Most people have rented a car at some point in their life, and usually they do it somewhat haphazardly, or by which rental car company offered the best deal on the size of vehicle they want. However, choosing a rental car company is important, and can make a difference in how pleasant your overall travel experience is. So, let's take a look at some of the things you need to consider when choosing a rental car company:

Reputation: When looking to do business with any company, looking at their reputation is huge. You do not want to think the worst, but it is good to know that if the worst happens, the company you chose to rent your car from is going to be easy to work with. So, how do you check out their reputation? Go online, type the name of the company in and put "review" after the name. Chances are you will find a whole bunch of consumer reviews. They will likely be both good and bad, so take a few minutes to sift through them and see if the bad reviews are for serious issues, or things like the number of cup-holders the car had. If someone says they wrecked the vehicle, and it took nine months to deal with the problem, chances are you will want to choose a different company. Companies with good reputations want to protect those, and keep them shiny, so they will likely do everything in their power to make your car rental experience a positive one. Along with this, comes the maintenance of the vehicles, do they look like they are well-maintained? Having a mechanical problem with a rental car is a hassle no one traveling should have to deal with, so choose companies with good reputations for sound vehicles. If you see multiple complaints about breaking down in vehicles from a specific rental car company, avoid them. If you take the steps to make sure the car rental company you are considering is reliable and has a good reputation, you will avoid several problems. This is important, because you will likely pay for your rental car with your credit card, and if the company claims you damaged the car they can charge you. If you choose a reliable car rental company you will likely get a reliable car and fewer problems.

Price: While this is not the only thing to consider when renting a car, or choosing a rental car company, it is certainly not something you want to ignore. If a rental car company is charging more for the same car, find out why. Do they have better insurance coverage? Are you paying for middle men? Is there some sort of rebate you get back after? There is always a reason, so figure it out. Look for a rental car company that offers competitive prices. The lowest is not always the best, but then, neither is the highest price. So, do a little research. You certainly won't want to pay more than you have to, but make sure you are getting what you pay for. Smaller fleets may charge more simply because they have fewer cars to rent. However, at the same time, bigger fleets might charge more because they have more cars to upkeep. So, compare, contrast, know what is included, what you are responsible for, and whether or not the price is right. If the coolant is low and you fry the radiator, are you going to have to pay for that? Or are they?

Cars available: One of the things you have to consider when choosing a car rental company is whether or not they will have the car you want available. If you are on a business trip and want to impress a client, then a Geo Metro is not the way to go. However, if you are on a family vacation, a mini-van might be necessary, and if they do not have a car large enough, that could be a problem. So, consider your needs, and whether or not they can meet them. Some car rental companies will have great prices and great reputations, but very few cars, and thus as a result you have to book far in advance, or go without. So, choose companies that have a big enough car inventory to meet your needs regardless of when you book, but be conscious at the same time that if you book the day you need it your choices will be limited.

Insurance: Choose your car rental company based on what is covered. If you total the car, do they have the right insurances to cover that, or are you going to be paying through the nose? Of course you will need to check with your own insurance in these cases as well, but the point is, you want to choose car rental companies that are properly insured and covered so that they do not go after you for minor things like coffee stains on upholstery, etc.

Customer Service: Customer service is an essential part of any business, and even though you only deal with the rental car company when you show up to pick up the car, and when you drop it off, it is still important that they customer service is good. So, check online to see what other consumers have said about the customer service, call ahead of time and judge for yourself how their phone customer service is. It may even be smart to do a dry run of making a claim of some kind, or reporting a problem, and see how they respond. If your rental car breaks down, how long before they get a new one to you? Are you going to sit in the middle of nowhere for eight hours because they can't send a tow truck out until then? What kind of customer service guarantees do they have?

Ease of Paperwork, Claims, etc.: This has been somewhat mentioned previously, but let's look at it again because it is important. When you arrive at your destination and go to pick up the rental car, how long is it going to take before you hit the road? If their paperwork and process are lengthy, you might want to consider a different company, there is no reason to spend hours at the rental car company counter when you could be at the beach. How long do problems take to remedy? Etc. ask, ask ask.

The above mentioned qualifications are important when choosing a rental car company, but let's take a closer look at the process of choosing one, and what your role will be, what actions you need to take, etc.

First, before you ever call a company to reserve a car, think about the size you want or need and how much you're willing to spend. Most rental car companies offer cars in three to five classes, usually fitting somewhere in the following range: "compact," "mid-size," and "luxury", however, these terms differ from company to company, so ask for specific car models, so you know if you are really getting what you want.

Second, spend some time on the phone or on the internet. You may have to call several rental car companies for price estimates, or check rates through your travel agent. Do not just trust an online site that says they compare, because various discounts etc. become available if you ask.

When making these calls, that is just what you have to do---ask. Ask about specials, ask if you can get a deal because of the length of time you need the vehicle, or the dates you have it. Many companies offer weekly or weekend deals, Tuesday-Thursday deals, etc. If your plans are flexible, you may be able to save money by renting a car when price breaks are available.

While you are on the phone it is always a good idea to find out any restrictions on special offers, blackout dates, etc. that way the cost or availability of cars does not come as a shock to you.

Another thing to consider when choosing a rental car company is their requirements to let you rent. Find out if there is any chance you will be denied your reservation. For example, some companies check driving records, but not until you are at the counter. So, if your record disqualifies you from being able to rent a car, you are stuck there without a car, even if you have a confirmed reservation. Also, check the minimum age requirement if you are younger than thirty. Most car rental companies will have a minimum age, most in the US have the minimum age of 25, but this varies. You can usually rent a car if you are younger than this age, but you will be paying extra.

Ask about the cost of extras such as Collision Damage Waiver (CDW) fees, a deposit or refundable charge; airport surcharges and drop-off fees; fuel charges; mileage fees; taxes; additional-driver fees; underage-driver fees; out-of-state charges; and equipment-rental fees (for items such as ski racks and car seats). These charges can really change the over-all cost of the rental, so they are important to consider when choosing your rental car company. Before you ever sign anything you will want to check the terms and conditions the company has for their car rental services. Double check to make sure there are no hidden fees or clauses that you may want to avoid.