It's no secret that car rentals, gas prices, flights, lodging — okay basically everything — are super pricey at the moment.
That's why talking to people like Scott Keyes, founder of Scott's Cheap Flights, is more important than ever — he's made a living out of finding money-saving tricks the travel industry doesn't want you to know about.
In addition to being a cheap flight guru, Keyes has been working the rental car market — recently discovering a hack that saved him 30 percent on a rental car. More on that and his other hacks below:
1.Rather than waiting until the last minute, book your rental car the same day you book your flight.
2.Then, watch for price drops and be ready to cancel and rebook when you find a better rate.
3.Most rental car companies have similar pricing — but you'll find consistently lower rates at Costco Travel.
4.Check out Turo, the Airbnb of car rentals.
5.You might be able to save money by reserving a car for longer — even if you don't need it.
6.And, remember rental car rates are often lower during the middle of the week.
7.If you have the flexibility, book your trip during the destination's "low season."
8.Pick up your rental car from an off-airport location.
9.Signing up for car rental loyalty programs will help you score perks like a free additional driver, upgrades, and eventually, free rentals.
10.But, keep in mind it isn't usually worth it to remain loyal to one specific car rental company.
11.That said, make sure to exploit any membership you're part of.
12.Before you pay for insurance, check to see if your credit card covers it.
13.And plan ahead so you can say no to all the pricey add-ons the agent will try to sell you.
14.If you're going to put some serious miles on your rental car, it might make sense to pay extra for a hybrid or electric car.
15.And if car rental prices are really high, you might want to look into renting a truck from Home Depot or Lowe's.