This page has information on how to rent a car in Atlanta, Georgia. You will find step by step guidelines on what to ask, what to do and what not to do, when searching for a rental car. This page also has various links to car rental coupons that can save you some money.

If you are visiting Atlanta as a tourist, on business, or if you are a resident of Atlanta, you might have the need for a rental car. Whether you use a rental car as a replacement for your own car or to drive long distance, if you know where to look, you might find good deals on rental cars. A rental car has many benefits, one being that you are on your own schedule. You don't have to go by bus and train schedules.

Booking a rental car doesn't have to be expensive. National car rental companies like Budget, Enterprise, Alamo, Avis, and Hertz all want your business. They have competitive rates and discounts that you can take advantage of. Some of their offers include extra free rental days, discounts on various rates and free upgrades to larger vehicles. http://www.rentalcarmomma.com/

Many people don't know about all the hidden fees that come with renting a car. If you know how to avoid the fees, you will end up with an affordable rental car and you will stay within your spending budget.

WHAT ARE YOU LOOKING FOR: Car rental companies have many different kind of vehicles available for rent. To find out which vehicle most suits your needs, the best thing to do is surf the Internet. You can find anything from compacts and minivans to luxury cars and pick-up trucks. Some companies only specialize in high end, exotic vehicles. Another thing to search online are the car rental rates. You can compare different companies and pick the one that fits your budget. You can rent a car over the phone, in person or online. The good thing about going online is that it's 24/7. You don't have to go by the hours of operation of the car rental facility. Some people also avoid reserving a car in person because they don't want to deal with pushy sales people.

WHEN TO BOOK: Reserving your car early will usually get you better rates. Car rental rates are determined by the amount of vehicles present on the lot at the time of your reservation. If you know a week or more ahead of time that you will be visiting Atlanta, make sure to reserve your car as soon as possible. The earlier you reserve your vehicle, the better rate you will get.

CAR & HOTEL: If you require a hotel stay during your visit to Atlanta, Georgia, make sure to check for package offers. A package offer is when you book a hotel stay together with a rental car and/or flight. You can find these offers on various travel websites like orbitz.com. http://www.orbitz.com/App/DisplayCarSearch6 http://www.rentalcarmomma.com/7

CAR RENTAL RATES: Try reserving your rental car for a weekend. Many companies offer discounts on weekends. If you plan on staying in Atlanta for five days or longer inquire about their weekly rates. The weekly rates are often more favorable than their daily rates. http://www.edmunds.com/reviews/list/top10/116640/article.html8

FREE UPGRADES: When you pick up your rental car in Atlanta, you may be asked if you would like to upgrade to a larger vehicle. Rental companies often offer free upgrades because it's the compact cars that are really in high demand. It sounds like a good deal, but keep in mind that a larger vehicle requires more gas. If you are on a budget, you might want to consider declining this offer. If you want to rent a larger car, consider reserving a compact. You will be charged less and when you go to pick up the car, you may get a free upgrade to that larger car you desired in the first place.

GAS COSTS: When dropping off your rental car, you can do this with either a full tank or an empty tank. Agreements for this are made ahead of time, when picking up the vehicle. You can either pre-pay for gas or agree to fill up the gas tank before returning the vehicle. Overall filling up the car yourself is cheaper because car rental companies usually charge more than the current gas prices. Also when you opt for prepaying gas you might end up losing money when you return the car with only half a tank used.

CAR RENTAL PICK UPS: Picking up a rental car up from the airport seems convenient, but it is also more expensive because taxes and fees are charged. If you can, try picking up the vehicle from a local neighborhood car rental facility. It well save you money and the lines may be shorter compared to the airport.

OTHER COSTS: If you need a child safety seat, GPS device or roof rack, it is cheaper to bring your own. Car rental companies charge anywhere from $5 - $25 per day for additional items. The total amount can add up quickly if you let it. http://www.independenttraveler.com/resources/article.cfm?AID=29&category=2&page=210

COUPONS: Atlanta car rental coupons can be found on various websites such as rentalcarmomma.com and retailmenot.com. The coupons are either coupon codes, direct links or printable coupons. Coupon codes can be redeemed by entering them online while reserving your vehicle. Direct links take you to the website that where you can redeem the discount upon reserving the rental car. Printable coupons can be printed, clipped and redeemed at the participating car rental facility. Some coupons might only be valid if the renter is a certain age or for the rental of select vehicles. Other restrictions and exclusions might apply also, so check the fine print on the coupons. Since expired coupons are not accepted you want to make sure the coupons are valid before redeeming them. http://www.rentalcarmomma.com/cities/atlanta.htm http://www.retailmenot.com/view/foxrentacar.com

EMAIL UPDATES: Keep up to date of car rental promotions, discounts and offers by registering your email on the website of the major car rental companies. Once you do, you will start receiving updates by email. http://www.enterprise.com/car_rental/intresImage.do?imageId=28443.4&key=996.en.US.......&page=HOM12

MEMBERSHIP: Major car rental companies like Hertz, Budget, Avis, Alamo and Enterprise have clubs you can join for free or for a yearly fee. When you join you get many perks and discounts when renting cars. You get to use the members' line at the airport and enjoy faster service.