Albany car rentals
Search hundreds of rental car sites at once for car rental deals in Albany
Albany, NY
Jun 24 — Jul 1
Same drop-off
Albany, NY
Thu 6/24
Noon
Thu 7/1
Noon
Search hundreds of rental car sites at once for car rental deals in Albany
Albany car rental information
| Pick-up location | Albany |
|---|---|
| Rental locations | 15 |
| Airport locations | 9 |
Cheap car rentals in Albany
| $56/day | Economy |
| $56/day | Compact |
| $71/day | Intermediate |
| $83/day | Standard |
| $76/day | Full-size |
| $96/day | Luxury |
| $78/day | Pickup truck |
| $61/day | Supplier choice |
| $65/day | Intermediate SUV |
| $65/day | Compact SUV |
| $91/day | Standard SUV |
Albany car rental reviews and directory
Budget
Locations in Albany
131 Colonie Center+1 518 459 2609
| Monday | 08:00 - 18:00 |
| Tuesday | 08:00 - 18:00 |
| Wednesday | 08:00 - 18:00 |
| Thursday | 08:00 - 18:00 |
| Friday | 08:00 - 18:00 |
| Saturday | 10:00 - 16:00 |
| Sunday | 10:00 - 16:00 |
737 Albany Shaker Road+1 518 242 4450
| Monday | 08:00 - 18:00 |
| Tuesday | 08:00 - 18:00 |
| Wednesday | 08:00 - 18:00 |
| Thursday | 08:00 - 18:00 |
| Friday | 08:00 - 18:00 |
| Saturday | 08:00 - 18:00 |
| Sunday | 08:00 - 18:00 |
8.0 ExcellentMay 21 2021
Pros: Easy pickupCons: Signage for self drop off in the garage (keys in car or to drop box, space number or drop lane, etc.
4.0 OkayMar 30 2021
Cons: I know there is shortage at current time, but car had close to 40,000 miles and noticeable damage on exterior
8.0 ExcellentJan 26 2021
Cons: The e-z pass did not work consistently. I informed them of this at drop off and that I missed a toll due to that and not being able to back up to pay
4.0 OkayJan 7 2021
Cons: Car was rented to me with very low tire pressure. Was travelling on the highway stop at 2 gas stations to fix tires air machines with broken and each one had to complete my trip with low tire pressure using way too much gas
6.0 GoodDec 17 2020
Pros: Staff was friendly and helpful at pick-up. Process was relatively quick. Nobody there for drop off so hopefully that went ok. I just dropped the keys in a box.Cons: Car stunk like cigarettes and then I found a pack under the seat. I guess that was missed by whoever cleaned the car
6.0 GoodOct 20 2020
Pros: carCons: staff were gone when I arrived
3.6 MediocreSep 23 2020
Pros: Convenience of picking up the vehicle close byCons: Vehicle could have been washed and cleaned. Vehicle had damage that I needed to report before taking the vehicle.
7.6 GoodSep 13 2020
Pros: staff in nyc was good. but they only had large suvs and trucks available. i only needed a small car. so gas was pricey and ride was a bit bumpy. also car only had a 1/2 tank of gas to start. and car had over 25,000 miles on it. but overall it was really fine. and worked out.Cons: would be better if they had the size of car available that one rented. the staff was really good at juggling but they just didn’t have cars ready. staff in albany airport was great.
9.6 ExcellentSep 6 2020
Cons: Car smelled like someone had smoked in it.
9.6 ExcellentSep 5 2020
Pros: Yes
Alamo
Locations in Albany
737 Albany Shaker Rd+1 844 366 2649
| Monday | 06:00 - 23:59 |
| Tuesday | 06:00 - 23:59 |
| Wednesday | 06:00 - 23:59 |
| Thursday | 06:00 - 23:59 |
| Friday | 06:00 - 23:59 |
| Saturday | 06:00 - 23:59 |
| Sunday | 06:00 - 23:59 |
6.0 GoodMay 23 2018
Why the switchPros: Car was well equipped with blind spot detection, especially useful driving in Boston.Cons: I had reserved a sedan but only SUVs and Mini-vans were available. When I said that I would not drive one of those types of vehicles, I was told that I would have to wait about half an hour. When I said that I would wait, within one minute a sedan was available. Interesting! This is similar to being seated at the worst table in a restaurant when there are no other people there. Is this common practice?
