Go to the rental agency's website and enter in the dates for which the car is needed. Car rentals are usually for a minimum of one day, or 24 hours. Some agencies offer discounts for booking a rental for long periods of time, and some even offer a lower monthly rate.
Select the type of car you need. This will depend on how many people will be riding in the car and what it will be used for. For groups of four or fewer riders, an economy car might do fine. However, for a camping trip, book a sport utility vehicle or pickup truck. Many car rental companies also offer luxury cars for business-client trips.
Enter in contact info and driver's license information. Car rental companies require you to pay for the rental at the time of pickup, not necessarily when the car is being booked or reserved. You will need a credit card to rent a car--the company keeps the information so it can charge you for any damage to the car. Also, entering in additional information online ahead of time, such as your driver's license number and state, will save time when you are picking up the car.
Decide whether to get insurance. Check with your personal auto insurance provider--some companies cover you in case of an accident in a rented car. If you don't have a car or your insurance doesn't provide such coverage, you may need to consider getting insurance with the rental car. If you are renting it for an extended period of time (more than a week), it may be best to get insurance, since the longer you have the car, the greater the chance of an accident. Many types of policies are available.
Decide whether to add optional items. Many car rental companies now offer additional luxuries with their cars. These may include GPS devices, a donation to offset your greenhouse gas emissions and satellite radio. These options are usually available at the end of your online reservation, right before it is completed. A GPS device might be a great idea if you are going to be in an unfamiliar city.
