 | Hi y’all —
You wouldn’t know it from my Uber habit, but I’m actually a NUMTOT. For years, I’ve been a member of New Urbanist Memes for Transit-Oriented Teens, which is a massively popular Facebook group where 215,000 people from around the world discuss public transportation.
It’s more than just millennials making train jokes: Bernie Sanders joined last year after securing the coveted NUMTOT political endorsement. The Guardian and The New York Times have featured it. There are dozens of spinoff groups, including one for hookups called (wait for it) NUMTHOTs. And, of course, the memes are top-notch.
The group has been hard to enjoy during the pandemic, though. I love the subway as much as any other NUMTOT, but the coronavirus outbreak has all but prevented me from using it. Desperate to get out of the city and avoid enclosed spaces full of germy strangers, I’ve had to resort to *gasp* renting cars.
The problem is, I find renting cars hugely stressful. I always feel like I’m on the verge of making an expensive mistake, especially when the rep at the counter is asking rapid-fire questions about insurance.
So, without further ado — and without alerting the NUMTOTs — I proudly present the Dollar Scholar guide to renting a car!
First up is booking the reservation. Mel Dohmen, senior brand manager for Orbitz, Travelocity and CheapTickets, told me this is best to do as early as possible. When planning a trip, a lot of people start by nailing down a flight or finding a hotel, but that’s not advisable. I shouldn’t wait, especially because many car rental companies have free cancellation and/or “pay later” options where I don’t get charged until pickup.
“There’s really no reason not to grab it in advance,” she says. “You’re just putting it off and making more decisions for yourself later.”
Next, I’ll need to choose a company and location. When picking a chain, Dohmen said familiarity is key: If I previously had a good experience with a specific service, then I might want to use it again. If I’m shopping blind, I can check customer reviews for info.
During the pandemic, I should pay attention to cleaning practices, too. Many companies are allowing extra time between rentals, enforcing social distancing, sanitizing vehicles and providing Clorox wipes. The company will probably advertise these virus prevention practices, but if it doesn’t, Dohmen said to inquire.
I’ll also want to see if I’m affiliated with any organizations that have partnerships with certain chains. For example, if I have a Chase Sapphire Reserve card, I could score a 30% discount off Avis cars.
As far as location, Paula Twidale, senior vice president of AAA Travel, said to look at “neighborhood offices,” or non-airport rental car counters. By selecting a location that’s around the corner, I could save a lot of money. And there’s probably a free shuttle service to and from the office, anyway. | Once I’ve got a reservation on the books, it’s time to prepare for the trip. I’m not talking about attempting to cram every piece of clothing I own into a carry-on — instead, I’ve got homework to do.
Twidale suggested I research my insurance before I’m physically at the counter. Most companies require customers to pay using credit cards, and therefore most credit cards offer rental car protections. My American Express Blue Cash Preferred, for example, covers theft or damage of a rental car up to $50,000… but only if I declined the full collision damage waiver offered by the company and used that specific card to pay and am named on the rental agreement and didn’t rent a luxury car. Whew.
Twidale said to call my credit card company to get these details. I should also check to see if my regular car insurance offers any rental coverage. Then I can read up on what the company itself has.
“The challenge is if you're not covered through them, they're going to say, ‘Who are you covered with?’” Twidale adds.
There are different kinds of insurance for different purposes. Laura Smith, Hertz executive vice president of sales, marketing and customer experience, pointed out that credit cards may not “cover third-party liability claims or may be supplemental,” only offering partial reimbursement. (Hertz offers its own liability insurance supplement, which provides protection from bodily injury and property damage claims stemming from accidents.)
I don’t want to totally blow off insurance, but I also should be careful I don’t overdo it. I may also be covered by state law. The New York Attorney General’s Office explicitly says on its website that “car rental companies are prohibited from refusing to rent you a car unless you purchase the additional insurance. The coverages are all optional.”
