Browse some of the major car rental websites before traveling (Avis, Hertz, Enterprise or Alamo). The rental price may vary depending on what part of the country you are traveling to (and some rental agencies may not be in the area).
Type in the dates and time that you need your car for. Weekend rates are typically higher than weekday rates, so if there is any way you can bypass the weekend, do it.
Select "Small Car" or "Economy Car" as your rental. These are smaller cars and are typically the cheapest cars you can rent from the companies.
Browse the cars in the listing. There are usually going to be a few different kinds you can select from. On the websites, the gas mileage is often displayed. If you plan on driving a great deal, it is a good idea to select the car with the best mileage.
Decide how much driving you are actually going to be doing. If you only need the car to drive from your hotel to a conference site that is just a few miles down the road, select the standard day fare where the mileage isn't included. This rental type is typically the cheapest upfront amount you can select, but you do pay extra per mile you drive. Because you aren't driving that much, the price is not going to be much more. However, if you are planning on driving a good amount, select the plan that has included mileage. This is going to be more expensive up front, but if you selected the other option, you could end up paying double or even triple the price of the included mileage plan.
Return the car with a full tank of gas when you are done with your rental. Many companies charge a fee for not filling up the tank.
