Fred Harteis News Articles - Wondering whether to rent a car or drive your own for that summer road trip? Pull out a calculator. It all comes down to math.
Determining whether it's more economical to rent a vehicle or drive your own boils down to three things:
• Distance to your destination.
• Driving costs of your own vehicle.
• Deals available for a rental vehicle.
Let's start with driving costs. AAA's 2006 vacation planning guide suggests budgeting $17.10 per 100 miles. That includes gas, figured at $2.92 per gallon, tires and maintenance, and assumes the vehicle gets a rather efficient 25.8 miles per gallon.
So say you've got a 1,000-mile, week-long trip planned. Multiply 10 times $17.10 for a baseline cost of $171 to drive your own vehicle. It'll be less expensive for smaller, fuel-efficient cars and more expensive for bigger gas guzzlers.
Now the rental scenario: Avis quoted a rate of $222.59 for a weekly rental ($209.99 base rate plus $12.60 tax) of a standard-size car in suburban Chicago in mid-July. Mileage was unlimited. Averaging the 25.8 miles per gallon AAA figures in, you'll need 38.7 gallons of gas for your 1,000 mile trip. At $2.92 per gallon, your gas tab is $113, bringing the rental cost to $335.59, or almost twice the cost of driving your own car.
For a weekend trip, however, the costs come much closer. Avis quotes a rate of $47.98 for that same car for a Friday to Sunday rental plus $2.88 tax. Gas for a 500-mile trip -- calculated at the miles and cost per gallon used above -- will add another $56.58 and bring the bill to $107.44. Meanwhile, driving your own vehicle on that trip using AAA's estimate will cost $85.50.
After you do the math, consider other factors. Drivers who lease their vehicles should find out whether they're approaching the mileage limit. If the vacation will put you over the top, it might be more economical to rent.
"Each lease is different. You have to know what the per-mile charge is if you go over your miles," says Jim Rink, public relations consultant for AAA Michigan.
Rental cars also save wear and tear on vehicles and can provide some peace of mind if you're not sure your car is reliable. A breakdown can spoil a vacation as certainly as a missed flight. Moreover, you'll then be forced to rent from whatever choices are nearby, rather than doing a competitive search prior to departure.
Source; Bankrate.com
About Fred Harteis: Fred Harteis leads Harteis International. Fred Harteis has a background in agriculture and has created many successful business ventures.
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