1-way car rental: cheaper from airport or city?

[thisismyusername]

We are thinking about driving to Orlando and then flying back. When researching one-way car rentals, do you think it's cheapest to look for fares from airport to airport or from city to city, or do you think there's very little difference?

 

[Shelly F - Ohio]

With the airport rental you have to pay airport concession fee's. But some time the rentals from airport are cheaper than city rentals.

It all depends on what the rates are at the time you rent. So its really hard to say.. Just be aware you will also be charged a one way rental drop off fee that is usually around $125 - $150 extra.

 

[Dismomof2boys]

We are driving there also, but driving back too. From all of my research, it looks like it is cheaper to go from Airport to Airport. However, if you are dropping the car off at an airport, how will you get to WDW? The money you do save will be spent on getting to WDW from the airport. If it's only a little extra money, it would be more convenient to go from city directly to WDW. There are a few hotels on site that have car rental returns. Hope that helps.

 

[Shelly F - Ohio]

We are driving there also, but driving back too. From all of my research, it looks like it is cheaper to go from Airport to Airport. However, if you are dropping the car off at an airport, how will you get to WDW? The money you do save will be spent on getting to WDW from the airport. If it's only a little extra money, it would be more convenient to go from city directly to WDW. There are a few hotels on site that have car rental returns. Hope that helps.

If you are dropping it off at the airport and you have a reservation at a WDW resort you can ride the DME for free. You don't have to fly in, in order to qualify to take the DME you only have to had a room reservation in order to take the DME


When you are renting a car you do not have to pick up at a airport and drop off at a airport. You can rent from an airport and drop off at a city location and vice versa. The only difference is, if you pick up at the airport you will be charged the airport concession fee's

 

[thisismyusername]

If you are dropping it off at the airport and you have a reservation at a WDW resort you can ride the DME for free. You don't have to fly in, in order to qualify to take the DME you only have to had a room reservation in order to take the DME

Yes, this is what our plan was if we had to drop the car off at the airport.

I've done one way rentals before within my state and within Florida, and wasn't charged $125-150… Is that fairly common or just standard when you do different state drop offs?

 

[Shelly F - Ohio]

Yes, this is what our plan was if we had to drop the car off at the airport.

I've done one way rentals before within my state and within Florida, and wasn't charged $125-150… Is that fairly common or just standard when you do different state drop offs?

Yes it is pretty common when taking a car from one state to another. It all depends on the rental company.

I just looked at Dollar and their one way fee is $467.

Concession Fee Rec

$5.47


Energy Recovery Fee

$1.16


City Excise Tax

$6.00


One Way

$467.28


State Tax

$41.76


Transportation Fee

$4.50


Vehicle License Fee

$0.80


Total Est. Mandatory Charges

$526.97


Est. Grand Total

$574.25