Rental Cars Blog and Resources

“While most know Austin as the live music capital of the world first and the capital of Texas second, there is so much more to this thriving city than just music. If you have never had authentic Texan BBQ from Opies, then I don't know what you've been doing with your time! Lake Travis is just a one-hour drive from downtown and is a great place to watch the sunset. If you are a party animal, Sixth Street is the place to be.” — Kieran White, Photojournalist Reasons to get out of Austin Though Austin is known as the Live Music Capital of the World, there are many reasons for you to take a day and get outside of the city. Within just a couple hours drive there are a number of towns and cities that you won’t want to miss. The following are some of the places that A Taste of Koko, Timeout, Austintexas.com, and Texas Hill Country recommend that you visit.  Important Note: Drive times may differ depending on time of day, traffic, weather, etc.  Under an Hour Drive The Cathedral of Junk (15 minutes) It is unlikely that you have ever heard of a religious building being made from garbage. The Cathedral of Junk has been created using scrap metal. For many, it is the perfect example of the phrase “one man’s trash is another man’s treasure.” The Natural Gardener (24 minutes) The Natural Gardener is a garden providing visitors with a panoramic picture of beauty complete with stunning flowers, winding trails, and thick green foliage. No matter the season, you will love what this garden has to offer. Make sure that you take some time to visit the butterfly garden found here as well. Dripping Springs (36 minutes) Dripping Springs is home to the Hamilton Pool Preserve swimming hole. Here you are surrounded by a beautiful oasis with numerous trees and a variety of wildlife. Other attractions that you can enjoy in Dripping Springs include the Hills of Milk and Honey farm where you can learn about bees, livestock, and land practices; Rolling in Thyme Dough where you can try some seasonal bread, croissants, or sandwiches; or the Twisted X Brewing Company where you can taste handcrafted craft beer.  Lockhart (37 minutes) Lockhart is considered “The Barbeque Capital of Texas.” One of the best known restaurants here is The Original Black’s Barbeque which has been run by the same family since 1932. For a taste of the culture found in this town, you can stroll through the shops, galleries, restaurants, and the historic theater located near town square. Some visitors enjoy seeing the architecture of the Caldwell County Courthouse and others prefer learning more about where outlaws used to be detained at the Caldwell County Jail Museum. Wimberley (50 minutes) Wimberley is home to a number of fun day activities for you to enjoy. Jacob’s Well houses one of the longest underwater caves in the state of Texas. You can enjoy wandering through a number of art galleries including Wimberley Glassworks where you can watch artists create incredible sculptures from hot glass. To purchase some freshly pressed olive oil or small batch wine, you will want to visit Bella Vista Ranch. Gruene (51 minutes) For those interested in history, this is the perfect small town to visit. All of Gruene is listed on the National Register of Historic Places. Once in the town, you will be surrounded by 19th-century brick storefronts and old shops. It is also home to the oldest dance hall in Texas: Gruene Hall. It still has old traditional wooden floors and offers a venue for up-coming music stars to perform. Big names have also been performing there since 1878.  New Braunfels (52 minutes) New Braunfels is known for its water coaster at Schlitterbahn Waterpark and Resort as well as its 18 different breweries on the Hill Country Craft Beer Trail. Outdoor enthusiasts enjoy rending tubes and riding the currents of the Comal and Guadalupe Rivers that pass right through the city.  1-Hour Drive Johnson City (1 hour) Johnson City was the childhood home of Lyndon B. Johnson. Today you can learn more about the 36th President of the United States by visiting the Lyndon B. Johnson National Historical Park. A number of hiking trails with beautiful views can be found in Pedernales Falls State Park for those that enjoy the outdoors. For an up close and personal experience with over 700 animals you can spend some time at the Exotic Resort Zoo. This city has something to keep everyone entertained.  San Antonio (1 hour 21 minutes) Have you ever visited a Colonial Mission? If not, San Antonio is a great place to check out. This city is rich with history and provides visitors a number of destinations. A favorite for many travelers is to take a walk along the river walk. If you have an afternoon free, you can enjoy visiting some of the many art museums or take the kids to Six Flags Fiesta Texas, SeaWorld, or the San Antonio Zoo.  Fredericksburg (1 hour 32 minutes) This quaint small town is famous for its German heritage and wineries, which each use unique recipes. For an enjoyable afternoon you can visit the National Museum of the Pacific War,  Enchanted Rock State Natural Area, or the beautiful flower gardens at Wildseed Farms followed by a yummy meal at one of the local German restaurants. If you have never had German food, then you are in for a treat.  Waco (1 hour 36 minutes) Home to the world-famous Magnolia Market, Waco is a popular destination for many. The Magnolia Market was started by HGTV Fixer Upper stars Chip and Joanna Gaines. Other attractions that you may enjoy in Waco include the Dr. Pepper Museum, Waco Mammoth National Monument, The Texas Ranger Hall of Fame and Museum, and the Cameron Park Zoo.  2-Hour Drive Houston (2 hours 37 minutes) Most people have heard of Houston, but why should you visit this city? To start, it is a very diverse city and sports 19 museums, galleries, and cultural museums. You also might enjoy one of the more than 300 parks that are scattered throughout the city. Some of the most popular include Memorial Park, Mercer Arboretum, and Botanic Gardens. For those with an interest in outer space, the Space Center Houston is a must. Here people of all ages enjoy learning about space exploration.  