1. If you are not too particular about the sort of car that you rent, then you should consider obtaining a rental car through the various online websites that offer you car rentals at very affordable prices. The purpose of these firms is to find you the best deal available. They may also throw in certain benefits such as unlimited mileage or upgrades, free of charge.

2. For the best deals around, you should search for package deals that include flights, lodging and car rentals. These packages give you fantastic discounts for rentals. You should avoid obtaining rental cars through airlines, however, as airlines tend to provide car rentals at prices that are higher than those available elsewhere.

3. You should reserve your rental car through the internet whenever possible. Online car rental websites will often provide the best deals for cheap auto rentals, and some even offer discounts that are only valid if you book your rental car online. Many online car rental companies also offer upgrades and freebies to online customers, depending on the season, and you will undoubtedly be able to find at least one company that has a special promotion that you can take advantage of. In addition, you are able to reserve you rental from the comfort of your own home.

4. You should not hesitate to ask the company about any other available discounts even when you've obtained the best deal possible. There is still the chance that the company has entered a tie-up with one of your credit card companies and you will be able to receive even more discounts by using a particular credit card to make your payment. Frequent flyers or people in the military service stand the added chance of there being promotions or discounts specifically for them.

5. Often, vehicles from cheap auto rental companies are not very well maintained. You should ensure that you check the car that you wish to rent thoroughly, and take note of any and all damage to the car, which you should then inform the rental company about. This will help you avoid having to pay for any damages that you did not cause. You should ensure that the various parts of the car such as the radio, windshield wipers, brakes and other parts are all in working order. You can also be charged needlessly if any of these are not working when you return the car.

6. On the subject of insurance, you should check your own car insurance to determine if you are already covered for rental vehicles. If you are not, insurance for budget car rentals is hardly expensive. It only makes sense to check first, however, as you may end up paying for insurance that you do not actually need.

7. You can also save more money by going to the car rental company just as it is opening, as many of its vehicles will probably not have been returned yet. This way, you increase the chances that you will receive a free upgrade to a better car.

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.