Long-Term vs. Short-Term Car Rentals: Here’s What You Need to Know

Renting a car sometimes makes sense. If you’re staying somewhere for a week on vacation, for instance, and you flew there rather than driving, you might choose to rent a car so that you don’t have to be reliant on taxis and public transportation. You can probably think of various other times when renting a vehicle is convenient. 

Should you look into a short or a long-term car rental, though? Both choices are appealing for different reasons, so let’s take a closer look at both of them right now.

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When Is It a Good Idea to Do a Long-Term Car Rental?

There are usually very particular circumstances when you will want to get a long-term car rental. The most obvious one is if your car is in the shop. Maybe this happens because you got in a car accident, and the vehicle is getting repaired.

In this situation, some insurance policies will cover your long-term car rental. However, others will not. If this is the circumstance you’re looking at, perusing your policy to see if it covers a long-term car rental is a must.

Even if your policy does not cover a long-term car rental after an accident, though, there’s some good news. Car rental agencies usually offer you a better deal on a long-term car rental than a short-term one.

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However, just because it’s cheaper, that doesn’t necessarily mean it’s cheap. A month-long car rental can cost anywhere from $380-$1,600, depending on where you’re renting it and what kind of vehicle you want.

What About Short-Term Car Rentals?

Needing a car to take a trip is one reason to look into a short-term car rental. If you don’t own a vehicle but you have a valid driver’s license, maybe this prospect appeals.

You might also rent a car for the short-term if you’re considering moving to a new city, and you want a vehicle to look at houses while you’re there. Maybe you have some relatives in town, and you know you’re going to be driving them around a lot. However, you have an older vehicle that’s unreliable. In that case, renting a car short-term is a tempting idea.

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The Bottom Line

Leasing a vehicle gives you less flexibility than renting a car, and that’s why many people opt for the second option. As for whether a short or long-term rental is better for you, your particular situation will help you determine which choice makes more sense.

One thing to keep in mind, though, is that long-term car rentals are usually cheaper than short-term ones. Renting a car for a month is almost always going to be less expensive than renting one for a week. 

While cheaper still doesn’t mean cheap, if you know you’re going to be spending multiple weeks in a particular location and you need a dependable ride while you’re there, getting a long-term car rental might be the way to go. You can price both options and make a decision at that time.

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