The car rental business has experienced the same downturn in business the last eight months as every other segment in the travel industry. Which means there are deals out there. Today’s primer is on how to save money when renting a car.

Rule No. 1: Compare prices. I know it’s basic, but I’m always surprised at the number of people who go to one site and buy without looking around. The price of renting a car can vary widely—as much as $20 a day. And if you’re renting for a week, that’s a considerable amount of money.

Rule No. 2: Compare locations. Sometimes fees at airports make a car more expensive than if you rent in town. But not always—higher rents for car rental locations in a big city can make an airport cheaper.  In Europe, however, you might want to check out car rental prices if you’re going to be driving around several countries. That’s because prices vary so much. A one-week rental of a compact car with AC and manual transmission can cost $252 in the United Kingdom but $495 in Italy (where insurance is mandatory and expensive). One trick: If it works for you, fly into Geneva, Switzerland, and then drive into nearby Italy. You’ll save on that mandatory insurance, but you’ll still be legal. In short, maybe it’s less expensive to fly into and out of Europe via Geneva than, say, Rome, if the car is going to be a big part of your trip.

Rule No. 3: Consider leasing. Leasing in Europe is not like leasing the States. If you need a car for 17 days or more, you’re eligible to lease. You avoid paying the steep Value Added Tax that renters pay, insurance may be at no extra charge, you may get a new car, and you may be able to return it at a location different from where you rented it with no penalty fee. When my television crew and I shoot in Europe, we arrange our cars through Europe By Car.

Rule No. 4: Consider bidding on your price. I use Priceline but only after I’ve done my research and determined the retail price. Then I knock 25 to 33 percent off and make my bid. Nine times out of ten, I score. The drawback: I don’t know from whom I’m renting until after I’ve committed to my bid with my credit card. But Priceline does deal with mostly big-name brands.

In short, all rental cars are not created equally. Nor are they priced equally.