Knowledge is power here. When I’m informed, I can feel confident turning down the extra features suggested by employees. And if I do decide to buy insurance through a travel site or rental car company, it’ll likely be cheaper if I purchase it at the time of booking.
That applies to gas, as well. Usually the rep will ask if I plan to fill up the tank myself before returning the car or if I want to pay them to do it for me. The latter is almost always more expensive, though the upcharge may be worth it for the convenience. It’s just another thing to think through. Ditto what make and model I need.
“If you rented a compact, they want you to go to mid-size,” Twidale says. “Like when you go to a restaurant for dinner, they want you to get a drink or appetizer.”
Sometimes, the employee will have me choose which car to rent out of a lineup. Dohmen said to walk around the vehicles and inquire about mileage. (Generally, the lower the better.) Then I’ll want to snap a few time-stamped photos of its condition to save for later.
Finally, I should take a second to understand how it actually works.
“Before you leave the lot, ensure you can find and operate all controls, know where USB ports are located, connect your cell phone to Bluetooth and turn on the radio for your upcoming drive,” Smith adds. |  | (but please don't tell me you scrolled past all of my hard work) Car rentals are a minefield. The smartest way to save money AND not drive myself crazy with doubt is to prepare by researching companies, locations and insurance in advance.
“You’ve got a lot of different avenues to explore; no need to make it a wait-and-see,” Dohmen adds. “Know what you're going to do before you get to the counter.” | Even Gene Simmons isn’t immune to the charms of crypto. The KISS frontman recently bought $300,000 worth of the digital currency ada, hilariously telling his Twitter followers that “if you’re interested in investing … just ask Google how to do it.” Simmons apparently also owns Bitcoin, Ethereum, Litecoin, Chainlink and Binance. I guess he wants to block and roll all night. | five things I'm loving online right now | | 1 | Emoji poetry is a thing now. Here’s a sonnet, a haiku, a limerick and more. Make sure to read each icon out loud for maximum rhyme. | | 2 | I found this article about strawberry storage extremely useful. TL;DR: Strawberries should always be around 34 degrees, but grocery stores like to keep them at a warmer temperature so they smell good and attract customers. How can you combat this? “Fight the urge to display your newly purchased strawberries on your counter,” the article says. “Instead, pop them into the refrigerator as soon as you get them home.” | | 3 | *Miranda Priestly voice* Spinach? As a hat? Groundbreaking. | | 4 | A new bookstore in Washington organizes not by author’s last name or genre but by emotion. It’s all in the name of bibliotherapy, which involves reading as a way to improve one’s mental health. “I want a person to come in and look around and say, ‘What do I need right now?’” the owner told the Seattle Times. “‘What kind of book would help me in my life based on what I’m going through, or how I’m feeling?’” As someone who has read Looking for Alaska probably two dozen times, I respect it. | | 5 | You know that feeling when you’re driving around with the windows down at night, in no hurry and with no real destination? Well, there’s an entire subreddit for it. Check out r/TheNightFeeling to see thousands of photos that evoke that very specific vibe. | | send me cute pictures of your pets, please | Meet Dexter, who is so ready to rent a car that he’s already put on driving gloves. | This NUMTOT is Audi.
See you next week.
Julia
P.S. Last issue about life insurance sparked some great replies. Scholar Nicole wrote in to recommend State Farm, which she's used for 30 years. Scholar Jim said life insurance is more important once I have a spouse and kids, instead suggesting I look into disability insurance. Scholar Gary endorsed 20-year term insurance. On the topic of breakfast pastries, Scholar Michelle praised blueberry-lemon cornmeal scones. Yum.
P.P.S. Do you have any rental car hot tips? What’s your favorite strawberry recipe? Which musician would you take investment advice from, if you had to? Send me feedback at julia.glum@money.com or @SuperJulia. | | | This newsletter is free because Money earns a commission when you click or make purchases from the links in this email and on our site. We also receive compensation for some of the products and services featured in this message. Offers may be subject to change without notice. Learn more about how we make money.
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