Knowing how to rent a car in Jacksonville, Florida will come in handy when you plan on visiting the city.

A rental car will give you the freedom and independence you need to explore the nightlife and beaches that Jacksonville is known for. Tourist attractions like Adventure Landing and Cummer Museum of Art & Gardens can also be visited using a rental car. http://www.rentalcarmomma.com/cities/jacksonville.htm

Even though rental cars are often associated with tourists and vacations, it's not just tourists that use rental cars. Jacksonville residents can use rental cars to replace their own car when it is being fixed in the shop or to transport large cargo. Even for that night on the town a rental car can be used. Rental cars can end up being quite expensive, but companies like Hertz, Alamo, Thrifty, Enterprise, and Budget have many promo offers and discounts out there. Some of these offers include free car rental upgrades, various discounts on rates and extra free rental days. http://www.rentalcarmomma.com/

When walking up to the car rental counter you will be asked many questions that can lead to unexpected fees if you don't know how to answer them. Make sure you prepare yourself. On this page you will find some of the hidden fees that you might run into. Hopefully by knowing what they are you will be able to avoid them.

THE INTERNET: To do your research on rental cars, make sure to go online. You can find the best car rental rates online. Look at the various vehicles available and compare the rates from several companies. The Internet is convenient because you can access it 24/7 right from home. You don't have to worry about opening and closing hours as your would if you were going to visit the car rental company. You also don't have a pushy sales person breathing down your neck.

COUPONS: While you are online, you can also look at the various coupons for Enterprise car rentals, Thrifty car rentals and such. Websites like retailmenot.com and rentalcarmomma.com provide [[printable coupons], coupon codes and direct links that can all give you a discount on the cost of your rental car. To find out about restrictions and exclusions, make sure to read the fine print. Also make sure to double check the expiration date since expired coupons cannot be redeemed. http://www.rentalcarmomma.com/cities/jacksonville.htm http://www.retailmenot.com/coupons/carrentals

When renting a car you will stumble upon many pitfalls. These pitfalls include

AIRPORT PICKUPS: If possible, don't pick up your rental car from airport car rental facilities. They charge taxes and fees and are more expensive than car rental companies that are away from the airport.

DROP OFF CHARGES: Dropping off a rental car too early or too late can result in fees. Make sure to ask for the exact time and date that the car needs to be back and make sure to return it on time. If you are on a weekly rate and drop the car off before the week is over, you might get charged a more expensive daily rate.

ADD-ONS: Bring your own child safety car seats, GPS devices, roof racks and such. If you rent them from the car rental company, you will have to pay a daily fee that can range from $5 - $25. This adds up quick. http://www.independenttraveler.com/resources/article.cfm?AID=29&category=2&page=2

MILEAGE: Before signing the car rental agreement make sure you have unlimited mileage. Some car rental companies allot you a certain amount of miles per day and if you go over this, you get charged a fee. Try to avoid this.

AGE PENALTIES: Some car rental companies will charge you a penalty if you are younger than 25 years of age. this penalty can get even higher is you are younger than 21 years old. Usually independent car rental companies are more flexible when it comes to regulations and rate negotiations. http://www.independenttraveler.com/resources/article.cfm?AID=29&category=2&page=2

WHEN TO RENT: If you know far ahead of time that you will be visiting Jacksonville, Florida, try to reserve your rental car immediately. The earlier you reserve a vehicle, the better rate you will get. Car rental rates are dependent on how many car are in the lot at the time you make your rental.

WEEKLY & WEEKEND RATES: If you are visiting Jacksonville over a weekend, make sure to look into weekend rates. Most car rental companies discount their weekend rates. If you are staying longer than a week in Jacksonville, make sure to inquire about weekly rates. To prevent any rate changes, drop off the car on time.

PACKAGE DEALS: If you need air fare, accommodation and a rental car to visit Jacksonville make sure you look into package deals. Websites like expedia.com, travelocity.com, orbitz.com, priceline.com and hotwire.com all offer package deals where you can choose to include you flight, hotel and rental car. These travel packages are often good money saving deals.

FREE UPGRADES: Upon picking up your rental car, you might get offered a free upgrade to a larger vehicle. If you are not on a budget, you can accept the upgrade. However, if you are on a budget, decline the upgrade, because larger vehicles will need more gas which means more costs to you. The reason you are getting the upgrade offer in the first place is usually because compact cars are in higher demand. http://www.edmunds.com/reviews/list/top10/116640/article.html

Nationwide car rental companies like Enterprise, Thrifty, Avis, and Hertz have set rates and regulations that they go by. If you are under the age of 25, it might be better to look into renting from an independent company since they have more are more flexible because they make their own in-house rules. It is also said that independent companies provide better service because they really want your business. They know they are up against the big names in the car rental business.

INDEPENDENT CAR RENTAL COMPANIES:

• Atlantic Rent A Car
• 7033 Beach Boulevard
• Jacksonville, FL 32216-2830
• Phone: (904) 399-8877

Like many smaller independent car rental companies this company doesn't have a website, but is conveniently located in Jacksonville, Florida.

• American Rent A Car
• 1745 Airport Road
• Jacksonville, FL 32218
• Phone: (904) 382-7769

This car rental facility established in 2002 is a full service company that specializes in airport transportation. Their fleet consists of limousines, vans, sedans and more. http://www.americanairportshuttle.com/