Renting a car, while seeming to be fairly easy, can actually be a complicated process if you want to get the most for your money. Unclear small print, invisible costs, and ignorance of the deals available can make car rental more expensive that it has to be. A well-informed consumer has many options available, any combination of which might just let you keep dollars in your pocket.

Your basic procedure for renting is fairly straightforward, and should start with you gathering no less than three rental agencies you’d be willing to work with. When you call, you’ll want to find out where the agency’s offices are local to your pick up destination, what kind of availability they have during your trip, whether or not they have special deals they can offer you, and whether the rental agency has deals set up to get you discounts based on airlines or hotels you’re using. Having all this handy will help you with your search.

One detail that can be important is the pick up and drop off locations for the rental. While most of the time these will be the same, some circumstances require that they be different, and this can be a source of exceptional costs. Next, think about what size of car you need, then once you know that, use a credit card to reserve your rental, that way you won’t have to worry about not finding a rental the day of pick up.

In addition to the usual process of rental, there are a few things to keep in mind as a renter that will help you out. Do you want 24-hour roadside assistance? How will you get to the pick up/drop off point: many rental agencies offer a ride to their location, or help cover cab fare. Does your insurance cover the rental already, and if it does, is the agency taking this into account? And do you need unlimited miles on the rental? Sometimes a mileage cap can reduce the overall price on the rental.

Finally, a few additional notes can help save you money. Summer rentals are usually the most expensive. In-town rentals are cheaper than airport rentals. Always have the person renting be over 25. These small details will help you keep your expenses to a minimum.

Let’s visit a place where you will definitely find value for money in car rental. If you are living in Orlando, be sure to check out car rental Orlando.