Will you be traveling this Thanksgiving? You won't be alone. Last year the AAA estimated that nearly 51 million Americans journeyed 50 miles or more away from home for Thanksgiving, a 3.3 percent increase over the previous year. The 2017 holiday weekend saw the highest Thanksgiving travel volume since 2005, and experts expect even more travelers will hit the road this year.

Need a cheap car rental? The secret to landing the best possible rate every time is a two-step process. First, you need to find a great rate by applying discounts and coupons and then you need to keep an eagle eye for price drops.

Don't have time for all that research? Here's how to do it quickly and easily.

Are you in your golden years? You can snag a great deal on a rental car. Rental car companies frequently offer discounts for senior drivers and, if you're over 50, AARP membership can deliver sweet savings.

In an ideal world, you should book a rental car as far in advance as possible. The earlier you book, the more time AutoSlash has to track your car rental reservation and watch for an even better deal.

But sometimes you just can't book in advance. Maybe you have a last-minute business trip or a family emergency. Perhaps you are taking a spontaneous weekend getaway, or your flight gets cancelled and you decide to drive instead. Whatever the reason, sometimes you need a car at the last minute.

Sometimes it's impossible to find a great deal on an airport rental car. For starters, airport rates tend to be higher than off-airport rates, and then you pile on airport surcharges and taxes.

When airport car rental rates are sky high, expand your options. Research rates on one-way rentals and also non-airport locations. It often turns out that, even after an Uber ride from the airport to an off-airport rental car location, the savings will be significant.