Start looking into rental car rates as early as possible. If you get off the plane and need to rent a car before you can leave the airport, the rental companies have you right where they want you. But if you look into the rates a few weeks before you travel, you'll have numerous options.
Use online websites that let you compare multiple rental companies. Different rates may be available for the same company on different websites. So don't settle for the first rates you find. However, it's often best to book the car through the company itself to save you from paying extra to a middle-man.
Ask about any extra fees regarding where you can drive the car and how much you can drive the car. Don't have the rental company include a full tank of gas for an extra fee, since it is usually cheaper for you to fill up the tank yourself.
Rent a small car whenever possible. Not only are they less expensive to rent, but they will be cheaper to fill up with gas too. If you are offered a free upgrade to a larger car, it is probably because they just have fewer small cars on the lot.
Check out your own insurance plan before you rent a car. Most plans will include car rentals so that you won't need to add on the rental company's insurance fee as an added cost.
Get a ride from a friend so you can use a rental car company outside of the airport. Car rental companies often increase their rates in areas where they know that business is going to be heavy. Many of the raised costs at airports are hidden as taxes and fees.
Rent the car for a full weekend or a full week. These are two ways to get the daily cost of the rental car lowered.
Return the car on time. Obviously, you'll be charged extra if you return it late. But you may also be charged extra for every day you return the car too early.
Become a member of the rental company that you frequently rent cars from. If you travel a lot, many companies will go out of their way to make sure you are getting better deals, often offering perks along the way.
