How to Rent a Car

Renting a car is easy. People rent cars from local car rental agencies or national car rental chains like Hertz, Avis, Budget, Enterprise and Alamo.

Anyone interested in renting a car should use Superpages.com to find rental car companies in the area where they’ll be traveling. Call for price quotes. Remember to compare “apples-to-apples.” Ask about any additional fees, service charges and insurance. Keep in mind, renting a car from within an airport may be more expensive than going to a neighborhood rental car agency. It may cost less to take public transportation to an off-site pick-up location.

Don’t forget to ask about sales, membership discounts from associations like AAA or AARP, and frequent member clubs. Often, membership in customer loyalty programs is free and offers perks like Express pick-up and drop-off and free upgrades.

Know the different classes of rental car before making a selection. Midsize and full-size vehicles are the most popular choices. Book early to ensure your preferred class of vehicle. Remember, a reservation only guarantees your price – not the class or make and model of vehicle.

Once you’ve selected a rental car agency, you’ll probably need a major credit card to reserve the car. The rental car agency won’t put any charges on the card until you pick up the vehicle. Ask how far in advance you’ll need to cancel a reservation without incurring any charges.

Write down your reservation number. When you arrive at the counter to pick up the vehicle, make sure you have:

• Driver’s license
• Credit card
• Any coupons or membership cards required for discounts
• Reservation number

When you pick up the car, inspect it closely for any signs of damage, dents or dings. Have the clerk record any damage. Take note of how much gas is in the tank; you’ll need to return it with the same amount or pay a re-fueling charge.

Questions to Ask

• Does the car have mileage and/or regional limitations? Can I take it into a different state and back? Is there a limit on the number of miles I can drive before additional charges apply?
• Are there penalties or charges for dropping off the car in a different location than where I picked it up?

Keep in Mind…

Many rental car agencies have minimum and maximum age restrictions of 25 and 75, respectively. These ages may vary – by how much depends upon the agency.

In most cases, a major credit card is required to rent a car. Some smaller, local agencies may permit a cash deposit in lieu of a credit card.