Best Car Rental process

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Chris Timpone

Earning My Ears

Joined

Apr 23, 2015

• Apr 23, 2015

• #1

I am looking for advice on renting a car @MCO in August 18-26.
Best discounts
Best time to rent

We will be using ME for the majority of the travelers but still want use of a car for some park access for handicapped father, golf play and shopping.

 

Praying Colonel

DIS Veteran

Joined

Aug 16, 2004

• Apr 23, 2015

• #2

The best advice I can give you is to sign up for the VIP program for whichever company you rent from. It's usually free and it's like a FastPass for car rental. Last time we rented at MCO it probably saved us at least an hour skipping the long check-in/return lines.

 

KodakFigment

Mouseketeer

Joined

Jan 22, 2007

• Apr 23, 2015

• #3

Mousesavers always has the most current discount codes. We rent a few times a year and have found the best rates about 2 months out or in the last two weeks before your trip. No penalties for booking and canceling when you do it online directly thru the rental companies (not priceline/hotwire/expedia, etc.) Book a rate you are comfortable with as soon as you want, then keep an eye out for discounts.

 

momto4obkids

DIS Veteran

Joined

Mar 21, 2002

• Apr 23, 2015

• #4

I would suggest you head on over to the Transportation forum. There's lots of info and usually a specific thread started for each month so people can share what deals they are getting for car rentals!

http://www.disboards.com/forums/transportation.16/

 

disneyluvnmom

Mouseketeer

Joined

Jan 7, 2009

• Apr 23, 2015

• #5

Dollar usually has good rates. When you go to their website the first time, put in your search details and rates will show up. You will see a "city specials" click that link and you get great rates. I would take that first city special rate you see. Reserve the car, no CC needed to reserve and you can cancel at anytime. Then you can look at other rental places or bid on priceline to see if you can get anything lower.

 

DisMommyTX

DIS Veteran

Joined

Mar 7, 2015

• Apr 23, 2015

• #6

I always reserve through the Autoslash website. You reserve at full price, then they check all coupon codes and email you to modify to lower rates right up until the trip. You don't pay until you pick up the car, so if the price doesn't come down enough, you can just cancel or not pick it up.

 

M

MillauFr

Buzz & Woody

Joined

Aug 5, 2011

• Apr 24, 2015

• #7

Praying Colonel said:

The best advice I can give you is to sign up for the VIP program for whichever company you rent from. It's usually free and it's like a FastPass for car rental. Last time we rented at MCO it probably saved us at least an hour skipping the long check-in/return lines.

Click to expand...

Agree always sign up for the VIP program the car rental company offers. Many airports you don't even have to wait in any lines. You can check in at a kiosk and head straight for the car.

 

My3kiddos

DIS Veteran

Joined

Mar 5, 2009

• Apr 24, 2015

• #8

I've always got the best deal from Costco. I always try carrentalsavers, sams, and using various codes I find online.

 

Donnainnj

Loves having an AP

Joined

Feb 6, 2001

• Apr 24, 2015

• #9

We usually end up naming our own price with priceline or Costco. (Costco is nice when you have two drivers) Donna

 

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Rosebud123

DIS Veteran

Joined

Feb 9, 2012

• Apr 25, 2015

• #10

We rent a car every trip, and Dollar has always been our best option. I check almost every day. Right now I have a mid-size SUV for $293 (all in) for August 22 - Sept 1. Right now that same rental is about $320, so prices aren't changing much.

I anticipate getting a car (midsize or better) for close to $150 for our entire 11 day rental. Each time I get a better price, I just cancel the old reservation.

If you go to Dollar's website, be sure to click on the City Specials link and scroll down to see all the options.

 

Astridia

You want me to do what?

Joined

Apr 25, 2015

• Apr 25, 2015

• #11

We rented through costco travel and they had rates that were at least $100/week less expensive than hotwire or expedia. I also agree with the poster that told you to sign up for the rental car club. On our last trip the budget counter inside the airport had a really long line. But we had signed up for fastbreak so we went directly to the garage, no waiting, and we had our car within 1o minutes.