October 2015 Car Rental Watch

7 passenger mini-van: P/U & D/O @ MCO, 9/27 thru 10/4 thru Alamo using insider log on - VROOM Code (299851) and $30 off (AD2338fdf) for $244.61!!
That is the cheapest I have found in quite a while.

Mommy2aPrince said:

7 passenger mini-van: P/U & D/O @ MCO, 9/27 thru 10/4 thru Alamo using insider log on - VROOM Code (299851) and $30 off (AD2338fdf) for $244.61!!
That is the cheapest I have found in quite a while.

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Thanks for the heads up. We needed a mini van for that time period and that's a great starting quote!

Thank you so much for the Alamo info!!

Mommy2aPrince said:

7 passenger mini-van: P/U & D/O @ MCO, 9/27 thru 10/4 thru Alamo using insider log on - VROOM Code (299851) and $30 off (AD2338fdf) for $244.61!!
That is the cheapest I have found in quite a while.

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We got this same deal, same price, using the same codes for October 2-9. One big difference, our dropoff is not at MCO but at the Orlando Four Points across from Universal Orlando. We won't need the car for the three days we are at Universal, so the alternate drop off saved us three days in rental fees and three nights of Universal's absurd on-site parking fees.

I doubt that a better minivan deal will pop up than this one, but I'll keep checking this thread!

This is about where we are too. Seems like there are big drops about a month out so hoping we all pay about 1/2 this rate.

alvernon90 said:

We got this same deal, same price, using the same codes for October 2-9. One big difference, our dropoff is not at MCO but at the Orlando Four Points across from Universal Orlando. We won't need the car for the three days we are at Universal, so the alternate drop off saved us three days in rental fees and three nights of Universal's absurd on-site parking fees.

I doubt that a better minivan deal will pop up than this one, but I'll keep checking this thread!

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Where do you put the code? I did sign up for a membership.

mom2grace said:

Where do you put the code? I did sign up for a membership.

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The Vroom code goes in the Contract ID space and the $30 code goes in the Coupon Code space. Good luck!

Used both codes for Oct 27-Nov 2 and got a Midsize SUV for $190.12

October 13-20, wanting to use National for the convenience of Emerald Aisle

Thanks for the info, made my reservation almost $100 cheaper then Avis.

Well, I guess I will use Alamo instead of National...didn't realize you could bypass the counter with them as well! I used your codes (thank you!) and got a mid size for $195 for the week! If anyone finds any better codes, please share!

Good morning everyone! Looks like there has finally been some downward movement in prices. I booked a compact for 10/6-14 thru Alamo for $188 all in (out of FLL) using 7014926 and AD2338fdf. It looks like other vendors were moving down as well. AAA rates for Thrifty and Dollar were about $195 all in for the same cars! Now I just hope they keep on moving!!!

Found this on the November 2015 car rental thread:

"This has been rehashed over and over again on Disboards. The VROOM VROOM Limited code was a code, intended for international visitors only to the US when Vroom Vroom Vroom was still an Australian company. It includes full insurance. Check your confirmation, both CDW and SLP are selected and cannot be un-selected.

The reason why this is bad for American licensed holders is because you cannot take off the included insurance and it supersedes any other insurance you might have including personal/credit card. If you by any chance get in a accident, Alamo will investigate as they insured the car. They will find from your license you are a American citizen and thus the contract will be null and void due to fraudulent use of a code whether knowingly/unknowingly. You will then be responsible for any damage and/or liability to any injured parties out of pocket.

So ask yourself is the risk worth it over saving a few dollars. With the way people drive in the US and road rage abundant, I would say no. Here's a link to the last reported attempt to use it. They were caught and got lucky.

http://www.disboards.com/threads/vroom-vroom-code-with-alamo.3380580/#post-53104469

BTW there is a version of Vroom Vroom for Americans without the insurances included. You must book through the vroom vroom site.

www.vroomvroomvroom.com"


Back to looking for other deals I guess

Marshmelo said:

Found this on the November 2015 car rental thread:

"This has been rehashed over and over again on Disboards. The VROOM VROOM Limited code was a code, intended for international visitors only to the US when Vroom Vroom Vroom was still an Australian company. It includes full insurance. Check your confirmation, both CDW and SLP are selected and cannot be un-selected.

The reason why this is bad for American licensed holders is because you cannot take off the included insurance and it supersedes any other insurance you might have including personal/credit card. If you by any chance get in a accident, Alamo will investigate as they insured the car. They will find from your license you are a American citizen and thus the contract will be null and void due to fraudulent use of a code whether knowingly/unknowingly. You will then be responsible for any damage and/or liability to any injured parties out of pocket.

