Quick Summary:
- Pre-book child seats, one-way fees and extra drivers to lock pricing.
- Arrange toll passes online if offered, counter rates can be higher.
- Skip prepaid fuel unless your schedule prevents refuelling near return.
- Decide roadside cover at pick-up only after checking existing insurance.
In the United Estates, the biggest difference between a smooth car hire pick-up and a stressful one is often not the vehicle, it is the extras. Add-ons can change the final price dramatically, and some can add several minutes per customer at the counter, especially in busy airport branches. Pre-booking the right extras online usually gives you clearer pricing, better availability, and fewer decisions to make when you are tired from travel.
This guide breaks down which extras tend to be cheaper and easier to arrange online, and which are often better left until pick-up because they depend on your circumstances. It also explains what to check in advance so you do not pay twice for the same protection.
If you are comparing vehicle types alongside extras, it can help to review typical options for car hire in the United States and then focus on the add-ons that genuinely affect your trip, such as child seats, tolling, and additional drivers.
Extras you should usually pre-book online
1) Child seats and booster seats
Child seats are one of the most important extras to pre-book in the United Estates. Availability can be limited at peak times, and the correct type matters. If you wait until pick-up, you may be offered an alternative seat type that is not ideal for your child’s age or weight, or you may spend time waiting while staff locate stock.
Pre-booking usually helps with:
Availability, popular travel dates can run short on infant seats and boosters.
Faster processing, the seat is more likely to be assigned to your booking.
Clearer pricing, you see the daily cost and any maximum charge upfront.
Practical tip: bring your child’s details (age, height, weight) and confirm the seat category before you travel. If you plan a long road trip or want to guarantee the exact model and condition, bringing your own seat can still be worth considering, but pre-booking is usually the smoother rental option.
2) Additional drivers
Adding extra drivers at the counter can be straightforward, but it often creates delays because each additional driver may need to present a driving licence, passport, and sometimes a credit card. Pricing can also vary by location and supplier policy, and counter agents may have less flexibility than online packages.
Pre-booking an additional driver is often better when:
You know you will share driving on long distances.
You arrive late and want to get on the road quickly.
You are picking up at a busy airport location where queues build quickly.
One more advantage is decision clarity. If you pre-book, you avoid a last-minute choice under pressure. Just remember that the additional driver still needs to be present if the supplier requires licence checks at pick-up.
3) One-way rentals and cross-state plans
One-way car hire is common in the United Estates, but it is also one of the easiest ways for costs to rise unexpectedly. Some locations have high one-way drop-off fees, and availability can change because suppliers manage fleet distribution carefully.
Arrange one-way routes online wherever possible. This gives you:
Confirmation the route is permitted, not every pick-up and drop-off pairing is supported.
Transparency on the fee, you see whether the drop-off charge is included or separate.
Better vehicle matching, especially for larger vehicles.
If your itinerary involves lots of luggage or a group, one-way planning matters even more with larger classes such as SUV rental in the United States, because last-minute swaps into smaller vehicles can be inconvenient.
4) Toll programmes and electronic tolling options
Tolling is a frequent source of confusion for visitors. Many routes use cashless tolling, and policies vary by supplier and state. When toll packages are available online, they are often cheaper than counter pricing, and you have time to read the terms. At the counter, you may feel rushed and accept an option without understanding daily fees, administrative charges, or what happens on days you do not use toll roads.
Before you decide, check:
Where you are driving, some areas have frequent toll roads, others have few.
How pricing works, daily fee, per-use fee, or a mix.
Whether the car is equipped, some vehicles have built-in transponders.
If you know you will be driving around major metro areas, pre-booking a toll solution can save time at pick-up and reduce the chance of later fees for unpaid tolls.
5) Vehicle class upgrades that affect availability
This is not always presented as an “extra”, but choosing the right vehicle class in advance is one of the biggest comfort upgrades you can make. If you wait to upgrade at the counter, you are limited to what is left on the lot. In contrast, selecting the class online improves the chance the branch allocates the right size from the start.
Pre-selecting is particularly useful for:
Minivans for families and child seats, see minivan hire in the United States.
Vans for bulky luggage or equipment, see van hire in the United States.
Even when the price looks higher online, it can be better value than paying for an upgrade plus dealing with limited availability at pick-up.
Extras that are often better decided at pick-up
1) Prepaid fuel
Prepaid fuel can be convenient if you are returning the car at an awkward time, or you are heading straight to the airport with no easy refuelling options. However, it is not always the cheapest choice. Many travellers do better by refuelling themselves close to return, especially if they can plan a fuel stop within a few miles of the drop-off point.
