If you are somebody who consistently makes use of car rentals, there are some things you can do that might help to save a few bucks. Of course, if you only use this service once a lifetime, the following tips probably won't make a substantial difference. But for those who use the service on a regular basis, keep the following saving money tips when renting a car in mind.

Tips For Saving Money When Renting A Car 

1. Coupons And Discount Codes Are Your Friends

You are at liberty to use coupons and discount codes in order to get a rental car at lower rates. And you can easily get your hands on some of these discounts by simply making an online visit to those major rental companies. But these savings aren't excluded to the sites of the rental companies. You might also find some codes and coupons at:

• AAA
• AARP
• Costco
• BJ's
• USAA

Two sites you definitely want to keep an eye on are Thrifty and Dollar. This is where you should be able to score a fixed rate discount, which lets you hire a premium car at a very affordable rate in special cases. In addition, you can double up on your savings at certain companies, because they let you use the discount code and the voucher. These companies include:

• Hertz
• Avis
• Alamo
• National
• Budget 

2. Do Your Bookings Early

Something you might not be aware of is that car rental rates can rise and fall in a matter of hours. Depending on the company and the location they are competing in, their pricing strategy needs to shift on a regular basis in order to stay competitive. So, the tip here is to get your booking as early as possible. And from there, you keep an eye on how the rates change up until you actually need the car. Because if it happens that you find a company that offers lower rates, you can cancel your booking and make a new one without getting penalized. Plus, you typically don't pay a deposit for a booking, and you'll be surprised at how much you can save just by booking early and paying meticulous attention to the rates.

3. Approaching Insurance

When you rent a car, you will no doubt receive the "insurance" sales pitch, which protects you from liability if you get into an accident. Now, if you have a credit card or personal auto insurance, you probably think you don't need the insurance offered by the company. But the reality is that different insurance providers have different rules, and you need to check your insurance before you say no to the rental company's offer. Besides, it won't nearly be as complicated if you are insured with the rental company and something unforeseen happens. You should follow the same advice for getting insurance for your rental car as you did to get your rental car - you can see more at Moneyexpert.com's comparison panel.

4. Save Money By Filling The Tank

You are given the option to pay for a rental car with a full tank of gas, and you can leave the responsibility of filling it up upon return to the company. However, you are paying more for gas than you should. Even though it is more convenient to let the company handle the responsibility of filling up the tank, it costs you more. In fact, when you take into account all the extra fees you can end up paying more than $10 a gallon. Also, if you pre-pay for a full tank, are you definitely sure you are going to use all that gas before returning the car? It's a matter of being willing to pay a pretty penny for convenience alone.

5. Consider All Your Locations

It is a generally agreed that car rental companies at the airport typically offer lower rates. And it tends to make sense when looking at the lower taxes they pay. But that doesn't mean the other rental companies aren't competing. With all the competition going around, it will be silly not to look at all your options and locations first. In some cases, you might find them a little cheaper.

6. Keep An Eye On Additional Charges

When you rent a car, you are given additional options. These options include things like an extra car seat for a baby or a navigation system. Either way, these additional charges can really start to add up when they shouldn't even be necessary. For example, why don't you get yourself a GPS system and take it with you? And you can use it every time without having to pay the car rental company extra. Sure, it's cool to have all the extras to make the trip more comfortable, but if these are extras you can bring along at a lower cost to you, why not?

7. Study The Final Bill Carefully

Assuming you walk away from this article and you use the above-mentioned tips, and you get a very nice deal on a premium rental, is there anything else you need to look out for? Yes, the final bill. People make mistakes, even the most professional people, and it's a wise choice to study your final bill before making any payments. You want to check if the rates they quoted you for are accurate, and you want to know if they are charging you extra. Don't wait for months to go by before realizing you've been overcharged. Do it immediately, because if a problem arose with the bill it can be sorted out quickly and effectively. In fact, double-check your bill before stepping out and saying goodbye.