It's entirely possible that you can visit the Disneyland Resort without a rental car, which will save money as well as driving and parking hassles. You may be able to skip the rental if, for example:

• You plan to spend all of your time at Disneyland, California Adventure, and Downtown Disney.

• You stay at a Disney hotel or one of the hotels within walking distance of Disneyland.

• You stay at a hotel on the Anaheim Resort Transit route. The cost of a trolley ticket will be less than car-rental costs, but be sure to add the trolley tickets into your budget.

If you decide to forgo the car rental, don't forget to budget for an airport shuttle. If your stay will be short (one or two days) and your group large (four or five people), compare shuttle costs to car-rental costs to find the best deal.

Reserving a Rental Car

Many travelers think the best-known companies are the most expensive, but that isn't always the case. You'll often be pleasantly surprised to discover that majors like Hertz, Avis, and National offer highly competitive rates once you take advantage of their special promotional deals, airline frequent flier discounts, and AAA member discounts.

Taxes and airport fees will make your total bill higher than the base rate quoted. Be sure you know the total cost for your rental before you choose.

Car-Rental Checklist

Ask these questions to be sure you understand all the costs of your rental:

• Is there a limit on miles? Extremely low rental rates often limit mileage, and once you travel over the allowed miles, you're charged a hefty fee per mile

• What is the company's policy for additional drivers? Only the person whose name appears on the rental agreement can legally drive the car unless you fill out extra paperwork. Some rental companies charge to add additional drivers, but if you are the renter's employer or regular fellow employee on company business, or the renter's spouse/mate/life companion/significant other, there may be no charge.

• What about a child safety seat? According to the California Highway Patrol, children under six years old or weighing less than 60 pounds must be secured in an appropriate child passenger restraint (safety seat or booster seat). Most rental-car companies provide child safety seats, but they must be reserved in advance and there may be a small daily fee. Using this service will save you the hassle of having to bring your own seat(s) with you.

• Are there vehicles for nonsmokers? If you don't smoke, be sure to address this issue when you make your reservation.

It's easy to spend hours trying to wring every penny out of your daily rental-car rate, but frankly, this may not be a good use of your time. If you've done some research and found a low rate from a good company, it may be time to stop. In fact, you may save more by doing your homework about insurance coverage than continuing to search for a few dollars' lower daily rental rate.

Rental Car Insurance: What You Need to Know

Optional insurance can almost double your daily rental rate, and many travelers don't realize that they may not really need it. You may already have more than adequate protection, but you need to understand the plans and check your coverage.

Rental Insurance Plans: Alphabet Soup

A renter's financial responsibility for loss of or damage to a rental car varies by state, but you could end up responsible for the full value of the car in some circumstances. Rental-car companies offer a variety of optional insurance plans, each identified by an acronym. They're based on what might happen:

• You damage the car: Collision Damage Waiver (CDW) or Loss Damage Waiver (LDW), while not technically “insurance,” waives or reduces your liability, provided the car is used according to all terms and conditions of the rental agreement.

• You injure someone or damage something while driving: A Liability Insurance Supplement (LIS) can increase liability protection limits to as much as $1,000,000.

• You are injured or killed while driving: Personal Accident Insurance (PAI) covers accidental death and medical expenses resulting from bodily injury, with limits on how much it will pay.

• Something happens to your belongings: Personal Effects Coverage (PEC) provides protection for loss of or damage to covered property of the renter and of the immediate family traveling with them. Dollar limits for this coverage are quite low.

Some companies offer combined coverage for a single daily fee. Check with the rental-car company you choose for details about the options offered and their cost.

TRAVEL TIP

If you rely on your existing insurance and you're forced to make a claim because of an accident in the rental car, your regular insurance rates could go up. One benefit of purchasing the optional insurance from the rental companies is that your existing policies won't be affected if you have to make a claim (assuming any damage or injury claims are under the limit of the insurance you purchase).

Do your homework before you show up at the rental counter. Ask your automobile, medical, and homeowners' insurance agents if any of the abovementioned incidents are covered and what the limits are. Also find out if your credit card automatically provides rental-car insurance if you use the card to pay for the rental. American Express, Diner's Club, and virtually all Visa and MasterCard credit cards issued as part of an airline's frequent flier program automatically offer this insurance. Being prepared to decline unneeded insurance when you reach the rental counter can save a bundle.

Avoid Expensive Surprises

Every year, many startled renters end up with unexpected charges on their final bill. Use these tips to be sure you aren't one of them:

• Check the car. Before you leave the rental company's parking lot, make sure there is nothing obviously wrong with the vehicle. Walk around it, looking for damage. If there's a problem, report it immediately, and be sure to get someone to sign off on it before you leave. Take a picture of it if you can, just in case.

• Gas up. If you're required to return the car with a full tank of gas and you fail to do so (which many people do), you'll pay for a fill-up at up to three times the going rate per gallon. If you paid for a full tank when you took the car out, try to return it with as little gas as possible (without running out). Near LAX, you'll find gas stations along Century Boulevard, with the ones nearer the I-405 freeway being slightly less expensive. At John Wayne Airport, you'll find them on MacArthur Boulevard, or Bristol Street.

• Know what a “day” means. Car-rental days usually start when you pick up the car and end twenty-four hours later. If you pick up a car at 3 P.M., you usually must return it before 3 P.M. on the day your rental agreement ends, or you'll be billed for additional hours at a high rate.

If you have questions about any aspect of your rental, ask them before you take the car off the lot. At the very least, write down the name of the person who answered them; even better, get the person to sign a note verifying what he or she told you.

TRAVEL TIP

If you get stuck on the road, call the rental company and report your situation. They'll often provide free assistance, including towing services, and give you a replacement rental car right away.

If your vacation includes a few days at the theme parks and a few days doing something else, think about renting a car for only the days you need it. Alamo, Budget, Dollar, Enterprise, Hertz, National, and Thrifty all have city offices within a mile or so of Disneyland.

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