Renting a car is a much bigger deal than most people think. To put in perspective, there are many different things that will cost you a good deal of money on your trip, but when you combine fuel, insurance, parking, rental fees and luxury items like GPS, a rental car may cost the most. Here are some rental tips for the next time you rent a car.

1 – Stay on budget. If you can keep from overspending you can actually keep the cost of your rental lower than what it would cost to use taxis and buses on your trip.

2 – Research your options. When you do this you will know what to expect in rental agreements and won’t be surprised with late fees you didn’t know were there.

3 – Plan ahead. When you rent a car the last thing you want is to be penalized for a late pick up or drop off. Set your times for at least an hour after you land and around the time your flight is scheduled to leave.

4 – Take the additional insurance. It may be a cost you don’t want to pay, but it could save you a lot more if you’re in an accident and there are injuries or extensive damage.

5 – Shop around as much as possible. Even when you book your rental using the tool on this site, you will still have three days to shop for a better deal. If you happen to find one within the three days limit, you will be able to have the price matched