Smarter Car Renting

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

•  Fear of the Unknown: Unfamiliar with the streets of San Rafael? Consider adding a GPS navigation system to your rental. GPS provides turn-by-turn directions to a number of San Rafael attractions and businesses, and is offered by almost all San Rafael car rental agencies. The GPS helps you navigate like some mythical Greek God of Navigation! You can also add your own portable GPS on your handy windshield sucker, but remember to take it all with you when you turn in the car at the end of your trip.

•  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.

•  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 San Rafael before arrival or verify in the rental policy and rules to see which forms of payment they accept.

Click here to see San Rafael attractions

San Rafael CA Area Attractions

• Dominican University of California
• Marine General Hospital
• Ghirardelli Square (7.95 miles)
• Angel Island State Park (8.41 miles)
• Crocker Galleria (9.23 miles)
• San Francisco Shopping Center (9.46 miles)
• Doctors Medical Center (10.29 miles)
• Wildcat Canyon Regional Park (12.15 miles)
• Fort Point National Historic Site (12.19 miles)
• Infineon Raceway (12.49 miles)
• Wave Organ (12.60 miles)
• Stonestown Galleria Shopping Center (12.81 miles)
• Deluxe Wine Tour (13.21 miles)
• Segway San Francisco Electric Tour (13.21 miles)
• Adventure USA (13.21 miles)
• Palace of Fine Arts (13.26 miles)
• Gulf of Farallones National Marine Sanctuary (13.34 miles)
• San Francisco Maritime National Historical Park (13.35 miles)

San Rafael rental guide