Are you planning to go on a trip with your family or friends? And are you in search of the perfect way to get a discount on your car rental rate? If so, then you might be interested in taking advantage of Dollar rental deals. There are indeed many deals that this company offers both long-time and first-time customers.

One of the best deals they are currently offering is the More Car, Less Cash promo. What is this deal about exactly? The first thing you need to do is rent a car from them. This car should be smaller than a mid-size vehicle. You will submit your reservation for and pay the price of your small rental car online.

Then when you come to pick up your car, the Dollar staff at that location will automatically upgrade your vehicle to one that is mid-sized or even bigger. While the car they will pick for you will be random (e.g. you cannot choose what car to upgrade to), it will definitely be larger and more expensive than the car you had originally rented.

This will provide you and your entourage with the seating and luggage space that all of you need. In order to make use of this promo you first need to visit the official website of Dollar Car Rental. Then you will see the link to the More Car, Less Cash promo at the bottom right part of the page. Click on this and you will be led to another page. To the right, you will see the online reservation form that you can fill up. So what are you waiting for? Take advantage of one of the best Dollar rental deals now.

It’s important for you to know and understand the car rental rate different companies have available if you desire to rent a car. Rates are calculated based on different time periods and so it can be very beneficial for you and help you to save some money if you familiarize yourself with how these rental companies operate. Most of the rates advertised on the web site of many car rental companies, are normally very low. This is because the rate normally advertised applies to a rental required for the weekend.

Basically most rental companies will have some basic rates that they use. These may include a basic hourly rate, a basic daily rate and a basic weekly rate. The basic hourly rate is used by some companies, especially independent companies; in this case a rate is charged for every hour that the car is in your possession. The basic daily rate is calculated daily and is better used, if you plan on renting a car for two or three days. However, if you plan to have the car for 6 days or more than the weekly rate is best. Normally the weekly rate is lower, so do check around. This weekly rate is also the best to use, if you think you may end up keeping the car longer than you first expected.

To get the best car rental rate, you will need to check out different companies both online and off-line. It is never wise to just choose the first rate you see. Car rental rates are always changing as a result of the supply and demand for various vehicles, so you never know what you might find by checking another company. It is however advisable that you do reserve your rental car at least seven days in advance. This will also affect the price you pay as last minutes bookings normally cost more. Booking at off-peak times are also more than likely to guarantee you a lower car rental rate, just as airline ticket, when the demand begins to increase around peak traveling times, such as the holidays, so do the prices. So if you realize that you will need a car for the holiday, you will end up saving more by booking well in advance.

You will realize that the figure you will be required to pay, is nowhere close to the advertised price, this is because they are many hidden fees associated with renting a car. These hidden fees include state and local taxes, refueling charges, drop off fees in some case, an extra fee for being a younger driver and a few more. You need to be careful not to add any unnecessary hidden fee to the cost you will incur as a result of renting. As a result try to find out the companies’ policy on issues such as bringing in the car a day or few day early, or keeping the car for a longer period.

In addition to seeking the best car rental rate, try to take advantage of some of the discount or special rates that constantly being advertised by car rental companies.

Are you planning a Vacation in Miami, Florida? You are probably considering what will be more worthwhile, Car rental or public transportation?

Usually, you take into account that you have to do a trade-off here – the convenience of car rental equals more money – but in most cases, it’s just not truth.

Some advantages of car rental in Miami (and everywhere else for that matter):

o Convenience of moving from place to place independently.

o Freedom to go wherever you desire, including places public transportation doesn’t get to or costs too much to get to; for example, you can just rent a car and drive to Key west or Orlando, or even explore Miami surroundings. Doing it by Taxi or bus will cost you a lot.

o Time saving – make stops where you desire, at any time and for as long as you desire; sticking to your own vacation schedule rather than that of the public transportation…

In order to make sure that car rental in Miami will be worthwhile for you and will save you time and money, you have to take into account the type of vacation you are planning:

If you plan to relax on the beach (and Miami has fantastic beaches) or by the pool all day long, and not travelling much, I would recommend renting a car for no more than a day or two. Compress all your sightseeing to these 2 days, so that you won’t miss out on some of Miami beach surroundings and also save yourself some money… a taxi from Miami Beach to downtown Miami can cost you $50-$60 for a round trip – that’s more than the price of a 24 hours Car Rental (!) in which you can see a lot more than just downtown Miami…

On the other hand, if you would like to see as much as you can on your vacation, and experience as many attractions and places as you can in Miami and its surroundings, I would definitely recommend a car rental for the whole vacation. You can find a very low rate car rent in Miami, which will be a lot more worthwhile to you than taking Taxis or buses, and save yourself a few hundreds of dollars.

