| In the conventional world, renting cars requires a | | | | to negotiate, smile, snivel, discount your way into |
| reservation, confirmation, and even a credit card. | | | | a car for a price that is better than or equal to |
| With as little as a pair of comfortable walking | | | | the best price you have. Car rental agencies |
| shoes, a laptop computer (or even a really good | | | | report their walk up traffic statistics to the airport |
| pda phone), and a bit of patience, its possible to | | | | authority. The authority uses this data to |
| save more money that you would have reserving | | | | determine which agencies will get on airport |
| online. And you don't even have to have any risk | | | | locations and the highest walk up traffic agencies |
| in doing so. | | | | are given the most prime locations. The authority |
| Car rental agencies want you to think they have | | | | gets a cut of all the business done at the airports |
| very rigid price scales. "it costs this much to rent | | | | and the best company in the best spot |
| a car, period." Truth is they change the prices all | | | | traditionally will give them the best revenue. |
| the time. A trained eye and a bit of watching can | | | | 6. Don't give up, hit em all, play off one against |
| spot the deals from the dunces. The technique I | | | | the other. Statements like "national gave me an |
| am about to tell you is basic, easy, and in no way | | | | offer of 18 dollars a day, can you beat that?" are |
| violates any rules that the rental companies want | | | | NOT taboo and are very effective in getting the |
| to claim. so take notes and pay attention. | | | | agent to keep you in their company. After all, a |
| 1. If you are planning a trip, go-ahead and book a | | | | walk up is a commission paid event. If you buy |
| reservation, the best deal you can find that has | | | | from them and you have no reservation, the |
| no cancellation penalties. Most car rental agencies | | | | agent gets a nice tidy check. |
| do not have any cancellation penalties except | | | | 7. If your original reservation is the best option, |
| during peak season and for specialty cars. If you | | | | nothing lost except for 15 min of time. Simply go |
| are trapped due to an unexpected change in | | | | pick up your reserved car and begin your trip. But |
| destination or you changed your mind on renting | | | | if your reservation is left in the dust, call and |
| at the last second, skip this step. | | | | cancel it, and get ready to accept an offer at |
| 2. Bring or wear your most comfortable walking | | | | another location. Notice I said "get ready to |
| shoes with you on this trip. Also, bring your laptop | | | | accept." |
| computer and a smile. | | | | 8. As a final attempt at a better car, say "Ill take |
| 3. When you land, bust out your computer and hit | | | | that offer if you can give me the next car class |
| or any other discount websites. most of these | | | | up for the same price." People don't realize that |
| websites will not let you book any reservation | | | | this is perhaps the EASIEST thing for a car rental |
| within 2 hours of your expected pick up time, so | | | | agent to do. Upgrades for free are almost always |
| you will have to be prepared for a possible last | | | | "personal" decisions by the agents. *note, this |
| second delay (bring a book or plan for a light lunch | | | | obviously does not work when the location is |
| or dinner at the airport, just in case). At the | | | | extremely busy or sold out. This works best |
| hotwire site, pick out a reservation for a rental | | | | when there is no one around and lots of cars to |
| car for the desired amount of time. Choose the | | | | be had. |
| car class just below you want if your asking for a | | | | As you can see, there is an easy way to get |
| normal sedan. | | | | better deals for rental cars even in the worst of |
| 4. Hotwire, unlike Priceline, will give you the dollar | | | | circumstances. Some people simply give up and |
| amount of the best deal they can offer you right | | | | get "whatever" they can find. The truth is, if you |
| there. Use that as your baseline for your bargain | | | | plan for it, expect for it to happen, build your |
| hunt. At this point, if the hotwire price is more | | | | travel plans around attempting this, its not nearly |
| expensive, or relatively close to your reservation, | | | | as hard or tiring as it seems. The car rental |
| it may be better to take the reservation price. | | | | agencies take advantage of traveler's mental |
| 5. Take the reservation price, the hotwire | | | | status all the time. Be ready, be prepared, and |
| estimate, and start going door to door, counter to | | | | save save save! |
| counter for each and every agency. Your goal is | | | | |