Rental Car Tricks?

[Yooper]

Does anyone have any hints/tips/tricks on how to get the most out of a rental car company?

I am afraid I am going to have to go home (back to the UP from Colorado) on very short notice within the next few days as my Partner's 95 Year Old Mother is not doing too very well, and I absolutely have to get my butt back there ASAP.

Because of current economic conditions, I'm going to have to fly to Milwaukee, rent a car, and drive the 6 or so hours from there. (It would cost a minimum of $500 extra to fly directly to MQT on short notice, plus I still would need a vehicle while I'm home as my dear Partner has managed to turn my truck into a very oversized flower box, if you get my drift. I love the guy but cripe, couldn;t he have at least started it once a week?)

I have found I can rent a Roller Skate for cheap, and add the Collision Damage Wavier for about a week for approximately $300.00.

Any hints on:
1. Asking for an upgrade (free)? A 6 hour trip on marginal 2-lane roads in an econobox is brutal. Believe me, I've done that.
2. Finding discounted insurance? Since I only have OLD cars I don't carry Collision, which means the Rental isn't covered under my current insurance.

Any advice would be welcomed. Thanks!

[nws2002]

1) Get there either early or late in the day. Before all the cars have been turned in or after all the cars have been given away. That's your best shot for a free upgradge. They'll always try to upsell you to the next class too, DON'T TAKE IT the first go round, they could just be putting you in a bigger car and making you pay for it because they don't have your class available.

2) Some credit cards have insurance for rental cars included if you rent the car using that card. Might be worth checking into.

[miatajeff]

Hey-almost every credit card has collision coverage-call your cards-that is a big savings-also most credit cards have discount/upgrade programs with certain car rental agencies-ask the cc about that too when you call. Good Luck.

[Keeland]

You might know of this years-old story. Either way, it's lessons are current — car-rental companies still track drivers.

Be aware, as well, that if the car has OnStar or its equivalent, every word you speak can be monitored whether it's turned on or off.

[Ohiospeedo]

I found that it is best to go through Orbitz.com or travelocity.com, rather than going through the car rental's website. It is million times cheaper. Went to Philly a couple weeks ago and need a car to rent for a few days. Normal car rental website gave me a rate of something like $120 a day. Went through Orbitz, and was able to get a full size car for only $20 a day.

[CGHJ]

With Enterprise anyway, it's often cheaper to rent a car for a week than for 6 days or maybe even 5. If you're going for several days, get it for 7.

[bigblock]

http://jalopnik.com/391227/paranoid-...defense-device