9.6 ExcellentMar 18 2018
Fast and easyPros: No issues on pick up or drop off. Albany is on site. I had to wait for attendant to show but only a couple of minutesCons: No signs for car rental returns at LaGuardia so you have to look up yourself.
10.0 ExcellentDec 27 2017
Pros: Price + Ease of Pick-up + Clean Car + Modern AmenitiesCons: Nothing.
10.0 ExcellentDec 5 2017
Quick and EasyPros: From the time I picked up to the time I left with the car was all of 15-20 minutes. No long drawn out process.Cons: Having to supply two phone numbers at the counter. I only have one number.
10.0 ExcellentDec 3 2017
Pros: Staff was very helpful and accommodating.price was reasonable and vehicle was in good condition and fully met our needs.
9.6 ExcellentAug 14 2017
Pros: Car was clean and I enjoyed driving it.Cons: Initial prepaid reservation was for Jeep SUV for 9 days at 449.00. When I called to change reservation to 7 days I was informed new cost would be approx. 1200.00. It took 2 more calls before someone suggested I change car to mid size which would result in price increase of approx. 100.00.
10.0 ExcellentMay 30 2017
Great servicePros: They gave me a nice car.
10.0 ExcellentMay 22 2017
Pros: The Hundai Sonata was a great car. Very quiet and easy to drive. Check-in and check-out was extremely fast and efficient. The ease of both at Albany airport is great.
10.0 ExcellentApr 19 2017
Fantastic service. Great vehicle.Pros: Customer Service was excellent.
10.0 ExcellentMar 26 2017
Nice peoplePros: The women at reception was very pleasant.
Enterprise
Locations in Albany
51 S. Pearl St./t.u. Center+1 518 472 1111
| Monday | 07:30 - 18:00 |
| Tuesday | 07:30 - 18:00 |
| Wednesday | 07:30 - 18:00 |
| Thursday | 07:30 - 18:00 |
| Friday | 07:30 - 18:00 |
| Saturday | 09:00 - 13:00 |
| Sunday | 00:00 - 00:00 |
737 Albany Shaker Rd+1 844 934 1076
| Monday | 06:00 - 23:59 |
| Tuesday | 06:00 - 23:59 |
| Wednesday | 06:00 - 23:59 |
| Thursday | 06:00 - 23:59 |
| Friday | 06:00 - 23:59 |
| Saturday | 06:00 - 23:59 |
| Sunday | 06:00 - 23:59 |
900 Central Ave+1 518 453 6222
| Monday | 07:30 - 18:00 |
| Tuesday | 07:30 - 18:00 |
| Wednesday | 07:30 - 18:00 |
| Thursday | 07:30 - 18:00 |
| Friday | 07:30 - 18:00 |
| Saturday | 09:00 - 13:00 |
| Sunday | 00:00 - 00:00 |
10.0 ExcellentMar 12 2020
Pros: Loved this car. Friendly staff
8.4 ExcellentAug 28 2017
Pros: The personalized service, along with Enterprise allowing their employees to make decisions,rather than being robots Absolutely fantastic!!!!!
7.2 GoodMar 14 2017
Pros: The car worked well. The staff were nice and made pick up and drop off easy.Cons: There were a lot of charges beyond the advertised daily price that were either disproportionately high or didn't make sense. Dropping a car off at a different location results in a $130+ fee (this is if you tell enterprise before hand. It is probably higher if you don't). It was cheaper for me to rent from Thursday to Monday than from Saturday to Monday.'
6.8 GoodMar 7 2017
Pros: I liked the final price and the choice of car.Cons: The pickup location listed on the itinerary was not the pickup location. It was the Enterprise gated lot where the inventory is kept, a mile away. The literal hike back to where I knew the Enterprise booth was at the airport (at a completely different address than was listed on my itinerary), was a complete waste of my time. I have had to take shuttles about a mile away from the airport in different locations to pickup rental cars in the past, so the initial directions taking me past the airport did not seem out of the ordinary for pickup at first. Once finally at the counter, the sales rep tried to tell me the insurance I could opt for at $9/day was $14/day. I had it right on the paper print out but he acted "surprised." I am smart enough to know that this was an attempted upsell. I am also aware that you do not even need this insurance, so I asked him to forget it all together. Then I was told that the car rate was going up because of this. Which annoys me. 1.) Because my rate was booked independent of the insurance I hadn't opted into yet, and 2.) Because this was Saturday morning. I was taking a car off his hands for the weekend that would otherwise badly affect his numbers. I almost cancelled all together because of this until miraculously I rented an upgraded car for a discounted rate (that was still an upsell for him) after explaining I know how this works. Way too much BS to go through especially when surrounded by other car rental services in the airport who are also trying to get rid of cars over the weekend. The lines at the other desks were the sole reason I rented with Enterprise.
