Because car rental agencies are so helpful for travelers, many take them for granted. Depending on the day and the terms, the price of renting a car can vary drastically from one agency to the next and even within one agency. Here are some ways you can make sure you have a good experience the next time you rent a car.

If your trip involves flying, staying at a hotel, and a car rental, getting everything in a package deal is your best option Regardless of why you’re traveling, package deals can be found that will cover all of your major expenses, especially if you’re going to a major city. You usually have to plan in advance to find these deals and you have to add it all up to make sure it’s really a bargain. However, if you are going to be paying for all these services anyway, you may as well buy them in a single package if it’s going to be cheaper. Check online, in the travel section of your newspaper or go to a travel agent to find travel deals that include a car rental.

When it comes to car rentals, the rates usually differ depending on whether it’s a weekday or weekend, and how many days you rent the car. You will save more by renting for a full week than it will cost you for a few days rental. Save money on a five day daily rental by purchasing the weekly rental for a lower price.

In order to take advantage of this you will need to know ahead of time how many days you will need the car.

While airports are one of the most popular places to rent a car, from a consumer’s standpoint, they are among the worst. For the convenience of stepping off the plane and into a rental car, you will pay extra taxes and fees. This means, however, that you’ll be paying more than you would at a neighborhood car rental. In most cases, you are better off taking a shuttle or even a taxi to a car rental that is outside the airport. Planning this in advance will make it easier. Airports are hoping that people won’t plan out this part of the trip in advance.

As a general rule rental car contracts are tricky especially if you are not aware of all of the terms and conditions. You simply must read the fine print to know what your final cost could end up being. You need to keep in mind the options available, the type of cars available and the fuel costs of those cars. Your rental car experience will be much more enjoyable if you keep these tips in mind.