3-Hour Drive Dallas (3 hours) If you have heard of Texas, you have likely heard of Dallas. It is home to one of the largest metropolitan areas in the United States. There are so many things to do and see here so you will want to make sure and do your research in advance. Some popular places for shopping and food are Uptown, the Deep Ellum, the Bishop Arts District, and the Lower Greenville neighborhoods. If you are interested in history, you might enjoy the Sixth Floor Museum and the Dealey Plaza where you can learn more about John F. Kennedy’s assassination. If you decide to visit Dallas, you will be surrounded by things to do all day. Corpus Christi (3 hours 10 minutes) Did you know that large expanses of beautiful sandy beaches exist on the coast of Texas? Corpus Christi is one of these areas. This coastal city located right off the coast of the Gulf of Mexico is a great place to escape to take a break from the city and enjoy the fresh ocean breezes. You can spend your day enjoying the sun, water, and sand, or take some time to explore the city. Situated on North Beach, you will find the Texas State Aquarium and the USS Lexington (one of the carriers during World War II). There are also a couple of State Parks and gardens that you may enjoy visiting. Galveston (3 hours 35 minutes) Galveston is the perfect destination for a weekend getaway. It is located on the coast with beaches and the well-known Pleasure Pier which features a number of rides, midway games, dining, and shops. Many people enjoy seeing the numerous examples of Victorian architecture found here. The perfect stop for the entire family is Moody Gardens. Here you will enjoy an aquarium, a rainforest pyramid, a 4D theater, a number of live animal experiences, and a fun ropes course.  4+ Hour Drive Krause Springs (4 hours) Car rental services in Austin Think you are going to need a rental car during your trip? Here is a list of the car rental services that are available in the city:  Alamo Rent A Car Limos of Austin Avalon Transportation Service Fox Rent A Car Enterprise Rent-A-Car E-Z Rent-A-Car Budget Car Rental Priceless Car Rental Advantage Car Rental Austin Van Rentals Thrifty Car Rental Hertz Car Rental Go Rentals Avis Car Rental Payless Car Rental Read recent customer reviews to ensure that you are getting the best service.  Attractions in Austin Texas is known for “big” things. Austin is a big city and has a number of fun things to do while you vacation. We wanted to help you brainstorm for your trip and have compiled a list of popular attractions in the city with help from U.S. News and A Taste of Koko.  Iconic Attractions State Capitol SoCo District Sixth Street LBJ Presidential Library Austin Bats Esther’s Follies Thinkery Driskill Hotel Shopping on South Congress Museums and Memorials Blanton Museum of Art Bullock Texas State History Museum Mexic-Arte Museum Parks and Gardens Mount Bonnell Zilker Metropolitan Park Ann and Roy Butler Hike-and-Bike Trail at Lady Bird Lake Lady Bird Johnson Wildflower Center Austin Nature and Science Center Mayfield Park and Preserve McKinney Falls State Park Barton Springs Pool Umlauf Sculpture Garden Hamilton Pool Lake Travis Culture and the Arts Austin City Limits Live at The Moody Theater The Contemporary Austin — Laguna Gloria University of Texas at Austin Alamo Drafthouse Two-Step Dancing at Broken Spoke How to get around Austin There are a number of ways to get around Austin if you do not have a car. Kerri Sholly, Director of Public Relations and Communications at Four Seasons Hotel Austin offers some suggestions to help you get to where you would like to be quickly and efficiently.  Walking — Walking is best if you are going to be downtown or around South Congress. Pedicabs — If you are going to be traveling a medium distance in the city, this is a great option to save your feet. SUPs — If you are interested in going across the lake, you will want to hop on a SUP. Swan Boats — Not only is this a great way to see the lake, but it also provides you with some exercise. Willie Nelson’s Vintage Tour Bus — This is a great way to get out and tour the Hill Country wineries without having to worry about drinking and driving. Boat — A number of boats are available for you to hop on to go out and see the numerous lakes in the city. Bicycle — If you would like to travel around the lake, you can enjoy cruising on the bike trails that have been created in the city as well as the mountain biking trails in the greenbelts. Motorcycle — If you would like to go to cruise through the countryside to see the beautiful wildflowers, a motorcycle is the way to go.  Parking in Austin Austin is a big city and it provides a lot of parking options to ensure that everyone can find a place. That being said, much of the parking is not free. Parkopedia is a great resource to help you locate available parking on a map. Not only can you see what parking is available (along with its specific pricing), but you can reserve a spot to make sure that it is still there by the time you arrive.  Many resources to help you find the best parking in the city are available online. If you are planning to visit the bats on the bridge, 6th street downtown, the State Capitol, or the Austin Convention Center, you may want to check out this parking guide provided by Pauly Presley Realty. It will help you to find the perfect parking places located close to each of your destinations. 

