rental car -- when to book?

[Mainebound]

hi all,

Can anyone offer advice on how far in advance to book a rental car for a March trip? Thank you!

[Dan Murphy]

I do not think it is ever too early. find the best deal you can now, using this board and www.mousesavers.com . It costs nothing to make a ressie. As the weeks/months go on, check with both the above mentioned as well as the rental company (and the others) and se if you can improve. Quite often, as the time gets closer, deals get better. Just make a new ressie, confirm you have it, then cnacel the previous, higher one. Just a thought.

[pumpkinboy]

I agree! Make a ressie when you see a good price. Then if anyone beats that price in the future, take that and cancel the original. There are no transaction costs, just the time it takes to do the research and bookings.

I currently have two ressies for our November trip, one of which I made in January, and the other I made yesterday. I will probly cancel the earlier one soon, but I still need to sit down and compare the two.

[Mainebound]

there're really no downpayment? then I guess it can't hurt to start checking rates.

Thanks for the tips!

[CookieGVB]

I think some companies ask for your credit card # to hold the vehicle, especially if it's an SUV or minivan. You won't be charged until the rental date, but if you're going to cancel, you have to do so within their specified time, or they charge you a fee...$50, I think.

YMMV

[mrsstats]

Make your reservation now. Keeping checking, if it goes down, make a new reservation and cancel the old. I just did this for a trip to Phoenix in September. I got my best rate this time using side step.