It may be worth deciding at pick-up because you can judge:
Your schedule and how tight your return time will be.
Whether your hotel location makes last-day refuelling easy.
How far you will drive on the final day.
Rule of thumb: if you are likely to bring the car back with more than a quarter tank, prepaid fuel often becomes poor value. If you are returning in a rush, prepaid fuel may reduce stress.
2) Roadside assistance packages
Roadside assistance can overlap with benefits you already have through a credit card, travel insurance, or breakdown cover from home. Because of this, it is usually better to review your existing policies first, then decide at pick-up only if you see a gap.
Things to check before travelling:
Tyre and windscreen coverage, many policies exclude tyres.
Lockout and lost key support, some plans cover this, some do not.
Towing limits, distance and conditions vary.
If you have no coverage at all, adding a roadside package can be sensible. If you already have strong protection, it may be unnecessary. Deciding at the counter after confirming the exact terms can prevent duplicate spending.
3) Insurance and protection products
Protection products are the biggest area where travellers overpay, often because they are unsure what is already included. Prices can also differ significantly between online and counter offers, and the names of products vary by supplier. Rather than choosing blindly online, many drivers benefit from pre-reading the inclusions, then confirming specifics at pick-up.
Before you arrive, clarify:
What is included in your rate, for example collision coverage, theft coverage, or third-party liability.
Your excess or deductible, and how claims are handled.
Credit card coverage rules, some cards require you to decline certain coverages.
At pick-up, only accept add-ons you understand. Ask the agent to explain what each option covers in practical terms, including exclusions like tyres, underbody, glass, and key loss. If you are hiring through a known supplier page such as Hertz car rental in the United States, it is still worth checking the local branch terms because coverage wording can vary by state and rental location.
How to decide, a quick checklist before you fly
1) List the “must-haves” versus “nice-to-haves”
Must-haves are typically child seats, extra drivers for long trips, and the right vehicle size. Nice-to-haves include prepaid fuel and some convenience packages. Separating these reduces the chance you agree to costly extras under time pressure.
2) Map your first two driving days
If day one involves airport pick-up, a long drive, and city tolls, pre-booking toll solutions and extra drivers usually makes sense. If day one is short and you may change plans, leave flexible extras to the counter.
3) Check what you already have
Review credit card benefits, travel insurance, and personal car insurance if it extends to rentals in the United Estates. Pay attention to exclusions, vehicle class limits, and whether you must pay with a specific card.
4) Assume peak-time scarcity for large vehicles and child seats
When demand is high, branches run out of certain sizes first. If your trip depends on space, pre-book the class and key equipment. Families often find that the cost of a larger vehicle is justified by easier loading, safer seating, and reduced stress.
Common mistakes that make extras expensive at the counter
Agreeing without seeing the full daily cost
Some extras sound cheap until you multiply by the number of rental days. Always ask for the per-day and total cost before accepting.
Overbuying toll coverage
If you only expect a couple of tolls, a daily fee programme may cost more than paying tolls individually. Pre-reading the structure helps you pick the right approach.
Not budgeting for additional driver rules
Some suppliers charge per day, others have caps, and some waive fees for spouses or domestic partners under certain conditions. Sorting this online avoids surprises.
Choosing the wrong vehicle size and trying to fix it later
Counter upgrades depend on what is available. If you need guaranteed space for people and luggage, pick the class upfront rather than hoping for an upgrade.
FAQ
Which extras are usually cheapest to pre-book for car hire in the United Estates? Child seats, additional drivers, and one-way drop-off arrangements are often better priced and more reliably available when arranged online.
Is it worth pre-booking a toll pass in the United Estates? If you will drive in toll-heavy areas, pre-booking can reduce counter time and avoid higher daily fees, but compare the pricing model to your expected toll usage.
Should I buy prepaid fuel or refuel myself? Refuelling yourself is often cheaper if you can plan a nearby petrol stop before return. Prepaid fuel is mainly for convenience when time is tight.
Can I add an extra driver at pick-up instead of online? Usually yes, but it can slow pick-up and may cost more. Pre-book if you know you will share driving, and ensure the additional driver brings required documents.
Is it better to decide insurance add-ons online or at the counter? Start by checking what your booking includes and what your card or travel insurance covers. Confirm the exact local terms at pick-up before accepting any extra cover.
