Rental Cars: Saving Money, Avoiding Fees and All the Secret Tricks with Jonathan Weinberg

#66: Rental car expert, Jonathan Weinberg, joins me to discuss saving money and getting the best rate when renting a car. We also delve into the state of rental cars today, strategies to avoid paying exorbitant fees, the advantage of status loyalty programs, car rental insurance, money-saving hotel, airfare, and travel hacks, and much more.

Jonathan Weinberg is the co-founder and CEO of AutoSlash, a website dedicated to saving people money on car rentals.

Full show notes at: https://allthehacks.com/rental-cars-jonathan-weinberg

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Resources Mentioned

AutoSlash | HotelSlash - discount code: allthehacks

Resources Mentioned:

Hertz Gold Plus Rewards

Upgrade to Hertz President Circle with your Capital One Venture X card

Enjoy Emerald Club Executive level membership with your Visa Infinite card

National One Two Free program

Kyte - Rental Cars, Delivered On Demand

AutoSlash Blog post: Hot to Avoid Car Rental Additional Driver Fees

Full Show Notes

(2:05) History of the Rental Car Industry and the State of Rental Cars Today

(5:21) Advice on When and Where to Book Your Rental Vehicle and Navigating Variables

(11:15) Operation of the AutoSlash Search Engine

(12:45) Prepay vs. Postpay: Finding the Best Rates

(14:01) Maximizing Savings with Discount Programs

(17:03) Caution with Employer or Corporate Discount Codes

(20:05) Timing Your Booking for the Best Deals

(23:07) Flexibility in Pick-Up Times, Grace Periods, and Weekend Rates

(28:01) Comparison: 4/5 Star Brands vs. 2 Star Brands

(33:18) Rental Company Benefits and Status Loyalty Programs

(35:55) Choosing the Right Rental Vehicle

(37:40) Considering Non-Traditional Rental Companies

(40:43) Using Opaque Rentals and Broker Websites: Tips and Cautions

(44:11) Handling Oversold Inventory and Unavailable Rentals

(48:49) Negotiating Discounts and Free Upgrades

(49:52) Pre-Paid Fuel: Pros and Cons

(50:59) Insurance Options: Credit Card, Personal, Rental Company

(53:17) Additional Liability Coverage and Points Booking

(56:07) Utilizing Amex Rental Car Coverage

(1:00:04) Avoiding Add-On Fees and Extra Charges

(1:05:15) Strategies for Scoring Free Upgrades

(1:06:05) Documenting Imperfections on Your Rental Car

(1:08:17) Tips for Renting a Car Internationally

(1:11:35) Using AutoSlash: Two Approaches

(1:14:17) Money-Saving Hacks for Hotels, Airfare, and Travel

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