Cheap Car Rentals Vancouver

What Car Rental Is Suitable For You? Here’s A Guide To Understanding The Vehicle Options

Renting a car should be a straightforward process that ultimately allows you to get to destinations without having to wait for public transit for Uber. It’s exciting to be able to browse through a rental car’s inventory and select the most suitable car for you and your family. However, many customers who rent a car are not sure of what to look for to allow them the most cost-effective, safe and comfortable rental experience.

To help, Expo Rent-A-Car has created a transparent guide that informs you of all you need to know before selecting your rental car.

Rental Car Options & Features

Before the kids decide for you, it’s important to familiarize yourself with a rental car’s size and features to see if it’s suitable for one or the whole family. At Expo Rent-A-Car, we carry a variety of vehicle sizes from the economy to SUV. 

Here’s a guide to our different vehicle sizes and the features to consider:

  • Economy: This type of vehicle is an ideal rental for those that are primarily driving in-town. Economy vehicles often come with two-four doors.
    • Can seat up to four people and comfortably sit one to two adults and two small children. Able to fit a few small bags or an individual, medium-sized suitcase and a few carry-ons.
    • Fuel economy is about 28 miles per gallon.
  • SUV: An SUV vehicle is perfect for in-town driving as well as off-road driving for the entire family because it has four-wheel drive. SUV’s commonly have at least four doors.
    • Can comfortably seat five adults or two adults and three children in the backseat. Able to fit at least five large suitcases for the whole family.
    • Fuel economy is about 26 miles per gallon.
  • Full Size/Premium Full Size: Full-size vehicles are larger than mid-size cars and offer more space than a standard vehicle. Expo Rent-A-Car also has premium full-size vehicles available, which have a larger size and are equipped with advanced features to give the driver and passengers optimal comfort. Both vehicle types often have four doors.
    • Comfortably seats five adults in the seats or even two adults and two children. Able to fit two large suitcases and three small.
    • Fuel economy is about 20-21 miles per gallon.
  • Intermediate: This vehicle is mid-size and larger than a compact but smaller than a full-size car. It is known as a “large family car” and has four doors.
    • Comfortably fits five passengers whether two adults and three children or all adults. It can fit two large suitcases and a few carry-ons.
    • Fuel economy is about 24 miles per gallon.
  • Sport/Convertible: A small vehicle with a more advanced engine to enhance performance. Often a two or four-door vehicle.
    • Comfortably seats four people if it is two adults and two children. Often limited to space for two small suitcases.
    • Fuel economy is about 24 miles per gallon.

For affordable car rental in Vancouver, be sure to contact one of our rental agents at Expo Rent-A-Car. Reserve the car you decide and get our best offer to get it on the road in no time.

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What Happens If You Return Your Rental Car Early or Late

No matter how well you plan a trip, things can always change resulting in different flights, accommodations and car rental. It’s more common than you think to have to return a rental car early or late and if you’re ever in that situation, it’s good to know what to expect. 

It’s fair to assume that returning a car early means you’ll get some sort of credit or refund for the days that you didn’t use, but unfortunately, it’s not that simple. The same is true for returning a car late. The assumption is that you’ll get billed for the additional days that the car was needed but again, it’s not that simple and there’s more to it than simply paying an additional fee. 

When you rent a car, you are agreeing to a contract as well as the terms and conditions of the rental company and its policies. Once the contract has been signed, you are required to fulfill your end of the agreement and failing to do so can affect the rate you received. If you break the contract for whatever reason, the car rental company has the right to change the base rate you were originally offered, which may no longer apply. This condition will be listed in the contract and once you sign off on it, there is not much you can do other than follow the changes that will be applied. The rate you are given is based on the period of time that you require the vehicle, so if you rent a car for one week, the rate is based on that specific week and valid only for that period of time. Changing the return time can affect that rate because you are no longer using it for the time you originally intended. 

