In the majority of situations, you’re best off sticking with one of these agencies, as they are the most widely used and reputable: Advantage, Alamo, Avis, Budget, Dollar, Enterprise, Hertz, National. [2] X Research source Before you decide on an agency, look into and/or ask about their additional fees. These fees can change what agency provides the best deal all things considered. Some common fees include: Underage-driver fees: Additional charge for a driver under 25. Airport surcharges: Additional charge for picking up a rental at the airport. Mileage fees: Additional charges for going over a certain miles per day cap. Additional driver fees: Additional charges for having more than one person drive the rental. Want to save a little money on your trip? Check out wikiHow’s coupon pages for Enterprise Car Rental, Hotels. com, Hotwire, Booking. com, Travelocity, Expedia, and TripAdvisor to scope out the potential savings.

In most cases, you’ll be much better off financially by providing these kind of extras yourself, instead of renting them. Avoid extra features unless you absolutely need them and can’t provide them yourself. [3] X Research source

Make sure to include the cost of insurance in your total. [4] X Research source Expect to pay for insurance and other upgrades on a daily basis. For example, collision insurance might cost you $9 per day of your rental. It’s often recommended to pay with a credit card when possible. Credit card companies will often cover some of your insurance, which makes using a credit card in this instance a smart option for many. [5] X Research source

Find out if the rental car company will pick you up. Call and ask about this service. Local car rentals can sometimes be arranged so that a customer service representative will pick you up at home or work and drive you to the rental car company to get your car.

Also be aware that some agencies will even charge a fee for returning the car too early. Once again, it’s best to ask for their policy regarding this sometime before the time comes to return the car. Fill the car with gas and make sure to return it in pristine condition, cleaning it out before you hand over the keys.