So you've booked your flights and hotel, the only thing left is to book your rental car for your holiday. Not to worry, you can always go to the desk at the airport and rent one there and then right? WRONG!

The car rental industry has changed considerably over the past few years. Changing travel habits and the global economic downturn have meant that those turning up at the airport thinking they can grab a hire car are going to be seriously disadvantaged.

For the past few years, car hire companies have been running out of cars in peak periods. Popular European destinations such as France, Croatia, Spain & Portugal always run out of cars over the summer months and in July/August, on top of this, car hire companies have adopted the yield management approach of the airlines, which means that the further in advance you book the cheaper it will be for you, so tip number 1, book as far in advance as possible!

The huge number of online car hire brokers and comparison websites also means that companies have to be far more competitive in their online pricing - but doesn't necessarily mean they will be more competitive with their offline pricing so use the online resources available to get the best price. Tip number 2, book online!

The time you want to pick your car up can also affect your price. If you are arriving late at night or on a Sunday, the cheapest supplier may be closed so arriving at these times won't get you the best price, take a look online and search for different dates & times to see what is the cheapest. Sometimes it may be worth opting for a more expensive flight to get a cheaper rental scar and make your overall costs lower. Tip number 3 - be as flexible as possible for the best price!

Before you book, read more car hire tips as they can really help you make a better decision!