In today's world of competitive marketing and cutthroat competition, a customer can't really predict whether the deal they are closing will benefit them or not. Most of us end up convincing our selves that we have done a good job of obtaining the best discount possible because it means we can relax and get on with the next thing on our agenda. Car rentals have seen a number of rises over recent years what with inflation and the ever increasing cost of gas; getting the best offer here can be tricky but if you follow these suggestions you should come out on top and obtain cheap car rental.

Always use the internet to reserve you car if at all possible. You could go along to the car rental office or use the phone but the internet booking sites are almost always able to offer a discount unavailable elsewhere. The aim is to try and get everything you can for less money with you cheap car rental.

By filling up with the cheapest gas you will save yourself quite a few dollars when you return it to the drop off point. You can guarantee to save a great deal more money than by letting them fill it up at their prices which are usually much higher per gallon. Loyalty discounts are almost always available to returning customers at car rental companies so try and find one you like and stay with them.

Why not see if the rental company accepts air miles as a form of discount on the normal car rental costs. This is especially useful when your flyer's miles is about to expire, instead of just letting it go to waste, get a cheap car rental for it. All companies like customers to book early, no matter what it is for and car rental companies often provide a further discount if you reserve your car from them as early as possible.

To get your rental cheaper, pick up your car early in the morning, just as the shop is opening, so that there will be a shortage on the cheap car rentals, at this point, the renters may give you a free upgrade. More discounts are available if you are booking a flight or hotel, possibly both, when the car rental company has an affiliation or may be owned by a hotel group; there may even be further discounts if they deal with particular airlines as well. To get a car rental at your own price, find rent-at-your-own-price internet sites that look for the best possible deal with the budget that you've given them.

Before you commit yourself to any deal that is offered, check their reliability and make sure the same car isn't available elsewhere at a lower price. If you intend to keep the vehicle for more than five days see if the company gives a discount for the sixth and seventh days which is generally the case with the company you finally decide to use. As a final piece of advice, if the option to collect the car from the car rental company's offices is available as opposed to the airport then pick up the car there as you will often be charged more for airport collections.