1) Choose an opaque booking
Online travel agency websites like Hotwire offer great discounts if you opt for opaque booking, a practice wherein you book a rental car on a prepaid basis without knowing which agency you’re booking with (it’ll still be a major agency).
This may sound risky, but it’s alright because you’ll know where the pick-up and drop points will be, how much it’s costing you, what class of car you’ll get, and any terms.
2) Consider less common rental agencies
You may be familiar with big brands like Enterprise, Hertz, and Avis, but there are also quite a few lesser-known brands that may give you better deals. Fox, Thrifty, Budget, and Sixt are some such companies.
Cover all your bases by using websites like Priceline and Hotwire to compare a few rental agencies.
3) Try to pick up your rental downtown instead of at the airport
Generally, the rental rates at airports are higher than what a rental agency located a little further away may offer. Try looking for pick-up spots located in the city center, or near your hotel. Compare these rates to those offered by airport agencies. Also, take into account what it’ll cost you to travel to a rental agency situated away from the airport.
4) Don’t always buy the agency’s rental insurance
There’s a good chance your home auto insurance policy provides coverage for the rental cars you drive. Even if you don’t own a car, or if your home auto insurance doesn’t include rentals, your credit card may provide primary auto rental insurance. The rental agency may try to pressure you to buy additional coverage, but don’t agree to it without being aware of what coverage you already have.
5) Check weekly rates even if you require the car only for some days
It’s cheaper to rent a car for longer than 3-4 days. Business travelers are more carefree about prices and are usually the ones who rent for a few days. Week-long renters are more interested in saving money as they tend to be leisure travelers, which is why weekly rates are often cheaper.
6) Skip the extras
Car rental agencies may offer features like GPS navigation, speakerphone, and satellite radio at an additional cost. You can save a lot of money by skipping these and simply using your smartphone for all these facilities.