Thanksgiving Rental Advice

The top day for rental car pick-ups during the upcoming Thanksgiving holiday is November 22 with an average rental length of about five days, according to Hertz.

The company reported that its busiest airport pick-up locations for travelers planning to rent a car during the Thanksgiving holiday—November 22 through 26—are Orlando, Florida; Los Angeles; Miami, Florida; Las Vegas, and Ft. Lauderdale, Florida.

Hertz cited AAA’s 2017 Thanksgiving Travel Forecast predicting that about 1.4 million more travelers will be on the road this year than in 2016.

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“AAA’s research shows that over the past nine years, automobile travel has risen by 40 percent during Thanksgiving and once again, it will be the number one mode of transportation at 89.3 percent – the second highest rate since 2005,” said Paul Sheldon, Hertz senior vice president operations planning and support.

To steer clear of roadblocks and avoid hassles this Thanksgiving and throughout the holiday season, the Hertz team offers these tips for travelers:

Don’t Wait Until the Last Minute

Reserve a rental car when making other travel arrangements. Rates are often more expensive the closer one gets to the time of renting. Ideally, the rental car should be booked at the same time other travel services are booked including air and hotel.

For airport rentals, be sure to include the flight number, airline carrier and scheduled arrival time. This can protect a reservation if the flight is delayed.

Book Outside of High-Volume Locations

If travelers need to book last minute and have flexibility, they may find better car rental availability outside of high-volume areas. Airports may not have available cars while neighborhood locations might.

Hertz has thousands of conveniently located neighborhood branches across the U.S.

READ MORE: What Are the Hottest Thanksgiving Destinations?

Pre-pay and Save

Oftentimes, pre-paying for a car rental can provide savings. Hertz offers a 25 percent discount to customers who prepay.

Choose the Car That Best Suits Your Travel Needs

It’s key to consider the most appropriate type of vehicle for the trip, depending on distance, the destination and the number of people traveling.

Hertz Ultimate Choice lets customers choose the right car by selecting any vehicle within the car class they reserve or based on their loyalty status. Hertz Gold Plus Rewards members have access to exclusive Hertz Ultimate Choice areas that comprise an even wider selection of vehicles and car classes to choose from when reserving a midsize car or above.

Join Loyalty Rewards Programs

Rental car loyalty reward programs help save money and time while providing travelers with access to exclusive benefits such as free upgrades and expedited service.

Now through December 31, members of the free-to-join Hertz Gold Plus Rewards can participate in the Great Gold Giveaway chance to win 1 million Gold Plus Rewards points, which can be redeemed for up to four years’ worth of free rental days. There are also more than 1,000 runner-up prizes including free standard weekly and weekend rentals.

READ MORE: Hertz Wins Big at 2017 FlyerTalk Awards

Look for Discounts

Don’t forget to look for car rental deals on the company’s website for major national organizations, frequent-flier programs and credit card programs. Discounts may also be available for government employees, members of the military and employees of certain corporations.

On Cyber Monday—November 27—check Hertz.com for a special Flash Sale for more savings on future car rentals.