Budget Car Rental

When you’re heading across country with a few more than a crowd, it helps to have an auto you don’t have to shoehorn your friends into. Or maybe you need to haul more than a toothbrush and a change of underwear. That’s when you want a van, SUV or pickup truck instead of a Geo Metro.

Rental cars come in a wide variety of shapes, sizes, class and quality. You can get car rentals as sub-compacts, compacts, standard sizes, luxury, trucks and SUV. The variety available makes renting an option for individuals and families of any size.

Minivans, a favorite rental of families with children, generally have enough legroom to seat seven adults and assorted luggage. SUVs generally accommodate five adults and their assorted belongings.

When it comes to car rentals, more and more people are looking for a truck or SUV. Most companies offer their consumers a wide range of vehicles to choose from, but there is often a dramatic difference in the quality of the car rental size classes. And often there are significant differences in cost from one company to the next.

An analysis of rental car prices in the Denver area indicated that from company to company in alike locations prices on a SUV could vary up to 30% a day. These prices were from similar name-branded car rental locations.

So it will save you money to shop around and compare prices.

But don’t be fooled by looking at pictures of the vehicles online. While some online sites have pictures of their vehicles, that method of determining overall quality may be misleading. While you can determine the make and model of the car rental, there is, after all, no way to verify that the car pictured is the car you will receive.

Most vehicles are available at all times in the larger cities and airports depending on the time of day. Smaller city locations should be called twenty-four hours to forty-eight hours in advance to secure a rental car, SUV or van.

Most car rental companies these days have more than just cars to rent out. But not all will have trucks, SUVs, vans, recreational vehicles and exotic sports cars.

Choosing the car, truck, minivan or SUV perfectly suited to you, your family or group can require some diligence. When searching to find exactly the make, model and condition for your rental car, comparison shopping can save you a bundle. Checking out the car rental company for quality and maintenance can make your trip run smooth.

It’s always best to call the reservation line or the customer service center for information on a specific vehicle.

Karen Kirby has 25 years of experience in the computer industry, an MS in Computer Science, and a BA in Honors English. She has been helping people with Internet marketing since 1995. For more information on SUV and van rental see http://auto-rental.autopilotplus.com/ Be sure to get a free copy of the “Internet Marketer’s Guide to Free Traffic” at http://www.aimbright.com/ebook

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With so many car rental companies on the net, it’s easy to feel overwhelmed. Renting a car should not be dreaded.

When you use the Internet, it’s easy, fast and you’ll definitely find a cheap car rental. You’ll find discounts, and you completely by-pass the hassle of calling a car rental company, waiting on hold for an extended period of time, and then wondering if you got a good deal.

Online rental sites really can save you money when you’re in the market for a cheap car rental. Some offer coupons and special offers available to people reserving through their web sites.

On the Internet, you can find bargains like special weekend rates, cut-rate car rentals, package deals and frequent renter programs that offer a variety of cost savings. But many of these deals are subject to restrictions and may be limited in some locations. When looking for the best deals, it’s a good idea to verify the conditions before you plan your trip.

You may even qualify for a special discount on your car rental. Special rates for corporate, government, military, AARP, and AAA members are readily available over the Internet. An assortment of other regional and individual discounts include downloadable coupons and other Internet specials.

There are numerous car rental venues on the Internet. You can check out the websites of the individual car rental companies one at a time, or you can use a clearing-house-type of website to find the cheapest car rental available. Whichever online car rental avenue you decide to take, you will undoubtedly end up finding a great deal on a cheap rental car.

Making online car rental reservations is easy. Customarily, a renting reservation website will ask you for the city or airport from which you will be renting, the type of car rental you want (i.e., compact, mid-size, standard, full-size, minivan), the dates you’ll be renting, and the time you will pick up the car rental. You will also need to know the car rental drop off location, date and time. Make sure to keep in consideration the time you will need to be at the airport to catch a flight, usually about two hours before the scheduled departure time.

The renting reservation website will presumably also ask you a few questions about the name of the person who will be driving the car and possibly the age and gender of the driver. You may also have to choose whether or not you want to purchase insurance on the car, in case you are in an accident during the car rental period.

Finding a discount car rental has become a breeze using the Internet. Renting a car is so much easier and cheaper than it used to be in the days before the Internet. With the net, you can easily make reservations for a cheap car rental with minimal effort and very little time.

As with any car rental, make yourself aware of hidden fees. With some research and planning, you can avoid the fees that some car rental companies tack on that you won’t find out about until you go to pick up the car.

The bottom line is do your homework. Research different car rental companies and look for the best deal. Once you sign on, be sure to read your rental agreement carefully. Look for possible restrictions, details, and hidden costs.

Karen Kirby has 25 years of experience in the computer industry, an MS in Computer Science, and a BA in Honors English. She has been helping people with Internet marketing since 1995. For more information on Internet car rental deals see http://car-rentals.uaskit.com. Be sure to get a free copy of the “Internet Marketer’s Guide to Free Traffic” at http://www.aimbright.com/ebook.

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There are times in one’s life when the use of rental cars cannot be avoided. When someone plows into you at an intersection, when you are taking a 2-day trip and your compact car just does not have enough room to stretch out, these are times when you are happy that there are rental cars at your disposal. Before you rent that car, though, you should know some things about the process.

1- The first step involved in obtaining a rental car is to do research on the companies in your local area. There are a number of nation wide companies and more than likely local companies to choose from when conducting your research. Try to narrow them down to three or four companies that are closest to either your pick up location or your destination.

2- You will want to ask about procedures that may be required by the rental company. Many companies require that the car be fueled up before its return, if this is not done, they will charge you extra for it. It may also be in your best interest to ask what the fee would be if the car is needed for longer than expected as well as what the rate is for late drop off.

3- If you have personal auto insurance, call your agent to see if you are insured with a rental car as well. This will allow you to save money by turning down the insurance offered by the rental company at the time of vehicle pick up.

4- Finally, you have chosen the company and the car, its time to pick it up. Make sure that you have the paper work that you will need. Most companies will require you to show your drivers license, be sure to have it. Also, your proof of auto insurance, if you will be turning their insurance down. A major credit card is necessary; if you are not using cash to rent your car, do not count on them taking a check.

5- Be sure to read the contract and ask questions about anything that you do not understand. It’s better to take sometime at the counter or on the phone to pin down the details, than to think you got it and have to deal with the company in the event of an accident. Ask questions!

John Mancini writes about rental cars online and offline. You can read more about national car rental and alamo car rental on his websites.

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