Car rental in Miami doesn’t have to be expansive and cost much, just make sure you find a cheap place to book your Car rental and have the convenience you deserve in your Miami Vacation. After all, you aren’t arriving to Miami every day!

Whether you currently own a classic muscle car or you’d like to, and regardless or the year, make, or model involved, we all have one very common need: insurance. Ah, insurance – the one word that almost everyone (except insurance agents) say with a tone of disgust. Most of the time, people take on auto insurance policies and pay the premiums…. and never actually have to make a major claim against the policy. However, should a situation ever happen where you WOULD need to make a claim (in the event of theft, fire, a wreck, etc.), you’ll be thankful your insurance policy is there to help you. The purpose of insurance is to offset risk, and with the skyrocketing values of muscle cars these days insuring them well is a must. This leads to the big question: which type of insurance do you need? Here’s a 50,000 foot overview!

Regular Old Insurance? No way!

We’ll start by addressing the type of insurance that you don’t need: regular old car insurance. “Regular” car insurance is the type of insurance that you have on your daily driver (which for most people is no older than a 15 year old car or truck). Should an event ever occur where your car is totaled out, the insurance company will send you a check for (basically) the blue book value of the car. I’m simplifying things a bit here, but you get the point. The blue book values of cars decline with age, so obviously if you’ve just put $40,000 into restoring your ‘67 GTX (or just purchased one) you’d need a different type of insurance.

Agreed Value

The type of insurance that a majority of classic muscle car owners will use is called “agreed value” insurance – especially if you have a high dollar car. This is a type of policy where you and the insurance company agree on an amount of coverage value for your car (say $40,000), and you pay a monthly premium on that. Companies like Hagerty and Grundy have been issuing these policies for years – and they have very low premiums to match. It’s a great way to get your car covered for a high dollar amount at a low price. What’s the catch? Usage. Most companies that issue “agreed value” policies do so with the provision that you are insuring a specialty car that is NOT to be used as daily transportation (i.e. the car you drive to work) or in daily transportation activities (such as going to the mall, grocery store, etc.). They also (again, generally) stipulate that your specialty car be kept in a locked garage when not in use and that your daily transportation be a car no older than 15 years. They have absolutely no requirements on limiting annual mileage, but it’s essentially insurance for people that drive their cars in parades, to car shows, and the occasional cruise. If that’s you, agreed value is exactly what you want. You’ll be hard pressed to find a better deal than that.

Stated Value

What if you’d like to use your car more frequently, or as a daily driver? In that case, “stated value” insurance is the way to go. This is essentially just like regular car insurance (so you’re covered in every situation), but with a value stated on the policy for the car’s value and coverage amount. This differs from agreed value insurance in that an appraisal of the car is usually required and you’d need to find an insurance company to work with. The major auto insurance companies (Allstate as an example) offer these style of policies (along with many others). It will NOT be as cheap as the agreed value policies, but it will provide you the coverage that you’re looking for.

Summary: When insuring your muscle car, determine how it is you wish to use the car first, and then choose the appropriate type of insurance based on that. If you’re a “parade, car show, and cruise” kind of guy, Agreed Value is the way to go – especially if you have a high dollar car. If you’re looking to use the car as daily transportation, go with Stated Value. As with anything else though – price the policy both ways! You may just find that the Stated Value policy will be the better route when combined with the “multi-car” discount you get on your regular policy.