10.0 ExcellentJan 15 2017
Excellent customer service and value for the pricePros: Received a free upgrade as my vehicle class was sold out Free pick-up to the agency Personable staff that actually treat you like a 'person' not solely a 'customer'Cons: N/A
10.0 ExcellentJan 4 2017
Pros: The staff were great. Helpful and professional.
10.0 ExcellentDec 3 2016
Pros: Friendly and helpful staff
10.0 ExcellentNov 7 2016
Pros: Cost.
9.2 ExcellentOct 26 2016
Rental Team was GreatPros: The Enterprise staff was extremely helpful, friendly and jovial. They gave me an upgrade to an SUV.Cons: The place was super busy when I arrived to pick-up the car so there was a slightly longer wait than usual. A prior renter of the car I had must have smoked in it. When the fan was on there was a faint smell of Cigarette or more likely cigar. There were two empty bottles under the seats (OJ and Gatorade)
8.4 ExcellentOct 10 2016
Why do You keep sending surveys after I already fiPros: My quick pick up due to a phone I placed prior to coming.Cons: The vehicle its self. I asked for a economy car and was offered a camera for $10 extra a day, an SUV, which I declined both to be give the Chevy bubble. Wasn't thrilled but I drive a jeep so I didn't think it'd be that bad but I do not prefer it, that is for sure!
Dollar
Locations in Albany
737 Albany Shaker Road+1 518 464 7601
| Monday | 06:00 - 23:59 |
| Tuesday | 06:00 - 23:59 |
| Wednesday | 06:00 - 23:59 |
| Thursday | 06:00 - 23:59 |
| Friday | 06:00 - 23:59 |
| Saturday | 06:00 - 23:59 |
| Sunday | 06:00 - 23:59 |
2.0 MediocreJun 14 2021
Pros: Drop off was quick and efficient.Cons: The car was super dirty. Crumbs everywhere etc. There was no car check and the staff said I would have to wait for over an hour for them to either clean the car or assign me a new car. I ended up cleaning the car myself.
6.0 GoodJun 8 2021
Pros: Car availabilityCons: Car was dirty Inside and out. No representative at the post when returning the vehicle in the morning.
4.0 OkayJun 2 2021
Pros: What staff was there were helpful. NOBODY was on the line at drop off. 4 other renters waiting for someone to help them. Had to go to the pick up both for service.Cons: More staff.
10.0 ExcellentMay 18 2021
Pros: Yes!Cons: Not much!
2.0 MediocreMar 28 2021
Pros: dropoff esyCons: provide me with the car i asked for
5.6 OkayNov 19 2020
Pros: Staff remained professional and friendly in poor working conditionsCons: Leave the pick up inside the airport and have someone deliver the cars to the door or have a golf cart to take the customer out to the car, it is very difficult dragging all your luggage out to a garage not knowing where your going. A handicapped person (me) will not do it again because I have bad legs and was so sore and tired when I finally got in the car I should not have been driving especially a car I’m not used to. And no there was nobody around to offer help just a sign saying go outside where our staff is working in a dark dingy shack !
10.0 ExcellentOct 1 2020
Pros: Yes
8.0 ExcellentSep 29 2020
Pros: Yes to both the questions. Staff was freindly.Cons: Car check over could have been done better. The driver's side mirror would not stay in place and I had to rely on the yellow warning lights on the mirror that a vehicle was near me at times.
8.4 ExcellentMay 28 2020
Pros: Dropoff went smoothlyCons: Pickup could have been better but was crowded
10.0 ExcellentFeb 14 2020
Pros: Quick and easy.Cons: A little more information, instruction, location, etc.
