12 passenger rental van from Budget--worried...

[Belle5]

I have a reservation for a three week rental of a 12 passenger van from Budget. I keep having this fear that we are going to arrive at the rental counter and the agent is going to tell me that they don't have one or that my reservation was canceled or something. Could this happen?

 

[Lewisc]

Did you have to give a credit card to guarantee the van? Some agencies require it. Check on your insurance. Make sure your personal auto policy and/or credit card coverage applies to a large van.

 

[Belle5]

Did you have to give a credit card to guarantee the van? Some agencies require it. Check on your insurance. Make sure your personal auto policy and/or credit card coverage applies to a large van.

Yes, I held the reservation with a credit card. I think what has me worried is that the price has gone way up ($1200) since I reserved it. I don't want them to accidentally "lose" my reservation because they can get more for the rental from someone else. It just seems like when we normally rent cars, often the car size we rented is out of inventory so we are "upgraded" to something else. If this happens with a 12 passenger vehicle--we don't want two mini-vans as a substitute! There really is no acceptable replacement!

Good idea, Lewis, about checking on insurance coverage. I will do that!

 

[TheWog]

Join there "program". I joined the Hertz program and I believe what you reserve is what you are guaranteed to get. Check to see if Budget is the same way.

 

[Lewisc]

Are you staying on-site? Sign up for DME as back up. No problem if you don't use it. Worse case scenario one person waits at MCO for the van or Budget has to make arrangements to get it to you later.

The question is what happens if a customer returns a van late or a van has to be taken out of service for repair. I'd give the one available van to the passenger who's paying $1200 more then you're paying. Sounds like you share my opinion.

 

[Belle5]

Are you staying on-site? Sign up for DME as back up. No problem if you don't use it. Worse case scenario one person waits at MCO for the van or Budget has to make arrangements to get it to you later.

The question is what happens if a customer returns a van late or a van has to be taken out of service for repair. I'd give the one available van to the passenger who's paying $1200. Sounds like you share my opinion.

Sigh...this question is (unfortunately) not about a WDW vacation. It is for a cross-country, multi-stop trip we must make for a wedding this summer.

On a more positive note, I would think that a twelve passenger van would not be one that the rental counter would easily give away without a reservation--I mean no one will be given it as an "upgrade"!

To the poster who suggested joining the Budget loyalty club, I think that is a good idea. Then, I will try to add that membership number to the reservation.

 

[Belle5]

I'd give the one available van to the passenger who's paying $1200.

To make sure I am clear--we are paying $1600 for the van even with using a 40% off code. With that same code plugged in now, the rate is showing up $1200 more than what we are now paying.

 

[Lewisc]

Triple check your mileage allowance. You may not have unlimited free miles, even if you think you do. The "fine print" may restrict you from taking the van out of state. Are you picking up at a local airport? The "fine print" may say something like this rate only applies if you're flying in to the area.

I corrected my post.

 

[castoff50]

Last Nov. I rented a 12 pass. van from Thrifty (quick bus ride from airport). I found a great rate at the Orlando Magicard website. Is it a publication of the convention and visitors bureau. The rate was, ARE YOU READY, $275/wk not including taxes. I just checked the site and they still have a good rate and the total for week is just over $400/wk. You do need to show a Magicard which you can print up at the web site. Good luck!

 

[mousey]

I wouldn't worry about it. Its the minivans that they run out of and they try to substitute the bigger ones. Last year our softball team had 4 vans rented from Dollar. They get there and no vans except the 12 passenger ones. They ended up giving us 3-12 passenger vans and one of those crossover vehicles that looks like a scrunched mini van all for the same prices we were quoted for the minivans (which were cheap last year).

 

[safetymom]

Yes you could get there and they not have the van. It does happen but not very often.