Should You Rent a Car Seat From the Car Rental Company?

It’s a decision all parents traveling with young children must make when flying and driving — should you bring your child’s car seat along for the trip or should you rent a car seat with the rental car?

It can be a particularly difficult choice if you’re going to be staying at your destination for several days, as the costs of renting a car seat can build up quickly. Fortunately for AAA members, the use of one child or infant booster seat is free when renting with Hertz.

In addition to not having to lug a bulky car seat around the airport, here are a few reasons why you might want to consider renting a car seat for your next trip.

Renting a Car Seat Is Easy and Safe

Most car rental companies offer a variety of options when it comes to securing the right seat to keep your child safe. Hertz provides a wide range of child car seats at all of their rental car locations, voluntarily complying with state laws that require a child seat for rentals.

They offer an infant child seat, which is for a baby who is less than one year old and weighs up to 20 pounds. They also stock forward-facing child seats, for children weighing between 20-40 pounds. Additionally, they carry belt-positioning, high-back booster seats and strollers.

A Lighter Load

Many airlines allow families to bring a child’s car seat at no additional cost, either as checked baggage or as a gate‑checked item. But traveling with a car seat can be awkward and inconvenient. Some car seats weigh more than 25 pounds, which is a lot of extra luggage to be dragging around an airport, especially if you have a little one in tow. Avoiding this hassle is one of the top reasons most people decide to rent one.

There’s also the concern of potential damage. Checked items are handled with regular luggage, and car seats can come out scuffed, cracked or with broken parts.

Renting a car seat at your destination eliminates all of this. Simply pick up a ready‑to‑use seat when you get your rental car.

Other Things to Consider

One of the first concerns many people have when it comes to renting a car seat is the additional cost. Coming in at as much as $15 a day, the cost of a rental car seat can add up if you’re planning on staying in town for a while. Thankfully, most major car rental companies set a cap around $70 on a car seat rental. Unless, of course, you are AAA member taking advantage of your free car seat with Hertz.

Parents also worry about safety. The American Academy of Pediatrics and AAA advise against using previously owned car seats because there’s no reliable way to confirm whether a seat has been involved in a crash or otherwise compromised. By renting through trusted companies with strong safety standards, you can rest assured that child car seats that are no longer safe to be used are retired from the fleet. Car seats in use are thoroughly cleaned and sanitized after every rental and provided with the user manual and necessary instructions to safely and securely install it in your rental car.

Renting a car seat for your child simplifies your life, can remove stress from your travels and ensures the safety of the most precious cargo in your vehicle.

Get exclusive discounts on Hertz car rentals with AAA.