Can I book a rental car for a week and turn it early?

[momoflizandains]

I am looking for a rental Feb 11-15. If I reserve a car for those dates, it is about $40 more than if I reserved for an entire week. Can I go ahead and book for the week and return early? It seems simple enough to me. Is there any reason not to?

 

[dioxide45]

I don't know about all companies, but at Alamo, they will recalculate the rate based on your actual return time. It may then not qualify for any coupon or contract IDs you used to reserve the car.

So yes, you can do it. Though it may cost you more than you expect. They will likely recalculate the rate using the going counter rate at the time, which is probably much more than the extra $40 you would be paying by booking the actual dates.

 

[OKW Lover]

Car rental companies aren't dumb. They know that people would try to do this if they let them get away with it, so they don't. Expect to be charged a significantly higher daily rate if you return the car early.

 

[momoflizandains]

I was actually looking at doing Priceline.

 

[lost*in*cyberspace]

I was actually looking at doing Priceline.

?? Priceline isn't a car rental company. It doesn't matter how you rent the car, the rules are the same.

Your question has been answered. If you turn the car in early, you will be charged more than the weekly rate.

 

[Lewisc]

It might matter. From PL's website:

You can always return your car earlier than your scheduled drop-off time but priceline cannot issue any refunds for unused time. Our rental car partners choose whether to accept your offer based on the exact combination of pick-up date, drop-off date, car type and location you select while on our website. As a result, your accepted price reflects savings that may not have been offered to you with any other combination. We know our no refunds policy is strict, but it's the agreement that keeps this great service available and the reason the major car rental companies allow you to save so much money with priceline.

I'm assuming you're using PLs "Name Your Own Price". Use PL like any other online TA, where the name of the rental agency is disclosed in advance, and you'll be subject to the regular rental rules.

 

[OrangeCountyCommuter]

I am looking for a rental Feb 11-15. If I reserve a car for those dates, it is about $40 more than if I reserved for an entire week. Can I go ahead and book for the week and return early? It seems simple enough to me. Is there any reason not to?

Sure you can... but they will charge you if you don't keep it the time you stated. Even on Priceline name your own bid you are giving them an opening to recompute....

 

[goofy4tink]

Duplicate thread.