Cheap Textbook Rentals | Your Ultimate Guide

One of the highest college expense items students are left with long after the semester has ended is the textbooks, that is, if anyone is surprised. New textbooks come in around $50 to $200 or more, depending on their subject matter. What would happen if students could get those textbooks for class without the added expense?

The answer can be found in textbook rentals. Instead of purchasing texts, you can rent them, saving up to 80% on the purchase of new books. Here is an article on how to find a cheap textbook rental service, outlining its merits and some tips on how to get the best deal.

Why Rent Textbooks? The Benefits of Renting Over Buying

Before we go into where to get cheap textbook rentals, let’s explore a little more on why textbook renting can sometimes be such a financially savvy decision:

• Savings: If you were going to rent textbooks you would most probably save money up to 80% from what it would cost you if you buy a new book. Since most textbook usage spans for only one semester, then renting means you will get the books without any long-term investments.
• No Need to Resell: When you purchase texts, you then have the hassles of trying to resell them at the end of the term for probably a fraction of what you paid. With textbook rental, there is no need for you to resell the book since you will simply return them after the term.
• Convenience: It’s easy and convenient to rent textbooks. Most of these online services have free shipping either on delivery or for returning the book. Also, the renting period is flexible according to your class schedule—you may only need the book for a couple of weeks or all semester.
• Environmental Impact: Renting textbooks will not produce waste; instead, books are reused by several students rather than using the life span of one book and discarding it; therefore, fewer new prints are needed.

Sites for the Best Online Textbook Rentals Need to save money on renting a textbook? 

Here are some websites from which you could pick up books at literally dirt cheap prices and enjoy smooth services. These are among the best choices.

Chegg

Chegg is one of the most used websites for textbook rentals, and that’s no coincidence:

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It provides price competitiveness, wherein you can even save from 90% of your textbooks if you rent instead of buying new.

• Free Shipping: Its delivery and return of rentals come free.
• Rent for a semester or shorter periods if possible: You may also rent textbooks for the whole semester, but in case you needed them for a shorter period, then you could make necessary arrangements.
• Subscription Discounts: Through Chegg, there’s a subscription that will help you save even more on study materials, including homework help and practice exams.

Amazon Textbook Rentals

Amazon boasts one of the greatest selections of textbook rentals, and its service includes:

• Low Prices: Amazon’s rental prices are normally significantly marked down, sometimes falling to 80% of the new book retail price.
• Free Returns: Amazon offers free return shipping via prepaid shipping labels on rented textbooks-an easy process.
• Prime Shipping: If you’re an Amazon Prime member, you may be eligible for free two-day shipping on textbook rentals.
• E-textbooks: Amazon also rents e-books and tends to be less expensive than renting books

BookRenter

BookRenter is another great option for students looking to save money on textbooks:

• Affordable Rentals: BookRenter can be able to offer rentals at as low as 80 percent off the price of a new book.
• Free Return Shipping: Finally, BookRenter has a pre-paid shipping label to make return shipping a breeze .
• Price Match Guarantee: If you find the rental cheaper elsewhere, BookRenter matches the price so you can enjoy the lowest rental.
• Huge Inventory: This site hosts an enormous collection of textbooks from all kinds of subjects.

Barnes & Noble College Textbook Rentals

Barnes & Noble textbook rentals are also from the same bookselling company; just the reliable textbook rental option

• Campus Availability: Many colleges have on-campus Barnes & Noble stores where you can rent textbooks in person, in addition to renting online.
• Competitive Prices: You can save up to 70% on textbook rentals.
• Flexible Rental Terms: Rent your textbooks for a semester or quarter, and if you need the book longer, you can often extend the rental.
• Free Shipping: Barnes & Noble offers free shipping for online rental orders.

RentText

Compared to the bigger rental stores, RentText is relatively cheaper, though not cheap;

They rent out their textbooks with discounts reaching up to 70% off the regular price.

• Free Return Shipping: Just like the other rental stores, they also have the principle of sending you a prepaid return label so you can return the book with the most convenience.
• Ebook Rentals: They also offer digital books which are relatively cheaper as compared to its physical counterpart.

How to Rent Textbooks

Renting textbooks is not complicated and does not take much of your time. It takes just a few easy steps, and here is how it works:

• Find Your Textbook

Locate your textbook by searching for it on rental sites, such as Chegg, Amazon, or BookRenter. You can search the textbook by title, author, or even ISBN – the unique identification number given to every book.

• Compare Prices

Once you find your textbook, compare your rental prices for the website to what can be found on other websites. The rental price is usually different by a few cents on each website, and it is typically more expensive if the book is in demand.

• Choose Your Rental Period

Most textbook rental services offer several options, starting from a few weeks up to the entire semester. Select the period of rental that best matches your class schedule. If you only need it for a shorter period, you may use some services to rent the textbook for just a few weeks.

• Place Your Order

You then select a textbook and rental term to place your order. Most companies will accept credit or debit cards, and you’ll be required to provide shipping details.

• The Book

Once your order is processed, your rental textbook will be shipped to you. For the most part, many companies offer free shipping on rentals, although expedited shipping options are normally available for an extra fee.

• Return the Book

To return the textbook, at the end of the semester or rental period, simply send it back via return shipping with a prepaid label from the rental company. Return the book early in the return period to avoid late fees.

How to Find the Best Deals for Cheap Textbook Rentals

To find the best deals, remember these tips:

• Order Early

Textbooks are usually in high demand early in the semester, so it is beautiful to order textbooks as early as possible. By doing this, you come to know that the books you would like to rent are available and also get the best deal at prices.

• Compare Prices

Never settle for the first price you come across. Take some time to compare prices through various rental websites for a good bargain. Some websites may have discounts or deals that others do not.

• Rent Digital Versions

If you have no problem reading from your screen, consider renting digital textbooks. E-books are usually less expensive than renting in physical copies and can be delivered instantly.

• Coupons and Promo Codes

Check for promo codes and coupons to help cut the cost of textbook rentals. Some services offer seasonal sales and first-time customer discounts.

• Return Your Books in Good Condition

In case you return damaged books, you will be charged some extra fees. So, take proper care of your rented texts to avoid extra charges.

What Do I Do If My Book Is Not Available for Rent?

Sometimes, the textbook you are looking for is unavailable for rent, or you cannot find one within your budget. Here are some other alternatives:

• Buy Used: If you can’t rent it, then you would want to consider buying a used book. You can find cheaper, used ones than buying a new book. You can find a lot of them on-line or at campus bookstores.
• Check Out Ebooks: Many texts are book copies, and you can often rent or purchase books digitally for lower costs than you would for traditional physical books.

Ask a Professor or Classmate if They Have a Copy They’d Be Willing to Let You Use: Since many students buy just one textbook, it’s likely that some professors or classmates might have a spare to lend. Even your campus library can help-out with lending programs for books.

Conclusion

Cheap textbook rentals is quite economical when you really need the book to complete your class. Some rental services are very good compared to others, and with reasonable tips on selection, you can save more than half of what you paid for your textbooks. Renting either physical books or digital books makes textbook rentals a very easy and affordable solution to one of the biggest financial headaches of college life.