If you're in the market for a car, you've likely considered two avenues: buying new or buying used. And if you've hunted for former rental cars, you've probably wondered how used the purportedly like-new vehicles will be. Is it really the compromise between new and used that you've been looking for? Rental cars are available to consumers through rental agencies, dealerships, and auctions when rental agencies expand their fleets with new models and sell off their old stock. You may inadvertently test drive one at your local car dealer, or you can go directly to rental agencies such as Enterprise, Hertz, and Budget to purchase the cars they’re phasing out. The pros and cons of buying a rental The models they sell are fairly new and well-maintained, and the no-haggle pricing at rental car agencies is attractive for those seeking less hassle, but these pre-owned vehicles also have their drawbacks.“Be wary of the dings, scratches, and stains that a rental car is more likely to have,” Ian Cogswell of Superior Honda warns. “Rental cars change hands very frequently, and renters are generally less careful than owners.” Buyers might lose heart when they realize many rental cars have racked up mileage and wear and tear from their journeys. Customers drive to get their money’s worth out of rental vehicles during their rental period.However, rental agencies combat this by charging customers for damages, thoroughly inspecting a rental vehicle after it’s returned. This might deter some renters from indulging in irresponsibility.Read also: How to Protect Yourself from Common Rental Car PitfallsBut whatever the condition of the car’s exterior, rental agencies dutifully maintain the vehicle with the help of certified mechanics. Cogswell notes, “Rental car companies perform excellent maintenance on these cars — they have to take care of their assets, right?”And if you want a car with a detailed vehicle history, buying a rental might be a good option. “They keep detailed maintenance and usage records that you can trace back,” Cogswell explains. “If you see something you don’t particularly like in the car’s history you can move onto the next one.”Rental agencies might also give you a chance the rent out the used car for test driving. If you went to a dealership, you might have thirty minutes or so to take a car out for a spin. A rental car company might give you a few days, plenty of time to take it to a mechanic to conduct a pre-purchase inspection and drive the car for yourself to see how it handles. A data-driven warning So maybe you’re convinced these pros outweigh the cons. Noah Messing, co-founder of Cloovy, has a word of caution. Cloovy searches Manheim’s auction site and purchases vehicles on behalf of their clients, and they’ve analyzed their findings to present some results on rental car damages: “Our data suggest that the myth that rental cars get abused more than other cars has some truth to it,” Messing explains. “We crunched numbers for roughly 16,500 car and truck sales this spring. We tested whether rental cars are more physically beat up than other cars after the same number of miles on the road. Physical condition isn’t a perfect proxy for mechanical condition, but they’re closely related, especially over big sample sizes.“Here’s what we found. For cars with 10,000 to 20,000 miles, rental cars had an average condition score of 4.49 (out of 5) versus 4.49 — an identical score — for all other cars. In other words, there was no difference in physical condition. “For cars with 20,000 to 30,000 miles, rental cars were in slightly better shape than other cars after the same mileage, scoring an average of 4.44 versus 4.42 for all other cars. But these numbers hide a key fact which confirms the conventional wisdom that rental cars get beat up more: the rental cars in this group were, on average, 1.31 years younger than the other cars, meaning that they had fewer days of the sun and rain wearing out the vehicle.“Thus, if you’re buying a rental car, you should try to get a pretty good discount — approximately the amount that a non-rental car would cost that was one year older.”If you thought the price tag on a 2017 rental car was a good deal, you might need to reevaluate: it should be priced as if it were a pre-owned, non-rental 2016 vehicle to be competitive.And even if a rental received those frequent service check-ups at an agency, the rental car company might be selling it because major maintenance was on the horizon. Messing says, “We try to steer customers to off-lease vehicles, mainly because the car’s primary user isn’t acting on, in essence, insider information about when to trade in or sell the car. With an end-of-lease vehicle, the turn-in date is predetermined; with rental cars and typical trade-ins, there’s a heightened risk that some major repair is looming, causing the owner to sell.” This is why a pre-purchase inspection is critical.So, what do you do with this information? Remember that buying a pre-owned vehicle always involves some risk, but also remember that buying new comes with a hefty price tag, high monthly payments, and faster depreciation. The best thing you can do is conduct thorough research. Read reviews, contact experts, and never be rushed into a decision. Renting a car can come with a barrage of hidden fees; you don’t want a similar barrage when you’re buying one! Read also: Top Rental Car Tips: 20 to Make Your Next Rental the Best Ever

