Book Riverside County car rentals from $36

Being in control of when and where you travel is a huge advantage of having your own rental car on vacation. Take charge of your road trip around Riverside County and revel in the freedom of exploring its most popular destinations at your own pace. Get out and discover some (or all) of this place's most outstanding cities:

• Riverside (population of 322,400)
• Temecula (population of 112,000)
• Palm Springs (population of 47,400)
• Desert Hot Springs (population of 28,300)

Here are our recommendations on how to jump behind the wheel of a rental car with extra cash in your wallet:

• A car can take you anyplace you want to go — so can we. Compare the hottest deals from the top companies in town in just a couple of clicks.
• Arrange an email Price Drop Alert for your next vacation destination. You never know what awesome bargains will make a pit stop in your inbox;
• Research is the key to scoring the best rental deals in town, so be sure to take a look at both airport and non-airport pickup and drop-off outlets before you lock in your ride;
• If your vacation dates are not set in stone, see if you can get a lower price by choosing different days of the week in your search;
• Pickup and drop-off times generally need to be the same or very similar (e.g, both 11 a.m.) or you may be charged for another full day;
• Sometimes rental companies offer big incentives to pay as soon as you book, so watch out for these money-saving offers;
• Don't let the deal you've been looking for slip through your grasp. Book as soon as possible and secure your ideal ride.