Book early : planning ahead is crucial for saving money. If you leave things until the last minute,

In this guide we want to make things clear and simple for motorists renting vehicles abroad, whether you re popping over to France for the day, or if you re travelling around the world. To do this we ve recommended ambassador bangkok hotel a couple of our favourite ambassador bangkok hotel websites for finding the best deals abroad, as well as giving you some tried and tested advice for saving money.
Book early : planning ahead is crucial for saving money. ambassador bangkok hotel If you leave things until the last minute, and choose a provider at random when you arrive at your destination airport, you ll have no idea whether or not you re getting a good deal. Booking well in advance also gives you plenty of time to read through the terms and conditions, as well as giving you the time to budget effectively.
Shop around : if you think you ve found a good deal don t just stop there. It s always worth shopping around to see what else is on offer. Often, it s a good idea to compare the prices offered by larger providers with those of smaller providers.
Use comparison sites : often comparison websites are the best places to find deals, as the same deals might not be available if you go directly to the provider. They re also the best place to compare the prices of the larger providers.
Stick to your fuel policy : make sure you know your fuel policy. Usually, there are two options: 1.  Supplied full, return full . This is the most common option and requires drivers to return the vehicle with a full tank, or with the same amount of fuel that was in the tank upon collection. 2. Supplied full, return empty . With this option you ll be charged upfront for a full tank of fuel. You can return the vehicle with as much or as little fuel as you like. Please note, you will be charged a hefty service fee on top of the price of fuel if you don t adhere ambassador bangkok hotel to your fuel policy.
IDP or IDL? : most countries outside of Europe require an International Driving Permit (IDP), which is not the same as an International Driving Licence (IDL), which varies from country to country. For more details have a look at the AA website .
Get unlimited mileage :if you ve got a big trip in mind then make sure your vehicle comes with unlimited mileage. More often than not this will be the case, but certain countries and providers limit your mileage and charge you an awful lot if you exceed ambassador bangkok hotel it.
Fly-drive packages : so called fly-drive packages are popular in the US, particularly Florida. ambassador bangkok hotel This is where your flight and car hire are purchased as a single package. Sometimes these packages work out cheaper than paying separately. Kayak and Car Rentals are good places to look for these deals.
Van insurance : if you re booking a van abroad, remember to check if your policy includes contents ambassador bangkok hotel insurance. Because van s don t have windows, drivers often leave equipment and belongings in the back, making them more attractive to thieves. Also, vans are used more heavily than cars and are therefore more likely to break down. A lot of providers offer van breakdown cover, but it s often cheaper to buy it separately. For more details have a look at our Petrol Prices guide for breakdown cover specifically for vans.
Pay with credit card : if your total hire cost is over £100, you ll get extra protection under Section 75, meaning that your credit ambassador bangkok hotel card provider and the hire firm are equally liable if anything goes wrong. Also, make sure you pay your credit card off in full before ambassador bangkok hotel beginning a dispute. For more information have a look here .
Check your vehicle thoroughly : it s a good idea to check the condition of your vehicle before setting off. Taking photos of any damage, even the smallest scratch, could save you a lot of hassle when you come to return it, since it s hard to prove it wasn t you who damaged the vehicle if there s no record of the damage.
Return your vehicle on time : if you don t return your vehicle on time you might be charged ambassador bangkok hotel for an extra day s rental. Also, make sure the vehicle ambassador bangkok hotel is returned in a clean condition. It s also a good idea to stick around for the inspection, so you can argue your case if any previous damage gets blamed on you.
Buy extras in the local currency : if you re paying by card many overseas banks and retailers ambassador bangkok hotel will ask you if you d like to pay in pounds or in the local currency. Often it works out cheaper if you pay in the local currency, since the conversion rate will be set by your bank and is likely to be favourable. Sometimes you ll be shown how much you ll be charged before ambassador bangkok hotel purchasing. ambassador bangkok hotel If you re not sure about your bank s conversion rate, and the rate shown is less than 2.5%, then pay in pounds.
Child seats : note that in Europe child seats are compulsory for under 3 s. You can save money by taking one with you, or you can rent one separately since rental ambassador bangkok hotel providers can charge around £12 per rental.
Get the free Sat Nav app :  Navmii  is a free GPS and Sat Nav application for your smart phone. It s available in 50 countries and could save you an arm and a leg since providers can charge as much as £50 a week.
Do you need a car? Finally, ask yourself if you really ambassador bangkok hotel need to hire a car at all. Sometimes, if money s tight, it might be worth considering other forms of transport. Remember to check taxi prices in the country you re visiting before you go, and research public transport links and costs as well. You could even take your own car!
Note, comparison websites tend to focus on the larger providers. Smaller, local providers usually have cheaper deals seen as their overheads are less, for one they don t pay to appear on comparison websites.
The best way to find a local provider is from a personal recommendation. Of course, this isn t always possible, but if you re visiting friends ambassador bangkok hotel or family who live abroad then it s worth asking them if they have any recommendations.
Auto-Europe  are an excellent choice if you re planning to rent a car abroad. The sheer range of countries they cover, and the affordability of their deals, make them our favourite provider for renting abroad.
Their website is easy to navigate and you can search according to the driver s age, which can be useful if the driver is under 25 or over 70. See our car hire guides for young drivers , and our guide for drivers over 70 for more details.
Avis are one of the largest rental providers in the world with branches in 165 countries. They ve been around since 1946 and are a well-respected provider with a loyal customer base. What s more, their website is easy to use and their pricing s transparent.
Have a look at our Petrol Prices guide for the best car hire for international travel , which has more detailed information on Avis discounts around the world. Some of these deals might have ended by now, though it s worth keeping an eye on their special offers page since new deals are always being announced.
One of their current offers gives you between 5 and 25% off in various locations ambassador bangkok hotel all over the world. Use the discount ambassador bangkok hotel code L627900  to reclaim this offer, which runs until 29th September 2014 (valid for bookings made between now and 12th December 2014).
You can get 25% off rental prices in Cyprus, where a Daihatsu Cuore (economy vehicle) will cost you £22.78 for a 24 hour rental in Nicosia city, where the booking is made 1 month in advance. Compared with the cheapest deals found through Kayak (£31) and Auto-Europe (£37), this is an excellent price.