august 2013 codes for rental cars?

[dwfanatic]

Has anyone been able to get a decent rate towards the beginning of Aug? And if so, how????

I am not having any luck

PU MCO @ 4:30 8/9 drop off MCO 8/22.

I have just under $400 now, but that is way more than I budgeted

I can deal, as the rates have sky-rocked since then, but I sure would like to get it down from there. . I never end up paying that much.

I'm with you- our dates are 8/2- 8/12, pick up at 11 am drop off at 5pm. I have a $345 klm code reservation, and a dollar one for an outrageous amount...like $500- I'ved tried Alamo with insiders and m/c discounts and it was over $500.

 

[pigletto]

My only suggestion for you guys is a Priceline "Name your Own Price" rental. It's a bidding site so you won't know exactly what company you're using but it's guaranteed a rental company in the terminal.. all the major companies we've heard of. I got a rental with Budget when I used this method for cheaper than I could get otherwise. You will be able to pick your car size too.
You have to add in the fees so you know exactly what you are bidding but they do show you what the grand total is before you proceed. People seem to have the best results right before leaving because Priceline is selling the inventory that the car companies couldn't book at full rates.

 

[dwfanatic]

My only suggestion for you guys is a Priceline "Name your Own Price" rental. It's a bidding site so you won't know exactly what company you're using but it's guaranteed a rental company in the terminal.. all the major companies we've heard of. I got a rental with Budget when I used this method for cheaper than I could get otherwise. You will be able to pick your car size too.
You have to add in the fees so you know exactly what you are bidding but they do show you what the grand total is before you proceed. People seem to have the best results right before leaving because Priceline is selling the inventory that the car companies couldn't book at full rates.

Thanks- I don't know why our dates didn't drop- its annoying...I have been looking periodically and nothing...I'll keep checking but maybe I'll try Priceline as a last ditch effort.

 

[pigletto]

Thanks- I don't know why our dates didn't drop- its annoying...I have been looking periodically and nothing...I'll keep checking but maybe I'll try Priceline as a last ditch effort.

I was hesitant about Priceline before I tried it but it was easy and painless. They do charge you as soon as your bid is accepted but everything else works like a regular rental. You'll still pay a deposit when you pick up the car. Same process overall really. RobinB had a tips for successful bidding thread. I'll see if I can find it. It's older but the same rules apply.

Here it is.. It worked like a charm for me
http://www.disboards.com/showthread.php?t=2496606

 

[dwfanatic]

I used Priceline once about 6 years ago, but it was local rental-I guess I'm just nervous to use it so far from home....I'm kinda a control freak and like to know what I'm getting.... Not to beat a dead horse, I don't seem to have any problem relying on the klm code, though

 

[NurseKim]

Jumping in from the July board. I used car and driver code "xvc1092" for my july rental. I found it on the fat wallet forums. This is for national

Last yr in August I snagged a mid size or standard from Alamo for $120/week. Hopefully rates will come down!

 

[ProudMomTo3Boys]

Jumping in from the July board. I used car and driver code "xvc1092" for my july rental. I found it on the fat wallet forums.

Last yr in August I snagged a mid size or standard from Alamo for $120/week. Hopefully rates will come down!

Which company is this for?

 

[NurseKim]

Which company is this for?

Duh...sorry...it's for national. And I fixed my original post. =)

 

[brettb]

Just out of curiosity, because I'm not using the KLM code and it really doesn't matter to me personally, are you not covered for all manner of insurance through your regular every day car insurance? I know we are. I specifically called our provider and have a print out somewhere of what I am specifically covered for with a rental. I honestly don't even know if I am covered by my credit card, and I always refuse additional insurance because I know specifically what I am covered for with my policy with State Farm and it's good for renting a car in the United States.

I just checked and I'm more covered than I thought. I knew I was covered for liability but I didn't think my collision and other-than-collision coverage would apply to a rental car but it turns out that it does. So in our cases, credit card coverage my do two useful things: 1) cover the deductible 2) cover any fees the rental company may charge, like for loss of use while the car is being repaired.

So I guess I'll worry less if I have to use the KLM code.

However, if you only carry liability insurance, you really do need some sort of coverage for physical damage, either the LDW/CDW the agency offers or the coverage provided by many credit cards.

 

[pigletto]

I just checked and I'm more covered than I thought. I knew I was covered for liability but I didn't think my collision and other-than-collision coverage would apply to a rental car but it turns out that it does. So in our cases, credit card coverage my do two useful things: 1) cover the deductible 2) cover any fees the rental company may charge, like for loss of use while the car is being repaired.

So I guess I'll worry less if I have to use the KLM code.