Hertz
Locations in Albany
40 Lodge St+1 518 434 6911
| Monday | 12:00 - 17:00 08:00 - 18:00 |
| Tuesday | 12:00 - 17:00 08:00 - 18:00 |
| Wednesday | 12:00 - 17:00 08:00 - 18:00 |
| Thursday | 12:00 - 17:00 08:00 - 18:00 |
| Friday | 12:00 - 17:00 08:00 - 18:00 |
737 Albany Shaker Rd.+1 518 456 1777
| Monday | 06:00 - 23:59 |
| Tuesday | 06:00 - 23:59 |
| Wednesday | 06:00 - 23:59 |
| Thursday | 06:00 - 23:59 |
| Friday | 06:00 - 23:59 |
| Saturday | 06:00 - 23:59 |
| Sunday | 06:00 - 23:59 |
818 Central Avenue+1 518 454 9701
| Monday | 07:30 - 18:00 |
| Tuesday | 07:30 - 18:00 |
| Wednesday | 07:30 - 18:00 |
| Thursday | 07:30 - 18:00 |
| Friday | 07:30 - 18:00 |
| Saturday | 09:00 - 13:00 |
10.0 ExcellentJun 4 2021
Cons: More explanation up front regarding the car’s newest features, especially since my personal vehicle is a SUV, not a car.
6.0 GoodNov 23 2020
Cons: Location was closed and no one contacted me before. I had to take a $15 cab to another location to get the car with a promise of reimbursement that never materialized. A huge hassle.
6.0 GoodSep 22 2020
Pros: Newer vehicles, lots of extrasCons: Car had obviously not been cleaned or sanitized since previous person rented it. Nothing vacuumed or wiped down, garbage still in it. These things are a must, especially in today’s environment. I had to clean and sanitize it when I got it home before I would let any of my family get in it, not very happy about that...
2.0 MediocreJul 14 2020
Pros: You cancelled my reservation at the last minute! Thanks for wrecking my vacation plan.
2.0 MediocreApr 6 2020
Cons: Consider working together with travel purveyors (travelocity, kayak, expedia, et al) to more fairly compensate customers for unavoidable changes in travel plans during a pandemic. By "more fairly," I mean don't leave them SOL.
5.2 OkayOct 19 2019
Pros: Car was okCons: Car not very clean inside and out. Pick up location not very convenient. Check in cumbersome with unexpected additional charges. Drop off very strange; it so happened car was dropped off two days earlier. Attendant said he would take care of necessary paperwork and I would receive the proper credit. I requested a receipt attendant was adamant that I did not needed he would take care of all the needs. This is the first time I dealt with rentals at Albany NY and with Hertz. Since I was pressed for time I moved on. Btw I still do not have correspondence from Hertz
2.0 MediocreAug 25 2019
Cons: Initial staff was rude. Unable to obtain rental since we did not have the original credit card on us that was used at the time the rental was booked. Had my credit card for the same MasterCard on me but was unable to use this even though reservation was for 9/9 and my card was charged 7/25.
4.8 OkayJul 26 2019
Pros: The car was ok.Cons: Office was closed when we arrived. it's hidden around corner from garage w/ he cars. Lousy way-finding signage. Office closed between 11 and 12 w/o warning. Only 1 employee who must leave the office to go a block to garage with a customer to get/return a car. Nearly missed our train and were frantic
10.0 ExcellentJul 11 2019
Pros: Friendly staff easy pick up and drop offCons: Nothing
4.4 OkayJun 7 2019
3rd Party rentalCons: The clerk working the counter was surly and seemed bothered by completing our rental. When we exited the parking garage, it said we had to pay $48. My husband ran back to the office to see why, her response was, “just push the assistance button.” When asked why she didn’t tell us about this issue, she just shrugged. The inside of the windows were so dirty that we had to stop and clean them to drive safely.
