For those of us who have booked a vacation and needed a rental car, we know that finding one is no small task. Although there are plenty of car rental services to choose from, sometimes the car we want isn’t available at our nearest Hertz location. There are plenty of tips and tricks to snag a vehicle that fits your budget and style preference, without requiring you to take a cab 100 miles to pick it up. 

First off, you may want to look for a car rental site that actually helps you save money. Star Reviews mentions Budget, for example, a service that provides customers with a frequent renter program, giving them discounts when they rack up numerous rentals. If you are one that utilizes car rentals on every vacation, this would definitely be a wise choice.

Another way to save yourself any vacation-planning hassles is to choose broad search criteria when signing up for a car rental. You will often be asked to choose the dates you need the car, what type of car you want, and where you’d like to pick it up. When searching for a car on the Alamo car rental website, for instance, it may be necessary to enter diverse search criteria in order to obtain results you can work with. For example, you may need a car stationed 20 miles from your hotel, but by entering 40, you better your chances of getting what you’re looking for.

Besides broadening your car search criteria, an important tip to remember is to check out what special rates car rental services have. Avis, for instance, provides discounts of up to 25% for American Express cardholders. And, of course, planning ahead and keeping up to date on your reservation status are beneficial ways to ensure a positive vacation experience.