DRIVERS rejoiced after finding a hidden Costco car rental hack that gave them store-wide perks and cash back.
Several car rental customers said they liked the Coscto benefit, hidden in a tab on the company’s app.
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The wholesale-oriented store has ventured into low-cost travel options for its customers.
Costco Travel is a members-only section in the store’s app that offers one-stop shopping for every vacation.
Customers can rent cars, book hotel rooms, buy cruise tickets and find resort reservations.
Drivers, in particular, praised the app for saving them time and money.
A reader recently emailed The US Sun praising the hidden app.
“I’m a Costco guy and many don’t know you can rent cars from them,” said a reader named Eddie via email.
“You can do this on the Travel tab of their website. I’m surprised how many don’t know you can do this through Costco.”
Eddie isn’t alone in praising Costco.
“If you have Costco, they generally have lower rates on car rentals and travel packages than AAA, AARP and other member organizations that offer travel discounts,” said a Costco Travel user on X.
Another driver posted on Reddit that he loves how easy the app is to use when rental prices fluctuate.
“You can change your reservation without penalty if a better deal comes up before your rental date,” the Redditor added.
“We recently saved about $400 simply by checking rates a few months after reserving a car.”
Costco also allows drivers to add a second driver for free, get cheaper rental car insurance, and even apply some rental purchases to their cashback program.
The company offers drivers 3% cash back when they use Citi’s Costco Anywhere Visa card.
However, the application has some limitations.
Things to keep in mind when renting a car
According to The Boston Globe, every person renting a car should take a few minutes to check a few boxes before committing to renting a car.
- Remember that rental companies are responsible for keeping cars in good mechanical condition. If you’re in a situation where you have to wait more than 90 minutes for a tow truck, they advise leaving the keys at the rental and demanding a refund, as long as other transportation options are available (like a ride from a friend, Uber, or Lyft )
- Be wary of roadside assistance packages. Most packages cover cases like leaving your keys in the car or running out of gas, but any mechanical problems are the responsibility of the company.
- An accident, however, is the responsibility of the renter and will be charged to your insurance, not the company.
- Certain associations, such as AAA or AARP, may offer discounts on rentals.
- Some companies offer insurance for a small fee, although you are already covered by your personal insurance. Before declining rental insurance, it may be wise to double-check whether your insurance covers rentals.
- Make a visual inspection of the car before leaving the parking lot to protect yourself from damage claims from the company.
- When returning the car, make sure the fuel level is as close as possible to the same level as when you first left to avoid refueling charges.
- Research different rental companies before committing to one. Some may have better reviews or warranties than others.
- Maintain all contact via email or text in case a complaint needs to be made later.
- If you notice any scratches or dents on the vehicle, be sure to take time-stamped photos to avoid damage claims.
Source: The Boston Globe
Costco has contracts with four rental car companies; Alamo, Avis, Budget and Enterprise.
While the big box store says the app forces rental companies to remain cost-competitive, other lower-cost options can offer even cheaper rentals.
The US Sun found examples of bargain rental chains, like Thrifty Car Rental, that offer even lower prices than Costco.
But if customers are already Costco members and value the cash-back program, clicking the Travel tab may be a financially prudent move.
US Sun contacted Costco for comment on this story, but the company did not immediately respond to our request.
This story originally appeared on The-sun.com read the full story
