Some people take it for granted that renting a car is necessary after flying to a new city, when that is not always the case. Moreover, there are several factors a traveler should keep in mind to keep the price of a rental car as low as possible in the event one chooses to rent a car. Consider these 9 tips:

1. Other transportation options. New York, Philadelphia, London, Paris, and Las Vegas (for example) have inexpensive and easily-accessible mass transit systems. Cities without decent public transportation still might offer tour buses that could be of use to a traveler. Why pay for car rental, parking, and gasoline when you can ride a subway to your destination? The time potentially spent stuck in traffic congestion and the time spent looking for reasonably-priced parking should also be weighed in your decision.
2. Where to rent? If you decide to procure a car, note that it might be more expensive to do so at an airport because of operating fees levied by the airport that are usually passed on to the consumer, as well as the higher cost the agencies charge because the demand at the airport as so high. Agencies located in other places, perhaps near your hotel, might offer a more affordable rate.
3. What sort of rental car? Consider renting a compact car. You’ll save money on the rental, on gasoline, and it will be easier to park in a crowded city. If you apply for a compact car, rental agencies will often upgrade you to a mid-size car if they no longer have available compact cars on their lot.
4. Small car rental companies. Smaller, local companies might offer a better rate than national chains. Research which companies are available in your travel destination. You might find a good deal!
5. Discounts. Search for websites that offer car rental discounts. Some rental agencies have discount codes if you work for certain employers or if you carry a certain brand of insurance.
6. Gasoline. Don’t purchase gasoline at the lot. Purchase it yourself. You might not need a full tank of gas and you’ll probably get a better price per gallon by searching around.
7. Length of rental. Only rent a car when you actually need transportation. If you’re in a new city for a full week and you only need the car on two days, rent the car only for two days.
8. Car Rental Insurance. Check with your credit card company and with your car insurance firm to see if you are covered if something costly happens to your rental car.
9. Additional services. Do not agree to every add-on that the customer service person suggests to you. Car rental employees are looking to turn a profit, not necessarily to help you.

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