Cheap One Way Car Rental

The Need for One Way Car Rentals

One way car rentals are useful for people whose itinerary does not include retracing their travel route. This may be due to a number of reasons. For instance, a person may choose to travel by car, one way, and use a different mode of transportation on his way back. Sometimes, an avid traveler may have planned a long circuitous tour involving multiple destinations. In this case, it would be impossible for the globe trotter to return the rental car at the pick up place. It's evident that one way car rentals are indispensable for making the journey a truly enjoyable experience.

Are One Way Car Rentals Expensive?

Typically, a one way car rental is more expensive than renting a car for a round trip. This is because one way car rentals would require the rental car company to make arrangements, to pick up the car from a different location, rather than having the car dropped off at their doorstep. For rental car companies that do operate nationwide, pick ups from a different location become a source of concern. Most websites that allow a person to bid, for a rental car of their choice, do not allow one way car rentals, thus preventing a person from availing huge price reductions that could have otherwise been possible. Even companies operating nationwide, may charge a drop off surcharge for one way car rentals. In addition to the surcharge, the base rates for one way car rentals are also high.

Finding Cheap One Way Car Rentals

Travel Within the US
In the US, one way car rentals cost slightly more than cars dropped off at the same location. However, the convenience of being able to travel without having to worry about the drop off, is well worth the additional amount that one may have to pay in order to avail this facility. One should ensure that the rental car agency is fairly big and operates throughout the country. This would ensure a reasonable drop off surcharge. Generally, companies offering one way car rental deals, have conveniently located drop off boxes for the car keys. One should make use of seasonal discounts and avoid one way car rentals during peak travel seasons. In case the car is rented for a long period of time, the discounts are substantially higher. Discount codes are often posted by good Samaritans and an avid surfer has a good chance of stumbling upon discount codes. Students, seniors and military personnel are generally eligible for discounts. Renting a GPS (Global Positioning System) to help navigate and opting for 24 hrs roadside assistance will add to the cost of renting. Car insurance may be mandatory in case of people less than 25 years of age. This will again increase the cost of renting the car.

International Travel
As far as international travel is concerned, the cost of a one way car rental depends entirely on the destination. One way car rentals are expensive throughout Europe. However, considering the convenience of traveling by road, the traveler can settle on one of the following alternatives. He can choose to buy a car and sell it to the manufacturer for a guaranteed price instead of paying for a one way rental. Strangely enough, this is a cheaper option as compared to a one way car rental! This arrangement is also known as a 'French Lease'. Instead of renting the car from the local rental car agencies, one should try and find a domestic player in the international market. There was a time when local companies offered better deals but today, a rental company that is operating across countries has a better chance of offering competitive rates. In Australia, one way car rentals are a common feature, since renting a car one way is the easiest way of traveling across the continent. Hence, the cost of one way car rental is fairly cheap.

The preferred mode of travel, by the residents of a country, would influence the cost of travel. For instance, if most people use cars to travel across the country the cost of car rentals will be low. In other words, a cost conscious traveler should opt for the most commonly used mode of transportation in order to navigate the chosen path.