Find out if you already qualify for members-only discounts. See if you can get savings through your employer, credit card company, Costco, AAA, AARP or your credit union.
Find out if your airline, timeshare or hotel offers discounts with selected car rental companies.
Search car rental ads in newspaper travel sections and magazines for discounts or free upgrades.
Browse Expedia, Priceline, Travelocity, Orbitz and other travel websites to compare prices. You can also check out BreezeNet or SideStep's websites for rate comparisons and last-minute deals.
Visit car rental company websites, and join their free loyalty clubs. Even if you don't rent from them now, you never know when you might get a good deal at a later date.
Enter promotional code numbers, if any, into the required fields on their websites.
Contact your insurance and/or credit card companies and find out if you already have coverage for car rentals. The rental company's insurance, Collision Damage Waivers and Loss Damage Waivers may not be necessary.
Reserve your car before you leave home instead of when you arrive at the airport, and then take the complimentary shuttle to a nearby rental agency. It's worth the savings if you don't mind a few minutes of inconvenience. Do this, and you can avoid paying some of the additional taxes and surcharges that only apply if you rent from the airport's rental car counter.
Reserve the cheapest car on the list. Car rental companies typically run out of economy cars first, and they have no choice but automatically upgrade you to the higher priced model at no extra cost. However, this may not apply at major airports with larger inventories.
Time is money. When it comes to car rentals, a "weekly rate" is from five to seven days. Pay attention to your contract's agreed-upon pick up and drop off times. If you keep the car longer than expected, you will be charged a lot extra.
Check for dings, scratches and other damage and make sure the rental agent notes them on the form before you sign.
Look for ways to save fuel. Fill the tank at a cheaper gas station nearby just before you drop off the car. Or try to rent something a little more energy-efficient like a hybrid, diesel power or a manual transmission vehicle.
