Should you book your rental car online before you take off for your destination? (Clipart.com)

Q: I will be renting a car while in Britain. Should I rent it before I leave or wait until I get to London?

A: There are those who insist they get the best rate when they rent after they arrive, because you can haggle with the rental agency and come up with a better deal than if they had booked online before they left. Calling to speak with an international representative, they say, does not net the same results since the representative is just that and cannot speak for the operator of a specifically located agency.

Yes, there may be last- minute deals and because car rental pricing is also based on availability, you may find an agency anxious to make a deal if they have a full fleet available. There are deals to be made if the climate is right.

For me this leaves too many loose ends. I like to know, upfront, what the rental cost is before I leave and what type of vehicle I'll be driving. When I arrive I want to begin my trip and not spend my travel time booking a rental car. By booking ahead, I get to choose the car I want, not choose from what's left in the agency's lot.

To book before you go or after you arrive is a question of your comfort level with uncertainty and the time you have to dedicate to the search after you arrive. My own experience has taught me I will often find really great deals by searching through vehicle booking agencies on line.

These car rental booking agencies, www.autoeurope.com and www.easycar.com, actually do the search for you, finding the best deals available and providing you with choice. I have found that www.kayak.com to be a great resource for renting cars in Europe, as their search engine canvasses the booking agencies as well as the branded car rental companies such as Hertz, Avis, Budget etc., and some European brands that may be unfamiliar to us.

It should be noted, however, the rental booking agencies usually require full prepayment and that just may be the rub that discourages you from using them.

If you choose to source your car without having to prepay the full amount, many of the branded companies also advertise their lowest rates online, at their own sites, which also makes it easy to comparison shop. However, my experience has been the car rental booking agencies often better the online advertised rates. Give yourself enough time to search for the best deal.

The location of the rental agency often determines the price and availability. Airport locations are generally more expensive as they are required to pay a fee to the airport and this fee is passed onto the renter.

Also, these locations are popular with the business traveller and model choice may sometimes be limited. If you choose to rent from an agency away from the airport, remember to factor in the cost and difficulty of getting to that location.

Know what you require in a car rental: is it comfort, seating capacity, luggage space and remember to consider the cost of fuel as this will help you determine the type of car that will give you the most for your dollar (or your pound sterling).

You should be aware too, that a "road tax' of an estimated US$4.50 per day and a mandatory winter tire fee of about US$7.50 per day (maximum charge of about US$75) applies to all rentals in Europe, commencing Nov. 15 through April 30.

Make sure your quoted rate includes all applicable fees.

Do you want the flexibility of unlimited mileage or can you get by with a capped rate (300 kilometres per day)? You can save by going with the limited mileage package, but the cost will add up quickly if you go over the designated number of kilometres.

You'll want to check with your insurance company before you pay for any insurance offered by the rental agency. Some credit cards cover damage or theft of a rental car. But some credit cards have a caveat in their small print, limiting their coverage to North American car rentals only.

Be sure to inform the agent if there will be more than one driver. Things can get difficult if an accident occurs and the driver of the rented car is not listed on the rental agreement.

Once you have reserved your car, record your confirmation number and if you book via the Net ask for a confirmation e-mail.

Remember you need to inform and request permission, with the rental company, if you want to drive the car in continental Europe, whether you do so by getting there on a ferry across the channel or even driving through the Chunnel.

This can be done by simply selecting the option as you proceed through the booking engine.

In the UK, speed cameras are in use on busy traffic routes. Keep to the limits, as you will be liable for anything from a fine to a complete ban if caught speeding. Speed limits in the UK are measured in miles per hour.

Inspect the car very carefully before leaving the agency lot, making sure all dents or scratches are noted on the rental contract.

You do not want to be charged for damage you did not inflict. My experience here is that European car rental companies are not as lenient, even on small nicks or scratches, as their North American counterparts, so do note everything, even if you think it to be incidental.