Negotiating your own car rental price can take some time and effort, but in the end it can save you a lot of money. If you’re planning to try to negotiate, it’s better to go to a small, independent rental car company. The big chains may be tied into national policies and rate structures that they can’t alter.
Prior to starting your negotiation, do a little research. Find out what the kind of car you want typically rents for in Las Vegas. Then be realistic. Most companies won’t go much lower than thirty to forty percent off their usual prices.
When opening the negotiation, let the company make the first offer. Then wince, shake your head, and say, “Wow,” as if you cannot believe they would charge so much. Allow a few seconds of silence. Sometimes the sales representative will spontaneously make you a lower offer. If he or she doesn’t, name your own price. It’s okay to lowball it a little bit, but not to the point of being unreasonable.
The sales representative will usually come back with a counter offer, and from there you can haggle back and forth until a mutually satisfying deal is reached or until you are at an impasse. Be creative