On a cold February evening in 2009, a 25-year-old driver was taking a rental car to his grandmother's funeral when he hit a patch of ice and slid into a snowbank. The covering on the bottom of the car was shredded. The wiper fluid hose was severed. Luckily, the driver had purchased insurance coverage through the rental company. At least, he thought he did. Four days later, the renter received a call from the car rental company that he was being charged $2,500 for repairs. The caller informed him that "the damage was caused by a 'clearance issue' and the insurance I purchased from them was not valid." In shock, the renter bitterly exchanged paperwork and phone calls with the rental company for weeks. So many headaches later, he was informed that the original caller had been transferred from the claims department. This horror story has a happy ending: the claim was closed, the insurance he'd paid for covered the repairs and towing, and the company was sorry. Needless to say, car rentals can sometimes go bad, causing days and weeks of stress, often without warning. So you get off your flight and head to the rental car counter to claim the vehicle you'll be using for the next few days. Usually, within 30 minutes, you roll off the lot in some kind of vehicle. Considering that you've just been handed the keys, and the responsibility for the vehicle by a complete stranger, the whole process is surprisingly quick and easy. Unbeknownst to the unseasoned traveler, however, this "easy" process-from reserving your car online to driving it off the lot-is fraught with potentially costly pitfalls. Rental car companies have found increasingly creative and deceptive ways to take more money from customers' pockets and increase their own profits, in an industry estimated to reach a value of $81.2 billion in the next three years. Fortunately, you don't have to go into your next car rental blind. There are 20 failsafe tips which, if followed, will save you from some of the biggest car rental nightmares, from paying too much to being left holding the bill for an accident: 1. Check out lesser-known brands You know the names. Budget. Enterprise. Hertz. They pay a lot of money to be the first thing you see when you land at your destination or do a Google search for rental cars. And it pays off. These brands are all that would-be car renters think of when they start their rental car search. According to experts, however, you might be better off with a car rental brand you've never heard of. "[D]epending on where you're traveling, locally owned companies could offer lower rates," says IndependentTraveler.com, before cautioning renters, "[B]efore booking, read reviews to be sure their companies are up to the standards of the majors." TravelSense.org recommends that travelers not undertake this task alone: "Ask your ASTA travel agent to help you find the right car rental firm for each trip. Different firms serve different cities throughout the world. A travel agent can save you the time and effort of calling several different companies to find the best rate and car for you. Also, a travel agent may be aware of promotional rates and special programs that may not be advertised to the general public." 2. Check out rental companies' websites Third-party aggregator sites like Expedia or Travelocity are a great way to get an overview of what prices there are out there. But when it comes to searching for real deals, experts recommend that you go directly to car rental companies' websites, which have been known to offer discounts that you can't find on aggregator sites. 3. Google car rental discounts As with so many other purchases, the Internet is overflowing with discount and promo codes to help you save money on your next rental car. "Rental car companies are always offering special discounts for all types of things, from business rentals to AARP members," says Trav at travel tips site Extra Pack of Peanuts. "A simple Google search of '(Your Car Rental Company) discount code' will return a ton of hits. Look through the first few sites and see what type of codes there are. Then, use those codes to get up to 50% off your rental!" 4. Look for bundling options You'll see them on aggregator sites and individual rental car, airline, and hotel company sites-and they can offer some bona fide discounts that you would be wise pay attention to. For instance, search on Travelocity for car rentals in New York City this coming weekend and you see an economy vehicle at Enterprise will cost you $150. A stay at the Roosevelt Hotel in Midtown Manhattan for the same time period will cost you $179. But a stay at the Roosevelt Hotel in Midtown Manhattan bundled with a rental car will cost only $220, an overall savings of $109. 5. Book for longer than you need Yes, it sounds like a clever ploy by the rental car folks to get us to spend more, but it actually works, using car rental companies' own pricing against them. Ed Perkins at SafeTraveler.com actually confirms this: "Rent a car for a week, pay $289 including tax. Rent a car for four days, pay $333. Rent a car for a week but turn it in three days early, pay $333. You have to keep it at least five days to get the weekly rental rate. Go figure." 