Whether to buy or lease? This is the dilemma that confronts every automobile consumer: It is often difficult to determine whether you should pay to own, or, make monthly lease payments instead. Now, unfortunately, this is one of those common dilemmas to which there is no perfect answer. In truth, each option has its benefits and drawbacks, and it can depend on your particular set of financial and personal considerations.

For example, affordability is clearly a key consideration -- you should consider job stability, and the state of your general personal finances. For the most part, the short term monthly cost of leasing is much lower than the monthly payments when buying a car. When leasing, you largely only pay for "the portion" of the vehicle's cost that you consume during the time you drive it.

However, if you have some cash up front, you may be able to afford both the down payment and sales taxes on a car. Then, you may be able to get a loan and a good interest rate, so that you can buy the car. When you buy a vehicle, it effectively gives you ownership of it, and a certain degree of freedom that you don't have with a leased car or truck.

On the other hand, If you want to drive a luxury model, but are unable to afford the down payment and credit terms, you are a good candidate for a lease. Unlike purchasing, it affords you the option of not having to deliver a down payment. As well, your monthly payments will be more affordable for your budget.

Be wary, however, because leasing benefits come with a price to pay! For instance, terminating a lease ahead of time or defaulting on your monthly lease payments, can result in stiff financial penalties and ruin your credit. You must be certain that you have monthly lease payment that are within your budget for the foreseeable future.

Aside from financial considerations, your decision to buy or lease should be influenced by lifestyle choices and preferences. Think about whether you are the sort of person that bonds with a vehicle? Do you see yourself owning the same car for more than five years? Perhaps you would rather change cars often, and move from lease to lease? If you want to drive a car for more than fives years, it would probably pay to negotiate a deal carefully, and to buy the car.

Finally, consider carefully, your transportation requirements. How many miles or kilometres do you drive a year? How well do you generally maintain your cars? If your yearly mileage is high, for example, then you are probably better off buying a vehicle. If you only drive 12,000 to 15,000 miles a year, or 15,000 to 20,000 kilometres, yearly, then you are a good candidate for leasing. Otherwise, unless you can keep within the appointed mileage limits and maintain the car well, you might incur hefty end-of-lease costs.

If you have need for a car in a place where you are a new visitor, you may want to avail of a unit from a car rental service in the locality. These rental car tips might be useful for you as you move around to pursue your business in the area.

You should perhaps determine first where you intend to go during your stay. If you are not going too far away from the center of the city or town, it might be a more practical idea to use the taxicab service available in the locality. That way you will avoid the responsibility for the vehicle you are thinking of renting, plus the added advantage that you have a built-in guide for your trips around town in the person of the cab driver.

Using these cabs could be the more convenient way to move around town. You just go about doing your business in town without much hassle, and pay the cab driver as soon as the appropriate service for you is finished.

However, if you have added plans to go some distance away then you might want to bring your own vehicle, assuming of course that you know your way around. In case you are not so sure of your destination, see to it that you have at least a map of the place you intend to visit. Many car rental services have this information kits as part of their service to potential customers who would be renting their vehicles. The map will be your main guide as you move around, augmented maybe by information you can get by asking the people in the vicinity for the appropriate information and directions that you will need.

Make an extra effort to check thoroughly the condition of the car you are renting, especially if your destinations are far from the center of town or city from which you intend to start your trips. Get the help of the car rental personnel to make things easier for you in this preparation. They will certainly extend this assistance as part of their service to you. This is just to ensure your smooth trip when you go out of town.

Before leaving for your destination, it will be helpful that you have the phone numbers of the car rental service in case you have to contact them for any problem that may arise during your stay. If you have a cell phone with you, be sure also to let the car rental firm know how to get in touch with you, if needed.

Try to get the phone numbers of police and other law enforcement authorities in the area in case you need to contact them for any kind of assistance. It will be also good to have the phone numbers of hospitals around. It will definitely be for your own good that detailed information like this is in your hands prior to leaving on your out of town trip.

The rental car industry has seen a lot of changes over the years. One company that has been around since the beginning and been through many changes is Budget Rent A Car. As the name suggests, Budget's marketing over the years has been aimed at consumers who want to save money on a rental car. Budget Rent A Car has gone through its ups and downs but has maintained a good reputation in the rental industry. Here is a brief history of the company.

Morris Mirkin established Budget car rental in 1958 in Los Angeles, California. He started the business with an initial investment of only $10,000 and a fleet of only 10 vehicles. The only employees at the beginning were him and his wife. Rental rates were low at only four dollars per day and four cents a mile. These low rates attracted customers and supported the company's marketing campaign.

Due to the company's success but limited funds, Mirkin partnered with his relative, Jules Lederer in 1959. Lederer invested money to help the company grow and to create a leasing company. This enabled the company to establish itself and increase its car fleet. Just two years after starting Budget, Mirkin and Lederer formed Budget Rent A Car Corporation in Chicago, Illinois and the company started its rapid expansion. Budget quickly grew both nationally and internationally.

During the 60s and 70s, Budget kept focused on budget minded customers and the company grew rapidly in the leisure market; about 20 percent each year in these first two decades. It was during this time that Budget also moved most of its operation to the airport - a move that most rental companies were making to cater to the preference of customers. The marketing focus also grew to include smaller businesses and medium size corporate accounts.

As with many rental car companies, the 1980s were a difficult time and there was much restructuring in the industry. In 1986 the tax credit law was repealed for car rental companies; no longer could they be exempt on taxes for new car purchases. This signaled a restructuring of the company's management and also in 1986 the company was involved in a buyout.

During the 80s and 90s the company saw many ups and downs with changes in ownership and new acquisitions. Everything seemed to be going alright until 2002 when Budget Group Inc (the name since 1997) hit hard times and was de-listed. Its assets were sold and Budget was incorporated into the Avis Budget Group.

