Rental Car Smarts -- When Size Matters Get the Most for Your Money
By Karen Kirby
When you're heading across country with a few more than a crowd, it helps to have an auto you don't have to shoehorn your friends into. Or maybe you need to haul more than a toothbrush and a change of underwear. That's when you want a van, SUV or pickup truck instead of a Geo Metro.
Rental cars come in a wide variety of shapes, sizes, class and quality. You can get car rentals as sub-compacts, compacts, standard sizes, luxury, trucks and SUV. The variety available makes renting an option for individuals and families of any size.
Minivans, a favorite rental of families with children, generally have enough legroom to seat seven adults and assorted luggage. SUVs generally accommodate five adults and their assorted belongings.
When it comes to car rentals, more and more people are looking for a truck or SUV. Most companies offer their consumers a wide range of vehicles to choose from, but there is often a dramatic difference in the quality of the car rental size classes. And often there are significant differences in cost from one company to the next.
An analysis of rental car prices in the Denver area indicated that from company to company in alike locations prices on a SUV could vary up to 30% a day. These prices were from similar name-branded car rental locations.
So it will save you money to shop around and compare prices.
But don't be fooled by looking at pictures
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