Rental cars can get pricey, especially if you add in all the extra options and insurance.  Getting a deal on a rental car isn’t that hard, so let’s look at the options for getting a great deal.

Do Your Homework

Renting a car is just like any other purchase you make, do some research before you pull out your credit card.  Things like availability, location, size, and rental time are all going to affect the price of your car and what kind of experience you are going to have.

Location and Timing

If you want to get a deal on a rental then timing is everything.  Book your car as soon as you can.  If you’re moving or booking your vacation to Ireland then book your car as soon as you book your plane tickets or sign your new lease.  The further in advance you can book the better your rates will be.  Now bear in mind that your daily rate will also be affected by the time of year.  Last minute reservations and during peak holiday times like Christmas is going to cost you a pretty penny.

Sometimes you can get a better deal with weekend specials rather than during the week.  During the week cars are in demand for traveling business people.  It is also cheaper to pick up a car in town instead of at an airport.  If you’re in town on business, arrange for the car rental company to pick you up at your hotel it’s cheaper than airport car rental rates.  Here are some more tips you can use.

Getting a Lower Rate

If you are using your car for business then you should check into corporate rates.  Large corporations with thousands of employees all traveling all over the world have negotiated better rates with big multinational car rental companies.  Most of the time all you will need to produce is your business card, even if it is for personal use.

Car rental rates are generally charges on a per day basis.  The first thing you want to ask is what they consider “a day”, for some rental companies they base it on 24 hours while others base it on when the business closes for the day.  It may seem like a small distinction but you want to avoid charges for a time you didn’t use or have the car.

Insurance

Car insurance is a must, but do you really need the car rental company to sell you additional insurance?  If you’re paying with a credit card then find out from your card company if rental cars are covered, many are.  Check with your own car insurance too to see if rentals are covered.  You may not even need the expensive add on insurance.