You’ve probably already noticed that the gas station isn’t the only place you’re seeing high prices this summer. In her latest column, Pauline Frommer explains why it’s costing you more — much more — to rent a set of wheels this year, too.

By Pauline Frommer

It’s not your imagination.

Though the cost of most travel products — cruises, hotel rooms, airfares and vacation condos — is down significantly this year, you’re paying much more now to rent a car than you did in 2008. According to The New York Times, the average rate for a compact car booked for a week at an airport location is up 65 percent or more from last summer!

Why the change? Simply, the rental-car companies have been able to successfully do what the major airlines have not: increase prices by cutting supply. All of the major firms have drastically trimmed their fleets, according to Hotwire’s Clem Bason, who predicts that there will be at least 15 percent fewer rental cars on the roads this summer than last.

You don’t have to give in to higher prices, though. Here are a few tips to ensure that renting a set of wheels won’t puncture your vacation budget.

Crunch all the numbers before committing: Most of us check hotel prices and airfares and leave it at that. But with car-rental rates so high this year, you’ll also want to compare those prices before booking your vacation. You may find that it’s cheaper to add a little driving to your itinerary by flying into an alternate airport. Of course, you should first check to see if the airfares are also cheaper to that alternate airport. If they are: Bingo, you’ve saved a bundle.

Rent off-airport or from a minor-leaguer: Renting anywhere but the airport can also be a money saver. Airport taxes are the culprit here, sometimes raising the overall cost of a rental 10 percent to 15 percent. Of course, before you rent off-airport, make sure you have a cost-effective way of getting to the rental office. Some companies will pick you up at the airport free of charge, so always ask. If there’s no such service, see if public transportation can get you there quickly and affordably.

While you’re comparing the off-airport options, don’t forget to look at the local mom-and-pop agencies; they’re often much more wallet-friendly than the big names. On a three-week research trip to Vegas, I once saved about $150 by going with SavMor, a small local concern that was whupping the majors’ prices. To find these independent agencies, use such sites as BreezeNet (http://www.bnm.com) and Car Rental Express (http://www.carrentalexpress.com).

Book early, but remain vigilant: A saving grace of car rentals is that, unlike airfares, you can lock in a price early and then rebook with no penalty if the price goes down (however, that’s not the case if you book through a third-party site). So give it a whirl: Booking early will at least guarantee that you won’t be stranded at your destination without a car. And, though last-minute discounts are fewer this year than last, you just might save a bit by rebooking (I once saved about $25 this way on a weekend car rental).

Clip coupons, use codes and figure out if you’re a VIP: Before making that first booking, however, you should do some detective work to sniff out the best discounts. The helpful Web site Best Car Rental Tips (http://www.best-car-rental-tips.com) offers an exhaustive compendium of discount codes for every major car agency and every segment of the population, from AARP members to, no joking, disc jockeys and pool players. Beyond these codes, you’ll find handy-dandy discounts that work for everyone at such Web sites as Coupon Winner (http://www.CouponWinner.com), Coupon Seven (http://www.CouponSeven.com) and Fat Wallet (http://www.FatWallet.com).

Bid blind: If it’s a week before you’re due to arrive at the rental counter and you’re still unhappy with the prices you’re being quoted, try putting in a bid on Priceline (http://www.Priceline.com) or book blind at Hotwire (http://www.Hotwire.com). Since these two companies deal only with the major chains, bidding or booking a car without knowing the company in advance holds little risk. (Does it really make that much difference if you’ll be driving a Chevrolet Cobalt versus a Hyundai Accent? I didn’t think so.) Be sure to suss out what the major rental-car agencies are charging before committing, however. After all, you want to make sure you save the 35 percent these Web sites promise, not overpay for your rental.

Say no to CDW: Your savings shouldn’t stop once you’ve booked your car. Many people overpay at the rental counter by being suckered into buying insurance they don’t need. Case in point: the collision damage waiver. If you own a car and have insurance, or if you pay for your rental with a major credit card, you’re likely already covered. One caveat, though: In Ireland and Italy, among other countries, the law states that you must buy insurance from the rental car company, so you won’t be able to get out of the extra costs there.

Fill up the darn tank!: The final money waster? Returning the car empty when you promised to fill ‘er up. Some companies charge a whopping $5-$6 a gallon to those who forget to make that important stop on the way back to the rental-car office. So do some pumping, and if you’re really scrimping, check Web sites such as Gas Price Watch (http://www.gaspricewatch.com) and GasBuddy (http://www.gasbuddy.com)
to find out where the cheapest stations are in the areas you’ll be visiting.

Happy motoring!

I think most talkvegas fans are pretty good about scouting out the best car deals and use these tricks and more. They kinda do something like for rooms too, where they double and triple book, watch for offers, and play it down to the last minute.

I found it interesting that the article says the car companies do something the airlines could not do with the supply and demand game. As a long time airline employee, I thought the airlines could just do what the oil companies have done all these years. Just become buddies and play on the same golf course. Work as a team, raise the prices together, stomp out the competition together, and share the wealth.

Anyway, thanks for the article. It made some excellent points.

Your right there Joe. Talk Vegas regulars are very adept and knowledgable when it comes to anything Las Vegas and are ready to help you out when needed. I did like all the links mentioned in the article.

it doesn't seem to me that it's the cost of the actual car rental, but all the darn taxes and add ons. 8 day rental full size, 187, after tax and fees, 310! It's crazy!

Last week I booked Alamo for $170 for Dec 2-8. I checked today, it was down to $140. Cha ching! An extra $30 to gamble with!