CAR rental experience at MCO (through Costco)

[Ralph&Pam]

This is a great thread. Just booked a last minute trip for next month, and am considering a rental car for the first time. How much of a hassle is returning them? I know with waits at airports now, I want to factor that in. Also, does anyone know which companies at MCO don't require a shuttle?

All the major car rental operations are in the garages at MCO, one on the A side and one on the B side. We usually use Alamo or National (both part of the Enterprise group, so they all share garage space), but Budget, Avis, Dollar, and Hertz are also in the garages. There may be others.

Returning is easy. Drive into the garage, follow the signs to the appropriate rental location, and follow the directions of the attendant to park the car. Most will scan in the car and provide a receipt on the spot. I have never waited more than 5 minutes for an attendant to complete this process, but those were all pre-Covid rentals, so YMMV.

Once out of the car, get yourself and your luggage out of the garage and across to the terminal. Head up to the departure level to check in. I usually add about 15 minutes extra time for onsite car rental return at MCO compared to being dropped off on the arrival (lower) level of the airport and working my way up to departures from there.

 

[Sue M]

I prefer Alamo. Beware toll pilicies with rental companies. Their all different. Alamo will only charge you the service fee for the days you use it. Budget will charge the service fee even if you use it only once for every day of rental.
I did purchase my own SunPass transponder at a Publix a few years ago.

 

[Calantha]

Budget will charge the service fee even if you use it only once for every day of rental.
I did purchase my own SunPass transponder at a Publix a few years ago.

I am going to bring my EZPass transponder, which I'm told will work - so can I tell Budget to keep theirs? Or is there a way to just not 'turn it on'?

 

[Akck]

I am going to bring my EZPass transponder, which I'm told will work - so can I tell Budget to keep theirs? Or is there a way to just not 'turn it on'?

It’s usually mounted on the windshield in a container. You turn it off by closing it. If they ask about tolls, just say you have your own transponder.

 

[Girl of the South]

Just wanted to say THANK YOU to all the people who contributed to this thread. Really helpful! Very intrigued by the "Visitor Toll Pass" vending machine! I am renting the Monday after the Thanksgiving weekend. Hope there will be some left? I guess you reserve it in advance but can see the possibility of some people forgetting to return it on their way home.

Also, about Budget - Sue M mentioned "Budget will charge the service fee even if you use it only once for every day of rental." But I found this on the Budget site and the way I read it is that they only change you the $5.95 for each day on which you incur a toll"? I only plan on using Toll Roads twice - once down to Key West and then once back. Or am I reading this wrong??? Or are you saying that if you use it once, they will even charge you on days you DON'T use it? My reservation is at Budget (through Costco) which is why I ask.

"e-Toll fees (Standard): If you use the e-Toll service at any time during your rental, you agree to pay a convenience fee of $5.95 for each day on which you incur a toll up to a maximum amount of $29.75 per rental period (not to exceed 30 days). In addition, you will pay all tolls incurred at the maximum prevailing non-discounted or cash rates posted by the toll authority."

 

[dina444444]

Just wanted to say THANK YOU to all the people who contributed to this thread. Really helpful! Very intrigued by the "Visitor Toll Pass" vending machine! I am renting the Monday after the Thanksgiving weekend. Hope there will be some left? I guess you reserve it in advance but can see the possibility of some people forgetting to return it on their way home.

Also, about Budget - Sue M mentioned "Budget will charge the service fee even if you use it only once for every day of rental." But I found this on the Budget site and the way I read it is that they only change you the $5.95 for each day on which you incur a toll"? I only plan on using Toll Roads twice - once down to Key West and then once back. Or am I reading this wrong??? Or are you saying that if you use it once, they will even charge you on days you DON'T use it? My reservation is at Budget (through Costco) which is why I ask.

"e-Toll fees (Standard): If you use the e-Toll service at any time during your rental, you agree to pay a convenience fee of $5.95 for each day on which you incur a toll up to a maximum amount of $29.75 per rental period (not to exceed 30 days). In addition, you will pay all tolls incurred at the maximum prevailing non-discounted or cash rates posted by the toll authority."

