com, that caters exclusively to college students. Here’s how it works. You sign up, enter travel dates and location, then search from a selection of locally-owned cars. Once you arrive at your destination, car owners can deliver the car to you. These car rentals can often save you up to 30%.