6. Avoid car rentals at airports It's so convenient to be able to walk off your flight and step right into your rental car-but that convenience comes at a price. All travel experts agree: to get the best price on a rental car, don't pick it up at the airport. Instead, they suggest picking up from car rental service that is reasonably close to, but not at, the airport. "Many off-airport rental offices provide transportation to and from the airport," says Teri Gault, author of Shop Smart, Save More. "And it can be more convenient than booking at the airport and having to take a rental car shuttle and dealing with huge crowds." 7. Try to avoid overbooking If you use car rental services enough, you're bound to come across this nightmare. You arrive at your destination only to find that the car you responsibly reserved is not on the lot. You don't have a ride but it's not your fault. Your car rental company overbooked. The first thing you should know about this situation is that you can minimize your chances of this happening to you. "[T]ry to avoid arriving at an airport late in the evening in need of a car," advises Perkins. If you do find yourself in this situation, however, there are steps you can take to turn it to your favor. "When a rental company can't accommodate you with a firm reservation, its first move is to offer an 'upgrade' to a more expensive model for an extra fee if the agent thinks he or she can get it, or for 'free' if you're a savvy customer," explains Perkins. The free upgrade will require you to stand your ground in the face of agents who are trained to upsell and are even paid commission based on their ability to upsell you. In the end, if an upgrade isn't available, you may have to wait around the airport or wait for them to call you at your hotel. 8. Reserve an economy car and pick up at peak time If you are willing to try your luck, you can make a lack of inventory work for you. Sophie-Claire Hoeller at Thrillist says that this strategy puts in you the very likely position of being able to get a luxury vehicle at an economy price. "Quite simply, the more likely the agency's out of the cheaper cars everyone's trying to rent, the more likely you are to drive away in a luxury midsize," she claims. Anisha Sekar at Nerdwallet confirms this, explaining: "Rental companies stock far more mid-sized cars than compacts. If they don't have a compact on site they will often give you an automatic upgrade at no additional fee. The caveat to this is that you have to hold your ground and not fall for the upgrade fee early on in the conversation. If you remain steadfast the company will have no choice but grant you a complimentary upgrade." 9. Check their age restrictions Most people are aware that car rentals won't rent to you if you don't meet certain minimum age requirements, but you might not be aware that many companies in some locations also have maximum age requirements. Unfortunately, this information is not usually prominently featured on rental car websites. If you're 70 or older, do your homework on the rental car company you're considering and make sure they'll still rent to you. 10. Prepay for the car Every business would rather get paid now rather than later. Car rental companies are no different in this regard, and they're willing to offer discounts to those customers who will prepay. Michelle Higgins at the New York Times claims that rental car companies are "offering discounts of up to 20 percent to travelers willing to prepay." A quick word of warning here though: these prepayment deals are usually locked in and even nonrefundable. Only get into a prepayment deal if you're sure you're going to go through with it. 11. The agent is not your friend I mentioned how driven rental car counter agents can be to upsell, but the point can't be overstated. And this ulterior motive can put them in direct opposition to your own interest. They want to upgrade you (for a higher price, of course). They want to sell you their insurance (even if you don't need it). They want to talk you into saying 'yes' to every little vaguely named fee, no matter how much it adds up to. Why? Because when you pay more, they get paid more. When dealing with self-interested agents, Sekar recommends, "Determine beforehand what kind of vehicle you are looking to rent. With a clear picture in mind and reservation in hand, you can resist the temptation of adamant upsells at the rental car counter." 