The internet has made all aspects of life easier. No where is this more apparent than the rental car industry.

It used to be the case that to rent a car, you would have to telephone agencies separately and get put on hold while the agent finds the deal he or she wants to give you. Or you would have to rely on your travel agent to find the best deal for you - a process that could take several weeks.

Now, with the click of a mouse, you can make your travel arrangements within minutes, no matter if it's a domestic or international trip. Just visit a rental car site and you're done. Here are some tips to maximize the use of the internet in your travel planning.

First, be sure you have your car rental needs clearly in mind: What kind of vehicle do you need? Where will you be going and for how long?

Now, use your favorite search engine and type in "car rental" and your destination. You will find a plethora of car rental car companies. Be sure you start this process early as you will find many special offers. Take the time to compare them: One company's percentage off discount may or may not be better than another company's flat rate fee. Also be sure to check each website more than once. Because the travel industry is so competitive, car rental companies change their discount offers often in order to try to outdo each other.

Many car rental agencies and travel websites offer loyalty clubs and email lists to keep you apprised of upcoming deals. While joining these clubs may require a membership fee, it may be worth it for the special deals offered. Some companies even have a members-only line at their branches that offers quicker pickup and drop-off your rental car.

Be sure to check around for deals offered through your employer, your automobile club, your airline etc. You'll be surprised at the variety of special discounts offered for military and government personnel, employees of certain large companies etc.

When you find a great deal, make sure its conditions meet your travel needs. Some offers are only good for a specific time period. Weekend rates are often lower than on weekdays. Consider whether you can change other parts of your travel plan in order to take advantage of a great car rental deal (also, do the math to make sure the savings are worth upending all your other plans.)

Once you've found the deal you want, make a note of any discount codes listed. These alphanumeric codes must be typed in on the rental agreement in order for the rate to be valid. Also make a note of the codes you used and keep it on hand in case there is a problem during your trip.

The internet has made all of our lives easier. Be sure to use the 'internet superhighway" to find your rental car.