Looking for the cheapest car rental deals? Finding a cheap car rental is sometimes a matter of knowing where to look or who to talk to. Here are some tips that should help you get the best car rental deals.





Don't Rent from the Airport
Some might think that because an airport deals with high volume that the car rentals are more inexpensive there. This isn't true. People that rent there pay more because the car rentals are open later at night or earlier in the morning. In fact, prices are almost non-negotiable unless you have a discount coupon. If you want to find cheap car rental deals, go to a car rental place away from the airport.Some Places Allow You To Bargain
Places like Enterprise Rent a Car train their associates to bargain or negotiate with customers in order to book more deals. It's better for their bottom line to have cars rented out than to have it sitting on a lot. Your chances to bargain are on the phon... [more]

Choosing a Vehicle
Think carefully about what kind of vehicle you'll need. If you're traveling with children or with a lot of gear, you may want a large sedan or SUV. If you're simply looking to save money on rental rates and gas, you'll want to reserve the smallest available model.
 
But size isn't the only factor. Looking for something environmentally friendly? Check out our Green Travel Resources. Can't drive a stick shift? Be sure to reserve a car with automatic transmission. (In many countries, a manual transmission is the norm -- so read the fine print before booking. Learn more in Renting a Car Abroad.) Also, be sure that the company offers any extras you might need or want, such as a ski rack, car seat or GPS system.
 
Booking Your Car
How long will you be renting? If it's for less than a week, you'll probably do best with a major rental company, such as Alamo, Avis, Budget, Dollar, Enterprise, Hertz, National or Thrifty. For rentals of a... [more]

Knowing how to get a low cost car rental can help stretch hard earned dollars in a tight economy, and it plays a large role to preserve funds for other activities when traveling. Not all rates on car rentals are the same, and even a wise consumer can be surprised to find hidden fees when the final billing statement is delivered. The first and most important step to get a low cost car rental is to read and understand the fine print on the rental agreement in order to know what is included in the base price and what is deemed by the car rental agency to be an "extra" service. Nearly all of the larger national car rental agencies do a very good job in  presenting this information openly, and those that do not should absolutely be avoided.





The most basic aspect of how to get a low cost car rental is to comparison shop aggressively via the telephone or internet prior to making a rental commitment. This single action will g... [more]