Renting a car from a cheap car rental or otherwise may actually cost a fortune if you do not do it right. There are some rules for hiring a car, and these rules may help you save a lot of money. Car rental is a daunting process which involves finding the right car for your requirement and ensuring that it fits into your budget as well. Following are a few things that you need to keep in mind before you book a car for your next trip.

Never pick up a car at the airport
Picking a car from the airport is a very convenient process, especially if you are in a new city, but this convenience comes at a hefty price.

Never book rentals for younger/inexperienced drivers
Car rental agencies want an assurance that their car will come back to them safely. Therefore, they always prefer renting out to people who have a lot of driving experience and are older in age. So, always ensure that you do not book a car in the name of a 20-something individual or you will end up paying much more than what a 45-year-old will have to pay.

Look for cheap car rentals
Some car rental companies have made a name for themselves, but they are not the only ones in the market.

Use memberships and other vouchers
One of the best ways to save money on car rentals is to avail of vouchers and memberships from places like Costco. These will get you discounts on the car rentals and help you find cars that cost less.

Keep only one driver
Most rental companies charge you extra if you add an additional driver to your entourage. This fee is not applicable to spouses and domestic partners. If you are driving with another driver who is not your spouse or partner, you will either have to pay extra fees or you will need to get a membership from the rental agency.

Avoid the prepaid gas offer
Many car rental companies including cheap car rentals offer you fuel at competitive prices, but this price may not be great in all cases. So, rather than getting fuel from the company itself, check for fuel pumps on your route and plan accordingly.