How to Locate the Lowest Car Rental Rates
By Chris Joseph
Renting a car may well be a part of your golf vacation. Considerations include the size of the vehicle, as well as the cost. Since rental prices can vary greatly from company to company, it is beneficial to take some time to look around to locate the best deal. Promotions and discounts are plentiful and can change quickly, so it can be smart to make use of a variety of methods in your search.
Instructions
Difficulty: Moderately Easy
Check with more than one car rental company. According to CBSNews.com, rates between companies can vary by as much as 25 percent in the same location. Make use of the Internet to get quotes from a variety of companies. Also be sure there will be no problem getting the type of vehicle you want when you want it, so that you are not the victim of a last-minute switch.
Make use of care rental coupons and codes. By joining an auto or travel club such as AAA, you can gain access to money-saving coupons on a regular basis. You can also access special codes used by companies to provide discounts. These can be found by visiting http://www.best-car-rental-tips.com/discount-codes.html. Web sites of rental car companies may also have coupons available.
Ask for an upgrade at the rental counter. In some cases, rental car companies may give you a larger car for the same price as your original rental just by asking. If you book your car several weeks in advance, be sure to check back once a week to see if the company has lowered its rates. If so, you should be able to cancel your reservation and rent at the reduced rate.
Wait until the last minute to rent. While this may be somewhat risky, since the availability of vehicles is not guaranteed, some rental companies will offer promotions that last for a short period of time with little advance notice. The only way to locate these promotions is to constantly monitor the rental companies' Web sites right up until the time you depart on your trip.
Look for specialized discounts. If you are a senior citizen, for example, some companies will offer you an age-based discount, especially if you belong to an organization like AARP. Others may provide a family discount by reducing the price on family-type vehicles like minivans or SUVs, as well as discounts on child safety seats.
About The Author
Chris Joseph is a freelance writer residing in Pennsylvania. He has written hundreds of articles for newspapers and the Internet on a variety of topics, including several on golf for GolfLink.com. He holds a Bachelor of Science degree in marketing from York College of Pennsylvania.
