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• Shopping the Internet can be the quickest and best way to compare many Rental Car rates.
• If you are planning on purchasing extra items such as a damage waiver or insurance, you should also comparison shop those rates.
• Make sure their mileage policy is favorable to you so you can avoid extra charges.
• Airport fees can be quite large so you might see if it is worth it to use an off-airport facility. However, if the off-airport company picks you up at the airport, you'll probably still have to pay some of the fee.
• You can check their national reservation centers and their local offices; one may be offering a better deal than the other. ASK, if this is the best rate they have available.
• Make your reservation as soon as you have decided on plans. Most Rental Car Companies increase their rates as reservations come in and their fleets become booked. Also, certain classes of cars will sell out and you may have to end up reserving and paying for a larger vehicle than you want.
• Being flexible about your travel plans can save you money. Rental Companies that focus on the business or replacement market customers often have great weekend specials. The best rates are found during the off season and at other times when the Rental Companies have extra cars sitting around.
• Check into booking your vacation as a package. You might be able to save by booking your car along with a certain airline, hotel or attraction ticket package.
• Book the smallest car that you will need and hope for a free upgrade. But, remember you may get stuck with that small car.
• Check into other size class vehicles. They may have extra cars in a certain class and be offering discounts for that size class.
• Use coupons, but read them carefully for exceptions. Most upgrade coupons are "based on availability", so if you have an upgrade coupon that you wish to use and also have a monetary discount coupon, bring them both. If they can't honor the upgrade, they may still give you the monetary discount. Also, remember to book any coupons or discounts in your reservation.
• Apply any special discount programs for which you are eligible.
• When you get to the counter, ask if there are any upgrade specials available, they might have some good deals.

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• Check for special deals with your memberships in associations or clubs.
• Memberships in Premium Clubs, loyalty or frequent flyer programs can offer discounts.
• Some credit cards have special discounts or upgrades with certain Rental Car Companies.
• Package discounts can be found when booking your rental car with certain airlines, hotels or attraction ticket packages.
• Discounts are often available for government, military or corporate employees. Some Rental Car Companies will even extend these discounts during leisure travel.
• Some special airport rates require you to present your arrival airline ticket. You may need to have arrived within 24 hours to get the special rate.

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Seven days or more is obvious; you take the weekly rate. If you are going to keep the car for more than five days, you can also check into the weekly rates. Generally the sixth and seventh day end up being free in the weekly rental. You might not need that free seventh day, but if your plans change, it's there. If you reserve on a daily plan, they might not let you change to a lower weekly rate if you need to keep the car longer. However, you can also be punished if you turn the car in too early. They might charge you a higher daily rate than you could have reserved, so check the Rental Company's policy on this.

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You can check some of these issues if they are important to you.

• Ask around and consider their customer service record.
• Consider their rental policies and qualifications, are they favorable to you or do they penalize you in some way.
• Do they offer a Premium Club that offers the services you need?
• Check to see if you belong to any groups that entitle you to a special deal with a particular Rental Car Company.
• Find out what partnerships they have that could save you money in other areas. Many Rental Car Companies have agreements with hotel chains, airlines, or credit card companies.
• See if they credit your frequent flyer or frequent guest programs with points.
• See if they carry the types of cars that you like to drive such as new, used, Ford, GM, and luxury or specialty vehicles.
• Check their locations. Do they have them where you travel? Do they have international locations? Are they mostly on or off-airport? Do they have 24-hour facilities, so they will always be there if your flight is late?
• What types of extra services do they offer? Could they deliver a car to you or do they offer a pick-up service? Do they have 24-hour emergency road service?
• Can they honor your special requests?
• Consider their rates and the availability of any coupons or discounts.

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