To insure or not to insure? Ah yes, that’s the question. Whether tis nobler to risk it all that some

Go for the triple play. Before booking try this. Visit a travel consolidator such as Travelocity san antonio downtown hotels or Expedia and conduct a car rental search within san antonio downtown hotels your specifications (city, dates, vehicle size). Note results for at least the three best prices. Next, visit the website or call the toll-free number for your top three finalist san antonio downtown hotels companies san antonio downtown hotels and ask for their best deal. If they pressure you to book, respond that you are still finalizing plans. Be sure to ask for the direct phone number to each company's local office. Then, call the local office of the cheapest company san antonio downtown hotels (like ABC Rental at Dulles Airport) and again request the best available price. This approach typically results in cheap, cheaper and then the cheapest price.
Forget labels. Many high-quality, low-cost brands – like Advantage, Fox Rent A Car and Midway may not be household names. Check out web sites like CarRentalExpress.com or CarRentals.com to find some of these independent agencies.
Ask for discounts. san antonio downtown hotels Always ask if the rental agency gives discounts for membership in AAA, AARP or a warehouse club like Costco or Sam's Club. Most do. Watch for coupons or offers in travel magazines or at warehouse club check-out areas. Often you can couple a tidy discount with a free day's rental or upgrade.
Go off-site. It's often cheaper to rent from a non-airport location. You'll pay taxes and some fees, but likely san antonio downtown hotels less than at the airport. Ask your hotel if there's a nearby car rental agency. san antonio downtown hotels Or get the hotel's street address and plug it into the rental company's website. san antonio downtown hotels Some companies, such as Enterprise, will pick you up or drop you off – usually within a specified mileage san antonio downtown hotels radius at no charge.
Book small, think big . Always book the smallest car you can tolerate. Odds are you'll be bumped to a bigger model for free, because most rental companies have larger fleets of intermediate and full-size cars. Just don't let the agent talk you into paying extra. san antonio downtown hotels If your teeny Geo isn't available on time, enjoy that spacious Lincoln Continental for the same price.
To insure or not to insure? san antonio downtown hotels Ah yes, that's the question. Whether tis nobler to risk it all that some boob won't sideswipe you in the hotel parking garage or to dole out for extra insurance. My advice: Know before you go. Examine your personal vehicle liability and collision policies. Most cover rented cars as long as you're behind the wheel. Some credit card companies also pay for damage as a premium card holder benefit. Call to confirm and, if coverage, is supplied be sure to use that specific card when you rent.
Act like CSI. Carefully inspect your vehicle before san antonio downtown hotels departure. Note every nick, scratch or dent on your rental agreement and be sure the rental representative sees them, too. Otherwise you could be held liable upon return.
Tax and spend. Local and state governments have figured out one way to finance stadiums, convention centers and other special projects with nary a peep from voters: Add a fee to every car rental. Not only do renters san antonio downtown hotels have no say in the matter but these government-mandated fees and taxes can drive up your tab 30% or more above the base rate. Other fees to note: airport concession (the rent or royalty paid to the airport), excise tax (costs associated with registering a vehicle) and, of course, sales tax. Before you make your reservation, get a firm, bottom-line quote that includes all taxes.
Beware of hidden charges. For instance, companies are becoming stricter about late fees. A 24-hour clock starts running from the moment the agent hands over the keys. Show up after your agreed-upon return time and you could pay for a full extra day. And, sorry, san antonio downtown hotels that one or two-hour grace period is now often only 30 minutes. One-way charges can also add up. While a few routes may incur no penalty for a one-day drive and drop-off, most do. Make sure you don't pay for bells and whistles, like GPS units or a satellite radio, you don't need.
Fuel Foolish. Repeat after me "I will never ever let the rental company fill my gas tank upon return." Otherwise you'll san antonio downtown hotels pay dearly – two to three times more than filling up at a nearby gas station. One trick: As you are driving away from the rental car lot, note any nearby gas stations and jot down their locations. That way you have a specific place in mind to refuel just before returning the vehicle.
A confirmed coupon clipper, Laura Daily is always on the lookout for ways to save or stretch that hard-earned dollar and prides herself on digging deep to unearth a great deal. She is a consumer strategist reporting for a variety of national publications including AARP The Magazine, AAA World, Consumer Reports Money Adviser, Global Traveler, Shop Smart and Westways and is a correspondent for OnTravel Radio. Laura owns and operates Mile High On The Cheap which covers the Denver/Boulder (Colorado) area.
Who We Are Living On The Cheap is owned by a group of frugalistas, journalists and consumer advocates. Our goal is to help readers find ways to not merely survive tough economic times, but to enjoy themselves. Read about our experts here. Contact us at editors@livingonthecheap.com