It's a good strategy to leave some spare time before the time you're supposed to pick up your rental car — especially if you're flying. It's best if you don't choose your flight's arrival time as your pick-up time. Instead, leave time for getting off the plane, collecting your checked bags, and any flight delays.

Your car rental pick-up time isn't as flexible as your hotel check-in time. Most car rental suppliers guarantee that they'll hold your vehicle for a certain period (usually 30-60 minutes) after your scheduled pick-up time. If you arrive later, you may face additional charges or even find that the vehicle was rented out to someone else.

If you think you're going to arrive after that period, you should call the supplier as soon as you can to let them know — though keep in mind that even if you call, they may not hold the vehicle for you.

No matter where you rent a car, you'll have to have a valid driver's license. Most of the time, you'll also have to have at least a year of experience driving. If renting abroad, you may need additional documents like an International Driving Permit (IDP). So be sure to check the vehicle's Rental Conditions for these details.

Rates may be higher for younger and senior drivers, but our website automatically includes these fees in the total price based on the provided age.

We ask every customer to rate the supplier they rented from after they drop off the car. We show these ratings in the search results with a breakdown of how customers rated the supplier across different factors (like how much time they spent waiting).

So make sure to choose a car from a supplier with a high rating. This will usually mean that you'll get a better pick-up location, shorter wait times, a newer car, and friendlier staff.

If you want to be sure you'll get the best service, choose one of our suppliers that has won our Excellent Service Award. These have a badge in the search results, as you can see below.

The costs for rental cars is usually quoted per day. For example, whether you rent for 2 hours or 24 hours, you will be charged for one day. If you rent for 25 hours, however, you'll be charged for two days.

Once you've found a good supplier, be sure to see what they require for leaving the security deposit when picking up the car. Many suppliers require a credit card for this. Many bad rental experiences stem from renters missing this critical information, which you can find in the Security Deposit section of the Rental Conditions.

If you only have a debit card, use the filter on our website to only see cars where a debit card can be used for leaving the security deposit or, if you have enough time, consider signing up for a credit card before your trip.

Pro Tip: If you're unsure about what type of card yours is, you can try checking whether it's a debit or credit card with the FreeBINChecker. It's a secure process requiring only the first six digits of your card; however, we can't guarantee its accuracy).

Keep in mind that suppliers typically require the main driver's card. Cards belonging to someone else, such as a spouse or friend, likely won't be accepted. Also, most suppliers don't accept virtual cards or cards linked to your phone.

Another factor many overlook when booking a rental car is where they will actually pick it up. Many just assume that if they find a car at the airport it will be quick and easy.

It's best to choose a supplier that is located in the terminal, as this will be more convenient and faster than waiting on a shuttle bus or having to rely on an agent to meet you (which may be a hassle if your flight is delayed).

Pro Tip: At some airports, "Car Rental Center" and "Outside Terminal" locations are also available, and these are usually good, nearby options as well.

Here's a complete description of each type of rental location at airports:

• In terminal - An easy way to pick up your rental is by choosing a supplier with a desk in the airport terminal. Most of these desks are right in the baggage claim area.
• Meet & Greet - Someone will meet you at the airport. They may either bring the car to the airport for you or take you to their location to pick it up. It's important that you enter your flight number if you choose Meet & Greet.
• Free shuttle service - You'll have to find a shuttle (usually right outside the terminal) to the supplier's location, which could be at the airport or just outside of it. The shuttle usually takes no more than 15 minutes.
• Car rental center - You'll go to the center where all of the suppliers at the airport are located. At some airports, this center is right next to the terminal, while others are a shuttle ride away — this shuttle will be the same for all suppliers.
• Outside terminal - You'll find the supplier's desk outside the terminal but on the grounds of the airport. Usually, it will be within walking distance of the terminal or the car rental center.
  
  

You can filter to see just offers with the pick-up type you want on the sidebar of the search results. When searching on the mobile version, you can find the filters in the upper-right corner under All Filters.

Opt for cars with a "Full-to-Full" or "Same-to-Same" fuel policy. Of these, "Full-to-Full" is a slightly better choice, as it may be a little difficult to know exactly how much to fill up the tank before returning the car with "Same-to-Same".

If you select "Full-to-Empty," you'll pay upfront for a full tank, but you might not use all the fuel you've paid for. However, the upside of choosing "Full-to-Empty" is that you don't need to refill the tank before returning the car.

Review the Rental Conditions before booking a car — check details such as the specific cards accepted by the supplier, the security deposit amount, policies on traveling to other countries, and the driver's license and other requirements.

You're about to set off and take a lot of photos of your trip — before you do, take a video or some photos of the entire exterior of your rental when picking it up.

A notorious issue for renters is being charged for damage that they don't think they caused. Without pictures or it being marked on the vehicle inspection sheet, you won't be able to prove it was there beforehand — and you might end up with a hefty charge.

So just take a video or snap a few shots, preferably while the agent is there, and you'll have a worry-free trip.

Before you set off with the car, make sure to ask the supplier about exactly where you should return the car at the end of your trip. It could save you time and prevent confusion later.

So that's all there is to it. In our experience, following these simple rules leads to having the best rental experience. So all you'll have to worry about is having a great time on your trip.