Car rental companies try to offer discounts based on deals they have but changing the return or pick up time can affect the pricing and eliminate those discounts. If you get a weekend deal but return it sooner or later than the set weekend arrangement, the rental car company is no longer obligated to provide you with that discounted rate. A change of plans can trigger a change in price, so keep that in mind when dealing with a car rental. In most cases, you will likely end up paying more because you did not keep the agreement stated in the contract. Different plans will result in different fees and those fees will usually be higher. 

Of course, many rental car shops will try to work with you to come up with a solution that is fair so that the customer is not left with a negative experience based on plans that changed and were out of their control. Expo Rent a Car in downtown Vancouver understands that plans change and will accommodate you, so visit them today for all of your affordable car rental needs!

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Checklist for Getting a Better Car Rental Rate

We all want to save money and find deals when it comes to travelling because going on an adventure can be quite costly. If your next trip requires a car rental, the following secrets can help you score a great deal so that your wallet is not empty by the end of your trip.

We use the internet for everything, including our search for deals. When it comes to travel, there are the famous websites we see advertised daily, however, a great trick is to visit lesser-known websites that not everyone thinks about. As fewer people are visiting these sites, you have a higher chance of finding a great deal that won’t be posted anywhere else. Ask around and you’ll see that there are several sites you can check that you normally would not have thought of. These sites often offer special deals that the major sites do not, so you’ll end up finding a great car rental while saving a lot of money!

Do not fall for the insurance being offered, no matter how pushy the ads are. If you have a credit card from a reputable bank or personal car insurance, then the chances are you’re already covered and don’t need any additional coverage for a car rental. Take a look at your car insurance and call your credit card company to see what your insurance coverage is and make a decision based on that information. Once you have confirmed that you’re already covered, bring along the paperwork when you’re picking up your rental so they see that you don’t need to buy insurance from them.

Check for unnecessary fees that are hidden in the price. Sometimes, the price you’re offered includes all sorts of things that you don’t need, like a GPS, satellite radio or a toll transponder. Always read the fine print and point out anything strange that you see because you can walk out with a better deal than what was originally being offered. It never hurts to speak up, so don’t let the rental company pull a fast one!

The next time you need to rent a car, try the tricks above to get yourself a better deal or visit Expo Rent a Car in downtown Vancouver for great rental options at even better prices. For affordable car rental deals, you can get on board with Expo Rent a Car!

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Ways to Save Money on Rental Cars

If you’re going to be renting a car this summer so you can finally go on that road trip you’ve been planning, you’ll be interested to know that there are things you can do to save money and get the rental car you want.

Try doing one or more of the following the next time you need to rent a car so that your wallet doesn’t feel any pain:

  1. Look into a loyalty rewards program. This step is easy and usually free, so there is no reason not to join. If you are a part of a program, chances are you’ll be eligible for upgrades and won’t have to wait in any lines if you’re picking up the rental from an airport. As a member, you’ll have more options and you’ll also collect points every time you rent a car so that down the road, with enough points, you’ll be able to get a free rental.
  2. Go online and look for coupons. You’ll be surprised at the number of promotions and coupons you will come across, and once you apply them alongside your loyalty rewards program, you’ll get double the savings! There are several coupon and promo codes flying around the internet, so take a couple of minutes to conduct a search and you will be really glad that you did.
  3. Don’t hesitate to ask about the rental shop if they offer any discounts. There is no harm in asking. Sometimes, you’ll be pleasantly surprised to find that they will offer you some sort of discount or tell you about a special deal that they have.
  4. Don’t settle for the first car or price you see. These days, it’s so easy to do a comparison, so take the time to do it. You might find a better deal somewhere else from another company resulting in huge savings. Certain websites even allow you to compare directly on one page so you can see the different rates being offered by different companies at once before coming to a decision.
  5. If you’re renting a car when you land, try to rent outside of the airport. Renting directly at the airport is easier, however, you are paying a much higher rate for the convenience factor. If possible, take a bus or taxi to the town you’re visiting and rent from there so that you end up paying a much better price.

Expo Rent a Car knows the importance of savings so they offer affordable car rentals in the downtown Vancouver area. If you want a car rental that is budget-friendly, contact Expo Rent a Car today!

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How to Get Your Rental Car Ready For A Long Road Trip

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!

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