Can someone explain "dollar Express"

[HumanAnimal]

Hi, I'm booking up for November with Dollar, but I wondered if any of you were Express members? Is it for US residents only? Is it worth signing up? What are the benefits?



Any info would be appreciated

 

[wayneg]

Quite a few of us are members, I have been a few years now.
Main benefit is bypass the main rental desks and go straight out to the kiosk in the garage. Inside can take upto an hour when busy, Express desk never had more than 1 person in front of me.
Another bonus is they have never tried to sell me anything extra, just quickly process what is pre-paid, maybe I have just been lucky.
You can add frequent flyer numbers to your account, if your rental meets their criteria you get free airmiles added, I have had 1,000 Virgin miles added a couple of times.
More details here http://www.dollar.com/Express/LearnMore.aspx

 

[Netty]

As wayne says , benefits are you get your car a lot quicker than waiting in a queue of 300 depending how many jumbos have landed when you did
never had the hard sell either,never waited more than a couple of minutes to get the car

 

[HumanAnimal]

Thanks for the replies....

Just a couple more questions:

Which should I do first, sign up for Express, or book my car?
Is it OK to use my UK address?

 

[Brandis]

I'm a Dollar Express Member, but haven't used it yet. So when I arrive in Orlando, after picking up the luggage, I don't have to stop at the rental counter on the floor below the luggage carrousels but walk directly into the parking garage on the other side of the street?

Is there a manned Dollar Express counter or is it a computer kiosk?

Do I need to do some kind of Online Check-In before? I booked a car from Dollar through a travel agent, so I cannot access the reservation on the Dollar website. Would that be a problem if I want to use Dollar Express?

 

[wayneg]

Thanks for the replies....

Just a couple more questions:

Which should I do first, sign up for Express, or book my car?
Is it OK to use my UK address?

Use UK address no problem.
Sign upto Express 1st, you should get a membership number straight away. Its a few years since I registered but I doubt they have changed it. Then you can add it to your reservation if the agent you use allows it, not all do, sometimes you have to just hand over your membership card on collection of the rental without it being attached to your reservation.

I'm a Dollar Express Member, but haven't used it yet. So when I arrive in Orlando, after picking up the luggage, I don't have to stop at the rental counter on the floor below the luggage carrousels but walk directly into the parking garage on the other side of the street?

Is there a manned Dollar Express counter or is it a computer kiosk?

Do I need to do some kind of Online Check-In before? I booked a car from Dollar through a travel agent, so I cannot access the reservation on the Dollar website. Would that be a problem if I want to use Dollar Express?

Upto Easter this year you used to goto an Express line at the regular desk, now you go directly to the garage kiosk. It is manned.
No online check in required, you can email Dollar or your agent and ask for your Express membership adding to your reservation, I have done this and had mixed results, sometimes they will add it sometimes they say they can't but it makes no difference you can still collect from the Express kiosk with your rental voucher and your Express card.

 

[HumanAnimal]

That's really helpful, thank you very much. I'm not using an agent, I'll be booking directly with Dollar, online. Thanks again

 

[Netty]

That's really helpful, thank you very much. I'm not using an agent, I'll be booking directly with Dollar, online. Thanks again

make sure that all your taxes are included in your price for car hire if your booking with dollar.com

 

[Brandis]

Upto Easter this year you used to goto an Express line at the regular desk, now you go directly to the garage kiosk. It is manned.
No online check in required, you can email Dollar or your agent and ask for your Express membership adding to your reservation, I have done this and had mixed results, sometimes they will add it sometimes they say they can't but it makes no difference you can still collect from the Express kiosk with your rental voucher and your Express card.

Thanks! I think this will really speed up our departure from the airport to WDW!

Btw, does Dollar assign you a specific car or can you pick any one from the booked category from the lot?

 

[HumanAnimal]

make sure that all your taxes are included in your price for car hire if your booking with dollar.com

Ok, I'll do that, but I was going to book with dollar.co.uk !!

 

[Netty]

Thanks! I think this will really speed up our departure from the airport to WDW!

Btw, does Dollar assign you a specific car or can you pick any one from the booked category from the lot?

you now pick any from your category

Ok, I'll do that, but I was going to book with dollar.co.uk !!

are they cheaper than say usrentacar/expedia etc? must have a look myself for next year!

 

[Brandis]

HumanAnimal

Also have a look at the rates from traveljigsaw.co.uk.

I booked my car with one of their local partner sites and got a great all-inclusive offer which was a much better deal than booking with the rental companies directly.

 

[HumanAnimal]

you now pick any from your category


are they cheaper than say usrentacar/expedia etc? must have a look myself for next year!

I only need the smallest car, as it's just me and my daughter, I've been quoted £259 for 16days, all inclusive, I was happy with that price so haven't really shopped around

 

[Brandis]

Don't know how it's in the UK, but when booking from Switzerland, I get an all-inclusive price with taxes and all the insurances already taken care of and usually it is cheaper than the US rates even befor adding taxes and insurances!

Last time, with Alamo, they were out of cars from my booked category, they then told me to pick any car from the lot I liked at no extra charge.

 

[wayneg]

Ok, I'll do that, but I was going to book with dollar.co.uk !!

Dollar.co.uk Include all taxes.

are they cheaper than say usrentacar/expedia etc? must have a look myself for next year!

Jeanette, Dollar.co.uk are doing some very good rates at the moment. Depends on type of car but some rates can't be beaten.

I only need the smallest car, as it's just me and my daughter, I've been quoted £259 for 16days, all inclusive, I was happy with that price so haven't really shopped around

Doubt you will do much better, £259 is fair enough for 16 days rental.

 

[HumanAnimal]

HumanAnimal

Also have a look at the rates from traveljigsaw.co.uk.

I booked my car with one of their local partner sites and got a great all-inclusive offer which was a much better deal than booking with the rental companies directly.

Thanks for that, it's coming up cheaper at £242, but I can't find where it says it's all inclusive...

 

[HumanAnimal]

Sorry to be a pain.... Is dollar express not on the UK site? Will I have to use dollar.com after all !!

 

[wayneg]

Sorry to be a pain.... Is dollar express not on the UK site? Will I have to use dollar.com after all !!

You register for Express on .com but book you car thru .co.uk, don't use Dollar .com for reservations, their rates do not include insurance.

 

[Brandis]

Just sign up for Dollar Express on the US site and then book your car on the UK site. As it has been said before that there is no need to add the membership number to booking, it shouldn't make a difference.

 

[HumanAnimal]

Thanks guys, you're the best