Car rental novice

[Plan Man]

I know very little about renting cars - we almost always drive everywhere so we have our car.

This time we are flying so I need to rent a car. We are staying on-site at one of the All-star resorts.

Convenience is the most important factor for us. I would gladly pay alittle more for a short wait at pick up and drop off. We are a family of six so we need a vehicle for six. we are flying into Orlando on a Monday and out on the following Monday.

My questions:

1) What companies should I compare. Should I do it on-line or on the phone?

2) What is a reasonable price range? we will be there in Early June.

3) How much time will this take and does anyone have a good way to do this? I am incredibly impatient when it comes to getting to my Hotel.

4) Does the All star resort keep a fllet for rentals or is there an easy way to get a car on property??

5) I don't know what else to ask - insurance etc??

Please help -- thanks

 

[safetymom]

We rent from Hertz. They are off property but I can be driving my car out of the lot in less than 10 mins.

Usually rates are cheaper online. If you have a AAA membership or belong to the warehouse clubs they also offer discounted rates at the rental agencies.

Check out their web sites so you have some idea what the rental rates are and then you can decide what might work for you. Then I suggest you ask here if anyone knows of better deals.

 

[Joan S.]

Plan Man, Check out Mousesavers.com,there is a whole page on car rental companies and codes!I am a DC member and from this site learned to use the DC # and a coupon # for a double discount with National.Also I check each week for a new weekly rental price because it goes up and down! I am on my 3rd reservation and have saved about $100. from when I first staerted booking! I have a two week rental in July for a Full size car, TOTAL price $302.81. Joan

 

[seashoreCM]

I would stick to a nationwide brand name. This way, in case of trouble, you are not totally out of luck if you can't resolve things before you have to fly home.

Regrettably the "mom & pop" agencies such as L&M have, although infrequent, serious complaints like not honoring your reservation.

There are no car rental stations at the All Stars. I belive the only on site station is National/Alamo and it is located just south of MK but not within walking distance. They have a free shuttle to any resort during the day. You may pick up at the airport and drop off at WDW or vice versa, at no extra charge, last I heard.

For six people, anything else is better than the Mears shuttle if you don't rent a car.

Sometimes the weekly rate is better than renting for only part of your vacation and sending one person back to the airport to deal with the rental. Do be aware that weekly rates have a minimum keep time.

More useful hints:
http://members.aol.com/ajaynejr/carrent.htm

 

[Lewisc]

You want to rent for the week. Depending on the amount of luggage you have you may need a mini-van. Since you're staying onsite you get to park in the theme parks for free.

 

[CarolA]

The one thing you need to know if you rent a car is NOT to let the rental agency have ANYTHING to do with gas. Bring the car back full.

They will give you the gas option. For a discounted rate they will sell you a tank of gas and you can bring the car back empty. This only works if you can manage to glide in on fumes. I mean if the car has a 20 gallon tank you get to buy 20 gallons up front at their discounted rate. Now WHO manages to use all 20 gallons. At best you might use 15 and the other 5 was pure profit.

However, if you bring the car back with 1/8 of a tank low they charge you a HUGE amount of money. Today in Fort Lauderdale Hertz charged two gusy $5.29 a gallon!

 

[Plan Man]

Safetymom - How do you get to Hertz from the airport? Cab?

 

[Chuck S]

Plan Man - the off-airport car companies (like Hertz) have complimentary shuttle busses. But if convenience is priority, go with a rental company that has its car garage at the airport.

Also, be sure to carry your proof of insurance (like a wallet card or whatever ID your state requires). Check with your insurance company before you leave home, as it will vary some state to state as to whether you are covered, but in almost all cases, you should NOT have to purchase the extra insurance the rental companies sell.

Also, stick with a well-known company like National, Avis, Hertz, Dollar etc. as their rental agreements and policies are pretty standard, and their fleets are usually fairly well maintained.

 

[safetymom]

Hertz has a free shuttle bus. They are in several locations at the airport. I have never waited longer than 5 mins for the shuttle to leave. I am driving my car out of the Hertz lot in less than 10 mins.