Avis
Locations in Albany
131 Colonie Center+1 518 459 3179
| Monday | 08:00 - 18:00 |
| Tuesday | 08:00 - 18:00 |
| Wednesday | 08:00 - 18:00 |
| Thursday | 08:00 - 18:00 |
| Friday | 08:00 - 18:00 |
| Saturday | 10:00 - 16:00 |
| Sunday | 10:00 - 16:00 |
737 Albany Shaker Road+1 518 242 4440
| Monday | 08:00 - 18:00 |
| Tuesday | 08:00 - 18:00 |
| Wednesday | 08:00 - 18:00 |
| Thursday | 08:00 - 18:00 |
| Friday | 08:00 - 18:00 |
| Saturday | 08:00 - 18:00 |
| Sunday | 08:00 - 18:00 |
2.0 MediocreJun 11 2021
Pros: They did not have the truck I reserved. I reserved a pickup truck for moving and they wanted to replace it with a Toyota Corolla and could not understand why I was not satisfied. The manager was rude and extremely unhelpful. I was given the number of Avis customer service, waited on hold for 20 minutes, only to find they were closed. I was not able to rent from them and had no choice but to pay triple the cost to Alamo for a pickup. For this reason, I am requesting a full refundCons: If they had the vehicle I reserved
6.0 GoodJun 10 2021
Pros: Vehicle was why I expected and performed wellCons: Pick up booth was extremely understaffed. Wait to get the car was over a half an hour with a line of twenty people. One agent was stuck with a client using a translation app or there phone working with one client the whole time backup help was never called. Vehicle had not been cleaned when I got it. Dirty inside and out.
6.0 GoodMay 17 2021
Cons: Staff needs to clean the cars inside and out before renting. I went inside a vehicle and it wreaked of cigarette smoke. It was disgusting. Another vehicle wasn’t clean on the outside.
2.0 MediocreJan 1 2021
Cons: They did not honor the price that I reserved it for. I had to pay more
2.4 MediocreJun 17 2020
Pros: Staff at counter was friendlyCons: --Staff at counter was unable to be reached by phone. Drove 3 1/2 hours each way (NYC --> Albany) to drop off old rental and pick up a new one, then was told at counter that I needn't have made the drive in the first place and I could've just kept the original rental. --Car smelled of cigarettes. Was told to just write down the issue on my rental agreement. --Staff at counter was unable to be reached by phone a second time (and I called over 20 times). This became an issue when I had to extend my new rental. --Toll-free customer service was completely useless when I contacted them to voice my concerns. --In a word, Avis = terrible. I've been an Enterprise customer for 12 years, and I'm kicking myself for using Avis this time.
4.4 OkayMay 15 2020
Pros: PriceCons: No ability to contact local agent, no store front or signage indicating pickup location, only a guy in a car with a sign. My rental was given away to someone else because I was late getting my car because I couldnt find the location, despite calling the national number they assured me everything was OK
6.0 GoodJan 29 2020
Pros: Staff was very friendly and helpful.Cons: We had a reservation but there wasn't a car available. We had one option. A 15 passenger van.
9.6 ExcellentOct 23 2019
Pros: staff fine at both locations I appreciate that they do not try to push me to take insuranceCons: car is far from office at pickup site and I had trouble finding the Albany office
10.0 ExcellentOct 21 2019
Pros: Yes! The guy was great, upgraded us! We were there fir a funeral and had a 14 hour drive back so it was greatly appreciated.Cons: Nothing.
5.2 OkayAug 26 2019
Cons: The price was ridiculously expensive.
National
Locations in Albany
737 Albany Shaker Rd+1 844 366 2648
| Monday | 06:00 - 23:59 |
| Tuesday | 06:00 - 23:59 |
| Wednesday | 06:00 - 23:59 |
| Thursday | 06:00 - 23:59 |
| Friday | 06:00 - 23:59 |
| Saturday | 06:00 - 23:59 |
| Sunday | 06:00 - 23:59 |
Easirent![Easirent]()
1 location in Albany
Easirent
Locations in Albany
Albany County Airport
| Monday | Invalid date - 23:59 |
| Tuesday | Invalid date - 23:59 |
| Wednesday | Invalid date - 23:59 |
| Thursday | Invalid date - 23:59 |
| Friday | Invalid date - 23:59 |
| Saturday | Invalid date - 23:59 |
Recent reviews
Sunnycars![Sunnycars]()
1 location in Albany
Sunnycars
Locations in Albany
859 Albany Shaker Road
Recent reviews
451 travelers who rented a car in Albany gave the car agency they used an average rating of 7.9
Car rental locations in or near Albany
When to book a rental car in Albany
Average daily price per month
Rental car prices as pick-up date approaches
Top tips for renting a car in Albany
- Like many cities in the U.S., Albany is best explored with a car. There simply is no better way to get around town, especially if you plan on going out and taking in the sights. For instance, if you are staying outside of downtown Albany and you want to get downtown, it is a simple 10 to 15-minute drive, but via public transportation it can easily take 30 or 40 minutes. This is especially the case at night when bus service slows down.
