New Alert for Car Renters: Watch those speeding and parking tickets. New technology has made it easier for local governments to track speeding and parking tickets, which may be billed to your rental car company and then passed along directly to you. You will be responsible for any tickets generated during your rental term. Drive Safely and obey the local laws of the road.
Check different types of cars as well-you may be surprised that a larger car may be more cost effective for you in the long run.
Check for a free upgrade. Before you reserve, check for coupon offers online.
Look at the bottom line! Be sure you look to see what the final price is...have you counted any extra days? Remember to factor in the extras—additional drivers, underage drivers, insurance requirements etc.
Not all cars come with unlimited miles-check before you go especially if you are planning a long trip- same is true for out of state driving. Be sure you are allowed take the car where you want to drive.
Check the return fuel requirements before you leave the rental counter--do you need to bring it back with a full tank? If so, and you don't bring it back with a full tank, you may pay a hefty surcharge.
One-way rentals may be hard to come by—check for specials or with regional companies if you can’t find what you want. Be sure to determine the drop-off charge for returning the car to a different location.
Book Ahead! Car rentals may sell out, especially in popular locations, in high seasons-such as Florida or Arizona in the winter.
10-Be a good sport—cancel your reservation if you don’t need it. It only takes a few seconds, and holds down costs for everyone in the long run.
Insider's car rental tip:
Did you know that car rental agencies are becoming more strict in the requirement to fill up the gas tank before returning the car rental?
As car rental companies consolidate and profit margins decline, rental car agencies are paying more attention to the stipulation that the gas tank be returned full. This is especially true as gas prices rise. It's a good idea to get a receipt from the gas station when you fill up the car before returning your car.