There is an abundance of car detailing supply companies out there. Along with you local auto supply stores and hardware stores, (where a surprising number of detailing supplies can be found) to the flood of names that you can find online. Three of the better, online, sources are listed below.

o Autogeek carries some of the best names in car wax products, car polishes, auto accessories, polishers, and car detailing tools available anywhere. Autogeeks site is user friendly, allow you to shop by brand, car care category or keyword search and supplies a roadmap on the left side of the screen to help you find the store if you want to shop in person. You have at your fingertips a wide selection of car care kits, car waxes and polishes, car polishers, polishing pads, car covers, tire gauges, detailing clay and a long list of other supplies. Check them out at Autogeek.net and Autogeekonline.net, where you will also find some expert detailing how to guides and instructional videos.

o Meguiar´s has been in business since 1901 and has secured the confidence of millions of satisfied customers’ world wide for over a century. Their site offers a wide selection of products for both the professional and driveway detailer. Along with an excellent product selection, Meguiar´s web site has a how to center where you are able to watch videos on detailing and pick up tips from professionals and a community section with forums and lists of car clubs and car shows. Meguiar´s is the world leader in car surface technology. Their NXT Generation® Tech Wax® 2.0 features new, technologically advanced, formula that delivers an amazingly deep, lustrous, wet look shine that is stunning.

o Chemical Guys.com is an online, factory direct wholesale warehouse, for professional car wash and car detailing supplies. Open to the public and car care enthusiasts Chemical Guys specializes in custom formulations and private labeling programs that are available for both private parties and businesses. With a wide selection of car wash chemicals, mobile detailing products and accessories, microfiber towels, detailing tools, equipment, training and support, including 24/7 business start up and product support ChemicalGuys.com is a truly one stop shopping experience.

There are many other possibilities out there for your car detailing needs. Take the time to shop around and get the best prices, best products and best service for you car detailing supply needs.

We all feel better when we can say that we have saved money on something, car rental is no different if you can save on the car hire you can spend more on the holiday. Some websites often have deals or specials listed on the home page take the time to have a look they may need to get some vehicles out remember that car rental companies love to see forward bookings so they want all the cars pre-booked.

Look for wording like book 2 days get one free that way you can pick up Friday morning and return Sunday afternoon or pick up Saturday morning and return Monday evening but only pay for 2 days. Car Rental normally works in 24hour increments some companies will give you a little leeway but if you are going to be more than an hour late firstly call them and let them know secondly be prepared to pay more if not for the day they may charge part thereof. By simply making that call may save you money, if the car you have has been booked out to someone else and they may be able to call the client to let them know and it may suit them to pick up later that way no one has been inconvenienced.

If the special is for a specific location the website will normally say so, you may change your destination. Often websites will also have a affiliation with accommodation providers who offer similar deals for the weekend. Weekend Car Rental is always difficult during the school holidays because travelers at that time have families and will include the weekends in there itinerary. Cars are usually in short supply during any holiday or festival so you are not likely to get weekend deals advertised.

Weekend car rental may have some restrictions on where the vehicle can travel or how many kms you are allotted best to check so that you don’t get any surprises when you collect the car. The weekend rate may only be for specific categories of cars, sometimes they will want to get the luxury vehicles out and you may be driving a convertible for the same price as a Corolla. Bargain! Always ask for a upgrade the worst thing they can say is NO.

Keep in mind that with most weekend deals, the value may only apply to the weekend and not for any additional time so if you return the vehicle late or extend your hire you may have to pay the normal rate of hire.

Be sure to read all terms and conditions that are listed with any specials or booking that you make. Check that you can make advanced bookings at the special rate and don’t forget to check the expiration date of a special.

If you can’t find a car rental special then at least use a site that give you a comparison between the best rental agents so that you get the best deal, make sure to check to see if you at least qualify for a car rental discount code from an association or professional membership that will help lower your rate. There are hundreds of programs that offer car rental discounts to their members.

Drive safely

Getting seat time in your car can be quite expensive. Unfortunately lots of people take to the streets to test out their new performance parts and try to push their cars to the limit. Not only is this unsafe, but the potential for tickets and vehicle impoundment can make running on the streets more expensive than even a full day at a road course.

So where can one go to be able to hone their driving skills and see actual increases in performance? Autocross, is a great and inexpensive way to have a chance to not only test the handling limits of your car in a safe environment, but also to see how modifications and changes in setup affect the vehicles performance.

