Most college students have experienced the huge blow to their wallet that comes from buying textbooks. In fact, the average student spends $638 per year on textbooks alone, according to a survey from the National Association of College Stores.
One of the most popular ways to save a significant amount of money on textbooks is to rent them. Renting a book gets you the book for a pre-determined amount of time, typically a semester, and comes with the caveat that you must return it in similar condition.
Based on Dealspotr’s research, here are the three best websites for renting textbooks. Add these sites to your shopping search in order to save some serious cash.
Textbooks.com has a selection of more than 10 million books, so chances are good they will have what you need. MoneySavingPro.com gives Textbooks.com its top rental site rating for its extensive selection and easy ordering system. Plus, the prices are very reasonable and can save you up to 90% off buying the book new.
Rental periods are set for one semester, meaning no matter when you rent the book, it will be due back at the same time at the end of the semester. It is possible to extend the rental period, but you need to contact Textbooks.com directly to explain your request. You’ll have to pay shipping to get the book to you, but return shipping is free once you’re done with the textbook.
One of the leaders in online textbook rentals, Chegg has years of experience and a huge selection of textbooks across subjects and levels.
Chegg’s search and order functions are both very simple and easy to use and make renting a book a simple experience. After placing your order, Chegg provides free online access to the textbook until your physical copy arrives in the mail. Return shipping at the end of your rental period is free, plus you have the opportunity to purchase your rented book at a discounted price.
The easy and free return policy is one of the reasons NBCNews.com said Chegg was one of the best rental companies. Chegg only rents books for the entire semester and not for shorter or longer time periods. Like other services, Chegg’s rental prices depend on factors like size and demand for the book, but you can save up to 90% off the ticket price of the book by renting instead of buying.
BookRenter.com has a huge selection of more than five million textbooks across nearly every college subject. One of the most unique aspects of the site is its no-questions-asked return policy, meaning you don’t have to worry about keeping your book in pristine condition during the rental period and can actually highlight and take notes in it.
Several customers on ResellerRatings.com have warned of bad customer service experiences when trying to return, however, so proceed with caution. The site has also had 245 complaints filed against it with the Better Business Bureau but still earned an A- rating.
Rental rates vary depending on how long you want the book and on the size, condition, edition, and demand of the book. When you’re done, you can return the book for free to one of the many affiliated stores across the country or send it back to the warehouse with a pre-paid shipping label. Shipping is free on rentals of $25 or more, but the site doesn’t offer international or overnight shipping.
MakeCollegeReality.com and Cheapism.com both praised the site for its low prices and free shipping. Those two factors make it worth considering despite some customer service concerns.
