by Katharine Swan – With the Internet, renting a car is easier than ever. You can compare prices, make your reservations, and pay for your rental online in no time. When the site asks you what car you want, however, what will you choose? It may seem to make sense to get a rental car about the same size as your daily driver, so that you don’t have to get used to driving something else while you’re away from home. However, there are also some good reasons for renting something a little different: comfort, gas mileage, and room for luggage, to name a few. Below are the 6 most popular rental car models.

Toyota Camry

Everyone loves the Camry, from the car rental agencies to the customers who drive them. The Camry is a comfortable midsize rental with lots of room in the trunk for your luggage, and comfortable seats for the driver and passengers — even backseat passengers. The Camry is essentially the best of both worlds, as it gets good gas mileage and is an affordable rental, yet offers a taste of luxury.

Toyota Corolla

As a slightly smaller and more fuel efficient version of the Camry, the Corolla is another popular car rental. It’s usually inexpensive to rent, because it’s considered a compact sedan, yet it’s big enough to be reasonably comfortable. The car’s fuel economy makes it a perfect choice for road trips or vacations where you’ll be doing a lot of driving and don’t want to spend too much on gas.

Nissan Altima

If you want a comfortable sedan that has it all — comfortable, roomy, and with plenty of pep — the Altima is just what you need. People who rent cars regularly love the hint of luxury that the Altima offers, not to mention the perfect balance between power and fuel economy.

Ford Taurus

The Ford Taurus has been around for years, and is often used as a rental car.
One thing people really like about these cars is that they haven’t changed much over the years, so even driving a newer rental is like putting on an old, comfortable shoe — you always know how it will fit. The Taurus is also an extremely roomy, comfortable midsize rental, so it’s perfect for family vacations, business trips, whatever.

Hyundai Sonata

Here’s a surprising favorite! Hyundais have become popular rental cars in recent years, especially their Sonata, a comfortable midsize with a surprisingly luxurious feel. Plus these cars get surprisingly decent gas mileage, so what’s not to love?

Chrysler 300

You can’t have a favorite car rentals list without including the Chrysler 300. The cars listed above include both economy and midsize vehicles, but if you want a more luxurious ride, the 300 is your best choice. This is one of the top favorites because of the great features the car offers: heated seats, satellite radio, and a super-smooth ride.

Everyone has different tastes, and your uses for the rental car might change what you want out of it. For instance, if you are going on a road trip by yourself or with one other person, a Corolla will offer you great gas mileage and the smaller size won’t matter. If, on the other hand, you have a lot of luggage to fit inside the car, or you are going on a trip with the whole family, a roomier, more comfortable car will probably be your preference. Choose your rental based on your needs and you won’t be disappointed!

Katharine Swan is a freelance writer specializing in travel guides and how to save money with hotel and car rental deals. She lives in Colorado and takes frequent road trips with her husband.

When you only have a limited time in a city, you want to see it all. Sometimes the fastest way to get around is by car. Whether you need a car for a day or a week, CarRentals.com can find a comfortable, dependable car for you with rates as low as $16.95 a day.
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Planning your trip can involve a lot of phone calls and unpleasant wait times. Thrifty Rent-a-Car doesn’t want to waste your time or money. If you book your next car rental online you can enjoy the speed and ease of the site as well as an addition 5% discount.
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Everyone dreams of having a certain type of car. Maybe you love convertibles, or perhaps you long for the space and power of an SUV. The point is, it’s just a dream, right? Why not live the dream for a few days while on vacation?

Save some cash on airfare and plan a fun family road trip instead of flying. Book through Thrifty Rent-a-Car and find deals on SUVs and other family-friendly vehicles. Find a car that fits your family and your budget, and book now while the deals last!

Get the best rate on a mid-size SUV.

by Ryan Embly – A lot of travelers will spend hours trying to find airfare and accommodation deals but they wont spend any time looking for a car rental. Prices can vary greatly when renting a car. It’s going to be expensive if you arrive at your destination and choose the first car rental agency you see. A lot of travelers are under the false impression that rental prices are the same from every company, but this is not the case. Shopping around is important. There are other tips and tricks for saving money on car rentals and we’ve included them below.

Be Careful of Extra Insurance

You obviously need your basic car insurance when you rent a car but be careful of all the extra insurance fees you’ll be offered. Many of them are irrelevant for your needs.

If you’re a poor driver, you might want to pick up some of these extras but otherwise they may just be costing you a lot of money.

Some credit cards will cover your collision costs if you book the rental with their credit card. Check with your card company and see if this applies to you – it could save you money on your insurance.

Make sure you also do a very thorough inspection of the rental car before you take it out and make sure the person working for the company writes down any chips or dings that you spot.

Go With a Small Car

This is a simple one that most people don’t seem to try.
A smaller car is almost always cheaper… it’s cheaper to rent and cheaper to fill up with gas. Plus a lot of agencies wont carry many smaller cars so you’ll often get free upgrades.

You’re on vacation to relax and have fun, not to impress your neighbors with your big car. If you pack light you’ll have less stuff to carry in and out of hotels too!

Avoid the Airport Fees

Showing up and having a car ready for you at the airport is very convenient. The only problem is that it is also very expensive so avoid the limo service and rent a car in advance of arriving. If you have to cab or bus a few minutes to the car rental agency don’t fret because you’ll likely be saving a lot of money.

Do Your Research

There are lots of car rental agencies and website around. Spend some time online looking for the best deals and discounts.

Take all the knowledge and searching skills you’ve acquired from booking flights and hotels and use that to help you find a great deal on a car rental.

This post was written by Ryan Embly from the car rental comparison website Car Rental Express. The website has lots of tips and useful car rental coupons for all your travel needs.

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With fewer people traveling, rental car companies are lowering the size of their fleets. These smaller fleets are forcing the leisure traveler to spend more to rent a car. The effect is not as noticeable to corporate travelers. Their companies have contracts with the rental companies to secure lower rates.

According to the article, a week long car rental has gone up an average of 36% since last year for midsize and compact rentals at major car rental companies at major airport locations. A representative from Enterprise says that its rates are up “less than 5%” from last year, but the data doesn’t lie.

This rate increase has led to an increase in support for lesser known companies, such as EZ Rent-A-Car.
Consumers are finding lower rates with the smaller companies. They may not offer all of the amenities of the major rental companies, but the prices usually offset those amenities.

Travelated recommends that you examine all of your options before renting your next car. Do your research and it will pay off in the end.

Source: USA Today