However, if you only carry liability insurance, you really do need some sort of coverage for physical damage, either the LDW/CDW the agency offers or the coverage provided by many credit cards.

That's how it worked when I checked too. I had much more coverage than I though. I called specifically to ask about rentals, and he sent me a copy of the add on to my policy that covers rentals and associated items. I was surprised but pleased.
My dad was especially pleased when I pointed out to him that between his credit cards and regular car insurance he could stop buying insurance when he travelled. Pays to look into it

 

[brettb]

I'm with you- our dates are 8/2- 8/12, pick up at 11 am drop off at 5pm. I have a $345 klm code reservation, and a dollar one for an outrageous amount...like $500- I'ved tried Alamo with insiders and m/c discounts and it was over $500.

I'm in the same boat, 8/3 10:30am to 8/12 6pm, so I'm 10 days you're 11. I have not seen any good downward moves for early August.

I've got a Standard (which shows as Emerald Aisle service) book with FlyingBlue and a $30 off coupon at $306.46 so your rate is probably the same with just one more day.

I experimented with Priceline - I lowballed on a full size, standard, and midsize. For the fullsize and standard, after my offer was rejected, I was offered an immediate opportunity to book at $15/day. I think I was offered a mid-size for $14/day. They don't show you the total with the fees until the next page - so for my 10-day rental, the $15/day came out to about $235. Still better than my $306 but I really like using National. So I'll probably try bidding a little bit closer to the trip to see if I can get in the sub $200 range. The last time I did Priceline, I did it too early.National ended up falling to what I got the Priceline Hertz car for and while the car was fine, I didn't care for the Hertz process. It took a lot longer than it does with National and I had an argument the Hertz agent on the kiosk screen tried to tell me that the Mustang he was going to put me in had 4 doors.

$70 is probably close to my threshold for guaranteeing a National car. I think I'd have to save at least $100 with Priceline to go that route.

I did have a really great experience with Avis in California but I can't get anything close to a sane rate with them in Orlando for my dates.

 

[dwfanatic]

I'm in the same boat, 8/3 10:30am to 8/12 6pm, so I'm 10 days you're 11. I have not seen any good downward moves for early August.

I've got a Standard (which shows as Emerald Aisle service) book with FlyingBlue and a $30 off coupon at $306.46 so your rate is probably the same with just one more day.

I experimented with Priceline - I lowballed on a full size, standard, and midsize. For the fullsize and standard, after my offer was rejected, I was offered an immediate opportunity to book at $15/day. I think I was offered a mid-size for $14/day. They don't show you the total with the fees until the next page - so for my 10-day rental, the $15/day came out to about $235. Still better than my $306 but I really like using National. So I'll probably try bidding a little bit closer to the trip to see if I can get in the sub $200 range. The last time I did Priceline, I did it too early.National ended up falling to what I got the Priceline Hertz car for and while the car was fine, I didn't care for the Hertz process. It took a lot longer than it does with National and I had an argument the Hertz agent on the kiosk screen tried to tell me that the Mustang he was going to put me in had 4 doors.

$70 is probably close to my threshold for guaranteeing a National car. I think I'd have to save at least $100 with Priceline to go that route.

I did have a really great experience with Avis in California but I can't get anything close to a sane rate with them in Orlando for my dates.

Yes, my rate is $345. Not great but I can live with it. I too like the Check out process of National, so I'm probably going to keep it- and my husband is a Mustang fanatic and clearly, that agent was stupid. A four door Mustang....funny

 

[DisneyDreamer1974]

My dates are 8/17-8/26, 9 days, Chattanooga,(not at the airport) 9 am pick up and 9 am drop off, full size.

Hertz-$261

Enterprise-$270


Wish I could get em down.

 

[brettb]

Yes, my rate is $345. Not great but I can live with it. I too like the Check out process of National, so I'm probably going to keep it-

I have more news on the Priceline front. I worked out some more info.

First, the bid price ends up translating into a total price with approximately the following formula (which I only checked for 10-day rentals):

Total Price = Days * ( Bid Price * 1.235 + 6.60 )

(Or taxes and fees are 23.5% of the total value of your bid plus $6.60/day.)

So for a 10-day rental:

$8/day = $164.70
$9/day = $177.05
$10/day = $189.40
$11/day = $201.85
$12/day = $214.20
$13/day = $226.55
$14/day = $238.90
$15/day = $251.25

Now today again, I was offered a Full (or Standard) for "$15/day" when my lowball bids failed. However, when the taxes and fees get added to this "offered" rate (as opposed to a bid amount of $15), the total was $235.95 (and $235.55 for Standard) -- about $15 in the total than a it would be with a "bid" price of $15/day.

And when I repeated this for a Mid-size, I was offered a rate of $13/day with a total of $212.25, or $14.30 less than for a bid price of $13/day.

