Tired of getting ripped off with your car rental? Don't worry, with just a couple easy steps, you can get a rental car for cheap. The main thing you have to do is put a little work in up front.

1) CHECK YOUR CAR INSURANCE - You are going to be offered insurance when you go to the counter, so before you agree to their insurance, check your own. Most car insurances will pay for any damages that occur while you are renting a car. If you do have insurance, don't waste the money on the rental companies insurance, but if your car insurance does not include rental cars, you may just have to suck it up and pay for the insurance. Because the most important thing is to make sure you have coverage in case of an emergency. That extra $20 a day might save you a few thousand dollars if your insurance doesn't cover rentals.

2) SHOP ONLINE - The best place to look is going to be the travel websites. You will be able to get a good comparison of most of the rental car companies in the area. The sites will let you know if they are at the airport or a shuttle ride away. The most consistent websites are usually www.orbitz.com, www.travelocity.com, and www.expedia.com. This will give you an initial read on the prices off lots of different companies for the same period of time. Some of the smaller companies, will be your best bet. And check multiple travel websites because each one might have a special for a specific car company.

3) CONSIDER THE LENGTH OF YOUR TRIP - If your trip is a day trip or a short weekend, you'll most likely want to rent from an on-site car rental company. Usually, the on-site rental companies allow you to get your car faster and drop the car off at the airport. This will allow you to maximize your trip time. Some off-site rental companies can take an hour plus by the time you travel to the rental company, wait for a shuttle, and wait for your pick up/drop off receipt. So, only on longer trips would I actually take the extra time.

4) CHECK THE DIRECT COMPANY WEBSITE - Once you decide which car company you like, go to their direct website or call their 800 number directly. Ask them if they have any current specials running. They might have some specials that are not listed on the discounters website or they might match the price from the website. This will save the worry of not having a reservation when you get there.

5) UPGRADE ONLY WHEN NECESSARY - Most rental cars are good cars. Don't get more car than you need. If you are by yourself, don't get a full size car. It is a waste of money and the smaller cars will be more gas efficient. This is a rental, not a fashion statement. Also, during busier times, they may not have the car you selected and will therefore upgrade you for free. I have had countless upgrades take place at the counter.

6) WAIT IF YOU CAN - If you are not traveling during a really busy season, wait to get your rental car. About a week before you travel, look at the prices again. Most rental car companies will offer "last minute" discounted rates. These will often be as much as 20% off the rack rate. Often times, you will even get the discount off the specials they are currently running. This is actually the way to save the most money.

If you follow these simple rules, you will be able to find cheap rental cars, no problem. You will save money on a rental car that you can then spend on dinner or other entertainment.

Learn more about this author, Steven Kaese.
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