You are reading it correctly but you will save a lot of money with the visitor toll pass because you’ll get charged the same rates as if you had a transponder and there is no rental fee.

 

[Cheburashka]

This is a great thread. Just booked a last minute trip for next month, and am considering a rental car for the first time. How much of a hassle is returning them? I know with waits at airports now, I want to factor that in. Also, does anyone know which companies at MCO don't require a shuttle?

Returning is easy at MCO. The majors (Hertz, Budget, Avis, Enterprise) do not require shuttles.

 

[vinmar4]

We rented from Tampa using the Undercover Tourist savings. First time with Budget, as we always used Alamo and National, we were surprised that they ask for a cc to hold $150.00 since we had pre-paid out reservation.
We never got billed, or never saw it, lol.

But, just make sure that you give yourself extra time if dropping off at Tampa , it will take a while to get to your gate.
Other than that, it was great!

 

[diznee princess]

Finally corrected the title of this post - Comcast has been in and out the last week - ARGH!

Thanks much for all the replies! I haven't had to rent a car in many years. I did reserve a car through Costco. Just checked the price directly with Budget and it was $100 more, as of today. Renting it in the middle of the Thanksgiving holiday so wanted to make sure to have SOMETHING rented in advance.

I have a very old (2003) EZ Pass from up North. Not sure if the technology (?) in it would still work. Going to try and contact them to see if it's still usable. Gosh, nearly 20 years ago. Also saw something on Amazon called a Uni-Pass that is supposed to work everywhere? It's $15 just for the unit. I read that car rental agencies in FL charge you $10 a day to use theirs. Only driving to Key West for 3 nights, and back. NOT driving around Key West at all.

Thanks again!

They have a kiosk and vending machine in the rental car area that is a FL Toll pass specifically for visitors. Its free and only charges to your credit card when you go through tolls and there are no other additional per day charge. Its easy to get, you download the app or use website, add a credit card and get a QR code to get the tag from the vending. You will be charged something like 20.00 initially to your card.
When you get your car you go to app or website and add the lic. plate. Hang from the mirror just before leaving the garage to activate. There are drop off bins as you enter the terminal from garage to put tag in when you drop your car back. If you forget to drop the tag or accidentally leave in the car when returned a 10.00 charge will stay on account. Otherwise the 20.00 on your credit card will be used for your tolls or credited back. I do it every time I rent in Orlando. Do not rent from the rental car company they are ridiculous with their per day charge plus tolls!
EZ pass and uni pass do work but you have to add the car you are driving and remove it every time you rent. I think It's best for those driving to Florida from their home state. I am going to look more into that as well since we do have an ez pass here in NY.

 

[BrianLa]

As a general rule I tend to avoid Alamo at MCO. They've historically been the official rental car provider of Walt Disney World, and as a result they tend to have a lot more customers than any of the other agencies. Every time I've walked by an Alamo counter it was a zoo while the adjacent counters were empty. Having said that, if you can get the "go straight to the car" service, the experience is pretty similar regardless of who you rent from, so I prioritize getting that and then choose mostly based on cost.

I've had the opposite experience with Alamo. I've used Alamo 10 times at MCO and Budget 3 times. 2 of the 3 times I used Budget it was a disaster. Both times they didn't have the Mini-van I booked and rather than offering a full size SUV to accommodate my family and luggage the push a car that will not fit us with luggage. In both instances I needed to wait for a mini-van to be returned and "cleaned" (just car wash, interior still had trash in it) which took between 60 - 90 mins from the time I checked in at the counter. The last time I used budget I used the app to check-in and pay a couple days in advance so I could avoid the long lines at the counter. Alamo I never really had an issue, but like Budget I now use the app to check-in and pay a few days in advance. For a difference in a few dollars, I choose Alamo. Also, Alamo is on the first floor of the garage which saves you the hassle of cramming into and elevator or navigating escalators with luggage.