• Reserving a rental car early gives you several guarantees.car image by Muhammad Umair Tahir from Fotolia.com
  
  

Early Enough to Check for Better Deals

• Reserve early enough so you can check for better deals from your chosen rental car company, says Bnm.com. Often, rates are based on a variety of factors, and reserving months in advance gives you enough time to cancel the reservation and keep an eye on lower rates.
  
  

Reserve as Soon as You Know Vacation Details

• If you're planning a vacation, reserve your rental car as soon as you know your departure and return dates. This allows you several benefits, including knowing that your rental car is taken care of and ready to go when you are.
  
  

Bottom Line

• Reserving as soon as possible gives you a more solid guarantee that you will get the kind of car you want, such as an SUV, economy car or sports car. Waiting until the last minute may put you in an economy-size car when you really need an SUV. Reserving early also allows you to save money by giving you time to search for better deals from the rental company.