This page on how to rent a car in Madison, Wisconsin will answer some of the questions you may have about car rentals. Whether we are talking about Independent car rentals, Hertz car rentals, Thrifty car rentals, Avis car rentals or Enterprise car rentals one thing is for sure, deciding which company to go with can be a tough decision. The major car rental companies all offer competitive rates and tempting promotions. Some of these include free pick-ups, discounted rental rates, free car rental upgrades and extra free rental days. http://www.rentalcarmomma.com/

A car rental can be used by tourists to visit attractions such as Madison Children's Museum, Henry Villas Zoo, and Madison Art Center. Madison residents can use a rental car to replace their own car when it's in the shop. A rental car is great to use for a night out on the town or for transporting large cargo. Whatever your purpose is for a rental car, the steps towards getting one are all the same. http://www.planetware.com/tourist-attractions-/madison-us-wi-m.htm

Nobody wants to spend a lot of money on a rental car. The Mahalo page 'How to get a cheap car rental' can provide some tips on how to save some money. On this page you will find some information on car rental insurance, car rental add-ons, car rental coupons, car rental hidden fees and much more. Hopefully it will help you when renting your next Madison rental car.

THE INTERNET: To find the best rates on a car rental it is recommended to go onto the Internet]. Car rental websites are open 24/7 and often be accessed right from home. Look at the various rental cars available and compare the rates of different companies. You will find many car rental promo offers on the larger car rental websites. If you are looking to rent a luxury exotic car like a Ferrari or [[[Lamborghini]], you want to look for websites like exoticcarrental.com that specialize in these. The rental cars you will find at the regular car rental facilities range in category from economic and compact cars to SUV's and minivans. http://www.carrentalexpress.com/tips/auto-rentals.html

COUPONS: To save some money on your next rental car, look online for money saving coupons. Websites like rentalcarmomma.com and retailmenot.com offer printable coupons, coupon codes and direct links that all give discounts on various rental rates. Some coupons can only be used towards the rental of certain vehicles and others are only valid when renting a car for a certain number of days. Restrictions and exclusions can be found on the fine print on the coupons. The Madison car rental coupons do expire, so make sure the coupon is valid before reserving your rental. http://www.rentalcarmomma.com/cities/wisconsin.htm http://www.retailmenot.com/coupons/carrentals

CAR RENTAL RESERVATIONS: To get the cheapest rate possible on a rental car, make sure to book it as early as possible. If you know weeks ahead of time that you will be going to Madison, WI, reserve your car right away. Reserving a car can be done online, over the phone or in person and doesn't require any money down. Aim to book the rental at least one week ahead of time. Since car rental rates depend on how many cars are present in the lot at the time of your booking, you will get a better rate if you book early. Ones you have reserved your car you can call the rental company from time to time to see if the rates have changes. If they are lowered, you can re-reserve your reservation for the lower rate.

INSURANCE: One of the mistakes many people make when it comes to rental cars is that they end up having double insurance. If your own car insurance covers you in case of a collision in a rental car than there is no need to accept the car rental insurance offered by the rental company. The insurance should cover you in case of a collision and cover the loss of the rental company. You can also check with your credit card company since they often also offer coverage. http://www.independenttraveler.com/resources/article.cfm?AID=29&category=2&page

CAR RENTAL ADD-ONS: Items like GPS devices, child safety car seats, roof racks, satellite radio and ski racks can all be rented from the Madison car rental company for anywhere from $5 - $25 per day. This can add up quick and to save some money, it's best to bring your own. http://www.independenttraveler.com/resources/article.cfm?AID=29&category=2&page=2

GAS: When returning a car to the car rental lot, make sure to fill it up with gas. You get the option to prepay the gas and return the car as is, but this often end up to be more expensive. If you return the car only half empty, you will still have paid for a full tank of gas. Car rental companies charge more per gallon of gas than you would pay at the pump.

DROP OFFS: Before driving the rental car off the lot, make sure to ask the exact time and date when the car has to be back. You don't want to return the car too early or too late because this can result in fees. Especially early drop offs can be expensive. For instance, if you were quoted a weekly rate but you return the car before the week is over, your rate might have to be recalculated to reflect a more expensive daily rate.

AGE PENALTIES: Some companies in the United States won't rent to people under the age of 25 years old. Some companies charge a fee If you are under the age of 25. If you are under 21 years of age, this fee might be even higher. Independent car rental companies make their own in-house rules and are often more flexible when it comes to things like this. To save some money, try looking into renting from a smaller company. http://www.independenttraveler.com/resources/article.cfm?AID=29&category=2&page=2

FREE UPGRADES: So you got offered a free upgrade to a larger car when picking up your rental car. This might seem like a nice gesture, but it can end up being quite expensive. Larger cars require more gas which means more costs to you. Instead of accepting the upgrade, ask for to be upgraded to a more economical vehicle. Keep in mind; you are getting this upgrade because compact cars are usually in higher demand. http://www.edmunds.com/reviews/list/top10/116640/article.html

Madison, Wisconsin 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 Madison car rental companies below.

INDEPENDENT CAR RENTAL COMPANIES:

• Schoepp Rent A Car, INc.
• 3010 West Beltline Highway
• Middleton, WI 53562
• Phone: (608) 836-7773

This car rental company has been in business over 20 years and rents cars, 7 passenger mini vans and 15 passenger vans. http://www.schoeppmotors.com/used-cars/Car-Rentals-Madison-WI-Schoepp-Motors.html

• Xpress Rent A Car
• 2118 South Stoughton Road
• Madison, WI 53716-2852
• Phone: (608) 441-8464

This car rental company doesn't have a website, but is conveniently located in Madison, Wisconsin.