Car Rental Savvy: Is Your Company Losing Money When You Rent a Car?

OK, I admit it. When traveling on the corporate card I couldn't care less what color desk I wound up at. I just pulled out the card and handed it to the person behind the car rental counter that had the shortest line at the airport.

But when I started paying for my own travel, I came to my senses. Wow! Car rental really costs!

Each year millions of Americans take a business trip. For those businesses trips, many people may
need to rent a car. If you are planning a business trip there are a number of quality auto rental companies to choose from. But you don't have to let them take you for everything you've got. Know what you need before you step up to the counter.

There are a lot of discounts for government and corporate travelers. These discounts are available from rental car agencies by filling out online business renter applications. To qualify, you may need to provide company name, tax number and number of qualifying employees. Many of these corporate discounts are convenient for companies of any size. Additionally, savings are available for the business traveler through collaboration with leading and discount airline carriers.

By renting from some companies, you can get frequent flier miles on many air carriers. In addition, many car rental companies also offer discounts to air passengers when they present en route tickets from participating airlines. These specials can save you $10, $15 or $20 on your car's rental. As you may find out, there are some restrictions, perhaps including a minimum number of days rental, on some of these offers.

Airline employees, the military, AAA, AARP, and senior citizens also can get special rental rates. Other companies, such as Rent-A-Wreck, offer downloadable online coupons featuring substantial savings with reduced rates for characteristic cars, trucks or SUVs.

Another way to realize savings is by searching online for Internet specials. You can sometimes save significantly by booking in advance online. Some companies have weekly rates that will save you considerably when you book your rental on their web site. Frequent renters discounts also merit mentioning. With frequent renters discounts, the more you rent the more you save.

Another way the buyer can benefit from special online deals is though upgrades. This gives you the opportunity to enjoy a nicer or larger auto at the same price of the lesser car you reserved.

From discounts and coupons to companies that specialize in low rates, opportunities for great rates can be found with good old-fashioned comparison shopping.