So ask yourself is the risk worth it over saving a few dollars. With the way people drive in the US and road rage abundant, I would say no. Here's a link to the last reported attempt to use it. They were caught and got lucky.

http://www.disboards.com/threads/vroom-vroom-code-with-alamo.3380580/#post-53104469

BTW there is a version of Vroom Vroom for Americans without the insurances included. You must book through the vroom vroom site.

www.vroomvroomvroom.com"


Back to looking for other deals I guess

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There seems to be quite a bit of fear being spread on these boards about this, based primarily on lack of understanding of contracts, insurance coverage, and fraud. Feel free to pay more if you like, but what you re-posted from another thread is flat wrong for many reasons.

alvernon90 said:

There seems to be quite a bit of fear being spread on these boards about this, based primarily on lack of understanding of contracts, insurance coverage, and fraud. Feel free to pay more if you like, but what you re-posted from another thread is flat wrong for many reasons.

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Can you elaborate? I have used this code to book for this Oct and want to know more.

Yes, I would like to know more about why that post is wrong? I have seen several posts on here about that code being for overseas travelers only and that you may get lucky and someone doesn't catch it when you p/u your car, but should you get into an accident, you will be out a lot of money with their insurance (it is, indeed, preselected and you cannot uncheck it on the reservation).

There is nothing I would love more than for it to be wrong because it saves quite a bit, but I am afraid to tempt fate after what I have read. I am so confused now.

I just emailed Alamo and gave them my reservation # and both the codes and asked them to confirm there are no problems with me using them. If they respond back saying they are valid for me, then I'm going to print the response and take with me just in case.

There are a bunch of things wrong with what some people are saying about that code:

1. Whether or not it is intended for use by overseas renters, the code is easily accepted for reservations when people use their domestic addresses and domestic driver licenses. I booked it myself and the Alamo site never once gave any indication that the code was for overseas use only; it's just these boards that have reported that info. If Alamo offers you the price even though you live in the U.S. and never tell you that U.S. residents are ineligible, they cannot simply refuse to honor the insurance contract later.

2. The CDW is not insurance at all, it is a contractual agreement for the rental company to assume liability for paying any deductible that your primary coverage (auto insurance or credit card) requires before paying out on a claim. All this does is save you the cost of your deductible, which is probably $500 or less. It does not interfere with your primary coverage in any way. If you must, think of it as deductible insurance.

3. The EP insurance does become primary insurance, meaning that your other underlying policy would not pay until the EP limits are reached. However, if Alamo's underwriter denied coverage because you used an ineligible discount code, despite never being warned of such by Alamo (which they just cannot do), then the other insurance you had would pay just the same as if you had declined EP in the first place. Purchasing additional insurance does not void your existing insurance. That is a misconception drawn from the fact that buying EP with $1,000,000 coverage means that you are very unlikely to ever make a claim on your existing insurance, which effectively renders your existing insurance irrelevant -- but not void.

4. Some people have reported that an Alamo representative told them that the code is for overseas renters only, but still agreed to honor the price. What that really means is that Alamo is pulling a fast one by yanking back insurance coverage that they would otherwise be providing for free -- you pay the same amount with or without the insurance, so they don't want to give you the insurance if they can scare you into giving it back. I believe that you could fight this with a manager, if you felt confident in asserting your position. But giving up the insurance in exchange for a speedy exit from the airport does seem like a fair trade.

5. You can avoid the Alamo counter reps by checking in online. The counter reps are trained to rip off customers by upselling you to upgrades, overpriced add-ons, and way overpriced insurance. Those sharks are the ones most likely to fight with you. Reports of people who checked in online and went straight to the aisle for their cars indicate that you can breeze through without confrontation.

6. The legitimate risk here is that Alamo will refuse to honor your reservation at that price. But if you are going to make another higher-priced reservation anyway, there is no need to cancel the best deal. Since you get no penalty for a no-show on the backup reservation, you may as well give the cheapest reservation a shot.

Or, you know, do whatever you want. I'm just some dude on the internet, you ultimately have to decide for yourself if you think I'm the one who doesn't know what he's talking about and proceed accordingly. I will proceed as indicated above, and report back to this thread in early October with the results.

I emailed Alamo's customer service and stated my concerns about using the code (US resident, code was for international drivers, etc. etc.). They responded, in writing, that it's valid. Email says:

"Thank you for your reservation with Alamo! We look forward to assisting you with your rental. The contract id# 299851 VROOM VROOM does come up as an active code, and has been applied to the rental for you. The full price quote of this rental was $171.84 USD. If you have any other questions please let me know. "

So I'm taking a copy of the email to the rental counter.

Good luck to all!

Well my email was quite different:
Thank you for your response and clarification. When codes like these are accepted by our reservation system, it does mean that they have contractual stipulations with them, not all the time easily identifiable. Because of your concern, and also because I don't want you to have a bad "ah ha" moment at the counter, starting your vacation, I consulted our travel agent desk. This code is only valid when booked by a tour operator, or a travel agent, and when not, the entire booking becomes invalid.