Due to the rising cost of airfares, many families are choosing to drive to their favourite holiday spots. But before you pack up the family car and hit the road, you may want to think about renting a car instead of driving your own. Why would you rent a car when you already own one? Let us take a moment to explain.
If you are planning a trip of more than a hundred miles, it is important to take a car that gets good petrol mileage. For families that currently own SUVs or other large vehicles, it may actually be less expensive to rent a car that is more fuel efficient.
The easiest way to decide if you should rent a vehicle is to run the numbers. Add up how much you will save by driving a more fuel efficient vehicle and then subtract that from the cost of the rental. If numbers remain positive, you may want to rent instead of driving your own car. But cost is not the only variable when it comes to car travel. The number one issue should always be safety. If you have an older vehicle that has broken down in the past, it is best not to take a chance. Not only could a long drive be dangerous, but a breakdown would also ruin the family trip.
Since rental cars often have low mileage, there is little chance of a breakdown. And even if the vehicle does break down, the towing and repair costs will be covered by the rental agency.