One of the most exciting ways to explore a new destination is by driving around on your own. If you need a set of wheels to get around when you reach your destination, Expedia is your answer. It’s one of the world’s most widely recognized international car hire brands with more than 7,000 locations worldwide. What makes their car rental services better, besides the many locations and that you can rent for everyone from 2 to 6 passengers is the options for Expedia rent a car coupon code. So, you not only get to book a rental car ahead of your trip, but you also get an excellent deal price that suits your needs!
With more than 60 years of experience and industry-leading customer service, Expedia car rentals lead the way, all the way. So, how do you go about renting a car on Expedia? Here are 10 useful tips for renting a car on Expedia, coupon code, locations, passengers, et al.
Choosing the Duration
10
If Expedia rent a car coupon codes get you excited, then one of the first things you should consider is the duration. If you’re to rent a car for 3 days, then it’s not an issue. But, if you’re here for more than a week, then consider getting quotes for weekly rentals. Usually, the longer you rent a car, the less it’ll cost per day – obviously. Also, you might find that renting a car for an entire 7 days costs the same as, or maybe even less than, 6, 5, or even if you rent a car for 3 days. So, if you’re a group of 6 passengers, the car on rent could be economical if planned well.
If that wasn’t enough, many companies now offer mini-lease, monthly, and long-term rental options that are cheaper than daily rates. Finally, you could also avoid costly fees, such as the pesky headache of one-way drop fees for trips with different start and end destinations.
Selecting the Car Type and Company
9
One of the most important things is actually picking the car, which you can choose from the drop-down menu labeled “Car Type.” If you rent a car for 6 passengers, then you’re better off with an SUV and a carrier since you’ll have luggage too. If you’re just 2 people, then you have tons of options, such as sedans, SUVs, and even vans, if you want to go camping. What’s more, you can also choose which company you want to rent your car from in the drop-down menu marked “Rental Car Company.”
After you’ve filled in all the necessary information, the next screen shows you a chart with the different car rental companies and classes of cars available. Click any option in the grid that you’d like to continue with. Additionally, you can also click the top-right “Prev” or “Next” buttons to see more options for companies, if there are any.
Are you going car camping? You might also want to check out the best tents for car camping.
Getting Car Insurance and Coverage
8
No Expedia rent a car coupon codes will matter if you don’t get additional coverage. Basically, there are two main insurance categories you need to look into while booking your car rental. The first is additional collision coverage, which you should get even if you’re the best driver in the world. The last thing you’d want is parking your car and returning to find glass shattered or missing mirrors. Or, what if someone scratches your vehicle? Secondly, get the “No Excess Full Damage Waiver Insurance.” This covers your damages in case of an accident, thus ensuring peace of mind. If you want the additional coverage from Expedia, click the button beside “Yes, add this plan” to make your choice.
However, please note that renters are still responsible for damages up to a certain deductible amount, depending on your selected vehicle.
Demystifying Discount Codes
7
Finally, the last drop-down menu allows you to choose Expedia rent a car coupon code and discounts to apply to your car rental if one is available. The Expedia rent a car coupon code could bring down the overall cost of renting a car to a great extent if used well. What’s more, you might even get an upgrade to a better car during this process, especially if you are going for the cheapest option. While it might not always work like that, your chances of getting upgrades are better with the Expedia rent a car coupon code.
If you’re a member of AARP, then an Expedia rent a car coupon code can get you fantastic discounts. One can complete the booking via the AARP Travel Center Powered by Expedia or via phone too. In fact, members can save up to 30% on base rates at Budget and Avis and up to 5% on rentals from Payless Car Rental. Furthermore, they also get discounts from other car rental companies.
Payment Options
6
Now, it’s time to put those Expedia rent a car coupon codes to work; it’s time for the actual payment. When it comes to payment, Expedia provides two options:
- Reserve now, pay later: With the rise of the “pay later” revolution, Expedia has also adopted this option. Here, you need to choose a vehicle and book it by paying nothing, that is, no advance payments. When you get to the Expedia car rental locations in your destinations to pick up the car, that’s when you’ll actually pay. Hence, don’t forget to bring a valid credit card and a driver’s license in your name.
- Reserve now, pay now: In this option, you pay for the car rental right at the time of booking using a debit or a credit card. What’s more, you could also apply Rewards points, thus saving money.
Picking Up Your Rental Car
5
Picking up the car when you rent from Expedia is also a process that you need to understand. That’s because different Expedia car rental locations have different pick-up instructions. Firstly, make sure to check your itinerary for the exact pick-up location, the operating hours, and any additional arrival instructions. Secondly, remember to bring your driver’s license and a credit card that’s in your name. Additionally, look through the documents list that the company sent you when you made the booking and carry that too. Most importantly, be punctual when picking up and, especially, dropping the vehicle off to avoid any additional and unwelcome charges. Do note that the vehicle will be in the same class and category you booked, but the models might differ.
