Smarter Car Renting

Here are car rental tips from the road trip-seasoned editors of RoadsideAmerica.com:

•  Credit Cards for Pick-Up: Many agencies require a credit card upon pick-up. Yes, Opie, we live in that kind of world. So make sure you are in good standing with your "plastic." Call the car rental agency in Tempe before arrival or verify in the rental policy and rules to see which forms of payment they accept.

•  Damaged: Always carefully eyeball your vehicle before leaving the rental agency, whether you're in Tempe or East Podunkville. The last renter may have pulled in after a meteor shower! Prior scratches, dents, and other vehicle damage can cause extra headaches and costs if not noted before you leave the rental car lot. If you see any damage on the car's exterior and interior before you leave, make sure it's noted on the rental car papers, and point it out to an agency employee. This will resolve any questions that could arise when you return. And avoid meteor showers.

•  Leave Nothing Behind: At a road trip's end, we find we've accumulated souvenirs, kitschy mementoes, and piles of brochures from tourist attractions. These treasures prove you really traveled -- that it wasn't just some wacky delusion. When dropping off your rental car, carefully check every door pocket, drink holder and storage bin for these keepsakes. The rental car company sure doesn't have any use for them.

Click here to see Tempe attractions

Tempe AZ Area Attractions

• Arizona Mills
• Arizona State University
• Downtown Tempe
• Oceanside Ice Arena
• Rio Salado College
• Sun Devil Stadium - Frank Kush Field
• Tempe Diablo Stadium
• Wells Fargo Arena - Arizona State University
• Banner Desert Medical Center (2.66 miles)
• Phoenix Municipal Stadium (3.58 miles)
• Desert Botanical Gardens (3.60 miles)
• Phoenix Zoo (3.82 miles)
• University of Phoenix (4.21 miles)
• Banner Mesa Medical Center (4.24 miles)
• Tovrea Castle (4.28 miles)
• Pueblo Grande Museum & Cultural Park (4.77 miles)
• Banner Behavioral Heallth Hospital (4.80 miles)
• Mesa General Hospital Medical Center (5.06 miles)

Tempe rental guide