On this page named 'How to rent a car in Kansas City' you will find information on Kansas City car rental coupons, car rental insurance, car rental vehicles, car rental restrictions, car rental fees and much more.

Using a rental car you can visit the Arabia Steamboat Museum, the Nelson-Atkins Museum of Art, Worlds of Fun, and Kansas City Zoo. With a rental car you can come and go as you please and won't have to go by public transport schedules. http://www.rentalcarmomma.com/cities/kansascity.htm

Rental car rates are often advertised very low. However, when the time comes to pay for your rental car you might end up paying three times the amount you were expecting to pay. This happens because of taxes and fees that are added. There is a way to prevent these fees; you just need to know what to look for. It all starts when you walk up to the car rental counter to pick up your car. You'll be asked various questions, and the rate you end up paying will depend on the answers you give. This article will tell you exactly what to look for and which alternatives there are. After reading this page you will be much better armed when walking up to that counter.

ONLINE RESEARCH: Before renting a car in Kansas City, Missouri you want to do some research. You want to know what kinds of vehicles are available and what different rates are being offered by various car rental companies. Instead of walking into a car rental facility and being pressured by a sales person, you can surf the net from the comfort of your home. The Internet is 'open' 24/7 so you don't have to worry about opening and closing hours. It is also easiest to compare different car rental companies and their rates in the Internet.

TIMING: The rate you end up paying for your car rental depends mostly on your timing. As with air fare, the earlier you book a rental car, the better rate you will get. Car rental rates are determined by how many cars are in the car rental lot at the time of your reservation. It's recommended to reserve your car at least one week ahead of time. If you do end up reserving a car late, make sure to ask about last minute car rental rates. If you rent a car for a weekend or for a week, make sure to inquire about weekend and weekly rates since they end up being cheaper than daily rates. http://www.edmunds.com/reviews/list/top10/116640/article.html

Your Kansas City car rental can end up being quite expensive if you don't know which fees to avoid and how to avoid them. Following are some of the fees to look out for:

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.

AIRPORT PICKUPS: It is more expensive to pick up your rental car from airport car rental companies. Even though companies like Hertz, Enterprise, Avis, Alamo, and Budget are readily available to serve you, they will charge you airport taxes and fees. If you can, pick up your rental car from a car rental facility away from the airport. It will save you some money.

AGE PENALTIES: The age to rent a car in the United States ranges from 18 - 25. In some states, if you are younger than 25 years old, you may get charged a penalty by some companies. If you are under 21 years of age, this penalty might be even higher. Independent car rental companies, that make their own in-house rules, are less likely to charge you. They are also easier in their rate negotiations.

ADD-ONS: If you don't mind spending between $5 - $25 a day on additional items such as child safety seats, roof racks, GPS devices and ski racks, you can just ignore this paragraph. Most likely you want to save money and the way to do this is by bringing your own additional necessities instead of renting them from the car rental company. http://www.independenttraveler.com/resources/article.cfm?AID=29&category=2&page=2

GAS: Fill up the car with gas before returning it to the car rental parking lot. You don't want to accept the pre-paid gas option that you will be given. Car rental companies charge a lot for their gas. If you don't empty the gas in the rental car, you will have still paid for a full tank.

DROP OFFS: To avoid another fee, drop off your car on time. Before driving off the lot, ask for the exact time and date when your car has to be back. If you drop the car off too late or too early it might result in a fee. Dropping a car off too early can even result in rate recalculations. For instance, if you have a weekly rate but didn't complete the full week, you may get switched to a daily rate.

COUPONS: When reserving your rental car online for your Kansas City visit, there are certain coupons you can use that can save you some money. Websites like rentalcarmomma.com and retailmenot.com have many coupons in the form of coupon codes and direct links. Coupon codes can be redeemed by entering them online while reserving your vehicle. 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/kansascity.htm http://www.retailmenot.com/coupons/carrentals

MEMBERSHIP: The large car rental companies often have car rental membership programs you can join. When you do this, you will enjoy discounts on rates and faster service. You will also be able to use the special members' line at airports instead of waiting in long lines. https://www.enterprise.com/car_rental/enterprisePlusPickYourPath.do

EMAIL UPDATES: Stay up to date of the many car rental promotions, discounts and offers that are ongoing by registering your email with the major car rental companies. http://www.enterprise.com/car_rental/intresImage.do?imageId=28443.4&key=996.en.US.......&page=HOM

Some people prefer using independent car rental companies over the major car rental giants. They prefer them because of the flexible rates and regulations, better customer service, better selection of rental vehicles and they often take cash deposits. The large nationwide car rental companies are dependent on set rules and regulations where as the independent companies make their own in-house regulations. Because of this the independent car rental companies can negotiate more easily with customers. If you are under the age of 25 it’s better to go with an independent company since many of the larger companies might not rent to you or charge you a fee. http://www.carrentalexpress.com/tips/car-rental-independent.html

INDEPENDENT CAR RENTAL COMPANIES:

• Adams Toyota Bodyshop & Car Rental
• 11730 East 83rd Street
• Kansas City, MO 64138
• Phone: (816) 358-8950

This company sells new and used cars and fixes cars also while providing a rental car to replace the car being repaired. http://www.adamstoyota.com/Default.aspx

• A a Rental
• 11732 Blue Ridge Boulevard
• Kansas City, MO 64134-3718
• Phone: (816) 763-7879

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