Industry executives use niche marketing to target those most likely to rent cars, most notably businessmen/women and leisure travelers. The first place to look for a discount is your own employer. Companies that use rental cars for their employee business travel often sign special deals, which sometimes extend to leisure rentals if you are an employee of that company.
The second place to look is auto travel clubs, like the American Automobile Association (AAA). The major rental firms all have deals that compete for these known auto travelers. If 50 or older, check out the AARP for membership information. You do not have to be retired to join or take advantage of the special and substantive deals. Alumni associations also may have signed agreements to offer members discounts. Don't forget that Entertainment Book purchased to support a local charity. A travel section is full of car rental discount coupons.
As incentives to use a particular credit card, take note of special brochures that come in the mail. They may include a discount. In addition, if you have previously rented a car, watch for follow-up emails from the car rental company itself that will promote repeat business by offering a deal. Internet travel discounters like Travelocity and Orbitz are constantly in touch with rental companies, and as demand goes up and down, and are able to offer pricing often well below other sources. Another option is to search the Internet using the name of the city and "car rental." While the majors will all display their contacts, the advantage is that local, relatively unknown companies will also appear. They may offer pricing well below the competition. At last resort, it can be beneficial to call the actual rental location, whether it is a major or locally-based rental company. They may have a last minute deal not listed on the website. This call can be especially useful if looking for a one-way rental.
Many discounts apply to even one day of rental, such as those offered via travel auto clubs, associations and Internet travel agencies. These can take the form of a 5 percent or 10 percent discount off the daily rate, or in the case of Internet agencies, a non-published rate. But the bigger discounts require a longer rental, and may require a Saturday night stay. These leisure-targeted rentals often provide a free day (or days) in exchange for a minimum rental period. Car upgrades are also featured--for example, a full-sized model for a mid-sized price.
