Car rental companies are making money out of every occasion or event. This business is a big hit because people who are renting cars are not always those who don’t have a personal car. The most important rule for ensuring that you get the best price when it comes to car hire is to shop around. Do your research by browsing online to get a fair impression of how much you should expect to pay for a particular-sized hire car at a particular location. However, do make sure that you compare like with like. If one car hire company is offering an all-inclusive price then check what is actually included with that quote and make sure that any comparative quote is on the same basis.

Always clarify insurance details before you travel, preferably before you even book. Know exactly what coverage you are receiving and always determine the size of any excess that needs to be paid in case of accident. If you consider it to be too large enquire whether you can purchase further insurance to cover the excess amount.

When purchasing car rental online, it is always better to make sure you include any extras such as sat nav or child care seats at this point rather than at the car rental pickup point. Many people forget to include such necessary extras and often find that they don’t receive the same online discount when adding these on at the pickup point.

Always return you car on time, or preferably plan to do so with half an hour to spare. As most rental periods run in days, by returning a car late you will be running into the next 24-hour period and therefore incur another day’s rental. However, if you wish to keep a car longer than you originally booked it for, ring the car hire company at the first available opportunity and see how much it will cost.

Another way to cut the cost of car rental is to prepay online rather than at the pickup point as many car rental companies offer significant discounts for those who pay in advance.

Finally, one of the easiest ways to add significant cost to any car rental is to pick up the car with a full fuel tank and return it empty. Many companies provide your hire car with a full fuel tank and expect you to return it with one. If you do not you will normally be charged for refuelling at a premium price, so ensure that you fill up before you return the keys or be prepared for a large bill!