Fill It Up Yourself: Rental car companies charge a lot for gas. If you return your rental car with an empty tank, you are going to have a heft fee added on to your total. To avoid this, just fill it up yourself before you return it to the rental car company’s lot.

Use Discount Codes and Coupons: The Internet is filled with rental car discount codes and coupons. Although most codes and coupons are only good for a limited amount of time, with a little searching, you can find ones that are active. Additionally, many rental companies publish discount codes and coupons directly on their website under their “Deals” or “Offers” sections. Keep in mind that it won’t always work, but depending on the company and the codes you are trying to use, you may be able to use multiple ones to save even more money!

Book Early: The earlier you book, the more money you’ll save. This may seem too simple, but it’s the truth. If you want to save, don’t wait to make your reservation.

If You Don’t Need a Big Car, Don’t Book One: Typically, the smaller the car, the less it’s going to cost you. While there are times when you need a larger vehicle, when you don’t need a larger car, book the small one and you’ll save on it.

Make Your Pickup and Return Times the Same: Most rental car companies charge on a twenty-four hour basis, so it’s best to pickup and return your car at the same time. Otherwise, if you pickup your car at 10:00 AM when you arrive, and return it at 1:00 PM when you leave, you’ll end up paying more than if you just returned it at 10:00 AM that day.