Should you rent a car for long trips? (2024)

Yes. It's a popular opinion that renting a car is a wiser option than using your own on long road trips. One of the main reasons is to avoid wear and tear. Another factor is that adding mileage to your own vehicle's odometer can reduce its value. You can save money by booking a rental car that has better gas mileage, more space, and safety features compared to your own car.

Whatever your reason is for hitting the road and going on a long drive — whether it's to visit friends and relatives, exploring new business, or simply experiencing some of America's best road trips — you might want to consider renting a car than driving your own vehicle. VroomVroomVroom has compiled a few reasons why renting a car for a long trip is way better than driving your own.

Reasons to rent a car for long-distance travel

Wear and tear

Taking long road trips can be bad for your car and could lead to future repairs. Just imagine driving your own car from Chicago to Denver. The distance between these two cities is about 1,300 miles and usually takes approximately 19 hours to drive. If you feel like your vehicle is not reliable enough, definitely consider renting a car. Older vehicles are more likely to breakdown. For the wear and tear, renting a car seems a no-brainer especially if you can get it at a discounted price.

Save money

You could save up some money if you rent a car that is more fuel-efficient than your own vehicle. Of course, this will depend on the car availability as well as the rental rate you are able to get. Rental car companies also offer protection products which can be purchased at an additional cost. The longer your trip is, the more prone you are to getting into an accident. You will feel more secured using a rental car than your own vehicle knowing that your Collision Damage Waiver or Loss Damage Waiver will cover partial or even full expenses of the rental vehicle damage when you get into an accident. Another way to save up is by checking one-way car rentals - and you can do that by experimenting with different pick-up and drop-off locations.

Drive the right vehicle

Consider booking through a comparison car rental website like VroomVroomVroom. Enjoy a wide variety of high-quality and reliable vehicles to choose from - ranging from a compact car to a full-size SUV and even an 8-seater family van. Whether you want to enjoy the ultimate California road trip, relax and soak up the culture on the Connecticut Coast Scenic Drive, explore New York, or enjoy a weekend of driving in Hawaii – booking with us can make your trip a lot easier and less stressful. Remember to choose a vehicle that will bring comfort to both the driver and the passengers and take into consideration the road condition of the road trip route. Take note that rental prices usually vary depending on the model.

Have fun with the gang

For an epic road trip, travel in one vehicle instead of convoying your vehicles - which often slows down the trip. Book a 7-seater SUV or a 12-seater van and simply take turns driving. You can add an additional driver for an extra fee, but authorized drivers can be added for free. Click here for more information.

When should you rent a car for a trip?

When going on a long trip, it's highly recommended to book 3 months in advance so that there are many rental options available. Remember that rental rates depend on supply and demand - so avoid booking a rental car during peak seasons, holidays and weekends. There are also a variety of factors to consider when booking a car rental including the trip's mileage, fuel efficiency, tire wear, leasing costs, as well as oil change prices and depreciation. This road trip calculator can help you decide if you should rent a car for your next road trip. Please note, however, that calculation can only be used as a reference since all vehicles have different levels of fuel consumption.

Here is an example of a rental car cost for a California road trip when booked 3 months ahead by a U.S. resident aged 30-69.

Booked on a weekday and returned on a weekday

Pick up and drop off location: San Francisco

Rental date: Thursday, October 3, 2019 to Thursday, October 17, 2019

Vehicle type: Compact SUV

Cheapest cost: USD $744 for 14 days or $53 per day.

Booked on a peak season and returned on a weekend

Pick up and drop off location: San Francisco

Rental date: Thursday, October 31, 2019 (Halloween) to Sunday, November 3, 2019

Vehicle type: Compact SUV

Cheapest cost: USD $266 for 4 days or $89 per day.

Remember that rates usually increase when the travel date gets closer so these rates could still change and it will still incur tax and other additional fees. Since rental results may change every day, it is advisable to check for rates every now and then even you have already booked a car in advance. You can just modify your booking if you see a cheaper deal.

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