Rental car vs taking your own on road trips

**kork13** · 03-02-2012, 07:26 PM

In both cases, I'll almost always choose to take my own car. Even if it's a cross-country drive for a business trip, if I have the time to spare, I'll drive my own car. I figure I own the car for a reason....to drive it! Besides, I hate dealing with rental cars/rental companies, and realistically, you're spending money you really don't need to. Save it to cover your fuel costs.

That does assume that your car is reliable enough to make a long drive like that across what may be lightly travelled and sparsely populated roads. If your car is prone to problems at inopportune times, or you simply don't trust it to make the drive, certainly... a rental car might be a good option. And while you're making that drive, you might consider the benefits of just replacing your unreliable car anyway. Personal opinion, but if you don't trust it to drive across the state or a couple states, consider how much you really trust it to take you across town.

**MKKShah** · 03-02-2012, 07:30 PM

I figure I own the car for a reason....to drive it!

This was exactly my attitude with my car. But would you do it with a 10 year old car with 150K miles? (again the car has no known problems).

**kork13** · 03-02-2012, 07:37 PM

Originally posted by MKKShah View Post

This was exactly my attitude with my car. But would you do it with a 10 year old car with 150K miles? (again the car has no known problems).

Without hesitation. You said it's a 10-y/o luxury car... BMW? Mercedes? Lexus? Volvo? Cadillac? Pretty much all of the luxury brands have fairly good reputations for long-term reliability (of course everything occasionally breaks).

If you have concerns, take it to your mechanic and ask them to check it out. They can look for any unseen problems that might be slowly developing (cables, lines, belts, brakes, tires, wiring, etc.), and address them before something actually fails/breaks. Otherwise, before you start your trip, check the oil, tire pressure, and fluid levels.

**MKKShah** · 03-02-2012, 07:52 PM

Originally posted by kork13 View Post

If you have concerns, take it to your mechanic and ask them to check it out. They can look for any unseen problems that might be slowly developing (cables, lines, belts, brakes, tires, wiring, etc.), and address them before something actually fails/breaks. Otherwise, before you start your trip, check the oil, tire pressure, and fluid levels.

Everything's done. The one reason I am now beginning to rethink my car's use on long road trips is because I am trying to keep this car for another 5 years (or at least hoping to get that much out of it). Given that, do you think $500 or so in rentals annually 'may' be worth it? Again, a couple of years back I would not have even considered such a thought, but now the prospect of having to replace my car sooner or later disappoints me. Maybe I can delay that by renting for long trips?

Not sure what kind of extra damage a long road trip can do to the car. My every day commute is 15 almost-highway miles one way.

Of course the replacement rental will not be a luxury car. It will be 'regular' full size sedan.

**kork13** · 03-02-2012, 08:10 PM

Perhaps I'm mistaken and someone else can correct me, but comparably, long drives are far easier on your car than driving around town. Your car is able to run at a consistent rate and temperature, and it'll also run more efficiently at highway speeds. Certainly not driving it at all is "easiest" on your car, but long drives are overall are pretty light on cars mechanically. You rack up a bunch of miles, but I highly doubt that taking it on the occasional vacation drive would significantly reduce your car's lifetime.

(I feel like I'm dominating your thread because we both happen to be online at the same time responding to eachother... lol)

**jeffrey** · 03-02-2012, 08:17 PM

I'll go against the grain and say rent a car if you can get it inexpensively -- I do this often when taking long road trips. Some places you can get rental cars dirt cheap (in Las Vegas, I can usually get them for under $20 a day including all taxes and fees) For the wear and tear, it's a no brainer to take the rental if you can get it at a good enough price. Just make sure that you car insurance covers rental cars so you can decline all extra fees.

**MKKShah** · 03-02-2012, 08:30 PM

Originally posted by kork13 View Post

You rack up a bunch of miles, but I highly doubt that taking it on the occasional vacation drive would significantly reduce your car's lifetime.

Agreed. Also of concern is that my vacation destinations will be more of touristy places (compared to the relatively safe neighborhoods that I live and work in), and my car will stick out like fish out of water. So worries about theft, vandalism, accidents are all there as well (not that they didn't exist earlier).

Another thing I heard is that rental car companies apparently replace your car if it breaks down (chances of which are pretty slim, since you are driving a relatively new car).

And please feel free to leave as many comments as you like.

**MKKShah** · 03-02-2012, 08:40 PM

Originally posted by jeffrey View Post

I'll go against the grain and say rent a car if you can get it inexpensively -- I do this often when taking long road trips. Some places you can get rental cars dirt cheap (in Las Vegas, I can usually get them for under $20 a day including all taxes and fees) For the wear and tear, it's a no brainer to take the rental if you can get it at a good enough price. Just make sure that you car insurance covers rental cars so you can decline all extra fees.

I am getting a quote of $200 for a weeks rental for a regular sedan. My auto insurance policy includes rental car coverage as well.

