Whether you're planning a road trip or need to rent a car when you land in your destination, there is no reason to pay outrageous daily rates for your rental. There are plenty of deals to be had this year, and knowing the right tips can help you score the best of the best. Plus, gas prices are pretty unpredictable this year, so it's even more important for travelers try to save as much as they can on the rental to help offset what's happening at the pump.
How to save on car rentals:
Reserve now, and shop opaque later. One tip to get the best deal on car rentals is to find a great retail rate now and reserve it. However, as you get closer to your travel date be sure to check sites like Hotwire.com to see if any last-minute, discounted rates have become available. If there are better options, you can always cancel your original reservation (which is free to do) and book the discounted rate. Like hotels and airlines, car rental agencies often have plenty of cars left unsold and offer them to sites like Hotwire.com to sell at incredibly low prices -- as little as $11.95 a day.Consider smaller agencies that have more flexibility with pricing. By searching on car aggregator sites like CarRentals.com you not only see the prices of the bigger agencies, but you also get results from smaller companies such as Fox, USave and Payless. Sometimes these agencies can net you some big savings because they have to be more competitive with prices to draw business away from the big guys. However, with a smaller fleet of cars, these deals can disappear quickly, especially during high-demand times.
Check out off-airport rental locations. Airport fees and taxes in some locations can really drive up the final price of your car rental, so it's best to shop both on and off-airport locations in order to see where the low prices really are after you total up the costs.
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