- Planning on beginning your trip in Albany with a stop at the rental car counter? For travelers with flights landing at Albany International Airport, you will find the rental car offices located next to Baggage Claim and the cars themselves in the airport parking garage.
- Albany’s downtown area is chock full of pedestrians and bikers. This is particularly the case during evenings in the summer when the weather is especially pleasant. During such times, jaywalking can become very common and traffic has to slow down as a result. This is also because Albany has a high density of attractions in the downtown area, so people often walk between them.
- Rush hour in Albany, while not as severe as it is in New York City, can still pack a punch. The morning rush hour usually starts up at 6:00 a.m. and lasts until 9:00 a.m. The afternoon rush hour is when the real traffic builds up, though, and drivers are advised to avoid many of the major avenues and highways from 4:00 p.m. until 6:30 p.m., when traffic begins to die back down.
- 25% of our users found rental cars in Albany for $47 or less
- Book your rental car in Albany at least 3 weeks before your trip in order to get a below-average price
- Standard rental cars in Albany are around 41% cheaper than other car types, on average
FAQs about renting a car in Albany
Some car rental companies in Albany which have updated their car rental health and safety policies due to COVID-19 to make sure vehicles are clean and disinfected include Dollar, Hertz and Budget
On average a rental car in Albany costs $64 per day.
In the past 72 hours, the cheapest rental cars were found at Hertz ($76/day), Avis ($78/day) and Enterprise ($83/day). In the last 72 hours the cheapest rental car price was found at Hertz 818 Central Avenue 12206 (3 miles from city center).
Based on ratings and reviews from real users on KAYAK, the best car rental companies in Albany are Enterprise (8.9, 122 reviews), Alamo (8.8, 176 reviews), and Dollar (8.0, 76 reviews).
The average gas price in Albany is $3.40 per gallon over the past 30 days. Filling up a gas tank costs between $41 and $54, depending on the car size.
Economy (Hyundai Accent or similar) is the most frequently booked rental car type in Albany.
Car rental companies onsite at Albany Intl airport include Dollar, Hertz, Budget, Enterprise, Alamo, Avis and National.
Car rental companies that offer shuttle or pick-up services from Albany Intl airport to off-airport locations include Dollar, Hertz, Budget, Enterprise, Alamo, Avis, Thrifty, and National.
Take a look at our extensive car rental location map to find the best rental cars near you.
A Economy car rental in Albany costs $64 per day, on average.
A Standard car rental in Albany costs $63 per day, on average.
A Intermediate car rental in Albany costs $66 per day, on average.
In Albany, cars are most frequently rented at Hertz 40 Lodge St (1 miles from city center).
On average a rental car in Albany costs $446 per week ($64 per day).
On average a rental car in Albany costs $1,911 per month ($64 per day).
Albany’s streets are similar to many others in the Northeast in that many of them predate the automobile. As a result, the roads can often be winding and rather small, and because of this, smaller vehicles are recommended for would-be renters. Larger cars will fit on the roads, of course, but they may sometimes be tough to park, and you may have to stop to let others pass on the narrower roads.
Drivers can expect speed limits ranging from 25 to 45 mph on residential streets and from 35 to 55 mph on larger urban roads. Highways and freeways in Albany, on the other hand, typically feature speed limits of 55 mph in urban areas and 65 mph in rural areas in between cities.
On average, drivers will pay about $2.60 per gallon for gas in Albany. This is right within the average for the state of New York, as gas is around $2.60 per gallon in New York City and $2.50 per gallon in Syracuse.
Parking garages are plentifully available in Albany and drivers should have no issue finding spots in them. Additionally, parallel streetside parking is highly available throughout the city. In general, drivers will find that streetside parking is predominantly popular in the less dense urban areas and peripheral residential areas of Albany.
Finding the right price, understanding the add-ons and staying up to date with policy changes can be a challenge. That’s why KAYAK has produced the ultimate guide to renting a car to help you cut though the jargon and make the right choice for your rental car. Find tips and insights for how to book your rental, what car rental insurance you’ll need, how to deal with a car rental agency and what extra fees to expect (and avoid!).