The Budget name and corporate identity is still maintained even with its turbulent past. Mirkin's vision has withstood growing pains and remains a big part of the rental industry.

Whether you're traveling for business or pleasure, there are many reasons to rent a car when you reach your destination. While public transportation will usually take you to major tourist attractions or to the centers of large cities, relying only on trains and buses can be time-consuming. After all, you are forced to travel according to the carriers' schedules, rather than having the freedom to come and go as you please.

Taxis, of course, are always an option - providing you don't want to travel too far off the beaten path. If you're on holiday in Spain, for example, and decide to venture over to the Spanish coast or countryside, a taxi is out of the question and public transportation won't take you where you want to go. Indeed, a car hire is the only way to ensure that you have the flexibility to see the sights on your own timetable and on your own terms.

For those who think that renting a car in another country will be impossible or cumbersome, it's time to think again. Not only is it easy to rent a car in European countries and the U.S., but it's actually easy to find discount car rentals.

The ground rules for a car hire are basically the same across all car rental companies. For example, you typically have to be 23 years old, have a valid driver's license, and have a credit card. When you reserve a car, you normally get to choose what class of vehicle you'd like, such as compact, mid-size, full-size, or a van. However, you don't usually have the opportunity to specify make and model. Nonetheless, most car rental agencies will accommodate your wishes if they have your preferred make and model available when you pick up the vehicle.

The choice of whether or not to purchase extra insurance can be made when you collect the rental car. Before you leave for your destination, it's important to check with your own car insurance agency and see if your coverage extends to rental cars in the country you'll be visiting. If not, it's a good idea to sign up for the extra coverage.

If you'll be traveling to several different countries, it's important to understand the regulations of the car rental agency as they pertain to crossing borders. If you're in Europe, for example, most car rental agencies will allow you to drive to other European countries - providing you inform them that you're going to do so and that you buy extra insurance. The same holds true for a car rental in the USA; with advance notice, many agencies will allow you to, for example, take the car to Canada.

With all of the advantages to using a car hire while you're traveling, the one sticking point is whether or not you'll be able to find a cheap car rental. The best approach is to search online for a company that works with many different car rental agencies; they will have up-to-date information on availability, and can search for the best price available for the dates you desire. Because these online sources book so many reservations, they are able to negotiate bargain basement prices so that a traveler can find the cheap car rental that will make their holiday or business trip convenient and worry-free.

Automobiles are key to the transportation of people throughout the world. They also cause congestion problems on the roadways and can be dangerous if not driven properly. Automobiles must be taken care of; serviced when needed and should always have enough full in the tank in the event of inclement weather. People need automobiles wherever they go. So, when people travel across country it is helpful to be able to use a car, even if it isn't their own. That is where car rental companies come into play. The car rental industry is a booming one within the United States and continues to grow as business travel grows.

Car rental companies can be found all across the country, easily in every major city, and sometimes even in the smallest of towns. Renting cars is a lucrative business. Car rentals are needed for travel involved with vacation or business and car rentals are needed when one puts their car in the shop and needs a rental to go about their business without missing a beat. There are a handful of car rental companies across the country that are nationwide companies and there are companies that operate only in certain areas.

There are four well known nationwide car rental companies. There are Hertz, Avis, Enterprise and Budget. Budget is more so known for its moving van and moving truck rentals than its car rentals. The most known moving truck rental company is U-Haul. U-Haul is the orange colored truck used by most people moving cross country or even just down the street to a new house. Their prices are reasonable and they also sell boxes and packing materials. U-Haul offices are a one stop shop for moving needs.

Cars can be rented for one day or for as much as a handful of weeks. Most car rental companies offer online reservations on their websites or reservations can also be made via phone. Most car companies charge a daily fee between $18-$25 for renting their vehicles. The prices vary depending on the make and model of the vehicle too. For example, renting a minivan will cost more per day than renting a compact or economy car.

Most car companies, like Hertz and Enterprise, have certain rules and regulations when it comes to how old a driver must be when renting a car. One of the most popular and known rules among car rental companies is that the driver of the rented vehicle must be 25 years or older. This has become an unpopular rule amongst drivers because states administer driver's licenses to drivers who pass the test at ages as young as 16. Many people argue that since they already have a driver's license they should be allowed to drive a rental car even though they are not 25 years old.

Car rental companies are usually located in large, bustling cities near an airport or even in the parking lot of an airport. They are also located across the country in small towns wherever cars are needed.

Hiring a car doesn't need to be a complicated or scary process. Here we explain the steps required to ensure that your car rental experience is not a bad one. There are a number of factors you need to be aware of to avoid paying out unnecessarily.

Step 1: Go to a reputable hire car reservation website (either supplier or agent). There are many good websites out there so try the following process with a few to find yourself the best deal.

Step 2:Simply enter your pick up and drop off locations plus your rental dates to obtain a quote.

Step 3: Select your preferred car to reserve. Ensure your chosen vehicle is adequate for your needs and read very carefully the supplier terms and conditions of rental.

Step 4: Enter your details. Having entered credit card details, a small deposit will probably be taken to secure the car.

Step 5: Before you leave home, remember to bring your car hire voucher, your driver's licence, a valid credit card for payment (VISA or Mastercard) and your passport.

Step 6: At the counter, you will be asked to pay the balance for the car. Ensure that you read the agreement carefully and ensure that you understand the insurance details.

Step 7: Before leaving the supplier, check the car thoroughly for damage and ensure that all additional equipment as requested is included.

Step 8: When returning the car, check it for damage and ensure that a representative signs off on the return of the vehicle.

Follow these steps and you'll have no problems.

Good luck and happy driving!