Car Rental Savvy

Car Rental Savvy:

Is Your Company Losing Money When You Rent a Car?

Tip! If you've ever watched people at the rental car counter, you know these are questions that most people struggle with. Sometimes you can decline additional insurance on car rentals, but there are specific instances that you should always buy the insurance.

OK, I admit it. When traveling on the corporate card I couldn't care less what color desk I wound up at. I just pulled out the card and handed it to the person behind the car rental counter that had the shortest line at the airport.

But when I started paying for my own travel, I came to my senses. Wow! Car rental really costs!

Each year millions of Americans take a business trip. For those businesses trips, many people may need to rent a car. If you are planning a business trip there are a number of quality auto rental companies to choose from. But you don't have to let them take you for everything you've got. Know what you need before you step up to the counter.

There are a lot of discounts for government and corporate travelers. These discounts are available from rental car agencies by filling out online business renter applications. To qualify, you may need to provide company name, tax number and number of qualifying employees. Many of these corporate discounts are convenient for companies of any size. Additionally, savings are available for the business traveler through collaboration with leading and discount airline carriers.

By renting from some companies, you can get frequent flier miles on many air carriers. In addition, many car rental companies also offer discounts to air passengers when they present en route tickets from participating airlines. These specials can save you $10, $15 or $20 on your car's rental. As you may find out, there are some restrictions, perhaps including a minimum number of days rental, on some of these offers.

Tip! 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.

Airline employees, the military, AAA, AARP and senior citizens also can get special rental rates. Other companies, such as Rent-A-Wreck, offer downloadable online coupons featuring substantial savings with reduced rates for characteristic cars, trucks or SUVs.

Another way to realize savings is by searching online for Internet specials. You can sometimes save significantly by booking in advance online. Some companies have weekly rates that will save you considerably when you book your rental on their web site. Frequent renters discounts also merit mentioning. With frequent renters discounts, the more you rent the more you save.

Another way the buyer can benefit from special online deals is though upgrades. This gives you the opportunity to enjoy a nicer or larger auto at the same price of the lesser car you reserved.

From discounts and coupons to companies that specialize in low rates, opportunities for great rates can be found with good old-fashioned comparison shopping.

Tip! One of the biggest areas of confusion is the Collision Damage Waiver (CDW) offered by the car rental company at the time of rental. It covers damage to the rental car if you are involved in an accident.

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 car rental discounts see http://rental-cars.brilliantbusinessmodel.com/. Be sure to get a free copy of the "Internet Marketer's Guide to Free Traffic" at http://www.aimbright.com/ebook.