cheap car rentals vancouver bc

Preparing in advance for a long road trip will make or break your trip. To help you make sure you have everything you’ll need for your open road trip, here are just a few things that should be added to your road trip checklist.

Setup your GPS

Whether you use a built-in GPS, a phone app or a traditional paper map, make sure you know where you’re going on this road trip, especially when you have a rental car. Plan your trip and make sure there are as little hiccups as possible to ensure a smooth ride.

Grab a Cooler

Instead of having drinks dumped throughout the car, rolling around as you speed down the backroads of a new city, pack everything away neatly into a cooler. This also ensures that you don’t forget a soda can in the car when it’s time to return it.

Secure Your Travel Mugs

On a long road trip, coffee is essential to have on hand. But instead of having a flimsy coffee cup from a drive-thru, make sure your rental car is protected from spills by investing in a secure travel mug with a lid. The less of a mess you make, the less you’ll have to pay in cleaning fees.

Utilize Air Fresheners

Particularly on long road trips, your rental vehicle is likely to get a bit smelly from all the food and other smells that tend to accumulate. Prevent your airflow from getting too stale by keeping a few air fresheners on hand.

Road Trip Snacks

Yet another essential for any road trip. However, while you’ll definitely need a sizeable amount of snacks to get you through long legs of your trip, make sure you don’t end up trashing the car in the process. Throw out all snack packaging and keep the car as clean as possible.

Road Trip Tunes

If you’re travelling with someone else or a group of people, conversations can only take you so far, especially during a long road trip. For the moments when talking isn’t an option due to exhaustion or boredom, then having various playlists on hand will save you.

Cleaning Supplies

No matter how careful you are when driving around in a rental car for days or weeks at a time, accidents are sure to happen. When they do, make sure you have paper towels, napkins and wet wipes to quickly deal with a spill or stain. A clean car will make for a more comfortable trip and lower cleaning fee by the time you need to return the vehicle.

At Expo Rent A Car, we’re dedicated to providing customers with a stress-free car rental experience. Located in downtown Vancouver, British Columbia, we’re proud to offer high-quality customer service alongside a wide range of vehicles that are perfect for any occasion, including road trips. Accepting credit cards, cash and debit deposits, be sure to visit our website and rent a car with us today!

Whether you’re planning on going on a road trip or going on a business trip, there are a few things you should know when it comes to renting a car. Here are five mistakes to avoid with car rentals.

Renting at the Airport

Renting a vehicle at an airport will cost you more money than other vendors will charge you. That’s because airports can charge vendors premium location fees to set up shop. To cover the cost of those fees, rental services within the airport will charge you more for the same service as other rental locations.

Misunderstanding the Penalties

While it’s common knowledge that there are late fees associated with renting a car, many don’t know that you can also be fined for returning the vehicle earlier than your intended drop-off day. Make sure you understand what you can and can’t do in regards to renting a car. For example, you’ll be charged a large cleaning fee for smoking in the vehicle or you’ll need to pay a fee for returning the car without a full tank of gas. Being aware of penalties beforehand can save you a lot of money.

Adding Unnecessary Services

Be sure to check all fees and additional costs when you’re offered an upgrade. Services like GPS or roadside service can easily have fees attached to them, increasing your bill without actually needing to. While convenient, check to see if there are any cheaper alternatives. Or, better yet, ask yourself if you really need this feature to enjoy your trip.

Waiving Insurance

Unless your current car insurance provider has you covered for car rentals, you’ll want to spend the extra money and purchase car rental insurance from the dealership. While it will cause you upfront, you’ll save a lot more money if you get into an accident. Driving around in a car you’re not used to or traveling through unfamiliar territory are just a few factors that can put you at risk of getting into an accident when in your rental vehicle. As you can’t guarantee an accident-free driving experience, it’s better to be safe than sorry and purchase car rental insurance.

Not Taking Your Time

When you rush into making a big decision, there’s always a risk that you’ll regret it in the end. The same gamble applies when it comes to signing a car rental agreement without reading the contract properly. If you don’t go over the finer points of the agreement, you can run the risk of paying for unnecessary features. Take the extra few minutes to fully understand what you’re signing. If the attendant is rushing you, ignore them. You’ll definitely be glad you read everything when you catch an outrageous expense you don’t need.

At Expo Rent A Car, we offer high-quality customer service and a wide range of vehicles for any occasion. We’re dedicated to providing customers with a seamless car rental experience in downtown Vancouver, British Columbia. We accept cash and debit deposits if you don’t have a credit card, so be sure to visit our website to learn how you can rent a car with us!

Rental car prices can vary depending on a variety of factors. It is worth knowing when the savviest time to book is so that you can get the best possible deal and vehicle. Here are some things to keep in mind when renting a car in the Vancouver area.

Big Cities

Major cities host some of the largest airports, which means the area will likely be busy. Rental companies change their prices in these areas frequently throughout the day as a result. These changes are often small but can amount to quite a bit. In a busy city like Vancouver, it pays to book as soon as you know you are going.

Vehicle Type

If you want a specific car like a convertible, seven-seater, or one with four-wheel drive, it is worth booking early. Rental car companies do not have as many of these types of vehicles, so it could be harder to get your hands on one. As well, the prices of these cars do not go up and down as much as standard vehicles, so there is no point in waiting.

The Ideal Time

The best time to book a rental car is three to six months before your travel date. If you book around this time, you are more likely to get the car you want without risking price increases closer to the date. It is during this period of time that prices are the most competitive. Prices tend to be higher any more than six months before the date, so there is no benefit to booking earlier than that.

Price Decrease

The terms and conditions of rental car companies vary, but some contracts may include free cancellation. This means you are able to cancel your booking within a period of time and receive a full refund. Typically, this time frame will be at some point after you have booked the car but before your pick up day. That means if you find a lower price, you can book it and simply cancel your old booking.

Booking Last Minute

Late bookings are inevitable sometimes. It helps to keep in mind that prices usually jump within a week of your date and they are typically at their highest within 48 hours of your trip. If you are stuck booking last minute, it is worth booking online even if you are leaving in just a few hours. That way you can check out the company’s full inventory and compare prices, rather than being stuck with whatever is left when you get there.

Insurance and Additional Fees

These prices are fixed and will not be affected by the time of booking. Add-ons like car seats, GPS devices, ski racks, etc. are extras that do not fluctuate in price.

If you are searching for the best rental car prices in downtown Vancouver, look no further than Expo Rent a Car. We offer cheap car rentals for high-quality vehicles. Contact us today for a quote.

Rent a car in Vancouver with Expo Rent A Car.

Call us at 604-726-6502 to reserve your rental today.

Special Services We Offer:

• Rent a car without a credit card
• Rent a car if you’re under 25 (18+)
• Rent a car for your road test
• Short Term and Long Term car rentals