Autocross events take place on a local, regional, and national level. They have a variety of competitive classes for all types of vehicles from bone stock to super modified. Autocross is essentially a make shift road course made of cones usually in a large parking lot or other asphalt covered areas such as airstrips. The object is to achieve the fastest time around the course with out knocking over any cones which results in time penalties. The skill involved in autocross is proper car setup and proper line. Even though the speeds tend to be low the courses are well designed and allow the cars to reach a maximum level of grip.

So if you would like to get involved or race at the next local even contact your local SCCA organization and see when an event is coming to your area.

Renting a car can be a frustrating and high stress experience, if you don’t know the ropes. These few simple tips can make it easier.

Tips for saving money:

Book your rental online, many rental companies have online specials.

Book your rental at the same time you book your air travel or hotel, package rates are usually discounted.

Rent a 2,3 or 5 day, or week long package, packages are generally priced lower.

Many rental companies will offer you the option of returning the car without filling the gas tank…They do this by selling you the full tank of gas that is in the vehicle at the time of rental. If you are sure you be using more than one tank of gas, and you are offered a price per gallon that is lower than the prevailing price per gallon in the area, you could save a few dollars, and have less hassle returning your vehicle.

How are you going to handle insurance?

The rental agent will try very hard to sell you the coverage’s they offer…which are usually a very expensive form of temporary insurance.

You do have other options…The least costly way is to tell them that your personal or business auto policy will cover you. Before you suggest this, be sure you check with your insurance agent, to be sure exactly what coverage you do have.

Many credit cards will cover some rental car insurance…You need to use that card to pay for your rental, and be sure you understand what is covered and what the limits are.

Miscellaneous Tips.

The type or model car you reserved is not available…what can you do? This could be a bait and switch tactic, or they may just be overstocked on larger models…it is also an opportunity to practice your negotiation skills. I usually will accept the upgrade to the next level…if it is offered at the same rate…I may suggest that we split the rate, or I may refuse to complete the transaction and go somewhere else.

If your car breaks down be sure that you call the 800 number usually provided for service or road emergencies…if you do not call them first, they may not cover whatever you spend.

If you discover that you left some item in the car when you turned it in…don’t panic, call the rental location where you dropped off the car, they may have found your item, and will usually send it to you.

Always be sure you have a major credit card with you, Car Rental companies may accept checks, but they will never rent a car for cash.

Jim Newell

Dollar Rent A Car is a company that is well known in the car rental industry. There are more than 650 locations worldwide with more than 350 of those in the US and Canada. They have survived the ups and downs of the industry and are today a leader in the car rental market. They have been first in many aspects of technology, especially with the internet. Here is a brief history of this successful company and how they are able to prosper.

In 1965 Dollar Rent A Car set up its corporate offices in Los Angeles, California. While that may seem like a long time ago, car rental companies existed long before that; Avis got its start 20 years earlier. Since Dollar was going up against the established rental agencies, it had to promote itself as something different. Its marketing was not just aimed at the business traveler but also budget minded vacationers. It also touted its high level of customer service.

Dollar Rent A Car marketing strategy worked and not only were they able to survive against their rivals but they soon grew and expanded their operation. Though they started late in the rental game, they were able to establish themselves and compete against the other car rental players.

Chrysler’s Involvement

Chrysler Motors was looking to expand and promote the new Pentastar Group Chrysler – a network of rental car companies. In the early 90s Chrysler purchased Dollar Rent A Car along with Thrifty Car Rental and General Car Rental. Chrysler wanted to enter the rental car business as a way to promote their cars. They hoped that if customers rented their cars they’d be more inclined to purchase a Chrysler vehicle.

Since Dollar and Thrifty were established rental car companies, they retained their name and corporate image. General Car Rental merged with Dollar Rent A Car so their client base and number of locations greatly increased.

Dollar Rent A Car Today

Today Dollar Rent A Car continues to exclusively rent Chrysler vehicles – a sign that Chrysler’s plan has worked. Its marketing is geared towards vacationers who are looking for a bargain but due to its low rates and numerous locations, Dollar also attracts business travelers. They have a large customer base and a large number of repeat customers part of their loyalty program.

Booking with Dollar Rent A Car

So the next time you need to rent a car, why not rent a Chrysler vehicle with Dollar? Chrysler has many models ranging from compact to luxury. Visit Dollar’s website or call their reservations department to make a reservation. You’ll see why their low rates and service standards make them an industry leader.