Hello everyone, I am travelling to USA soon and I am 22.
I was looking for car rental prices and they are way too much for under 25. I could see Hertz and other companies waive young driver fee with AAA or USAA membership. I could also see, RACV or NRMA has same benefits as AAA. Can someone help me with saving money on car rental.
Also, I am visiting LA in May for 8 days, please give me some other tips, so that I do not end up spending way more than needed.
I just have road side assistance from RACV. My card is lost, i never used it. I have ordered another one now, I am not even sure if I mine has AAA included. But the digital card on the website is showing a logo on the lower right corner which I believe is AAA logo.
Also do you have any tips for Hotels, I read they charge Resort fee on top.
My tip would be to not spend 8 days in LA
agreed - just had 2n/2d in LA and couldn't leave there fast enough.
I'd skip the USA altogether…
I am not planning to spend 8 days in LA. I arrive and depart from LAX. Visiting vegas and also might go to San Diego
Have a look on rentalcars.com - a booking.com wesbite.
They have rental offers from Thrifty/Dollar that include the age 21-24 driver surcharge for about $100 more than standard over 8 days.
All necessary insurances are included.
I'd ask the question of do you really need a rental car?
I've travelled to the USA 7 times over 10 years, and I only ever used a hire car when I absolutely needed one, i.e. road trips from Vegas -> Grand Canyon -> Monument Valley -> Zion or LA -> San Jose -> San Francisco.
All other times it's airport shuttles and public transport or long haul trains and coaches. Public transport (including long haul) in the USA is quite good and useable, and a lot cheaper than hire cars, especially at your age.
"public transport in the USA is quite good and useable"
wheeze
Better than Australia. And I've been able to use it to get around to avoid a hire car.
Better than Australia.
As long as you're wearing a bullet proof vest.
Amongst developed nations, that's a pretty low standard.
Don't have a car in LA? Good luck!
Entirely depends on their location and their plans. Literally the first line of my post: "I'd ask the question of do you really need a rental car?"
Also LA has buses and trains, and there's a thing called Uber.
Also the last line of my post: "and a lot cheaper than hire cars, especially at your age".
Do you have any tips for Hotels? I really want to avoid the Resort fees.
Also, is tipping compulsory or optional?
I am planning to drive to vegas
8 Days in LA? First thing to buy is a bullet proof vest.
I've used the Hertz AAA discount back pre-Covid, when I was under 25.
The CDP discount code for Hertz is the 3(?) digit number above the AAA code on the back of the card - at least for RACQ. If you book it from a non-USA/Canada site (check Hertz AU and Hertz UK - I found UK was cheaper at the time), it will automatically include LDW/LIS in the rate (which is full coverage insurance, with no excess). In California, additional drivers are also free. Be careful though, I've found Avis sometimes applies LDW by default, but other times it doesn't (even from the Australian site).
Note: LDW is mandatory for non-US residents (they can use their own car insurance to cover the rental), so if you book a rate that doesn't include it, you'll end up paying US$30/day or more for it at the counter.
For Hertz, also consider signing up for Hertz Gold Plus - it'll let you skip the queue, and select a car from Ultimate Choice (google it)