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How to Avoid Extra Car Rental Charges

Don t get dinged for damage you didn t cause or insurance you don t need

Getty Images and her credit card coverage didn’t kick in. Get instant access to members-only products and hundreds of discounts, a free second membership, and a subscription to AARP the Magazine. Since then, she says, “I do a careful inspection and take photos of every possible thing so I have a record of what it looked like when I got it.” Unfortunately, Thornton’s story isn’t all that unusual. The car-rental market notched a new revenue record in 2018, passing the $30 billion mark for the first time, according to research by the trade publication Auto Rental News.
That means there are a lot of opportunities for things to go wrong — and for people to be charged for things that go wrong. “Today, profit margins have been squeezed, so rental companies are much more diligent about finding damage done by renters to protect their assets,” says Neil Abrams, the founder of the Abrams Consulting Group, a car rental consulting and travel market research organization. “It isn’t unheard of for an individual to get a charge on their credit card weeks or even months later.” Here are ways to protect yourself from unjust charges. Check your insurance coverage before you rent
Before buying additional insurance while you’re standing at the rental counter — “collision damage waivers” can add up to $30 a day to the cost — make a quick inventory of your benefits. Many credit cards provide damage coverage; if yours does, you can use that credit card to make your rental. Find out, too, if your regular auto insurance includes rental car damages, although keep in mind that if you do file a claim with your insurance company, that’s considered a chargeable accident and may affect your future insurance rates.

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Please Select Make Please Enter ZIP Code Shop For New Cars Please Select Make Please Enter ZIP Code Shop For Used Cars , a website that helps users get the best deals on car rentals. Flowers & Gifts 25% off sitewide and 30% off select items See more Flowers & Gifts offers > Read the fine print Alamy Stock Photo It's important to look at the details of your deal, especially if you’re getting a super cheap rate. Some rental companies allow you grace time of up to an hour if you return the car late, while others may charge you for another full day if you're an hour late. Check, too, if there are additional charges for a second driver (some states let spouses drive for free while others don’t), or for air-conditioning, car seats or other features. They can add up. Know what to do after an accident If you have a minor fender bender and the car is still drivable, alert your credit card company within a day or two that you’ll be making a claim once you return the car, says Weinberg. But for more serious accidents, car rental companies usually have strict guidelines, and failure to follow them could affect your insurance. Typically, after making sure everyone involved is safe and calling the police (and getting a copy of the police report), contact the rental car company immediately. Don’t move or do anything to the car until you’ve talked to the car rental agency. AARP Membership — $12 for your first year when you sign up for Automatic Renewal Get instant access to members-only products and hundreds of discounts, a free second membership, and a subscription to AARP the Magazine. More on auto AARP Membership — $12 for your first year when you sign up for Automatic Renewal Get instant access to members-only products and hundreds of discounts, a free second membership, and a subscription to AARP the Magazine. AARP VALUE & MEMBER BENEFITS See more Health & Wellness offers > See more Flights & Vacation Packages offers > See more Finances offers > See more Health & Wellness offers > SAVE MONEY WITH THESE LIMITED-TIME OFFERS