Don't overlook AAA and AARP membership benefits and corporate discounts from your employer. AAA-partner Hertz offers members up to a 20 percent discount on daily rates. AAA also offers benefits such as a free tank of gas and car model upgrades and waives extra-driver charges if you book the rental at an AAA branch. Those over 50 who belong to AARP can save between 5 percent and 25 percent on rental car rates, and have mileage limits, second-driver and vehicle upgrade fees waived.
If you're flying to your destination, consider an airline package deal that includes a rental car. Southwest Airlines, for example, aggregates the best car rental deals on Southwest.com, offering discounts and Rapid Rewards credits if you book through the site. You don't even have to first book a flight to purchase a rental through Southwest. AirTran also gives you discounts and extra rewards credit when you book a Hertz car through its site.
Securing a reasonable daily rate is your first task. Then you've got to watch out for add-ons that can greatly inflate your bill.
To avoid expensive refueling charges, AAA Mid-Atlantic recommends filling up the vehicle yourself just before dropping it off. But you might not find a gas station if you wait until the last airport exit.
Rental car refueling rates have been reduced in Maryland, thanks to an agreement pressed by the Office of the Attorney General. But they can still charge you up to 42 percent over local pump prices to refuel. And nationwide, only Enterprise Rent-a-Car, which also owns National and Alamo car rentals, and Hertz Car Rental have enacted policies to reduce their refueling rates on cars returned in Maryland with a less-than-full tank.
Be sure you'll get your money's worth if you opt to prepay for a full tank of gas, even if the fixed per-gallon rate is a bit lower than the market price. If you return the car half-full, you've just given the company a free half-tank of gas.
Insurance packages
The other big item: those insurance packages that can add up to $30 a day to your rental bill.
That extra coverage, which is often already provided by your existing auto policy or credit cards, is a key revenue source for rental companies,
"The insurance that rental car companies try to sell generally is duplicative of what your own auto insurance policy would provide," said Steve Sakamoto-Wengel, a state assistant attorney general. "We recommend that you check with your auto insurance agency first to make sure that you're covered. But it's probably not a good idea to buy it."
