Quickly search online for the best rental car rates The internet is a great resource for comparing costs on car rentals.

I recommend:  Look into Hotwire and SideStep for quick-and-easy search tools that will get you to the deals fast and reveal fees and taxes upfront. BreezeNet also offers one-stop-shopping for discount deals. Individual car rental Web sites can help in the search too.

Maximize benefits from your rental car programs Choose one or two car rental companies that serve most of your locations and offer special programs for small businesses. Then decide what's most important: convenience and an on-airport location? (You'll pay more). Don't mind the ride to a remote lot? (Rates will probably be cheaper).

I recommend:  Check out Budget Rental Car's Budget Business Program, the Hertz Business Account Program, the Avis Corporate Awards Program, Enterprise's Corporate Class Business Rental Program and Advantage Rent a Car's Easy Corporate.

Take advantage of car rental discounts through your credit card If you don't already have one, apply for a credit card that lets you accrue airline miles or points, then check into how you can use those points for car rentals too.

I recommend:  Check out these websites for card programs offered by airlines or broader cards like the Chase Travel Plus Platinum Visa Card and the Capital One No-Hassle Card for Small Business.

Consider whether you really need a car at all Do you really need a rental car? Unless you require the vehicle to visit customers, make sales calls in out-of-the-way places, deliver products or transport service equipment or provide transportation for others, it's likely there's less expensive transportation that will get you where you need to go.

I recommend:  Taxi or rental car? Use this guide for several US cities. Look into other ways to get from the airport to your hotel or conference center.

Locate rental car companies near you for convenience No matter where your company is located, there is sure to be at least one agency nearby. Most companies are nationwide, but a select few do not have locations everywhere. Go online and check out a list of car rental companies in your area before considering a specific company that may not serve your city.

I recommend:  Find the nearest location of National Car Rental or Dollar Rent A Car easily online.

Figure out which type of car you need from the rental car company The size and type of vehicle you need will depend on the purpose of your business trip. If you need to get across the country without spending much money on gas, choose a small economy car. If comfort is your goal during a long drive, a luxury car might suit you. If you need to transport clients or products, a larger car, like an SUV or van, might be best for you. A larger car will cost more, so take that into consideration when selecting.

I recommend:  Avis Rent A Car has a large selection of vehicles for you to choose from. Each pick-up location typically has different cars. Hertz categorizes its cars according to specialty, such as whether they are fuel-efficient or not.

Take advantage of car rental services specifically for businesses Many car rental companies offer special discounts and services for business travelers. Whether you or your employees are traveling and need a car, save money with companies that offer this special. Some of these companies require you to be a frequent traveler to get a discount, so be sure to check the requirements.

I recommend:  Online car rental booking is inexpensive for business travelers at Enterprise Rent-A-Car, where you can enjoy low rates, cheap long-term rentals and a large selection of specialty vehicles. Thrifty offers discounts to frequent business travelers, such as preset rates and the elimination of underage or additional driver charges.

Know how much money you can spend on car rental service before you choose your car Renting a convertible for the weekend may sound nice, as does borrowing a large SUV, but be prepared to pay for such fun and convenience. A convertible typically costs at least $60 per day, before taxes. An SUV rental tends to range from $40 to more than $100. Save yourself some money, not to mention gas, with a compact car. Such a vehicle costs about $20 to $40 per day before taxes.

I recommend:  Alamo has a base price of about $20 for an economy car, with most SUV prices ranging from $40 to more than $100, depending on features. Budget Rent A Car offers similar prices.

Budget for any insurance required from car rental companies Some rental car agencies require certain types of additional insurance, and those that do not require it still strongly recommend it. Insurance companies offer a collision damage waiver for about $20 per day, liability for about $10 per day, and personal accident coverage for about $5 per day. However, most people are already covered for these under their auto and health insurance. Check the company's rules and your own insurance policy before purchasing insurance from any rental car agency.

I recommend:  Hertz has several types of optional insurance available, as does Avis Rent A Car.

Know upfront about any extra charges from rental car companies While going down your list of car rental companies and checking their websites, be sure to add any hidden fees to your total. Most agencies have rules when it comes to certain situations. For example, if you want someone else to drive your rental car, you usually need to pay a fee starting at $10 extra per day. If you are under the age of 25, you can expect to pay an extra charge of about $25 per day, depending on the company and your state. Don't forget to include any state surcharges, which can average around $15 extra per day. Add your state's tax to the rental each day, as well. If you check your chosen company's online car rental booking page, you will see that you will typically pay much more than the base price for a car once you have factored in surcharges and taxes.

I recommend:  The fees and taxes add about $20 to an economy car's base fee at Thrifty. Dollar Rent A Car has similar fees and taxes.