Whether traveling by car for business or pleasure, many people rely on rental cars to get to their destination. And, as anyone knows who has rented a car at one time or another, understanding the rental terms and finding the deal with the best rate can prove challenging.

To help solve this problem, several Web sites contain rental tips and rate information specifically tailored for consumers. Here are just a few:

¢ American Society of Travel Agents (Travel Sense), (www.travelsense.org/tips/car.asp) presents consumer-oriented information about renting a car and covers a range of considerations, from renting cost to insurance options.

¢ Bankrate.com, (www .bankrate.com/brm/news/auto/20030716a1.asp) offers 12 tips when shopping for a car rental rate.

¢ ComparisonTravel.com (www.comparisontravel.com/rentalcartips.htm) provides nine top car rental tips.

¢ Edmunds (www.edmunds.com/ownership/driving/articles/46971/article.html) features tips for hassle-free car rental.