Car Seat Rental

[Winnie23]

We are renting a car for a day or two to spend a day at the beach and need car seats for our two three year olds. (I am aware that bringing our own is the safest, but that is just not possible.) So, for those of you that have rented them, where from? The car rental place or other baby rental service? My concern with the car rental place is that they can't guarantee availability, and my concern with other places is the cost-seems expensive for 1-2 days. Any recommendations? Thanks!

 

[Dis703]

Why is it not possible for you to bring seats? For some of the prices I've seen for rentals I'd be more likely (if I didn't want to bring my own seats) to just buy cheap seats to either bring or ship to my resort. $40 each for a cheap brand new seat vs. what looks like at least $60 each to rent for 2 days a used seat with unknown history. Then you'd also know what you'd be getting and could familiarize yourself with proper installation.

Car seats are an area I'm not willing to chance things though. Even spending a little more would be well worth it to know for sure it's a safe seat.

 

[jcarwash]

I have included car seats in my rentals with Hertz and Avis during visits to Orlando. In the example with Hertz, at MCO the seats were readily available and I could self-select the seat I wanted from a rack of them in the Hertz pickup area.

If you are a AAA member, your rental rate with Hertz includes one child seat. That can help offset the cost.

The car seats I've rented, whether in Orlando or elsewhere, and primarily with Hertz, have been just fine. I have not had a bad experience.

 

[kcpinwdw]

I rented once from a car rental place and I will never again. The seats were just so horrible. They looked so old and worn out, I asked the car rental place to show me the sticker to see when the expire. Her response was "car seats don't expire." Um, yes they do. We found a couple that were within the dates but since then I always travel with our own seats if we are renting a car. We bought two Cosco Sceneras from walmart. They are under $40 a piece, so basically paid for with one rental fee. We check them because I dont care if they get damaged, they are so easily replaced. Car seats are free to travel with. If you cant take it with you I bet you can get it shipped to your resort no problem. if you dont want to take it home, donate it to charity!

 

[Winnie23]

With four children, three suitcases, a double stroller, and several carry-ons, I'm just not bringing two huge, heavy car seats to haul too. I don't really want them thrown around with the luggage either. I am comfortable renting them. From what I've read, I feel more comfortable renting them from a place like A Baby's Best Friend, rather than the car rental place.

 

[nherbert]

We use Alamo which has an office at the Disney Dolphin and they are charging $6.99 a day for a child seat (it was only $5 a few years ago when we used them last), and we had no problems with the seat it was fine (a bit hard and not overly padded but it didn't look old or damaged or anything). We had trouble getting it in car the first time but that was more us and issues with unfamiliar car.