I found it as fast as renting onsite.

 

[safetymom]

I have been able to use the entire tank of gas. I like on certain trips to buy the tank of gas upfront.

I have also learned if I don't to make sure the tank is full and I have the receipt. They usually will refund your money if you get charged because they thought the tank wasn't full.

 

[mollyjo]

Planman--you ought to check out the "budget" board, as there are always lots of threads on great car deals. Ditto on the mousesavers.com, it is a great resource for getting good info on car deals. All that being said--my two biggest suggestions are 1)Absolutely return it full of gas and 2) Stick with a large name. Alamo is the official company of WDW now and it sounds like people have been getting great deals fom then. However--lots of people usually equates to long line at the counter. Have fun! MJ

 

[Plan Man]

Thank you everyone.

I will not buy rental gas and will carry my insurance card and not buy rental insurance. I will go with a major chain company.

We are arriving about 10:30 a.m. on a Monday.

I checked out the rates and they all seem to be within $75 of each other.

Who willl have the shortest line???
and what is a long line (in terms of time)?

 

[kayeandjim00]

We are trying it for the first time next week on our trip but National now offers something called "Quick Rent." You can read up about it on their website but basically you reserve the car over the internet and read through the "paperwork" online and agree to any options you want, etc. and then when you get to the airport you can just go straight to the parking garage (bypassing the line!) pick any car in the class you reserved. Then you just hop in and show the same credit card that you used to book online to the attendant and you are on your way. This is my understanding of the set up based on my reading and talking to National customer service agents. No lines, sounds GREAT to me, as like you I can not wait to get to our hotel! I will be sure to post a report of my experience when I return.

 

[GAIL HAYDEN]

Originally posted by CarolA
The one thing you need to know if you rent a car is NOT to let the rental agency have ANYTHING to do with gas. Bring the car back full.

They will give you the gas option. For a discounted rate they will sell you a tank of gas and you can bring the car back empty. This only works if you can manage to glide in on fumes. I mean if the car has a 20 gallon tank you get to buy 20 gallons up front at their discounted rate. Now WHO manages to use all 20 gallons. At best you might use 15 and the other 5 was pure profit.

However, if you bring the car back with 1/8 of a tank low they charge you a HUGE amount of money. Today in Fort Lauderdale Hertz charged two gusy $5.29 a gallon!

Actually, we do purchase the gas option, and do glide in on fumes each and every time. We do drive a lot down there and the prices are pretty reasonable.

 

[GAIL HAYDEN]

Originally posted by kayeandjim00
We are trying it for the first time next week on our trip but National now offers something called "Quick Rent." You can read up about it on their website but basically you reserve the car over the internet and read through the "paperwork" online and agree to any options you want, etc. and then when you get to the airport you can just go straight to the parking garage (bypassing the line!) pick any car in the class you reserved. Then you just hop in and show the same credit card that you used to book online to the attendant and you are on your way. This is my understanding of the set up based on my reading and talking to National customer service agents. No lines, sounds GREAT to me, as like you I can not wait to get to our hotel! I will be sure to post a report of my experience when I return.

That does sound like a great service, but, for those of us who use coupons, it will not work.

 

[Plan Man]

I just love them. Quickrent sounds fantastic!!!!!!

This is what I want. My only question - how will I know where the cars are?

 

[GAIL HAYDEN]

Originally posted by Plan Man
I just love them. Quickrent sounds fantastic!!!!!!

This is what I want. My only question - how will I know where the cars are?

There will be signs for your class of car. But, as I said, if you plan to use a coupon, you cannot do quick rent.

 

[kayeandjim00]

Plan Man I agree these boards are great! I have learned so much. Gail is correct though you can't use coupons but you can use the contract numbers and codes that are listed on the Mousesavers.com site. We didn't have any coupons so it should work out well for us. There will be signs once you get to the rental car area of the airport that lead you out to National's section of the garage and then the cars will be divided into the various classes. Hope this helps!