Knowing how to rent a car in Albuquerque might be helpful when you plan on visiting Albuquerque Aquarium, Rio Grande Zoo, and Rio Grande Botanical Gardens. http://www.rentalcarmomma.com/cities/albuquerque.htm

Rental cars are often linked to tourists and vacation. It's easy to just pick up a rental car when landing at the Albuquerque Airport. What many people don't know is that picking up a rental car at the airport is more expensive than if you picked one up from a rental car provider away from the airport. This is because the airport facilities charge taxes and fees. Aside from the taxes and fees there are many other pitfalls you have to watch out for. Nobody wants to pay a lot for a rental car but often the rates advertised are not the rates you end up getting. http://www.edmunds.com/reviews/list/top10/116640/article.html

Besides vacation transportation, there are many other purposes for rental cars. A rental car can take a business man from one meeting to another. A rental car can serve as a replacement of your own car if it's in the shop. If you have to drive a long distance, you can put the mileage on a rental car instead of your own. Albuquerque residents even use rental cars just for a fun night on the town. Whatever your purpose is for a car rental, the steps towards getting one are all the same.

On this page you will find answers to many questions that may arise when renting a car. You will also find links to Albuquerque car rental coupons that can save you some money on your next car rental.

INTERNET: Don't book a rental car without doing some research online. The Internet is 'open' 24/7 and can be accessed often right from home. See what various vehicles are available for rent and compare rates from the different car rental providers. Companies like Hertz, Avis, Thrifty and Enterprise all have competitive rates and numerous offers such as free car rental upgrades, extra free rental days, free pick-ups and various discounts on rates. Once you have decided on car rental company, you can either call in your reservation, make your reservation in person or go online to reserve your car. There are many companies that offer web-only discounts for reservations made online.

COUPONS: Everyone wants a cheap car rental. One way to save some money is to use car rental discount coupons. Websites such as retailmenot.com and rentalcarmomma.com have printable coupons, coupon codes and direct links that can all save you some money on your Albuquerque car rental. The coupons do expire, so make sure to check their expiration date. You also want to look at the fine print on the coupons to see if there are any exclusions and/or restrictions. http://www.rentalcarmomma.com/cities/albuquerque.htm http://www.retailmenot.com/coupons/carrentals

BOOK EARLY: Similar to booking air fare, when booking a rental car the sooner you reserve the car the better rate you will get. If you know weeks ahead of time that you are going to visit Albuquerque, reserve your car right away. Car rental rates depend on how many cars are in the lot at the time of your reservation. If you are very late making your reservation, you want to look into last minute car rental rates.

WEEKLY & WEEKEND DEALS: If you are staying in Albuquerque over a weekend, you can look into getting a weekend rate for your rental car. Many car rental companies discount their weekend rates. If you are staying longer than five days, look into weekly rates since these are cheaper than day to day rates. http://www.edmunds.com/reviews/list/top10/116640/article.html

PACKAGE DEALS: On websites like Travelocity.com, Orbitz.com, Expedia.com, Priceline.com, and Hotwire.com you can find package deals where you can book your car rental, air fare and/or accommodation at the same time. Booking everything simultaneously is cheaper than booking everything separately.

When renting a car the rate you end up paying can easily go up if you don't know how to avoid certain pitfalls. Following is a summary of these pitfalls.

CHILD CAR SEATS AND MORE: If you have a small child that requires a child safety car seat it is best to bring your own. Car rental companies charge daily rates to rent additional items like car seats, GPS devices, roof racks and such. If you want to save some money, bring your own add-ons.

PREPAYING FOR GAS: Always opt to fill up the rental car before returning it to the car rental lot. Prepaying for gas is often more expensive and even if you don't use up all the gas in the car, you will still have prepaid for a full tank. Car rental companies charge higher gas rates than what you would pay at the gas station.

FREE UPGRADES: If you are trying to save money, you might want to decline offers of free upgrades to larger vehicles. Larger vehicles need more gas and will only result in more costs to you. Instead, you can try to ask for an upgrade to a more economical vehicle.

MILEAGE: Inquire about unlimited mileage before driving off the lot. Some car rental companies charge you if you go over a certain amount of miles per day. You want to make sure this restriction doesn't apply to your rental car. You want that unlimited mileage. If you forgot to ask about this, make sure to read the fine print on the rental agreement, or call the rental company.

INSURANCE: Many people that rent a car are already covered in case of an accident. Their own car rental company might have covered them already. Before accepting the car insurance offered by the car rental company, make sure to check with your own insurance company. http://www.independenttraveler.com/resources/article.cfm?AID=29&category=2&page=1

Besides the nationwide well known car rental providers there are also independently owned car rental facilities in Albuquerque . Sometimes it's easier to deal with an independently smaller company. For instance, if you are under 25 years of age other companies might charge you an age penalty. Independent car rental companies make their own rules and regulations and are more flexible when it comes to negotiating. Aside from this it is also said that they provide better service and have a better vehicle selection. Following you will find information on several independent car rental companies in Albuquerque. http://www.carrentalexpress.com/tips/car-rental-independent.html

INDEPENDENT CAR RENTAL COMPANIES:

• ABC Car Rental
• 2501 Lead Avenue Southeast
• Albuquerque, NM 87106-3619
• Phone: (505) 256-1169

This car rental company doesn't provide a website like many smaller independent car rental companies. They are however conveniently located in Albuquerque.

• Rent A Wreck
• 2001 Ridgecrest Drive Southeast
• Albuquerque, NM 87108-4531
• Phone: (505) 232-7552

This car rental company was founded in 1968 and doesn't rent wrecks, but cars like the ones you drive in on a daily basis. http://www.rentawreck.com/about.htm