Tips for renting

Here are tips for finding rental cars without overpaying:

Plan ahead and make sure you can find a vehicle in your price range before booking your flight and hotel.

Avoid prepaying because prices might drop before you travel, and many rental car agencies offer the ability to pay when you get the car.

Don’t limit your search to on-site agencies at airports.

Rates can be significantly lower in surrounding areas, and the savings could be worth the price of a cab or car-share ride to get there.

Don’t be desperate enough to rent from a no-name rental car company that you’re never heard of. Some of these companies will seem to offer great prices in search results, then load on hidden fees that exceed the come-on price. If you are tempted to rent from an unfamiliar company, check out its Better Business Bureau reviews first and be sure to take a lot of photos of the vehicle before you drive it away. Some companies are notorious for blaming you for damage caused by previous renters.