If you are someone who travels a great deal then perhaps it is time you considered budget car rental; being able to step out of the hotel room with a car ready and waiting at any time, can't be beaten! But with today's competitive market, I wouldn't be surprised that when trying to rent a car you can end up renting a car that sounds like lawnmower instead.
OK, so I may be exaggerating a little but it is something you have to look out for because the last thing you want is to have a car that is not going to be of any use.
So, just to help with your rental car experience, I have made a written down a few pointers to help.
If the type of car you want to drive is of no real concern to you, use a budget car rental web site that allows you to dictate your own price level.
These companies will try and get you the best deal available and often offer other upgrades or incentives to get your custom.
When you look, pay attention to the fly-drive packages as they will often discount car rentals although the airlines are not so accommodating.
Most people landing at an airport rush off to the car rental counters not realizing that these are not the most cost efficient places to rent a car and it is the same for their online business as well.
Budget car rental is now a growing area of online car rental so do not let the low prices put you off.
In fact many car rental web sites will only give a discount if you book online with them.
Besides, apart from upgrades, special offers are nearly always available if you look around.
Another thing to consider is the ease with which you can rent a car without leaving the comfort of your house.
Don't forget to ask for any special offers if you are making a booking over the phone because if you do not ask, you are less likely to be given a discount and you may even find your credit card company has incentives with particular budget car rental agencies.
Perhaps your frequent flyer program or military service can help reduce the cost of renting a car; it's a long shot but it's worth a try.
You would be wise to inspect your rental car before you drive off as you may find minor collision damage from previous renters which you do not want to pay for when you return.
To ensure you do not end up paying for any problems the car may have, including lights, horn etc.
that don't work, it is a good idea to also check these before you drive away.
More often than not your existing vehicle policy will cover the rental car insurance needed but it is always best to check first.
Although the rental car insurance isn't going to be costly, there is no point in paying out twice if your current auto insurance will cover you; even though it may not seem important, driving without auto insurance can land you in a ton of trouble.
Whatever the case, you must still have insurance cover when you rent a car so don't try and skip it to save money.