So you want to know how to rent a car in Colorado Springs? Look no further! This page contains information on Colorado Springs car rental coupons, car rental insurance, car rental fees, and car rental restrictions.

A rental car is a convenient way to travel during vacations. If you are visiting Colorado Springs' Garden of the Gods, Pikes Peak, Cheyenne Mountain Zoo, and Seven Falls, a rental car can easily bring you from one to the other. Rental cars are often associated with tourists and vacations, but it's not just tourists that use rental vehicles. A Colorado Springs resident can use a rental car to replace his own car when it's in the shop. One can also use a rental car when traveling for business. Even for a night out on the town, a rental car can be a nice change from the norm. http://www.rentalcarmomma.com/cities/coloradosprings-new.htm

If you are on a budget, car rental coupons might save you some money. The Mahalo page 'How to get a cheap car rental' can also be beneficial. If you are looking for a good deal on a rental car, you should consider going with an independent car rental company. Independent companies create their own in-house rules and regulations; therefor it is easier for them to negotiate rates. The well known car rental companies like Hertz, Enterprise, Budget, Alamo, and Avis have competitive rates and many promotional offers, but they are usually bound by set rules and regulations.

After reading the information below you should feel better about walking up to the car rental counter because you will be armed with important knowledge.

THE INTERNET: The Internet is the first place to look for information on rental cars. Look at the rental vehicles available and at the various rates offered by the different car rental companies. You can either reserve a car in person, on the phone or online. Many car rental companies have discounts that can only be redeemed if you reserve your car online. Another benefit of going online for your car rental is that there are no hours of operation to go by. The Internet is open 24/7 and can often be accessed right from home. Once you've found the company that has the best deal, you can look online for Colorado Springs car rental coupons which will help save you some money on your rental car.

COUPONS: Colorado Springs car rental coupons can be found on the Internet on websites such as rentalcarmomma.com and retailmenot.com. The coupons come in the form of coupon codes, printable coupons and direct links. Coupon codes can be redeemed by entering them online while reserving your vehicle. Printable coupons can be printed, clipped and redeemed at the car rental facility and direct links automatically apply the discounts when reserving the vehicle online. Restrictions and exclusions might apply, so check the small print on the coupons. Also, expired coupons are not accepted, so make sure the coupons are valid before redeeming them. http://www.rentalcarmomma.com/cities/coloradosprings-new.htm http://www.retailmenot.com/coupons/carrentals

WEEKLY & WEEKEND RATES: Try scheduling your Colorado Springs rental car for a weekend. Many car rental companies give discounts on weekends. If you plan on holding onto the rental car for five days or more it can also work in your favor. Ask about the weekly rates. These are often also cheaper than day to day rates.

BOOK EARLY: If you know early on that you will be visiting Colorado Springs, try reserving your rental car right away. Early bookings often get lower rates because the car rental rates are based on how many cars are in the lot of the car rental company at the time you make your reservation. You can always call back a few days after reserving your car to see if rental rates have dropped and re-reserve your car for the new rate.

FREE UPGRADES: Sometimes when picking up a rental car, you will be asked if you want a free upgrade to a larger vehicle. This sounds very tempting, but keep in mind that larger vehicles require more gas, which translates to more costs for you. The reason why you are being offered that free upgrade is because the compact vehicles are more in demand. If you are on a budget, you might want to consider declining this offer.

HIDDEN FEES: When renting a car, there are many hidden fees that you may not be aware of. Don't allow your car rental rate to skyrocket because of these fees. Try avoiding them. Following are some of the fees to watch out for:

AGE RESTRICTIONS If you are under 25 years of age, you might have to pay a penalty when renting a car. Some companies charge even more if you are under 21 years of age. To save some money, try going with an independent car rental company. They are more flexible when it comes to negotiations and regulations. http://www.carrentalexpress.com/tips/car-rental-independent.html

INSURANCE: A big mistake some people make is to accept the offered insurance when renting a car. The best thing to do is to check with your own insurance agent first to see if you are covered. If this is the case, you don't need the offered insurance.

ADDITIONAL COSTS: Keep in mind that if you need a child safety seat it is often cheaper to bring your own. The car rental company can charge anywhere from $5 - $25 per day for it. The same goes for additional items like roof racks, GPS devices etc. http://www.independenttraveler.com/resources/article.cfm?AID=29&category=2&page=2

GAS: It is recommended to fill the gas tank in the rental car up before returning it to the lot. The hassle of finding a gas station is quite small if you compare it to the burden of the cost you will get charged if you return the car empty. Car rental coupons charge higher rates per gallon of gas than you would pay at the pump. If you do opt to prepay for gas, make sure to use all the gas in the tank because you are prepaying for a full tank.

Colorado Springs doesn’t just have nationwide car rental companies, but also independent car rental companies. When picking up a rental car, you might just want to skip the airport facility and go for a cheaper independent company. Airport facilities charge taxes and fees and you will end up paying more by renting from them. The independent car rental providers are also easier in rate negotiations and negotiations regarding their rules and regulations. Since the major car rental companies are easily found online and at airports and such you will find details on some independent Colorado Springs car rental companies below.

INDEPENDENT CAR RENTAL COMPANIES:

• Americas XPress Rent A Car
• 2021 East Platte Avenue
• Colorado Springs, CO 80909
• Phone: (719) 634-1914

This independent car rental facility has been in business since 1989 and offers AAA discounts. They are also conveniently located near the airport. http://www.springsrentacar.com/

• U-Save Car & Truck rental
• 2021 East Platte Avenue
• Colorado Springs, CO 80909-5828
• Phone: (719) 634-1914

This car rental company has been in business for over 25 years and offers car rental discounts to businesses, individuals and families. http://www.usave.com/AboutUs.aspx