Anyone use priceline for car rental?

[LovinRafiki]

I am trying to bid on a car rental for September and I am not having much luck. Just wondering if anyone has been successful with getting a good bid accepted on priceline. And if possible could you give me the daily rate you put in so I can get an idea if I'm way off on my bids? Thanks!!!!

 

[rflorek]

I always use Priceline for rentals because I'm not partial to any one rental company over another. I have not tried for Orlando, so I can't help you specifically with that one.

What I do is research the rates for my type of car and my dates through every site I can find to see what the going rates are (I also factor in my AAA discounts & any coupons I am aware of). Next, I check the www.betterbidding.com forums for people's successes for my travel period & location. Then I start my bidding at 40% off the lowest rate I can find online. I also set a maximum bid and don't go over that (when I get to that level, if it's rejected, I start back at my low bid & do it all over).

I also do reserve a car PRIOR to my bidding through the comapny that I found the lowest rate at JUST IN CASE my bidding doesn't work out - at least I have something lined up that I can cancel when Priceline comes through.

I have gotten cars in Maine for $10 per day and San Diego for $14 per day, so I believe in Priceline.

Good luck!

 

[mickeyluv]

I am also wondering about using priceline for rental car. I've read where people have won their bid on priceline and gotten a vehicle from National. I'm actually wanting to drop off our vehicle in Cape Canaveral and there is not a National rental company there. Has anyone used Priceline and returned the vehicle to Cape Canaveral? If so, with what company did you win with?

 

[LovinRafiki]

That website you posted is amazing! I have been trying to find something just like it! Thank you so much, it will help alot!!!

 

[justcruisin]

Surprisingly, my priceline bid was accepted. I tried last week with $16/day and it was not accepted.

Our dates are 9/2-9/9:

National, for 7 days, mid-size:

Your Offer Price: $17.00 (per day)
Total Rental Days: 7 days
Subtotal: $119.00
Taxes and Fees: $72.96
Total Charges: $191.96

I'm not sure if we can pick something off the emerald aisle, but we will need to check in at the counter and then pick something off the mid-size aisle. Either way, I'm pleased considering the rates I was getting and this is less than what we've paid in previous years.

 

[LovinRafiki]

WOW that's impressive! I've been trying daily with no luck. It is good to know that some people are getting their bids accepted, it gives me hope. The normal prices I have found are extraordinarily expensive to me and I just couldn't find any worth wild codes. So I'll keep on trying. Anyone else gotten good deals on priceline for September?

 

[OzFan]

I'm worried that my flight will change. I know once the bid is accepted that you cannot change it.
My flight is arriving @ 5:45pm, but has changed twice now. Does anyone know what kind of a window you have for picking up?

 

[ruadisneyfan2]

I wouln't resort to PL until much closer to trip time. Usually my rates directly thru Alamo have dropped in the past as the trip gets closer. Of course this is no guarantee but I don't like to be locked in yet just in case. Also Alamo often has special discount codes that offer triple SWA credits which I like, anything getting me closer to another reward flight is good.

I have used betterbidding.com many times to have them predict what hotel I'd be getting on Hotwire. They were correct for me around 7 times now. Great website.

We leave Aug 29 for 9 nts so I'll wait until begining of Aug to try PL. jmho

Good luck!

 

[OzFan]

Well, when I got up this morning guess what?...
My flights changed. Airtran was very nice and changed my flights to times that better suited me. Problem is there are only 2 non stop flights. Now instead of arriving @ 5:45 in the afternoon, we are arriving @ 12 noon. This is why I can't book with priceline.

How much of a buffer do we have in a time frame when picking up the car and dropping off?

 

[ruadisneyfan2]

Well, when I got up this morning guess what?...
My flights changed. Airtran was very nice and changed my flights to times that better suited me. Problem is there are only 2 non stop flights. Now instead of arriving @ 5:45 in the afternoon, we are arriving @ 12 noon. This is why I can't book with priceline.

How much of a buffer do we have in a time frame when picking up the car and dropping off?

Why not call Airtran and ask at what point do they generally keep their schedule fixed? 1 month prior? 1 week?
Once you feel confident that your schedule won't change then try PL.

 

[TheLorax2000]

Has anyone used Priceline and returned the vehicle to Cape Canaveral? If so, with what company did you win with?

Unfortunately with priceline, you cannot have different pick up and drop of locations.