Search for a car rental

Sites like this give you access to the top car rental companies around the world. When looking at the results of the search, remember that many of the best companies run their own loyalty programs and tie into the frequent flier programs run by the major airlines. So, if you are going to be making several trips which will involve the use of a rented vehicle, think carefully before you make the first booking. It may be more cost-effective to look for loyalty rewards than to rely on package deals with the flight. If you're going to European destinations, you should remember there's a preference for compact and subcompact vehicles. When selecting the make and models, ensure you choose something in which you are going to feel comfortable. The majority of makes and models are also stick shift so, if this is going to be a problem, make your need for an automatic clear. Put all this together and you have the factors to take into account when choosing the car rental companies for your needs. If you're expected to go to a distant collection point some distance from the airport and the company seems to be nickel-and-diming you on the costs, this suggests you should find another company for your next trip.

ARTICLES

Cheap Car Rental   Tips on finding special deals from car rental companies If you can find cheap air tickets to take you where you want to go or this is a road trip leaving your home town, now comes the challenge of finding cheap car rental companies that provide a good service. As a starting tip, some of the best deals come when you prepay and, in most cases, there are no refunds should you wish to cancel. Remember this when you're beginning the booking process. Here are some tips to help you find those special deals. read more...
Around the world   Car rental around the world Thanks to the growth in air travel, the world is now a smaller place. You can afford to visit Europe, Asia or Australia. Except, when you look on the map, you suddenly realize how big these places are on the ground. You can rely on public transport in Europe but, in other parts of the world, this is less efficient. You need a vehicle to match local conditions. So here are a few guidelines on some of the problems and how to get the best deals. Read more...
Trip   Car rental companies for a trip When you finally pick up the car and hit the road, you can let out a long sigh. You finally made it. You're on the way. This is all about you. The road is there. You decide where to go, when to stop and start. If a village, town or city catches your eye, you can spend days there to explore. Yet this must fit your personality. Some people prefer everything worked out in advance. Just setting off with a good map is stepping off into the unknown. Read more...
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Car rental companies

Companies always like to know how their customers see them so, with hopes in their hearts, they ask marketing experts to carry out surveys, form focus groups and do what they do to get information from customers. In this case, the car rental companies wanted to know who were the top dogs around the world. Perhaps, not surprisingly, the survey found most praise for Avis, Enterprise, and Hertz (in alphabetical order and not the same top three for the US market). This prompts us to ask what factors these customers were thinking about when giving their votes. The answers are, in alphabetical order, the:
  • age of the fleet;
  • convenience of the collection points;
  • quality of the service;
  • range of choice between different makes and models;
  • rental rates for the different makes and models;
  • reliability of the vehicles and their state on collection; and
  • transparency of the pricing — no sudden additional charges and fees.
Because of their size and the number of locations throughout so many countries, these three are also flexible in one-way rentals, i.e. you don't have to return the vehicle to the original collection point, but can drop it off at any designated point. In Europe where there's a greater interest in the environment, they are also encouraging the use of electric vehicles, providing charging points at regular intervals along the most popular routes and, wherever possible, encouraging car sharing. At the other end of the scale, companies like Dollar and Thrifty will have to significantly modify their performance if they are to avoid dropping down into the worst category.