So I needed a car for two days. Just two. Not a week or a month. Not forever. Just long enough to go to my cousin’s engagement party in Vermont and not feel like a total mooch begging for rides.
Enter: short-term car rentals — that magical unicorn that promises convenience, affordability, and freedom. Or so I thought.
Spoiler: I ended up stranded at a Dunkin’ Donuts in sweatpants with a flat tire, no cell service, and an emergency coffee that tasted like regret.
Let’s talk about the pros and cons of short-term car rentals—because no one really tells you the whole story, and I’m nothing if not here for the chaos and car confusion.
🚗 First of All, What Even Is a Short-Term Car Rental?
You probably already get it, but just to be on the same page—it’s basically when you rent a car for a super short amount of time, like a few hours or a few days. Think of it as the car equivalent of a casual situationship. Not a commitment. Just a temporary fling.
Popular for:
- Weekend getaways
- Business trips
- Replacing your car while it’s in the shop
- Being spontaneous without consequences (ha. ha.)
Pros of Short-Term Car Rentals
1. You Don’t Have to Deal with Long-Term Anything
No loans and insurance payments. No maintenance headaches. Just grab the keys and go. It’s kinda like renting a car-shaped hotel room.
Minimal adulting required. (Until something breaks.)
I mean, you show up, flash your ID, sign something you don’t read, and bam—you’re a vehicle owner for 48 hours. It feels weirdly powerful.
2. It’s Weirdly Affordable Sometimes
I rented a small SUV for $43 a day. That’s less than my bar tab during happy hour if I’m feeling flirty and reckless. Plus, a lot of these rental places throw in unlimited mileage.
Gas excluded, of course. They’re not that generous.
But still—if you book through discount apps or snag a midweek deal? Chef’s kiss.
Pro tip: Avoid the airport locations unless you enjoy hidden fees and existential dread.
3. You Get to Be Someone Else for a Day
Ever wanted to drive a car that screams “I make good financial choices” even though your checking account is currently weeping?
Short-term rentals = instant glow-up.
I once drove a white Tesla for one day and caught myself saying things like “I actually only eat oat milk yogurt now” and “My therapist said…”
(Reader, I do not have a therapist. Or yogurt.)
4. It’s Uber-Flexible
Need a car just for the weekend? Done.
Only need it for 4 hours while your in-laws are in town and you’re pretending to run “errands”? Also done.
Apps like Turo, Zipcar, and even traditional rental companies are offering hourly or daily rentals now—because apparently, commitment issues are trending.
Cons of Short-Term Car Rentals
1. Hidden Fees Will Haunt Your Dreams
Oh, you thought it was $29.99/day? Cute.
Here’s what you actually pay for:
- Insurance (if you don’t have your own)
- “Airport concession recovery fees” (whatever that is)
- Taxes
- Optional upgrades (that you say no to and then somehow get anyway)
- Cleaning fees if you spill that one grande latte
And don’t even get me started on the “refueling charge.” I returned a car with 7/8 of a tank and got charged $12. Like it was a gas-guzzling yacht.
2. Not All Cars Are Created Equal
You might reserve a “compact” and end up with a minivan that smells like a high school wrestling team lived in it for a week.
Or the brakes squeal. Or the Bluetooth won’t pair unless you chant in Latin and sacrifice your firstborn playlist.
(Yes, this happened. I drove a car that only played gospel radio and wouldn’t change no matter what I pressed. Bless it.)
3. Customer Service Is… A Gamble
Me: “Hey, I’m stranded with a flat.”
Rental company: “Did you purchase the roadside assistance?”
Me: “I don’t know, did I?”
Rental company: “Please hold.” cue 17 minutes of hold music that slowly drains your soul
If you didn’t check every box during booking, you may be on your own. Even for basic stuff like a dead battery or a flat. Ask me how I know. (No really. Ask. I still have the emotional scars.)
4. Time Crunch Panic Is Real
They say “return by noon,” but what they mean is “return by noon or we will charge you for an extra day and possibly your soul.”
I once returned a car at 12:03 and got hit with a late fee. Like, chill—it was three minutes. I was literally parking it. I still had one foot in the vehicle. Does that not count??
![Image Placeholder – A person sprinting with car keys and luggage toward a rental counter, chaos energy, motion blur, early morning light]
🎯 So, Who’s Short-Term Car Rental Good For?
- People with commitment issues (me, hello)
- City folks who don’t own cars but need to go to IKEA once a year
- Tourists who want to look cool and not use public transit
- People who spontaneously decide to drive to the beach at 9 p.m. because they saw a TikTok about sea salt healing your aura
👎 And Who Should Maybe Avoid It?
- Anyone who can’t deal with last-minute stress
- People who will definitely forget to refill the gas tank
- Folks with zero tolerance for customer service hold music
- Control freaks who need to know exactly what car, what color, what scent (you will not know these things)
✍️ Real Talk: My Short-Term Rental Diaries
One time, I rented a car just to drive to a pumpkin patch. Cute, right?
Except it started raining. The GPS rerouted me onto a literal goat path. I bottomed out the car, and when I returned it, the guy asked me why it smelled like “barnyard.”
I pretended I didn’t speak English. Not my proudest moment. But also… maybe one of my smartest.
🔗 Cool (and Sometimes Ridiculous) Resources:
- This Reddit thread where someone tried to rent a Lamborghini for 24 hours
- Zipcar vs. Turo breakdown with strong opinions
- Why you should always take photos before AND after
Final Vibes?
Short-term car rentals are like dating apps. Amazing in theory. Fun when they work.
But oh man, they can absolutely wreck your afternoon if things go south.
Would I do it again? Yes. But I’d also bring snacks, wear shoes I can run in, and double-check the fuel gauge like my life depends on it.
Because apparently… it does.
