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We always use priceline - best deals to be found!

Our insurance covers rental cars so we never get the one they offer

@runnerd: Not sure if its standard or not - best to call your insurance company and ask

Our insurance covers rental cars too - definitely check before you pay extra for rental insurance! And we use Kayak to find the best price for rentals - it aggregates prices for flights/hotels/cars to find the best one.

@runnerd: I rent cars all the time, and here is my strategy: look up what the price is on Hotwire, then bid 10-20% lower on Priceline. Since you have a lot of time before your trip, play as low ball as possible on Priceline.

Sometimes, the Hotwire rates are cancel-able with no penalty in which case I make a reservation with them as a backup in case Priceline bidding doesn't work out.

Also, the rates on both websites fluctuate quite a bit so what you see this week may be lower or higher next week. If your trip is many months out from now, I'd look at the rates once a week or so to get an idea of what to expect.

If you're looking for a higher class car like a convertible or SUV but all the websites are showing a high price tag, sometimes I get a midsize (or whatever you'd be comfortable settling for) through Hotwire/Priceline then pay a modest upgrade fee at the counter. For several of my Hawaii trips I've gotten a midsize for about $10/day through Priceline then upgraded to a convertible for an extra $10-15/day at the counter. It would've been $50-60/day had I bought a convertible from Priceline from the get go.

I've gotten some really nice free upgrades just for asking nicely, from Alamo, Dollar and Avis. (Midsize to full size, midsize to convertible.. That one was my favorite! I paid $10 for a midsize which they upgraded me to a mustang convertible!)

Check your employer discounts, big companies often have discount codes with rental car companies. AAA as well.

Renting directly through Avis has been my best experience for one way rentals.

Most agencies allow spouses to drive without the added extra driver fee. Read the fine print in the contract though.

I will only rent through National now. I don't care about saving a few bucks - the cars I've gotten from multiple other companies have all been across the board junky (even though they are newish cars).

I don't get extra insurance through the car company because between my personal insurance and credit cards, I'm all set - but that's something to check.

Interesting, I always book directly with the company, usually Hertz.

All good advice so far.
-Do check both your cc & car insurance policies for coverage, but having worked at a car rental place, their add-on insurance is really just a money maker for the rental company. Most people have sufficient coverage already, or can get it cheaper on your own than from the rental company.
-Same with the gas options. I don't think it is ever cheaper to go with their options. It's easier & cheaper IMO to bring it back at whatever level you rented at (usually full, but not always). Also, you can usually fill up many miles away from the drop off location for cheaper than near airport (if that's where you're picking up) & still have the gauge register full, so this is another way to save.
-Most rental companies do allow cancellations right up to the pick-up date, so track prices, but don't be afraid to reserve something early as long as it isn't prepaid.
-Priceline is great for car rentals, but note that you won't know what company you "win" your bid for until you're committed & you prepay for these rentals. You can bid over & over, but I think there's a 24hr(?) wait between bids unless you change the car size, dates or increase your bid.

We have had great luck with doing the Name Your Own Price thing on Priceline. We don't bother with the insurance through the rental company.

One thing that's not a money saver but just something we prefer is that we used to do the cheapest car (Economy or whatever) but now we usually go up one or two levels (to Midsize) because we have found that it's usually not too much more expensive and generally a much nicer ride.

@gingerbebe: I will say that I'm a little pissed with Enterprise right now. I rented a car because mine was going to be in the shop and they called me the day of (at 7:30 in the morning) to tell me that they wouldn't have a car for me at 8:00. They could get me one by noon, but they got snippy when I requested at least a small sedan (not a Fiat) because a carseat needed to fit in it and they basically told me I would get what I would get. It's because of the Honda airbag recall.

@T.H.O.U.: Our corporate is with Enterprise and I'm usually really pleased with them. But this one time, they were out of cars (literally, they were driving 1.5 hours away to get cars) because of the recall. I ended up cancelling my reservation and having a friend pick me up at the repair shop when it was clear that I could not drive my car to work.

Costco travel has good prices sometimes, is worth a check if you are a member.

Another place to look for deals is Autoslash.