Rental Car Total Cost Calculator

Rental car companies add numerous fees on top of the base daily rate: state and local taxes (10-30%), airport surcharges (10-15%), vehicle license fees, customer facility charges, and optional add-ons like CDW/LDW insurance, GPS, child seats, and fuel services. The combination can make the final bill 40-80% higher than the advertised nightly rate.

If you have a personal auto insurance policy with comprehensive and collision coverage, it typically extends to rental cars within the US. Many credit cards also provide secondary or primary rental car insurance when you pay with the card. Check your coverage before paying for the rental company's CDW/LDW ($15-35 per day). Note that personal auto insurance may not cover international rentals.

Renting from an off-airport location (often a 5-10 minute shuttle ride away) can save 15-25% on airport surcharges and fees. Compare on-airport vs off-airport prices before booking. Some off-airport locations offer free pickup shuttles from the terminal. The savings can be substantial on week-long rentals.

Almost always no. The rental company's fuel price is typically 20-50% above local pump prices, and you pay for a full tank even if you return the car mostly full. Return the car with a full tank instead - find a gas station near the return location on Google Maps before heading to drop-off. The only exception is if fuel prices are unusually high locally or the rental is very short.

Drivers under 25 typically pay an underage surcharge of $20-50 per day in the US, which can more than double the base daily rate. Some rental companies will not rent to drivers under 21 at all. Some states limit underage fees. USAA members and active military under 25 may receive fee waivers through select rental companies.