Car rental wrongs.

Putting the brakes on trumped-up charges

When you're drawn in by a car-rental advertisement, do you ever wonder if you're getting the best deal? If so, it's important that you never enter a car rental arrangement without the benefit of research.

Take insurance, for example. The four most common types are collision damage waiver (CDW)/loss damage waiver (LDW), supplemental liability insurance, personal accident insurance, and personal effects coverage. Most rental car companies will attempt to sell you collision damage and theft insurance coverage even though you probably don't need either of them.

Before you kick out $10 to $15 per day for this option, "Check to see if you have personal coverage through your personal auto insurance policy or additional coverage through your charge card agreement." advises Bill McGee, editor of Consumer Reports Travel Letter.

Also, pass on the fuel purchase option. The idea is that you pay for a full tank of gas ahead of time so you can return the vehicle on empty. Here's the catch: It's virtually impossible for you to use all of the gas in the car, so it's best to decline the offer and fill up the tank just before returning it. That way, you only pay for what you've used. Otherwise, you could shell out as much as $3 to $4 per gallon. "We've found that in most cases, the fuel purchase option is much more expensive than purchasing fuel on your own," says McGee.

According to McGee, "The cost of a rental car can sometimes be offset by corporate discounts or discounts for certain memberships [with organizations] such as AAA or AARP. There can also be savings in going directly to the car rental company's Website. Shop around by comparing prices at several Websites or through a travel agent."