Avis Car Rental 

Booking Rental Cars Online

Whether flying to a city away from home or looking for a sporty weekend vehicle, you can probably get a good deal online. While the process of online reservations is pretty straight-forward, here are some pointers to help you get the best deal:

• I know exactly which company I want to rent from. While convenient, this might not be the best method if your primary goal is to find the best deal. Visit sites that show you the best rates from several car companies at once. Major travel sites such as Travelocity or Expedia are a good option to finding rates from many different car companies.
• Double-check Your Options before reserving the vehicle. Typically, rental companies offer 'unlimited' mileage for online reservations. If you'll be doing a lot of driving (averaging more than 100 miles per day), make sure you have this option. Otherwise, your rental could be more expensive than you what you budgeted for. Also, make sure the rate quoted applies for the length of your rental. Occasionally, your quoted rate is a weekend rate that could expire before the end of your rental. After that, your rate can increase — sometimes to almost twice your original quote. Read the 'fine print' to make sure you understand what your daily rate will be.
• Check the location of your rental. An 'off-airport' location may mean that you'll have to take a shuttle bus from the airport to the car rental location — this could be several miles away. While every 'off-airport' rental company offers a free shuttle, it may be more convenient to rent from a company located at the airport.

• I don't care what company I rent from - just give me a good deal! Another option for securing the best deal may be using an auction or discount site. Priceline.com and Hotwire.com offer dramatically discounted rentals. While you won't be able to choose the car rental company, you will be able to pick the location and the type of car you want to drive.