VPI Cars is Metro Manila Philippines’ highest-rated full service car rental platform. We offer short, long term rentals, chauffeured, corporate leasing, and many more!
Are long-term car rentals worth it?
In summary, yes, long-term car rentals are worth it in the Philippines if you’re only looking to rent a car for 6 months. Other than that, it may be better to purchase your own car, or better yet find a rent to own deal, which VPI Cars Manila offers.
It can be tempting to opt for a long-term car rental when planning a road trip across the country or you’re just looking for a car to drive around the city. You don’t have to worry about returning the car on time, and you can usually snag a discount for committing to a longer rental period. But is it really worth it? We break down the pros and cons of long-term car rentals to help you make the best decision for your next trip.
There are many benefits of an annual or a monthly car rental versus doing a short-term car rental. The most obvious benefit is cost savings. Long-term car rentals are worth it since they often come with a discount, so you can save money by committing to a longer rental period.
Another benefit is the flexibility it offers. You can usually change your pickup and drop-off dates with long-term rentals, which can be helpful if your plans change at the last minute. And finally, you don’t have to worry about returning the car on time. With a long-term rental, you can keep the car for as long as you need it.
On top of that, you can easily have the car replaced with a brand new car as soon as your lease or agreement is over. This is a great option for anyone that loves driving the latest model of cars but doesn’t want to deal with the hassle and expense of buying one outright.
The best of all is that you don’t have to worry about reselling the car when you’re done with it. With a long-term rental, you can simply return the car to the rental company and be done with it. No need to worry about finding a buyer or haggling over price which we all know causes headaches.
Of course, there are some downsides to consider with long-term car rentals. The biggest downside is that you don’t own the car, so you can’t customize it or sell it later on down the road.
Another potential disadvantage is that you may not have access to the latest models of cars if you’re renting for an extended period of time. This isn’t usually a problem if you’re only looking for a car to get around town, but it’s something to keep in mind if you’re planning a cross-country trip and want the newest model to make the journey more comfortable.
Finally, long-term car rentals can be more expensive than buying a car outright, especially if you’re planning to rent for years on end. So if you’re only looking for a car for a short-term need, it may be worth it to just do a short-term rental.
To help you decide if a long-term car rental is worth it for you, let’s do a quick cost comparison with a car rental company in Manila, VPI Cars Manila. Let’s go with their cheapest sedan option which is the Toyota VIOS. The Toyota VIOS is a sedan that costs ₱2,000 to ₱4,000 per day depending on the year model of the car. So if you factor in a %10 discount for long-term rental, which is the cheapest discount for long-term rentals, you can rent the car for ₱1,800 to ₱3,600 a day. So at ₱1,800 per day, you will be spending ₱54,000 per month totaling to ₱648,000 per year.
If you compare that to purchasing a 2nd hand Toyota VIOS with a 2019 year model, it will cost you around ₱600,000 pesos if you look around an online marketplace. Yes, it’s cheaper to purchase one, but don’t forget you’ll be in charge of paying all the yearly taxes, the regular maintenance of the car, as well as the depreciation of the car the more you use it.
This brings us back to the question, are long-term car rentals worth it? Yes, they are if you’re looking for a more flexible and cheaper alternative to owning a car for the better part of a year.
The requirements to rent a car will depend on the rental company, but generally, you will need to be at least 18 years old and have a valid driver’s license. Please note that some companies may require you to have a credit card in order to rent the car.
So if you’re planning your next trip and considering renting a car, remember that long-term rentals are worth it if you’re looking for flexibility and cost savings. And with the holidays coming up, you better reserve a rental today with VPIS Cars Manila, if you’re planning to drive a car rental on your next vacation.
VPI Cars Manila (formerly CF Car Rental Manila), one of Metro Manila’s highest rated car rental services provider. Happily serving since 2014!
VPI Cars is Metro Manila Philippines’ highest-rated full service car rental platform. We offer short, long term rentals, chauffeured, corporate leasing, and many more!