How would you like to get instant discounts and money-saving coupons on your car rentals without having to belong to aspecial group or club?   Today, priceline.com officially launched Rental Car Freebies, a new service that automatically looks for rental car company coupons and discounts that are available to Priceline and then applies them to your rental rate.  All you have to do is enter your pickup and dropoff information.

To test-drive Rental Car Freebies, visit www.priceline.com/carfreebies.

According to Brett Keller, priceline.com’s Chief Marketing Officer, “rental Car Freebiesis a big time-saver for customers who want to see all of Priceline’s specially available coupons and discounts in one place so they can instantly compare rental car companies and choose the rate they want.  Because we automatically apply the coupon savings or special discount to the rate, there are no codes for our customers to enter.  We do it all for them.”

They say Priceline’s Rental Car Freebiesis very easy to use.  You can search for special Priceline coupons and discounts at airports, cities or specific off-airport addresses.  Your rental can be round trip, one way and even different pick up and drop off points.  You can also set a mileage radius for Rental Car Freebies to search.   Once the dates and pick-up/drop-off times are entered, Priceline sorts through the major rental car partners participating in Rental Car Freebies and show all the coupons and special discounts that it has, sorted by rental car company.  It also will automatically apply those savings and show you the final, bookable rental rate.  If no discounts or coupons are available for your trip, Rental Car Freebieswill suggest that you try priceline.com’s Name Your Own Price rental car service; and will show you a sampling of recent successful rental car bids for your desired city.

If you’re planning a trip and need the convenience of a rental car, there are often extra costs, fine print and red tape you should be aware of.   Here are five tips on saving money and avoiding any unnecessary issues when renting a car.

1.  Pick the Proper Vehicle

Put some thought into what type of vehicle you’ll actually need.  If you’re traveling with multiple people or children, you may want a sedan, SUV or van.  If you’re simply trying to get the best gas mileage possible, then you’ll probably want the smallest compact car available.

2.  Choose the Best Company

If you’re traveling for less than a week, your best bet is to research rates offered by major rental companies such as Alamo, Avis, Budget, Dollar, Enterprise, Hertz or Thrifty.  If you’ll be traveling longer than a week, it may be in your best interest to check out your local independent companies and dealerships for any special long term advantages.

 3.  Compare Rates

Searching for the best rates is key when renting a car.  It’s wise to search the Internet, including booking engines and the rental company’s site.  Feel free to call the company directly, however most times the online deals will be the best option.  If you do phone the company, make sure you ask about discounts for affiliations with certain organizations, insurance companies, memberships and frequency programs.  You can also search online for coupon codes to help lower your rental rates.

4.  Always Read the Fine Print

Reading the fine print in a rental agreement is crucial.  Many times, the fine print will let you know what they’ll charge you for gas if you don’t fill it back up on your own, the limitations of who can operate the vehicle and where you can travel without tacking on additional fees.  Also keep in mind that despite their encouragement to purchase the optional insurance, you should contact your own agent prior to renting as most insurance policies cover at least collision if you were to have an accident.

5.  Book in Advance

Always book as far ahead as possible.  Although you may not think rates will be cheaper, more often than not it will increase the chances of getting a better deal.  Rates tend to increase drastically over the holidays and during summer months. If you book sooner, you’ll avoid those higher rates

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