While it may seem like common sense, you should always read any agreement before you sign it. This is especially true with car rental agreements. If you are not sure exactly what you are signing, you can really be taken for a ride (no pun intended.) There are numerous ways that car rental companies are able to squeeze extra money out of their customers without them even realizing it. Often times these customers do not even really understand the amount that they will be paying until it is too late. Car rental companies who are running these contract scams have a bad habit of not tacking on the extra fee’s until you have returned the car, and with a signed contract at their disposal, there really isn’t all that much that can be done about it. Here are some common car rental contract clauses that you should watch out for before you sign the contract;

- Don’t get bullied into filling the gas tank. The car should have its gas tank filled when you first climb into it. Many companies will not fill the tank, or only fill the tank halfway in order to save a few dollars at your expense. Remember to always request that your gas tank be filled when you sign a rental agreement.

- Don’t pay for insurance you already have. Many companies will have their sales agent ask you if you would like to purchase excess insurance. While this may be a good idea if you have absolutely no coverage on the car, often times if you read the fine print you will find that you are already covered for many of the things this new insurance will cover.