Top 10 Ways to Get the Best Car Rental Rate

Renting a car is a popular choice for business travelers and vacationing families alike. Most consumers enjoy saving money, and seeking out the best car rental rate is no different. These ideas will help you in your search.

1. Comparing daily rates at every possible agency in the vicinity will help you find the best deal on the car that you need. Rates can differ by as much as $50 or $100 per day between agencies and even between branches of the same franchise.
2. It's often best to rent from an agency in a small town or on the outskirts of a metropolitan area. The busier agencies in big cities and at airports may charge twice as much as their smaller competitors.
3. Booking a rental well in advance can save costs as some agencies offer 'early bird' discounts. This type of discount may require you to pay in full up front, however.
4. Coupons and advertised discounts may be found in major newspapers and travel magazines. Websites for the agencies themselves and for tourist destinations may offer discount codes as well.
5. Membership groups, like warehouse and automobile clubs, often partner with car rental agencies to offer discounts and special coupons to their members. If you plan to rent vehicles frequently, it may be beneficial to join one of these clubs just for the rental discounts.
6. Some car rental agencies offer their own member clubs for frequent renters. The terms will vary between agencies, of course, and may be free to join or may require an annual fee. Whatever the case, these programs are worth looking into.
7. Smaller vehicles always rent for less than larger ones, and it's always a cost savings to choose the smallest car that will suit your needs. If you reserve a small vehicle but only larger ones are available at the lot when you arrive, most agencies will allow you to take a larger car at no additional charge.
8. If anyone under age 21 will be driving the rented vehicle, it's important to ask each agency if there is an extra fee for underage drivers.
9. Weekly rentals normally cost less than weekend or partial-week rentals. An agency's website should explain any discounts or free days given for longer rentals.
10. All car rental agencies offer insurance against accidental damage to the vehicle, but you may not actually need to purchase this coverage. If you have your own auto policy, it probably covers a rented vehicle. If you pay for the rental using a credit card, automatic damage coverage may be supplied by the credit card company.