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How to Save Money on Car Rentals

By Amy Nutt

Are you going on an important personal or business trip? Want to drive there, but don't want to rack up the mileage and put more wear and tear on the family car? Then at this very moment, you are probably worrying about the cost of renting a car. But you don't need to worry - there are many ways you can save money on car rentals. Read on to find out how.



Decide what size vehicle you really need. If you are traveling on your own, there's a good chance that you can get away with renting a subcompact car for your trip. That's generally the most cost-efficient way to go because the rental and the gas will be cheaper. However, if you will be traveling with a family or co-workers, comfort will be of importance so you will most likely want to upgrade to a mid-size car that can handle the demands of your passengers and ensure a safe comfortable ride to your destination.



Get quotes and ask about specials. Before you decide from what company you plan to rent the car from, get out your local yellow page listings or get online to find the best deals. Then locate a phone number and make a telephone call to get price quotes. Oftentimes, if you explain the reason for your trip and that you are calling around to other companies for quotes, each company will try to under-quote their competitors in order to get your business. Customer service agents do their best to get you to rent from them so be sure and take advantage of this by speaking with a live person first.



Ask if the rental club checks driving records. Many consumers do not know this, but when you give the rental company a copy of your driver's license and sign the rental agreement and release, you are giving the rental company the right to check your driving record through the DMV. Many rental companies can increase the rental price or refuse to rent you a vehicle if you have multiple tickets or accidents appearing on your driving record. So be sure to ask about this before signing anything.



Learn more about hidden fees and extra insurance. When renting a vehicle from a car rental company, they each will assess small fees to increase the rental rate. Fees like vehicle refueling charges, cleaning fees, late return fees, and extra insurance can really rack up. In many cases, if you have your own insurance policy for your own cars, your insurance carrier will cover your rental vehicle for no additional cost to you for liability and collision. You do not have to purchase the additional insurance that car rental companies sell- these policies are often grossly over-inflated and useless.



Check with your company for corporate rates. If you are traveling for business purposes, the best thing to do is check with your corporate travel or human resource department to see if your company is eligible for any corporate rates with rental companies. Oftentimes, they will be able to provide you with a special code to use or a contact that will allow you to rent a car for a reduced price. You can hold onto this code and use it later for personal use if you wish and save even more.



Join a club. That's right, if you want to save money join a travel club like AAA or AARP. The memberships cost very little, but the savings you will realize on car rentals, hotels and other travel amenities over time will be well worth it. Many club members save as much as 50% of their travel costs, including car rentals.



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