Auto Class Types Rented by Cheap Car Rental Companies

There are several different classes of auto provided by cheap car rental companies. This allows for a wide range of prices and options when renting your car, whether you’re on a budget or have a ton of people and luggage. Although each company will vary slightly as far as selection goes, there are a few basic categories which are pretty common.

The Economy Car

If you’re looking for the ultimate in cheap car rental, the economy size is your new best friend. Not only are the rental prices lower for economy cars, but the gas mileage is usually outstanding compared to larger vehicles. Economy cars may also be called compact cars, although some companies may offer compact cars as a separate rental category. If this is the case, compact usually costs a little more than economy.

Standard Size

The next level up after economy/compact are the midsize or standard vehicles. Again, some companies may separate these into two separate categories (or more) while others include all mid size and standard vehicles under one “standard” rental category. These cars seat more passengers than economy/compact cars, and also have more cargo room.

Cars to Avoid

If you are aimed at cheap car rental, you should definitely avoid larger vehicles. Trucks, vans, minivans and SUVs will all cost quite a bit more to rent than either economy or standard vehicles. The larger class of rentals also get worse gas mileage, so you’ll be paying more at the tank than with other rentals.

Luxury rentals are another no-no if you’re trying to save money. Forget the brand name cars and look for something that’s more budget-friendly.

Making Your Choice

When it comes time to decide which rental car will work best for you, don’t forget to take into consideration more factors than just price. For example, you have to have enough seating for everyone in your party, and room for any luggage you may have. The family who needs to rent an all-wheel drive vehicle in order to get to their campsite will have very different needs from the single businessman who’s just using the car to get from his hotel room to his conference and back again. If your goal is cheap car rental, take a look first at the economy and compact cars, and go from there.

Cheap car insurance and usage-based insurance

It’s curious how quickly an idea either takes off or dies the death. What was casually called pay-as-you-go has now become a highly competitive market. If you ever wanted proof of just how competitive, you only have to look at the court roster where you find Progressive suing State Farm and The Hartford for alleged infringement of patents. You may well throw up your hands in despair. We are used to seeing technology companies accuse each other of copying the other’s patent for an on/off switch, but patents also cover any business ideas that no one has registered using those words before. So Progressive claims it registered the idea of using technology to monitor how far and how well people drive and to offer discounts to all the safest drivers. Now we have to wait for a judge to say how obvious this business plan is and that it should never have been registered as a patent. Until then, attorneys are collecting their usual high fees to fight it out to the death.

So what exactly is Progressive offering that it feels must be defended so aggressively? In most states, this insurer was the first to offer a black box for monitoring driving behaviour. The most recent version is called Snapshot. What makes this so interesting is you can run it for a one month’s trial while holding your existing policy. This gives you a direct comparison and tells you exactly how much you will save if you make the switch. If you decide not to switch, there’s no comeback. Progressive simply recovers the hardware link and looks for business elsewhere.

Why is usage-based insurance the best chance for inexpensive car insurance? The answer comes in two different ways. The first relates to the number of miles you drive and the time of day you drive them. The statistics show low milage drivers have the smallest numbers of accidents, particularly if you drive at off-peak times. Second we come to the way you drive. Gentle acceleration, modest braking, no violent swerving all indicate a safe driver. That earns you cheap car insurance. All the insurer has ever wanted is proof you are safe. Now technology supplies that information you can earn maximum discounts.

Before calling to car rental companies decide where to go among these top U.S. road trip destinations

Preparing to go on a road trip, comparing quotes from car rental companies on a car that will fit your needs is a bright idea. Car rental companies cater to the family travelers, the couple as well as the solo travelers, etc.

If you have already chosen a car but don’t know where to go even if you are itching to drive cross country, you can visit the best road trip destinations in the United States. Here are some of them:

Washington, DC and Virginia

The colors of Washington, DC during autumn is just spectacular and whether you plan to go there to get a glimpse of the White House or the Lincoln Memorial, make sure that you pay Virginia a visit too.

New Orleans, LA

Ahh … the magic of New Orleans is like no other. This one-of-a-kind destination features unique architecture especially in the infamous French Quarter. The cuisine is also to die for and eating Cajun or Creole dishes while listening to jazz is definitely worth the long ride.

Colorado

Visiting the Rockies is a good idea and if you remember Katharine Lee Bates’ America the Beautiful, it is interesting to note that she was in Colorado when she wrote it. Colorado is a great road trip destination for those who love the great outdoors. In the summer, the spectacularly beautiful state features a number of activities – from swimming in its pristine waters to fishing to mountain biking and whitewater rafting.

Boston, Massachusetts

Historical sites and pubs are what you get if you go to Boston, MA. You can barhop all you want and experience fantastic pub fare – probably the best compared to what is offered in nearby states, according to experienced barhoppers.

Disney World, Florida

There’s nothing like going to Disney with the kids. All the magic and fun in one place is definitely worth the long drive.

Grand Canyon, Arizona

This is definitely the top road trip destination because it is not just one but one of the best natural wonders the world has ever seen. If you are planning to go to the Grand Canyon, it is best to compare quotes from different car rental companies. The best car rental companies will be able to offer reasonable daily rates for your rental.