Car Rental - Alamo

[Mouseketeer1974]

Hi,

Just got the holiday documents through today and we seem to have "fully inclusive" insurance with Alamo.

This "Includes:
Collision Damage Waiver (CDW)
$1 million Liability Protection
Uninsured Motorist Protection (UMP)
Taxes
Surcharges
Airport Fees"

Is this everything we need or should we expect to need to upgrade something?

Thanks

 

[OldKeyWelsh]

Yes, you have everything you need, but be aware that you will probably be told that you need some extra insurance to cover breakdowns and flat tyres etc when you pick up your car. You will also probably be told that your chosen car will not be large enough and you will need to upgrade. My advice is to ignore all this and just go with what you have booked.

 

[Elise79]

You just need to decide what you are going to do with fuel - pre-pay a tank or return full.

Also is there only one driver? If not you will have to pay locally to add a second.

Insurance is all covered though so its only the above you should be paying for locally. Make sure you check your paperwork

 

[RJMC]

you may want to consider checking in online with ALAMO before you go. you can then bypass the rental desk (and the sales pitch you will get to upgrade or take extra insurance) and go directly to choose your car and drive away.

 

[cliveywolves]

I'd 2nd that with Alamo use the pre register online service you can then just use one of the automated machines to collect your paperwork and walk straight out to carpark and pick your car and driveway after flashing your paperwork at a booth on way out carpark

 

[scoobydooby]

How do you sort out the named driver? Can you do this at online check in? The holiday is booked in my name but DH is the driver.

 

[Tony Toon]

Yes, you have everything you need, but be aware that you will probably be told that you need some extra insurance to cover breakdowns and flat tyres etc when you pick up your car. You will also probably be told that your chosen car will not be large enough and you will need to upgrade. My advice is to ignore all this and just go with what you have booked.

We're just back. We had booked a car from Alamo which we would pick up after a week of Disney Transportation. We were picked up from OKW by a luxurious mini bus to pick up the car from the Alamo office on World Drive. We had booked a Nissan Verso, one group up from the smallest, as on this trip there were only the two of us.
When we checked in, the lady behind the counter did her utmost to get us to upgrade using all the tricks described above. She showed us out to see a Fiat 500 with the intention of showing us how small the car was that we had booked. Having been 14 times previously we know exactly what we need and know all about their strategies of persuasion to upgrade. I understand they have a job to do so it doesn't usually bother me. However I became extremely annoyed when on this occasion and clearly because we had (politely) declined all the extra insurance she wanted us to buy, pointing out that we had booked the larger Verso or similar, her attitude became quite discourteous. She never yet told us what car we would get but pushed the paperwork and keys in our direction with the car bay number as if to say go find it yourself while other renters were being directed clearly in the right direction. Walking around the lot looking rather lost it was another employee who pointed us in the right direction. Surprise surprise, it was a Nissan Verso - she had been trying to get us to upgrade unnecessarily. Interestingly DW had to immediately return to the office having forgotten about our sunpass confirmation receipt. She came across an unwitting Brit thanking the same lady profusely for her helpful advice with the words "..... they don't tell you that you need this when you book online you know" while handing over a further $300.

 

[Clare D]

Interestingly DW had to immediately return to the office having forgotten about our sunpass confirmation receipt.

Can you tell me what the surpass confirmation receipt is? We have car hire booked through Alamo and I have already per registered with them in the hope of bypassing the queues. We are driving down to Fort Lauderdale airport to drop the car off so I know that this area has the cashless tolls in place. Does the transponder not automatically work then? I'd hate to be stung for huge toll charges thinking it was already working

 

[RJMC]

I'd 2nd that with Alamo use the pre register online service you can then just use one of the automated machines to collect your paperwork and walk straight out to carpark and pick your car and driveway after flashing your paperwork at a booth on way out carpark

When you check in online before you go, you can also now print out your own paperwork, so no need even to use the automated machine. Once you pass through customs and immigration, simply head to the car garages and choose your car yourself from the appropriate Alamo category you have booked - you then show your paperwork to the person in the booth as you drive out.

 

[cliveywolves]

When you check in online before you go, you can also now print out your own paperwork, so no need even to use the automated machine. Once you pass through customs and immigration, simply head to the car garages and choose your car yourself from the appropriate Alamo category you have booked - you then show your paperwork to the person in the booth as you drive out.


We booked via Holiday Autos so we cant do check in online with Alamo direct only via a holiday autos link so we need to use the automated machine according to a phone call I had with them the other day...

 

[kittykitty87]

This a really helpful post. We have our car hire with Alamo also included in our package deal. I didnt know we could check it on line to ave going to the desk I will have to notify my other half about this!

 

[sovietsong]

I'm going to ask a ridiculously stupid question here - if you print out your own paper work etc and you just need to "flash" it on the way out after picking your own vehicle ,where do you get your keys ?

 

[cliveywolves]

I'm going to ask a ridiculously stupid question here - if you print out your own paper work etc and you just need to "flash" it on the way out after picking your own vehicle ,where do you get your keys ?

I thought that....

Im made to believe they leave them in the ignition as it like a secure car park etc....

 

[sovietsong]

Another stupid question has just popped into my head , if you register on line or use the self serve machines how do they check driving licences ? and the second driver ?

 

[Netty]

the keys are in the ignitions, also its cheaper to pre pay for the fuel at the airport, there rate is cheaper per gallon, also saves you having to worry about finding a garage to return with a full tank of fuel

 

[scoobydooby]

Does anyone know the answer to my earlier named driver question? I want to do the on line thing but holiday is in my name and DH will be the driver. We are only insured for one driver I think with Virgins fully inclusive. I do not want to get stuck driving out there! Thanks

 

[Netty]

you would go to the online checkin site, put in your hol reservation number in and your last name, then his driving licence number in etc
it shouldnt make any difference who booked the holiday

 

[Netty]

Found this, hope it helps
https://www.alamo.com/index.do?action=/hotDealsTemplate&msg=alamo-onlinecheckin

 

[scoobydooby]

Thanks

 

[cliveywolves]

the keys are in the ignitions, also its cheaper to pre pay for the fuel at the airport, there rate is cheaper per gallon, also saves you having to worry about finding a garage to return with a full tank of fuel

I did wonder about the full tank of fuel option also..

But been told by a fair few people they charge slightly more for fuel and also if you collect from airports you pay an extra charge on fuel also ??