12. Don't prepay for gas What better way to save yourself some time when you're racing to get back to the airport, than to prepay now for gas? It makes total sense, right? Wrong. This is just one of a host of fees and tricks that rental car companies use to fatten their profit margins. You pay a high price for gas that the rental car company bought for pennies on the dollar. "It's better to fill up yourself since you can usually find cheaper gas prices at a nearby station anyway," recommends money-saving guru Andrea Woroch. "But don't forget to fill it up because the cost to do so after drop-off can be a total rip-off." 13. Don't purchase additional insurance Offers of insurance are a huge money-maker for car rental companies. What the guy at the counter usually won't tell you when he offers you that insurance is that your personal auto insurance or the credit card you're charging your rental to will cover you just fine. Just for the sake of thoroughness, IndependentTraveler.com suggests, "If in doubt, ask your insurance agent or credit card issuer." Jonathan at AutoSlash echoes this need for caution: "You might already be covered, but check with your insurance carrier, and be aware of the costs you'll be responsible for." 14. Know if you need to pay the additional driver fee Want to add your spouse, sibling, or friend to the list of people who can drive your rental car? If you're looking at several days of this, things can really add up. Just how much depends on state law and your rental car company. In most states, rental car services can, and do, charge whatever fee they want per additional driver. But some states have taken legislative action to protect customers in this regard: In California, all additional drivers are free. In Illinois, Missouri, Nevada, Wisconsin, and Oregon, spouses are free to add as a driver. In New York, car rental services can't charge more than $3 per day for an additional driver. In Nevada, additional drivers cost $10.67 each per day. Obviously, how much you pay for your additional drivers will depend on what state you're visiting. Educated yourself beforehand and avoid additional driver fee shock when you see your final bill. 15. Beware of those international taxes In the U.S., individual states have their own particular taxes on car rentals, but none of them are as daunting as those found internationally. Even with a low initial rental rate, extra taxes might make a car rental not worth your time. According to TravelSense.org, international car rental taxes can add 10-30% to your bill-and that's before the possible Value Added Tax seen in many countries. How do you know if you're going to get hit with high taxes on an international rental? Read your rental agreement thoroughly. 16. Say, "No thanks," to GPS It's unbelievable that car rental services continue to offer this as an added service, in hopes that someone out there has not caught on to the smartphone revolution. If you have a smartphone, pass on this outdated (and overpriced) offering. 17. Make the agent a deal they can't refuse Yes, agents, as mentioned above, are motivated by commissions on getting you to buy extra stuff. But they're also motivated to keep cars moving off their lot. You can use this against them and get a great deal in the process. "If you don't really care what you drive, ask the agent if there are any cars he or she needs to get off the lot," says Hoeller. "Sure, you might end up driving a Geo Tracker (yeah, yeah, we know they don't make them anymore), but $10 a day is still a pretty sweet deal." 18. Check for pre-existing damage before you drive away Yes, your parents probably ran you through this one the first and second and third times you rented a car, but it bears repeating. Car rental services will get sneaky, sometimes even pointing out damage as they survey the vehicle with you, but then conveniently neglecting to record it on their form. Experts recommend that customers take matters into their own hands by snapping photos of the exterior and interior of the car before rolling off the lot and then texting those photos to the agent right after they were taken. This way both sides have the same visual record of what the car looked like, instead of relying on an unreliable slip of paper. Additional note: make sure you walk through the post-drop-off inspection with the agent. Many companies will wait until the customer has run off to catch their flight and then hit them up with charges for damage that may or may not have been the customer's fault. Make sure to read up on roadside assistance tips before your next roadtrip. You never know what can happen on the road, even when driving nicer rental cars. 19. Fill up at the cheapest price possible This one goes along with #12. You've probably been taught that you should never drop off your rental car on less than a full tank. This is true. You never want to leave it up to the rental company because of their tendency to inflate the price of their gas. But, in your own best interest, any quality of gasoline will do. Car rental companies don't spring for the fancy stuff, so why should you? 20. Return your car right on time Returning your vehicle can be a tricky business. If you bring it in too early, it might mess up the price you pay. For example, if the timing of your return will make the difference between a daily rate or a weekly rate, it could significantly increase your final bill. But if you bring it in late, you might also end being charged more, this time in late fees or even a full extra day's worth. Sarah Schlichter at IndependentTraveler.com cautions, "While some may give a 29-minute grace period, you may be charged late fees - or for a full extra day - if you return the car past that time window." Experts all agree that your best plan when returning your rental is to get as close to your planned return date and time as possible. So how do the top rental car companies stack up to one another, as rated by real customers? Visit our Rental Car Companies page today and find out.