5 Useful Tips for Car Rental

With the car rental industry has grown by leaps and bounds, more and more people would like to rent cars mainly for the purpose of vacation. We've draw a list  designed to help make your car-rental experience as easy as possible for your family.

tips1. Surf the Net.
You'll usually find the best rates on the Internet. Shop around. Many companies offer special discounts to people who rent online. Rates will obviously vary from company to company, depending on vehicle availability, location and other factors. But rates aren't the only variable to consider. Consider hours of operation, for example; some companies may close earlier on weekends. Depending on your schedule, this might be a crucial issue for you.

Tips2. Weekly does it.
Do you know weekly rates are usually the best of all? At one company we surveyed, a subcompact went for a weekday rate of $56.99. That same car could be rented on a weekly basis for just $252.99, a savings of more than 30 percent if you used the vehicle for all seven days, and more than 10 percent if you returned it after five days. If you plan on using the vehicle for five days or more, choose the weekly rate.

Tips3. Think twice about insurance.
When renting a car, you'll be offered a collision damage waiver (CDW) and a loss damage waiver (LDW). The first covers you in the event of a collision, while the second covers any loss to the rental company. Both kinds of coverage are a good idea, but not if they duplicate coverage already included in your own insurance policy. Most insurance policies offer liability coverage to protect you if you injure someone in an accident. Check your policy or call your insurance agent to verify coverage before signing up for a vehicle.

Tips4. Book it early.
It's not just a cliché; the early bird really does get the worm, and he usually gets it much cheaper than everyone else. Rates depend on how many vehicles the company has on the lot at the time the rental is made, so sooner is better. Reserve your car at least a week in advance. You can pay for a full tank of gas in advance and bring the vehicle back empty (or less than full, or you can opt to refuel it yourself just before returning it.

Tips5. Take care of kids.
Traveling with a little one, you can save yourself some coin by bringing your own child safety seat, which rental company charged almost $10 per day. Obviously, this can tack a significant amount onto your car rental expenses, so if you're able to, bring your own child safety seat.