I'll probably continue to play with Priceline. If I can get a Full-size for more than $100 less than my "Standard" (which is really Emerald Aisle, not Full-Size Reserve) FlyingBlue reservation, I'll be happy.

and my husband is a Mustang fanatic and clearly, that agent was stupid. A four door Mustang....funny

 

[pigletto]

I have more news on the Priceline front. I worked out some more info.

First, the bid price ends up translating into a total price with approximately the following formula (which I only checked for 10-day rentals):

Total Price = Days * ( Bid Price * 1.235 + 6.60 )

(Or taxes and fees are 23.5% of the total value of your bid plus $6.60/day.)

So for a 10-day rental:

$8/day = $164.70
$9/day = $177.05
$10/day = $189.40
$11/day = $201.85
$12/day = $214.20
$13/day = $226.55
$14/day = $238.90
$15/day = $251.25

Now today again, I was offered a Full (or Standard) for "$15/day" when my lowball bids failed. However, when the taxes and fees get added to this "offered" rate (as opposed to a bid amount of $15), the total was $235.95 (and $235.55 for Standard) -- about $15 in the total than a it would be with a "bid" price of $15/day.

And when I repeated this for a Mid-size, I was offered a rate of $13/day with a total of $212.25, or $14.30 less than for a bid price of $13/day.

I'll probably continue to play with Priceline. If I can get a Full-size for more than $100 less than my "Standard" (which is really Emerald Aisle, not Full-Size Reserve) FlyingBlue reservation, I'll be happy.

Thanks for the breakdown, that helps. I always recommend people pay careful attention when bidding. They do clearly show you what the final price is before you choose to book but I always worry people don't include the taxes and fees or pay attention on the last screen before proceeding.

I too only use Priceline if it is quite a bit lower. For example I have Alamo right now for $180. I know I'll be able to use the kiosk and therefore not wait in a line and I'll be able to choose my own car. For $20 or $30 dollars that's worth the extra for me. Any greater savings than that and I start to reconsider. Because it will most certainly be a major company in the airport (and not the questionable offsite ones) I do feel confident using Priceline.

I think I used it 8 or 9 days out from my reservation last time. My only regret was they accepted my first bid, which most certainly means I could have started lower. I also had "bonus bucks" at the time. That meant Priceline added a little more than $2.00 a day to my offer, allowing me to bid less.
I am not sure how those are earned or offered but I am hoping to get some before this trip, or my December trip.

 

[jrw118]

I am currently holding a reservation with budget for a minivan from 8/21-8/27 with 10 am pickup and 4:30 drop off. Do you think it will come down at all? Also does budget offer a kiosk skip the counter? Code x474200 and MUPZ044 $40 off
Total $255.98
Should I just stop looking and driving myself crazy???

 

[pigletto]

I am currently holding a reservation with budget for a minivan from 8/21-8/27 with 10 am pickup and 4:30 drop off. Do you think it will come down at all? Also does budget offer a kiosk skip the counter? Code x474200 and MUPZ044 $40 off
Total $255.98
Should I just stop looking and driving myself crazy???

I actually don't think you will see it much lower than that. Minivans and SUV's have been through the roof so I'd say you're doing pretty good with that rate. Mind you.. I'd still drive myself crazy looking but that's the way I am

 

[PatMcDuck]

I was hesitant about Priceline before I tried it but it was easy and painless. They do charge you as soon as your bid is accepted but everything else works like a regular rental. You'll still pay a deposit when you pick up the car. Same process overall really. RobinB had a tips for successful bidding thread. I'll see if I can find it. It's older but the same rules apply.

Here it is.. It worked like a charm for me
http://www.disboards.com/showthread.php?t=2496606

I tried Priceline today, and it rejected my bids, up to the point that I could do better using some codes on my own. Bummed. Dates 8-4 to 8-11, but this is a DL trip, so I am looking at LAX. I will likely just not rent a car, I just like having one for a couple of trips off property. And I can take a compact, or a mid-sized, whatever. It will probably be less to use a cab, and not rent the car, esp. because when you stay at DL hotels, they charge you for parking each day

 

[pigletto]

I am seeing some very good rates for my dates with Budget.
You have to navigate to the section of the website with the "Pay Now Rates". It's at the top under specials. Click on "Pay Now" and it will bring you to a page about it. From that page there is a button to start your reservation.
Then there is a coupon on the website for $25 off that you can add on (MUWZ032). It brings my total down to $175 for a full-size.

The one drawback obviously is that you have to pay now, but it might be worth it for some of you so I thought I'd mention it.

 

[nobie47]

A better coupon for Budget is $40 off -- MUPZ044