All you experts, rental car help

[Brumeiser]

Has anyone rented a car to drive it for vacation? This is our dilemma, after camping just for Labor Day weekend we know now that are cars are just to small to go camping for a week. We would like to rent one next summer to drive to Maine and back about 2000 miles. When the rental car says unlimited miles, does that mean what it says and they won't say nothing about that many mileage? Would we be better off picking it up by the aiport near us or should we go to a location away from the airport? Any recommendation on who to go with? Thanks

 

[salmoneous]

Unlimited miles does mean unlimited miles. However, I have seen more and more rentals that restrict what states you can bring the car into. I wouldn't worry too much about it now, as rules change all the time, but you need to check before renting. The in-state-only thing is the kind of restriction you don't notice until you actually pick up the car.

The airport thing can be a tossup. Rates tend to be cheaper at airports, but airports tend to add on mandatory fees. You just have to do some comparison shopping when you get closer.

 

[tracys2cents]

If you already know your dates, Hertz at the airport has a special going....$200 a week for a Ford Explorer SUV. Book it now so you can lock in the low rate....use CDP discount number 157348.

However, that's a long time from now. The rate will be guaranteed...but if you happen to later call back to change the date or anything, the rate will also change.

 

[QT Pooh]

Yes, we've done this a few times. We've rented a minivan in NH and driven down and back to Florida (2,300 miles), and then we used to rent one all the time at my office in MA and drive to NJ. Next year, we're renting an SUV in Montana and touring all the National Parks in WY/MT/SD/ND - close to 2400 miles.

In some states and with some car rental agencies, there will be a caveat that unlimited miles apply only if you're driving within that state. If those restrictions apply, they will be clearly stated on the webpage.

 

[mommy*RN]

It seems everyone has done a good job answering your questions about the unlimited miles...but for the pickup location I would check and see if there is any extra "airport" tax for picking it up at the airport. I don't know if all states do it, but it's worth checking on! It may not be a BIG difference, but when planning vacations every penny counts.

 

[tracys2cents]

At the hertz that I mentioned above, it is $199 to rent an SUV for a week at the airport, and $350 in the downtown area. So even with the extra 10% in airport fees, in this case the airport is much better. Some cities have 40 or as much as even 50 % in added fees at the airports, but Toledo, at least for the time being, is not one of these airports.