Canceling Reservations
4
Expedia doesn’t let you make changes to an existing rent a car reservation, coupon code, or not. So, the only thing that you can do is cancel your existing booking and create a new one. Before you do so, please ensure that you read the restrictions and rules for any cancellation fees. Then, so the following:
- Those who don’t have an Expedia account need to go to the User Find It page on the website to find their itinerary. Here, you enter your itinerary number and email address and come upon your reservation without signing in. Then, follow the instructions to cancel the reservation.
- Those with an Expedia account must go to My Trips and click on Cancel next to their booking. Then, follow the instructions to complete the canceling process.
Please note that most prepaid Expedia reservations are non-refundable. But, if your booking qualifies for a refund, ensure that you cancel it at least 6 hours before the pick-up to get your money back. While Expedia might take up to 24 hours to process the refund, it happens quickly, and your bank takes care of the rest.
Car Upgrades
3
Whether you rent a car with 2 or 6 passengers, it’s always good to have a few perks here and there to make your trip more enjoyable. Expedia offers rental car upgrades to customers upon request, even if they aren’t members of the Expedia Rewards program. Thus, it means that you might get to drive a bigger and better car model than what you’d booked! One of the easiest ways to do that is to ask, whether at the counters at the Expedia car rental locations or by contacting customer care. In both cases, the Expedia agent will confirm if there are any upgrades available and give you one.
Expedia Rewards Program
2
If Expedia rent a car coupon codes don’t work for you, then there’s another way to save on car rentals – its rewards program. The brand’s rewards program allows customers to earn points on each spend and redeem them to get rewards. So, when you spend 1 USD on cruises, packages, cars, hotels, things to do, etc., you earn 2 points as well as 1 point for 5 USD on every flight. Hence, it allows members to earn redeemable points, as well as enjoy lower prices and obtain other free perks on every travel other than getting upgrades or using discount coupons.
The membership has three tiers:
- Gold membership – Any member who’s stayed 15 hotel nights or spent over 10,000 USD.
- Silver membership – Any member who’s stayed 7 hotel nights or spent over 5,000 USD.
- Blue membership – The most basic level.
Filters
1
Finally, one of the most important things to know is how to use the filters on Expedia to your advantage and get a rental car that suits your needs and budget. When you initially search for a car rental, the results appear in no particular order. So, you need to look closely and use filters such as price, pick-up distance, etc., though. While some vehicles have an excellent price, the pick-up distance could be far away. So, ensure that you have a good balance of budget and convenience and use the filters to make your life easier. Another great feature is the sort option, which has three further options: by total price, by distance, and by recommended. All in all, the Expedia website/app takes the difficulty out of searching for rental cars and scouring around for the best deals.
Guide To Booking A Car Rental On Expedia
Setting Things Up
Firstly, head to www.expedia.com and click on the “Cars” menu across the top. Next, navigate using the window on the screen’s left side to set things up. First, click one of the topmost buttons to choose what services you want to book together, such as cars, hotels, flights, etc. Then, click in each box below to choose or type in your pick-up time, date, and point. Then, do the same for the drop-off time and date, and point in the boxes beneath that.
Choosing The Car
Next, we come to choosing the type of car. Click on the drop-down menu “Car Type” to look for and choose a specific type of car, such as an SUV or a convertible. There’s even a drop-down menu marked “Rental Car Company” if you have a preference for that too. Finally, the last drop-down menu allows you to choose a discount code to apply to your rental if there’s one available.
After clicking “Search” on the previous screen, the next screen shows you a chart with all the different rental companies and classes of cars available. If you want more options, and if there are any, clicking on the top-right “Previous” or “Next” buttons will show you options.
Coverage and Contact Details
There are two main things you need to do when you’re booking a car on Expedia. The first is deciding whether or not you want extra collision coverage, which you can get either from the car company or Expedia – or your own auto insurance. Whatever your choice is, click on the respective buttons beside to make your choice. Secondly, enter your contact details so that the car rental company or Expedia can confirm your booking as well as get in touch with you if required. These include your name, e-mail address, phone number, and country and country code.
After going through the legal details, click on “Complete Booking,” – and voila, you have your car rental from Expedia all ready to go.
Picking up the car
One of the most important things to do when you reach the Expedia car rental locations is to inspect the car’s interior and exterior thoroughly. Check it inside out for anything that could be potentially considered damaged. If you don’t bring it to notice right then and there at the Expedia car rental locations, you might be held responsible for damage that was already there. One of the worst things is forgetting the necessary documentation you need to rent a car, whether it’s for 2 or 6 passengers. Before you leave home, ensure that you have a valid credit card and, more importantly, your driver’s license on you.
What is Expedia’s car rental cancellation policy?
Usually, most rental car reservations can be canceled without any penalty up to a few days before your trip. If it’s any closer than that, they’ll either charge a cancellation fee or not allow cancellation.
Does Expedia charge a fee for car rentals?
Usually, there’s little to no charge for an Expedia car rental. When you rent a car for 6 passengers, it practically comes to no additional charge.
Does Expedia take debit cards for rental cars?
Unfortunately, debit cards aren’t accepted for renting cars, but some branches might accept debit cards on a case-to-case basis. You might even be asked to show an address proof or an airline ticket, so ask in advance.
