Cheap Auto Rental: How to Get A Discount Rate

More and more, cheap auto rentals are becoming less about paying less for the same car rental, but paying less and receiving a car that is also worth less. Many discount car rentals companies are renting out cars that are of very low quality and badly maintained. Good discount car rentals are becoming increasingly hard to come by. This article lists several tips that you can follow in order to find the best cheap auto rental deals available so you get the most value for your money.

1. Car rental companies will charge you for gas if you return your car without a full tank of gas, and the prices they charge are much higher than the prices at local gas stations. In order to save money, you should fill the tank of your rented car just before you return with the cheapest gas you can find so that you can avoid being charged high prices for gas.

2. When you reserve your rental car, you should do so early, as many car rental companies offer discounts or free upgrades if you reserve your car early.

3. Many car rental companies also offer discounts to customers who rent cars for more than five days so if you are going to be using your rental car for more than five days, make sure you check with your rental company to see if they have cheaper weekly rates.

4. Check with your local travel agency if they offer discounted packages that include car rentals, airfare and accommodations. Many travel agencies and hotels offer car rentals and lodging as packages at a discount, making it real value for money.

5. If you have frequent flyer miles that are about to expire, you should use them at car rental companies that accept frequent flyer miles in exchange for discounts on car rentals, since you probably will not use your frequent flyer miles before they expire anyway.

6. You can also search for online websites that allow you to specify your budget for your car rental. The website will then find out which companies have the biggest discounts on car rentals and which rentals in particular fit your budget. You should, of course, take precautions to ensure that the company is reliable and trustworthy before you give them your credit card number in order to reserve your rental car.

7. If you are a frequent customer at a particular car rental firm, you should ask them for a frequent customer discount, which many firms often give.

8. You can also get discounts by reserving your cheap auto rental through the internet, as many companies offer discounts that are only valid with internet bookings. You should also search for the firm that offers the largest discount for internet bookings.

9. On the day that you pick up your rental car, you should go just as the shop you are using is opening, as they will likely experience a shortage of economy cars and have no choice but to upgrade you to a better car for free.