If you’re having a vacation for a long time, like weeks or month and you think you would not use a car often, I suggest you only have a one way car rental and just rent another car if you are already going to end your vacation. It would be very expensive for you to rent a car but will not use it often, so better rent a one way car only.

Many advantage car rental agencies offer their services online and pass special rates on to customers who choose to rent in this manner. While many agencies welcome walk-in customers, most ask that you make a reservation for the best selection of models suited for you. If you’re six feet tall, you’ll want to call ahead and make sure they have something larger than a compact vehicle.

The yellow pages have a large assortment of rental car agencies, and each is listed with special customer features and the models of the cars they specialize in. Some rental agencies also offer a very convenient customer pick-up service. If you’re going to be picking up the car yourself however, try to co-ordinate your car pick-up and return times, so you won’t be charged for an extra day. Be sure that it is a car rent with driver and this service is free, because if it isn’t free, your one way car rental will be expensive.

No agency will let you have budget car rental if you can't produce your driver's license or a credit card, and if you appear unfit to drive, forget about getting a car from them! Be careful about violating your car rental agreement by driving while intoxicated or under the influence of drugs. Most agencies will consider criminal charges if they find out about such behavior while their vehicle is being driven. Remember to familiarize yourself with all of the terms and conditions of the rental agreement, including what could possibly void your insurance coverage. As the renter, you are liable for all parking and moving traffic violations, both domestic and international, so please drive safely and observe all ordinances.

As a general rule, a major credit card is required at the time of rental, while prepaid credit cards, gift cards and debit/check cards are accepted for payment at the end of the car rental for events.

In many cases, one way car rental is more affordable than renting one, for moths but is not using this often, so think about discount rental cars that will help you save money. Should you require child seats, you should book them in advance, because they may charge a fee for each seat. Check out the state or country you will be driving in for more information about child restraint regulations.

Now things are getting better. You can arrange to have enterprise car rentals for your whole company, and specify your pick up and drop off point. There are directories where many companies are featured and you can easily compare the services as well as pricing of different car rental companies.

As a discerning consumer it would be a great advantage if you kept in mind:

1. That you need to keep the paper work ready before renting a car. Be sure that who ever would drive the budget rental cars that you get, have a driver’s license and is capable to drive it. Be sure to ready the office papers you need, the signature of your boss and everything. Otherwise be sure to apply for the requisite permissions.

2. Find out whether the car has currently valid insurance and whether it has passed a road test recently. Ask specifically whether the car’s papers are in good order and when it was last serviced. Consider opting for damage coverage many rental companies make the offer for a nominal amount.

3. Check what the rental charges cover and whether there is an extra charge payable for drop off and pick up of the vehicle. Some have car rental with driver and some companies offer this service for free while others do charge an extra amount.

4. Always compare shop for good rates. If your dates are flexible ask about special offers and car rental discounts. Rental companies also run promotional schemes so be sure to know what is on offer and how it will benefit you. If you book early you will get better rates than closer to the date of use. Rates also vary depending on the kind of car you wish to rent. Ask whether you are eligible for any discounts.

5. Most companies will not accept cash so make arrangements to carry a card with a low limit for making payment. Also if your company has a regular contract with the car rental then use their relationship to make arrangements. You will get superior service as well as a god rate.

And lastly and the most important one, take down the 24/7 numbers of customer service and numbers where the advantage car rental people can be contacted on an emergency. Remember that your enterprise rental car is the key for a perfect getaway of your company, so follow these steps and have a great getaway.

These vehicles are best in their class when it comes to price and low long-term costs

"It was great," says Wurster, who leads product development and industry analysis for the auto consulting firm Vincentric, in Bloomfield Hills, Mich. "I think in the short term it's going to go down more, in fact. But this is the short term. Don't get comfortable. We're going to see $3 again."

It's the unease of impending high gas prices and the shaky economy that necessitates consumers arming themselves with as much information as they can before heading out to buy a new car, experts say. And the research can pay off, since the true costs of owning a car are realized only after you drive off the lot, not when you hand over a cashier's check for the car itself.

Take, for example, the $22,990 Volkswagen GTI and the $23,565 Jeep Wrangler Unlimited. Though comparable in price, the two-door GTI's fuel efficiency (21 mpg in the city and 31 mpg on the highway) and low maintenance costs help make it the most affordable compact premium model.
The Wrangler Unlimited SUV, however, fares worse when it comes to affordability over five years. Its lower gas mileage (15 mpg in the city, 20 mpg on the highway) and the higher cost of insuring a mid-size SUV make it more expensive to drive than a smaller car of comparable sticker price.

Dan Jarvis, a Ford spokesman, says more drivers, especially young ones, are making the "very wise" decision to do this kind of research online before talking to a dealer.
"They are looking at the overall cost over the life of the vehicle," he says. "And the millennials, as we call them, are also doing the research for their mothers and fathers. So they know about insurance costs and maintenance and fuel costs. They're looking for that value."

Behind The Numbers
To identify 2009's most affordable vehicle in each major market segment, we used Vincentric data to add to the base price the five-year totals for fuel costs, maintenance and repairs, as well as the average national insurance rates in each segment. To find the gas expense, we assumed an annual rate of 15,000 miles driven per vehicle at a price of $3.25 per gallon (the 2008 year-to-date average). We then evaluated affordability based on the percentage of each vehicle's five-year costs compared with its grand total costs, including base price.

Experts say the key to choosing a truly affordable vehicle is to know what your needs are--and stick to them. Nowhere is this more important than when considering buying an SUV. The Kia Sportage, for example, is the most affordable SUV overall on our list. The base model costs only $16,695, but still offers luxury-associated amenities such as keyless entry, alloy wheels and full power accessories. But it leaves out the heft, which helps keep its gas costs low, getting a combined 22 mpg.