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Sell my car and rent instead.

L

LumbermanSVO

macrumors 65816
Original poster
Mar 15, 2007
1,234
622
Denton, TX
I'm constantly trying to find ways to save some cash, so long as it doesnt make my life difficult. Today I had the thought that of may be cheaper to sell my pickup and just rent a car when I'm home. I'm on the road in my company truck for 30 days then I come home for 5 days.

My car is an '86 F250 diesel that I bought for $50. I pay about $100 a month to insure it, yet I only drive it a couple times a month. In fact, I drive it so little that the last time I put fuel in it was October. I could easily get $2000 for it and lose the insurance payments. The truck used to cost about $1000/year in maintinence when I drove it everyday.

How much does it cost to rent a car? I've never done it. I'd just get some POS econobox to go fetch the groceries in. It just doesnt seem to make sense to me paying for something I'm not using. Would it be cheaper to just rent a car for 2-3 days when I'm home?
 
Well, it depends. Rental rates vary widely around the country. There are all sorts of extra charges. If you don't have a car w/insurance then you'll want liability coverage for your rental car, that can be a lot of extra money. Rental rates also change seasonally, so while it might make sense during some of the year, sometimes rental rates can be insane. I paid something like $350 for a week in Utah around christmastime.

Also, there is the convenience factor. How far is it to the rental place from your house? How would you get the car to and from the rental place?

If you need the car for routine errands and so on, then it may not be worth it.

People who can rely primarily on public transit, and use their cars mainly for weekend outings/vacations may have a better case than you for renting instead of owning.
 
You raise some good points. There is an Enterprise one block from my work, but that is 100 miles from home. I'd really only want the car for 2-3 days a month, tops. The only thing I do with a car now is to go shopping for my next trip. Everywhere else I go is with family/friends so I just catch a ride with them.

I have no idea what the public transist is like as I just moved in September. Anyone from Colorado Springs know?

Maybe a TAXI would be a better idea?...
 
I'm not sure if it's possible in the US, but have you considered keeping the car and just insuring it for the time you use it? IE, arrange insurance for a week or two?
 
budget can do a car for you for 3 days friday-monday for about $60. pickup and return at the colorado springs airport. goto budget.com and see for yourself.
 

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What's the minimum required insurance in your state? Some states only require liability and usually that is much cheaper than 100/month. Double check with your agent that they have your driving habits correct too for your insurance.

Keep in mind, if you go rental you will have no option but to take their insurance as you wouldn't have a policy to back the rental car otherwise.
 
Too many reasons not to give up the truck...

It's there if you need it.

Your really not paying much for it anyway.

You could trade it in if you ever do need to buy a car.

What if you get fired?

You get nothing in return for the money you pay for a rental car.

Is it really worth renting a car to go on a grocery run?


Just keep the truck. Why give up somenthing for nothing?
 
Check to see if there is a CarShare co-op in your community.
Here in Victoria they have 25+ vehicles, ranging from Smart cars to trucks, you pay a membership fee, then you can book a car for the day(s) you want, and the rental cost and insurance and per mile costs are much less than Budget or Hertz.
 
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