If you want to know how to rent a car in Birmingham, Alabama this page can be of some assistance.

If you travel to Alabama to visit the Birmingham Botanical Gardens and the Vulcan Park and Museum, or to eat at Highlands Bar and Grill, a rental car might be your choice of transportation. To get a good deal on a rental car you need to know how to avoid various hidden fees and charges. There are even discount coupons you can use if you just know where to find them. http://www.rentalcarmomma.com/cities/birmingham.htm

Aside from tourists, anyone can really use a rental car from time to time. Birmingham residents can use rental cars if they need to replace their own car when it's in the shop. Truck rental can be utilized when there is a need to transport large cargo and even during a night out on the town one can use a rental car. Whatever purpose you have for a rental car, the steps to take towards getting a good rental car rate, are all the same.

The nationwide car rental giants like Hertz, Enterprise, Alamo, Avis and Budget all want your business. They all have competitive prices and promotions going on. Some of the offers include extra free rental days, various discounted rates and free upgrades to larger vehicles. Deciding which company to go with can be a little tricky. Hopefully this page will help you in your decision making process when you plan on visiting Birmingham. http://www.rentalcarmomma.com/

THE INTERNET: One of the first things you should do when looking for a rental car in Birmingham is surfing the Internet. See what vehicles are out there for rent and what rates they are going for. You can rent a car by phone, online or in person at the rental car facility. However, car rental companies all have opening and closing hours and on weekends some of them even close early. When you use the internet to reserve your car, you don't have to worry about hours of operation because car rental companies on the internet are 'open' 24/7. Beside this, if you reserve your car online you will be avoiding that pushy salesperson that's trying to get you into a rental car. Some car rental companies even offer discounts when you rent your car online.

EARLY BOOKINGS: If you know a week or more before visiting Birmingham that you are going to need a rental car, try reserving the car right away. Car rental rates depend on how many cars are in the car rental lot. You will get a better rate if you reserve your car early. If you need the rental car over a weekend, inquire about weekend rates. Weekend rates are usually discounted. If you keep the car for five or more days, ask about weekly rates since these are less than when you go by daily rates. http://www.edmunds.com/reviews/list/top10/116640/article.html

INSURANCE: When you reserve a rental car in Birmingham you will be asked if you also want to include insurance coverage. Car rental companies are known to have expensive insurance so before signing up for it, check with your own insurance company. It might be that you are already covered under you own policy. You don't want to end up with double coverage when it's not necessary. Many people make the mistake of being over-insured when getting a rental car. Try to avoid this. If your own insurance policy covers you for car rentals, than you can save some money by rejecting the offered car insurance. http://www.usatourist.com/english/tips/carrental.html

AGE RESTRICTIONS: To rent a car in most of the United States, you have to be 25 years old or older. If you are younger than 25 there are some car rental companies that will charge you a penalty. If you are under 21 years old, this penalty can be even higher. Some companies don't charge if you are under 25 years of age. Usually these are the smaller independent neighborhood car rental companies that go by their own rules. You might save some money if you research which companies won't charge you a fee. http://www.carrentalexpress.com/tips/age_restrictions.html

MILEAGE: Before driving your rental car off the lot, make sure to ask about unlimited mileage. Some car rental companies will charge you for mileage 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. If you forgot to ask about this, make sure to read the fine print on the car rental agreement, or call the rental company.

PREPAYING FOR GAS: When returning the rental car, make sure to fill it up with gas instead of opting to pay for a full tank of gas ahead of time. The only advantage to prepaying is that you can return the car (half) empty. However, If you don't use up all the gas, you will still have paid for a full tank. Filling the rental car before returning it is therefore cheaper.

ADD-ONS: Car rental companies easily provide additional items you might need such as Ski racks, child safety car seats, roof racks, and GPS devices. Keep in mind that they charge you by the day. The rate can range from $5 - $25 per day. It's cheaper if you bring your own additional necessities. http://www.independenttraveler.com/resources/article.cfm?AID=29&category=2&page=2

DROP OFF FEES: Make sure you drop off your car on time (not too early or too late) to avoid being charged a fee. If you are dropping the car off in a different location than the pickup, make sure to check if there is a charge for this. If you are driving the car cross country your fee can be up to $1,000.00. http://www.independenttraveler.com/resources/article.cfm?AID=29&category=2&page=2

Besides the nationwide well known car rental providers there are also independently owned car rental facilities in Birmingham. 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 Birmingham, Alabama. http://www.carrentalexpress.com/tips/car-rental-independent.html

INDEPENDENT CAR RENTAL COMPANIES:

• Metro Car Rental,
• 212 West Oxmoor Road
• Birmingham, AL 35209-6315
• Local Phone: (205) 944-7801
• Toll Free: (888) 347-2143

This family owned and operated independent truck and car rental company was founded in 1974. http://www.metrotruckrental.com/about-us.html

• Rare Transportation
• 154 Highland View Drive
• Birmingham, AL 35242-6847
• Phone: (205) 980-7273

This company is great to use if you travel in group since they provide group transportation. They provide minibuses that will take your group to the attractions desired. http://www.raretransportation.com/Services.html