I know I posted something about rental cars before, but thought it needed to be emphasized.  I ALWAYS use Costco Travel when renting a car.  I have found that their rental fees are MUCH cheaper than the name brands’ websites when planning a trip.

I know most travelers obsess over flights and hotels while treating the rental car as an afterthought.  This can be a costly mistake.  One of the smartest travel habits you can adopt is reserving your rental car early, and then checking the price every couple of weeks right up until your trip.  More often than not, that simple strategy can save you a surprising amount of money.  I have a trip planned for the beginning of February 2026 and originally made my rental car reservation on November 30, 2025.  I have been periodically checking the rates and just this morning, January 11, 2026, the price dropped by 25%.  When I went ahead and reserved the same car at the lesser price and cancelled the earlier reservation, I saved $36.48 on my day and a half rental.

Here’s why it works.

Most major rental car companies allow you to make a reservation without prepaying and without penalty for cancellation.  That means you can secure a vehicle early, ensuring availability during busy travel periods, while keeping your options open if prices drop later.  Think of it as placing a free hold on a car.

During holidays, spring break, summer vacations, or major events, rental fleets can sell out quickly.  Reserving early protects you from last-minute scarcity, when prices tend to spike or cars disappear entirely.

It is good to know that Rental car pricing is dynamic, much like airline tickets and hotel rates.  Companies adjust prices constantly based on several factors:

• Supply and demand: If a location has more cars than bookings, prices may drop to encourage reservations.
• Seasonal forecasting: Rental companies set prices months in advance based on expected demand, but those forecasts aren’t always perfect.
• Fleet movement: Cars are frequently shifted between locations.  If more vehicles arrive than expected, rates often fall.
• Competitor pricing: Rental companies closely monitor each other and may lower prices to stay competitive.

Because of these moving parts, it’s not unusual to see a rental rate drop significantly weeks or even days before your pickup date.

The Two-Week Check-In Strategy

Once you’ve made your initial reservation, put a reminder on your calendar to recheck prices about every two weeks.  The process is simple:

1. Search for the same dates, location, and car class.
2. If the price is lower, book the new rate.
3. Cancel the original reservation.

You can repeat this as many times as needed.  Some travelers save $100 or more just by rebooking once or twice.

As your trip gets closer, you may even want to check weekly, especially in the last 30 days when rental companies are fine-tuning inventory.

It is always important to compare the total cost, not just the daily rate.  Taxes, airport surcharges, and fees can vary, and a “cheaper” car isn’t always cheaper once everything is added up.

So, reserving a rental car early gives you peace of mind.  Checking back regularly gives you power.  Together, they form one of the easiest money-saving strategies in travel.  With just a few minutes every couple of weeks, you can protect yourself from price hikes and take advantage of unexpected price drops without sacrificing flexibility.

In travel, timing isn’t just about when you go.  It’s also about when and how often you book.