Welcome to Question.com Skip directly to: Search Box, Site Navigation, Content.

 
 

What is the easiest way to rent a car, truck, campervan or limo?

The Internet and your travel agent are ideal places to start comparison shopping for a car rental. Directly contacting car rental companies such as Avis, Hertz, National Car Rental is more expensive and time-consuming, requiring multiple telephone calls or visits to dealerships. When renting a car, always start with a budget. Many car-rental companies offer a dazzling variety of car models and sizes, and it is easy to be lured into over-spending. Check out our links to popular US car, truck, campervan and limousine rental companies.

Choosing a Car Rental Company

Choosing a car rental company is a serious undertaking for comparison shoppers. A multitude of car rental companies, from multinationals such as Avis, Hertz, National Car Rental and others to smaller, local companies makes choosing difficult. Some things to consider are:

  • Are their rates competitive?
  • What types of insurance do they offer?
  • Do they offer corporate discounts for which you are eligible?
  • Is the dealership conveniently located?
  • What sort of road service do they provide?
  • Can you extend your rental (or return your car early) without a penalty?
  • Do you need to fill up the gas tank before returning the car, or do they offer low-cost refills?
  • Can you drop of the car in another location (and are there associated extra costs)?

Rental Cars - Size Matters

When planning car travel, consider two things about size: (1) What size car are you most comfortable driving; and (2) How much room do you need for other passengers, personal belongings and/or business samples? Particularly if you will be driving in an unfamiliar area, it is important that you can handle the car well. This means choosing a rental car you feel confident about driving:

For example, if you customarily drive a small sportscar, you may find driving a large-size car, van or SUV awkward, particularly if you are also trying to navigate (for easier navigation, see Question.com on GPS devices). If more than one person is traveling, luggage-space requirements may necessitate renting a larger-capacity vehicle - especially if you plan on shopping during your trip. Kids in tow? You may want extra leg-room for them to be comfortable, too.

Additionally, if cost is an important factor, you may want to consider the higher fuel-cost of running a larger car for the duration of your rental.

The Bigger Picture - Renting a Campervan

Campervan rental is an ideal way to manage a lower-budget extended holiday. Campervan hire is a specialized niche of the car-rental market, and tends to be localized in a given region. Most international car rental companies do not handle them. Unless you receive a personal recommendation about a particularly company, the Internet or your travel agent is the best place to start looking.

Campervans come in many shapes and sizes, and with a wide variety of features. Search on Google or another search engine for websites about campervans in your desired area; many rental agencies have great websites with pictures and designs of campervan layouts. Because the models differ greatly, and particularly if you are new to camper vans in general, start early and take your time.

Camper van travel is particularly popular in the US and Oceania. For useful tips about traveling in a motor-home or planning an itinerary, check out RealAdventures in the US, Australia's ExplorOz, and the Travel New Zealand websites - they offer information about a plethora of topics related to traveling in and buying motorhomes in each region.

Truck Rental Companies

For your move, renting a truck asking a few friends to help saves money. Some national truck-rental companies are:

Get Me a Limo!

If the whole idea of driving yourself anywhere is unappealing, and if you have lots of cash and/or want to dazzle your friends/foes, limousine companies in all major US cities will happily offer their services.

Limo rental is, of course, an entirely different undertaking from simply renting a car. USAlimos.com offers excellent tips on choosing a limousine service. You may also want to find out if your prospective limousine company is a member of the National Limousine Association, a non-profit professional organization whose members are all insured.

Limousine companies tend to be local. However, globalization has entered this industry, too. One of the world's largest limousine companies, Sixt, has offices in 75 countries.