1st Time Car Renter! Just a few Q's. =)

[ucncallmeflwr]

Okay, feeling like a dummy here...haha.

My fiance and I are planning a December trip to the happiest place on earth! We have pre-mouse plans though; rather than landing in Orlando we're starting our journey in Jacksonville (where we plan to pick up the rental).

So my questions are these:

Will having a different drop-off location from pick-up location add to our total?

Call me naive, but is it possible to rent a car for 3 days, under $200 tax and all? 'Cause for some reason I keep getting numbers like $200, $250 and even $300...seriously?!

Do I have to have a credit card? -- I don't. I have a debit card.

Any suggestions/advice?

Thanks in advance!

 

[goofy4tink]

The vast majority of the time, you will get a better rate if you book over a weekend. A rental for just a few days is going to cost more, for each day, than if you rent for a week.
You will be able to get a good idea of rates if you just go to various car rental sites and play around with various dates.
As far as a credit card goes..I have almost always used my debit card, but it does have a Visa logo on it. Budget did not put a hold on any of my rentals.

 

[jlewisinsyr]

Will having a different drop-off location from pick-up location add to our total?

Typically within Florida there are no one way rental surcharges (pick-up and drop off locations different).

Call me naive, but is it possible to rent a car for 3 days, under $200 tax and all? 'Cause for some reason I keep getting numbers like $200, $250 and even $300...seriously?!

Typically week rentals crossing a Saturday are the cheapest rentals, sometimes renting for longer periods of time are cheaper then shorter rentals. Do not increase your rental days just to secure a cheaper rate though as returning early may result (almost a guarantee) in a re-rating of your original quote to match the lowest rate based on the days you rented (ie. Don't try to rent a week rental expecting to drop it off after 3 days and still pay the week rate, they will re-rate you to a daily rate at a much higher price).

Do I have to have a credit card? -- I don't. I have a debit card.p

Can you rent via debit card, yes, most places will allow this, some require additional credit information, others require proof of a return trip (ie. airplane ticket) others, nothing other then the card. Would I rent with a debit card, absolutely not, there are too many things that can go wrong (and have) with rentals, and when you attach a debit card to them, you're possibly tieing up the cash you need for your daily expenses while you work out the problems (think accident, tire repair, etc.).