The price of fee-dom

How much rental car fees can cost you [ThePennyHoarder.com]( December 10th, 2018 Brought to you by: It’s the end of the year, which means new car models are flashing across TV screens, dealerships are trying to entice people by slapping big ol’ holiday bows across hoods and, as you sit in your trusty beater in the mornings willing the old heater to just warm you up already, you’re starting to think about buying a new (or new-to-you) car. Maybe even one with heated seats. Before you start shopping around, we have a whole lot of car info coming your way today. First, this news… The Price of Fee-dom| A host of fees can drive up the cost of a car rental well beyond the vehicle’s advertised daily rate. Writer Nicole Dow explains how [a two-day car rental ended up costing her over 10 times the posted price](. Life is a Highway | And you’re gonna ride it all night long once you have keys to your new (or new-to-you) car in hand. Ready to find a ride? Here’s [how to start saving for a car now]( — before you set foot in a dealership. Holy Smokes!| The dreaded “check engine” light just turned on. But what does it really mean? Can’t you just stick some electrical tape over the light and hope your car doesn’t start smoking while you’re driving down the highway? Not so fast; [ignoring that “check engine” light can cost you big-time](. --------------------------------------------------------------- That New Car Smell| Breathe in. Do you smell that? It’s that new car smell. The debate between new car lovers and used car devotees can get heated, but we’re not here to argue. If you choose to buy used, you have your reasons and if you choose to buy new — hey, you have your reasons, too! What we are here to discuss is the difference between leasing and buying when it comes to a new car, and how to tell which one is right for you. There are a few key differences, and there are pros and cons to each. For example, if you’re hoping to build equity, you should plan to buy your car. But, if you’d rather not be responsible for anything outside of routine maintenance costs, leasing might be the way to go. Need more information before making your final decision on leasing vs. buying? Check out [the rest of our pro/con list and figure out which method is right for you](. --------------------------------------------------------------- Brought to you by: --------------------------------------------------------------- Fair’s Fair| ...except when it’s not. Life isn’t always fair, but if you’re a stickler for the rules, it can be frustrating when people don’t follow them — or when there are no rules at all. That’s why one company is working its hardest to level the playing field. [Root]( is an auto insurance company that pursues fairness relentlessly. The company uses an app to rate drivers based primarily on how they actually drive, rather than on something like their address, age or gender. How does that work? After you download the app and create a profile (a process that takes all of 47 seconds, give or take), drive as you normally do and keep your phone on you. After a few weeks, Root will have everything it needs to know about your driving habits (like how often you drive or how you brake or make turns) to make a decision. If you qualify, your rate will be based primarily on your good driving habits; the better the driver you are, the better your rate could be. And because Root doesn’t insure bad drivers, it can save good drivers up to 52% on their car insurance. The entire process takes place in the app, so you won’t have to deal with agents, and you can customize your coverage right there on your smartphone. Plus, you can view your insurance card, make changes to your policy and file a claim all (you guessed it) without ever leaving the app. Life isn’t always fair, but with [Root]( car insurance is. [LEARN MORE]( Brought to you by: Fair’s Fair| ...except when it’s not. Life isn’t always fair, but if you’re a stickler for the rules, it can be frustrating when people don’t follow them — or when there are no rules at all. That’s why one company is working its hardest to level the playing field. [Root]( is an auto insurance company that pursues fairness relentlessly. The company uses an app to rate drivers based primarily on how they actually drive, rather than on something like their address, age or gender. How does that work? After you download the app and create a profile (a process that takes all of 47 seconds, give or take), drive as you normally do and keep your phone on you. After a few weeks, Root will have everything it needs to know about your driving habits (like how often you drive or how you brake or make turns) to make a decision. If you qualify, your rate will be based primarily on your good driving habits; the better the driver you are, the better your rate could be. And because Root doesn’t insure bad drivers, it can save good drivers up to 52% on their car insurance. The entire process takes place in the app, so you won’t have to deal with agents, and you can customize your coverage right there on your smartphone. Plus, you can view your insurance card, make changes to your policy and file a claim all (you guessed it) without ever leaving the app. Life isn’t always fair, but with [Root]( car insurance is. [LEARN MORE]( --------------------------------------------------------------- WORD OF THE DAY Haynes Manuals (n): Manuals published by Haynes Publishing Group that offer step-by-step guidelines for various car maintenance and repair jobs. The manuals are sold at just about any auto-parts shop (or online), and are model-specific, so you can learn exactly what you need to know to DIY some of your own auto servicing or repairs. Tired of that all-too-familiar feeling of financial dread that sets in the moment your “check engine” light dings on? Taking your car to the dealership for minor repairs and maintenance service can be costly. [Haynes Manuals arm car owners with the knowledge to perform the jobs themselves]( — helping you keep more money in your pocket. The Penny Hoarder | 490 1st Ave S, Suite 800 | Saint Petersburg, Florida 33701 | United States [Unsubscribe]( from all email from The Penny Hoarder. Questions? View our [Privacy Policy](. Having trouble reading this email? You can [view it online](. *Root Insurance is available in Arizona, Arkansas, Delaware, Illinois, Indiana, Iowa, Kentucky, Louisiana, Maryland, Mississippi, Missouri, Montana, New Mexico, Nebraska, North Dakota, Ohio, Oklahoma, Oregon, Pennsylvania, South Carolina, Texas and Utah. Disclaimer: Savings based on national reviews reported by actual customers. Form 1. ROOT RESERVES THE RIGHT TO REFUSE TO QUOTE ANY INDIVIDUAL A PREMIUM RATE FOR THE INSURANCE ADVERTISED HEREIN.