Five steps to finding a reputable car rental agency in LA

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If you are planning a trip to LA, you probably need to reserve a rental car. LA is a huge city, and trying to get around without one would be tough, even if you are only in the city for a couple of days. Being sure that you can get access to a rental car that you will enjoy can be a big plus, and being able to pick up your rental car without having to wait in line is another thing that might rank high on your list of must-haves.

Reputable car rental companies in LA will offer you the above perks and so much more. If you are not quite sure how to track down the right rental car agency for your needs, however, you need to keep reading. These are the steps that you should take to get the right rental car in the LA area without all the stress and second-guessing.

Steps to finding a reputable car rental agency in LA

Finding the right car rental company shouldn’t be a source of extreme stress. This guide will help you focus on the right steps to take to connect with a quality rental car company in LA.

1. Do a Search Online

The first thing that you should do is check out your options online. Be sure that you think about if you are going to want to get your car from the airport or not and also consider what kind of car you think you might want to drive. There are lots of great options to rent from right at LAX, for example, but if you want to rent a luxury car, you probably will need to use a rideshare to get over to the rental car location before you can pick up your car.

Make a list of your best options, and use this as your guide as you go through the next steps of the process.

2. Check Out Reviews

The next thing that you need to do is look at the reviews of the companies that are on your list. Be sure to read some positive, some negative, and some middling reviews for each business. The reviews that are middle of the road often say the most about a company. These are the reviews that indicate that there was a problem and often talk about how the company resolved it.

This can be very informative as you are planning out your trip to LA, if only because you would hate to rent a car with a company that has a reputation for being difficult to work with if an issue comes up.

3. Check For Deals

There are many ways that you can get a deal on your car rental costs. Sometimes it saves money to book through a third-party company, although this can be troublesome if the third party isn’t good about communication and you run into issues with your booking. The companies that offer rental car services in LA will sometimes run deals themselves, or you might be able to get a discounted rental rate due to a specific travel-based credit card that you have access to.

Looking for ways to save money can also be as simple as making sure that your rental period saves you money. If you need to shorten or extend your stay by a day to save quite a bit of money on your car rental booking, you can adjust your travel plans accordingly. This doesn’t have to be a factor for you, but most people want to shop for deals for every aspect of their travel plans.

4. Contact Each Company

It can be a good idea to reach out to each company and ask a few questions. You might want to find out if you can pick up your rental car right at the airport, despite the rental company being located off-site. Maybe you want to rent a Lamborghini, but you are not sure that the luxury car rental agencies have enough of them to guarantee you that this will be your rental car when you arrive.

Contacting each business will help you to get a feel for their policies and their communication style as well. If you are someone who prefers booking over the phone rather than online, for example, you will want to work with agencies that still offer over-the-phone bookings. If you prefer online interactions, nearly every car rental agency offers online bookings that are simple to complete and totally reliable.

5. Ask About Extended Insurance

If you do not have your own auto insurance or you are renting a luxury car, you will need to pay for the added insurance coverage that is offered by the rental agency. It can be a good idea to know what the cost of this added coverage will be before you show up in LA. You don’t want to be surprised by this added cost, and you shouldn’t avoid protecting yourself with this coverage either. It is a good idea to be prepared for this added fee so that your car rental pickup process is smooth and easy.

Renting a car in LA can be a breeze

Always remember to check the location of the agency that you want to rent from. Not all car rental companies offer pickup and drop-off at LAX, for example. If you are not flying into LAX, you will need to look into the rental car companies that are close to the smaller airport that you have chosen for your arrival. Your options might be far more limited in places like Burbank.

If you keep these tips and tricks in mind when you are shopping around for car rental companies, you will have no trouble locating the right business for your needs. Whether you are looking for a basic, affordable rental car or you want to drive a Porsche while you are in LA, doing your research matters. Being a smart consumer makes the process of finding the right rental car company much easier and less chaotic.