Houston, Texas is the home of Moody Gardens, Six Flags, Splash Town Water Park and the Lone Star Flight Museum. If you intend to visit any of these attractions, knowing how to rent a car in Houston will come in handy.

The benefit of getting a rental car is that you are on your own schedule. You won't have to be dependent on bus or train schedules. Hertz, Budget, Alamo, Enterprise and Avis are some of the major car rental companies that often have competitive rates and offers. Some of the offers include discounts on weekly and monthly rates, free upgrades to larger vehicles and extra free rental days. Because they all want your business, one car rental company's offer will outdo the other. It's up to you to decide which company is the best one for you. http://www.rentalcarmomma.com/

If you plan on driving a long distance, why not get a rental car if you don't want to put the ware and tare on your own vehicle? Rental cars are not just for tourists. If your car is being fixed in the shop, a rental car can still get you around town. Even when you have to transport more people or larger cargo, a rental car can be the answer.

There are many thing people don't know about car rental companies. For instance, some car rental companies charge a fee to people under 25 years of age. Penalties are even higher if you are under 21. Some companies won't rent to you at all. Make sure to find a good deal at a company that doesn't charge a fee. Fees like these can add up quick, but when you know what to look for and which questions to ask, you might be able to get a great deal. http://www.independenttraveler.com/resources/article.cfm?AID=29&category=2&page=2

On this page you will find step by step information that you can use when renting a vehicle in Houston.

GO ONLINE: The first place to look when searching for a good deal on a rental vehicle is the Internet. Go online and look at the websites of some of the major car rental companies. All will have very competitive offers for you to choose from. Look at the various cars they have to offer and compare rates. If you feel more comfortable reserving your car by talking to someone, you can always call in your reservation or visit the car rental facility of your choice. The Internet is convenient because it's available 24/7 and you can surf websites at your own leisure. You don't have to think about opening and closing hours of the car rental company. There is also no salesperson breathing down your neck, trying to talk you into renting a certain vehicle. Some car rental companies even have offers that are only available online.

WHEN TO BOOK: When booking your rental car for your Houston trip, try to go for a weekend. Car rental companies often have discounted weekend rates. If you are going for 5 or more days, look into their weekly rates. Overall these might be more favorable than when you rent on a day-to-day basis.

RESERVING EARLY: When you reserve a rental car, the rate you are quoted depends on how many vehicles are present in the car rental company's lot, at that point in time. Therefore, if you reserve your car early on, you will get a more favorable rate. If you are planning your Houston visit more than a week ahead of time, make sure to reserve that rental car right away. It will save you money and you will be more likely to get a good rate.

BOOKING A RENTAL CAR WITH HOTEL STAY: Another way to get a good rate on a rental car is by booking the car together with a hotel stay. Package offers like these can be found on travel websites like orbitz.com and expedia.com. Once on their website, you might also want to check if they offer last minute deals on rental cars. http://www.orbitz.com/App/DisplayCarSearch6 http://www.expedia.com/daily/cars/default.asp?rfrr=-1068

WEEKEND AND WEEKLY RATES: If you plan on visiting Houston, Texas over a weekend, make sure to ask the car rental company about their weekend rates. Many companies offer discounted car rental rates during weekends. Also look into their weekly rates if you are planning on staying for five days or more. http://www.edmunds.com/reviews/list/top10/116640/article.html8

REGISTERING YOUR EMAIL: Some car rental companies allow you to register your email address with them. When you do this you authorize them to email you special rental car offers, discounts and promotional information. This way you will be up to date on the deals that are out there. https://www.alamo.com/

CAR RENTAL MEMBERSHIP: Becoming a member of a car rental club has many benefits also. For instance, when picking up your rental car in Houston, you won't have to stand in line. There is a special 'members' only line where you can enjoy faster service. Membership also allows you to have access to various rate discounts. https://www.enterprise.com/car_rental/enterprisePlusPickYourPath.do

COUPONS: There are many coupons online that give you discounts for car rentals in Houston, Texas. Some websites where you can find coupons include rentalcarmomma.com and rentalcarscode.com. The coupons are either coupon codes, direct links or printable coupons. Printable coupons can be printed, clipped, and redeemed at the car rental facility and coupons codes can be entered when reserving your vehicle online. The direct links will refer you to the website where the discount is granted upon reserving your rental car. Some coupons are only valid for the rental of certain vehicles and some coupons can only be used when you rent a car for a certain number of days. Restrictions and exclusion like these can be found by reading the small print on the coupons. http://www.rentalcarmomma.com/cities/houston.htm http://www.rentalcarscode.com/