When Is The Best Time Book A Rental Car? (Early Vs. Last Minute) – Forbes Advisor – Technologist

Regardless of what the data shows, determining when to lock in your rental car is more of an art than a science. Average rates and overall trends won’t always precisely match a specific experience. Furthermore, locking in the best price isn’t necessarily the same as locking in the best rental option, especially if you have preferences on rental car agencies or car types.

When To Book a Rental Car in Advance

One of the primary reasons to book a rental car with a lot of lead time is if you’re traveling somewhere during a special event or peak season. It’s not uncommon for rental cars to sell out when major sporting events, festivals or conventions come to town. Booking in advance not only locks in your rate before surge pricing is implemented but also ensures a vehicle will be available when you need it.

Waiting too long in hopes of a better rate could also backfire if you need a larger or specialty vehicle. Someone who needs a car to comfortably seat six or seven passengers may wish to lock in their request while minivans and full-size SUVs are available. Similarly, someone with their eye on a luxury vehicle, sports car or pickup truck with four-wheel drive may wish to make early bird reservations.

Lastly, don’t discount the value of peace of mind. If you know life will get hectic and you’ll forget to reserve a vehicle entirely if you put it off, it might be better to reserve a car rental early.

When To Book a Rental Car Last Minute

Our data suggests the top reason to book a rental car last minute is that it could save you money. When inventory remains unreserved in the weeks leading up to travel, rental car companies may lower rates to earn revenue on the remaining cars.

Last-minute savings are best for flexible travelers. You will most likely have less choice in the specifics of your reservation and may need to consider alternate rental car agencies or different size cars. But someone who isn’t picky may find this a worthy tradeoff.

Another advantage of reserving a last-minute rental car is that you can wait to make your booking until the details of your travel plans are fully confirmed. You may even get further discounts by choosing a nonrefundable booking. These inflexible rates are usually a poor choice for travelers booking in advance since they don’t allow changes or cancellations, but last-minute travelers might not need that wiggle room.