**kaleida** · 03-25-2012, 09:41 AM

I always use my own car on long car trips so I don't have to worry if a rock hits my windshield on the highway or someone dings it in a parking lot. The rental company will charge you for any damage that happens to the car, even if it isn't your fault. You can get a damage waiver but that's very expensive.

**MonkeyMama** · 03-25-2012, 10:33 AM

I rented a car once for a long trip - terrible experience. (Two break downs - two cars).

On the flip side, most of our cars have been bought with 150k+ miles, and I have never had an issue other than a flat tire or battery. One exception was an alternator problem on a newer vehicle, BUT, it was very preventable. (We had ignored battery issues, thinking it was just the battery - that was on a pretty new car - maybe 50k miles).

Needless to say, I prefer my own car. If that is my only story after 20 years of long road trips, mostly in our older beater cars when younger.

Once you start talking 500+ total miles, I'd generally have my car checked out by my mechanic (safety check) before any road trip. As is, we usually just get it checked out once a year (beginning of summer), since we tend to stay in state but do lots of road trips in summer and fall (it's a big state, but driving cross country or longer distances, I'd be a little more cautious - the last thing I would want is a preventable break down in the middle of a big road trip).

For the 200-mile one way variety, we drive that much generally once or twice a month. We have AAA towing to two awesome mechanics about 100 miles apart, so I would absolutely not bother with a rental. For these trips, I generally don't even check the car (aside just checking the fluids/tires ourselves), but I know AAA is a great service if we do need it. When driving outside of the vicinity of our trusted mechanics, I can see the draw on the rental car, but I also think brings up a lot of other issues, as mentioned.

**MonkeyMama** · 03-25-2012, 10:35 AM

Originally posted by kork13 View Post

but if you don't trust it to drive across the state or a couple states, consider how much you really trust it to take you across town.

I think this really sums up my feeling on the subject.

**snafu** · 03-25-2012, 02:49 PM

Surely decisions are made based on experience. I'd prefer to take my car as I know it's in good condition and no more likely to breakdown than a rental. I've not seen suspicious car 'prowlers' @ tourist parking but I've sure seen it at public transit lots since the kids know the owner is likely gone until after 5 PM.

The Daily rate is not the All-In cost of car rental. There are various taxes, privilege fees, extra driver, personal effects, cancellation fees, tire fees, stadium fees, transportation tax and mystery charges. The 24 hr. clock likely costs an extra day. I've found it's usually more cost efficient to book via a discounter like Hotwire or Priceline for all-in price.

**bjl584** · 03-25-2012, 03:31 PM

I would take my own car. Most of the traveling I do for work, the rental car fees are nearly $200 for two days. For a long trip, say a week, you will be paying quite a lot to rent a car. Even if you have a gas guzzler, what you save in fuel probably wouldn't make up for it.

It's a different story if your car is a beater and on it's last leg, but if your car is running good and well maintaioned, then I wouldn't let a high mileage odometer reading discourage you from taking your car on a trip.

**BudgetSurgeon** · 03-26-2012, 04:06 AM

Originally posted by MKKShah View Post

We are already in March of this year. My wife and I take long road trips every summer. Memorial day, Independence day, and labor day are sureshot vacation weekends (likely with a day or two of additional vacation thrown in). We will also be taking a 6 day (road trip) vacation this spring.

Our car is a 10 year old sedan (if it matters, a luxury make), with 150K miles. I have always googled for "rent vs drive your own", and the conclusion has been mixed. Until now, we have always taken our car, but with the miles up there, I am wondering if a rental is the only option left?

At the moment the car has no known issues, and has been maintained as well as a car can be.

What will you do/recommend under these circumstances?

- For drives within 200-300 miles one way (in state), would you drive your own car and not bother with a rental?

- For long distance drives (500-1000 miles one way), would you rent a car? or would you still duke it out in your own?

If I own my car outright and have a long trip (1,000 miles+), I will always consider a rental. If you are leasing your car, and the distance of the trip will still keep you under your annual miles limit, then I would use your own car. The IRS now says that it costs you $0.55/mile to drive (this is based on last year's fuel prices, so in effect, this amount should be higher now IMO). In any event, if you are driving 300 miles, the effective cost on your car would be 300 x 0.55, or $165. If the cost of renting a car for this trip plus gas costs are significantly more or less than this #, you have a straightforward answer. If it's close, then you have to weigh the cost of having to go out and procure a rental, which can be a hassle.

I would advise you to do the math, and in today's super-high-gasoline-cost environment, I would use $0.65/mile, rather than the current IRS number. If your budget is tight, you may want to base your decision purely on this # vs. Rental costs.

P.S. I'm assuming that your car is in decent working order, as you specified initially. Also, pure highway miles are generally less-taxing on a car, than city miles, which require a lot of stop & go. Depending on the type of driving you are planning, this should factor into your decision. For example, if the IRS cost vs. Rental cost is real close in price, but you are going to be doing a lot of stop-and-go type driving, you may want to favor a rental in your situation. If the #'s are close, but you are going to be doing mostly highway driving, you may want to consider using your own car. Just my 2 cents here.

Rental car vs taking your own on road trips