Car service cost compared to renting a car

[keishashadow]

However, in 2023, it is really hard to find a weekly rate from reputable companies inside the airport for less than $350, unless you have some sort of discount , which I assume most people don't.

Last rental 10 days $291 mid December thru auto slash/Priceline/hertz/suv. We are hertz gold, I was upgraded to this bad boy


Right now booked same way for trip over 4 days early Feb for $213 (the rest as per above except that’s a midsize rate). I hope to see it drop so I can rebook.

Edit: above price changed on 2/2, for SUV now $183. Again, auto slash/priceline that I then linked to my hertz rewards to be able to walk to garage

In 2022 I rented out of FL 8 times.

Highest rate was 10 days over 4th of July. Almost $400 for a Camry, with a malfunctioning drivers seat

Needed a minivan for family trip there a week end of July/early August. Felt I was lucky to get it in $350 range as I needed seating for 7 pp. booked it months out. Rate just kept increasing for it.

After that trip, for a September & another in October; rates dropped substantially a couple of weeks out $260-$280 range for 6 -10 nights

 

[mzozzietj]

Last rental 10 days $291 mid December thru auto slash/Priceline/hertz/suv. We are hertz gold, I was upgraded to this bad boy

View attachment 735263
Right now booked same way for trip over 4 days early Feb for $213 (the rest as per above except that’s a midsize rate). I hope to see it drop so I can rebook.

Edit: above price changed on 2/2, for SUV now $183. Again, auto slash/priceline that I then linked to my hertz rewards to be able to walk to garage

In 2022 I rented out of FL 8 times.

Highest rate was 10 days over 4th of July. Almost $400 for a Camry, with a malfunctioning drivers seat

Needed a minivan for family trip there a week end of July/early August. Felt I was lucky to get it in $350 range as I needed seating for 7 pp. booked it months out. Rate just kept increasing for it.

After that trip, for a September & another in October; rates dropped substantially a couple of weeks out $260-$280 range for 6 -10 nights

I'd love to learn your tricks! I have been watching rentals for our april trip and the only one I've found under $500 was with thrifty through my union's travel website but that's fully prepaid. since Jetblue keeps messing with their schedule I'm skeptic to prepay.

I've been stalking autoslash, priceline, etc and even UCT is $411 (but I'd have to spend $100 in tickets we don't need
I should clarify though that our trip is 9/days. I've never had to pay this much even on multiple trips in 2021 and 2022. Hopeful they'll drop.

 

[keishashadow]

I'd love to learn your tricks

”holiday’s“ are rough. Are you over President’s day or a race (car or pedestrian).

Just keep checking, easiest way for me is to us auto slash (priceline) & request multiple vehicle types.

once you find one, there is a way on site to have them monitor it for price drops, however, I prefer to do it myself.

FYI price dropped to $177 for SUV two days prior to our trip and I happily rebooked.

 

[Cheburashka]

Is the cost of renting a car for a 6 day stay significantly higher than using a car service?

There would be 4 of us so we would rent a midsize

If you're a Costco member, you might want to book via Costco Travel online, which has (very slightly) reduced rates and will check Enterprise, Avis, Budget & Alamo all at once, and you'll see their prices compared to one another. Also, to save money, be sure to do a round trip from an airport, as those have the most reasonable rates. Book now and then keep checking back, as prices do fluctuate and you might find something more affordable as the trip approaches.

My personal advice is to never prepay for a car rental, and never rent from a bargain basement budget agency. I've read too many horror stories about the latter sneakily getting people to sign up for extras without realizing it, providing crappy cars, or charging them for damage that didn't occur.

I also recommend signing up for a free membership with whichever car rental company you choose, and also booking via an agency such as Costco Travel or any other travel agency. It just seems less likely to me that they would try to con you or claim false damages if you booked via an agency and/or as a member rather than as a completely detached individual. YMMV.

 

[Cheburashka]

lots of people are having a reservation and still not able to get a car because it is not available on the day of pickup.

I've rented several times since Covid, including over holidays, and haven't had this experience with Enterprise or Avis out of Orlando or Miami. Tons of cars on the lot.

 

[mzozzietj]

”holiday’s“ are rough. Are you over President’s day or a race (car or pedestrian).

Just keep checking, easiest way for me is to us auto slash (priceline) & request multiple vehicle types.

once you find one, there is a way on site to have them monitor it for price drops, however, I prefer to do it myself.

FYI price dropped to $177 for SUV two days prior to our trip and I happily rebooked.

It's in April but not near Easter. It's Patriot's day week which is only celebrated in a few states. I guess there must be enough demand to keep things higher. I do check autoslash, car rental saver, costco, bjs, and my union sites regularly. I keep booking and dropping. I had one for under $500 this morning but then realized it was for an electric car. I'm not sure I want the added anxiety of learning how to charge and where, etc. Plus I suspect a Tesla is worth a lot more than our current vehicles so I'd likely need to add insurance, lol

 

[Donna M]

I'd love to learn your tricks! I have been watching rentals for our april trip and the only one I've found under $500 was with thrifty through my union's travel website but that's fully prepaid. since Jetblue keeps messing with their schedule I'm skeptic to prepay.

I've been stalking autoslash, priceline, etc and even UCT is $411 (but I'd have to spend $100 in tickets we don't need
I should clarify though that our trip is 9/days. I've never had to pay this much even on multiple trips in 2021 and 2022. Hopeful they'll drop.

We just returned form a week in WDW. We started with a Suburban for $733 and ended up with a minivan for $397. One trick is to constantly check the prices starting about 8 days out from your trip and book then cancel what you had. I usually do the book/cancel around 10-15 times for a trip. I have a lot of free time lol! I got my best price at 5am before it went back up. This is not through a third party; I like to rent with the actual company in case there is an issue.

 

[mzozzietj]

I was able to book a mid size suv with Hertz for 9 days in April for $453 all in today using car rental savers website. It's the first time i got something under $500 that was not prepaid. I'll keep stalking!

 

[_19disnA]

Partly it depends on how much traveling around you plan to do. If you only go from the airport to Disney and back, then car service would be cheaper. However, if you like to drive around, sightsee, shop or go out to dinner somewhere that isn't Disney, those costs add up if you have to use one of those online taxis. If you aren't staying at Disney, you also have to get to the park & back each day you plan to do that. Now that DME has been eliminated, we perfer the flexibility a rental car offers.

 

[Mle8308]

It's in April but not near Easter. It's Patriot's day week which is only celebrated in a few states. I guess there must be enough demand to keep things higher. I do check autoslash, car rental saver, costco, bjs, and my union sites regularly. I keep booking and dropping. I had one for under $500 this morning but then realized it was for an electric car. I'm not sure I want the added anxiety of learning how to charge and where, etc. Plus I suspect a Tesla is worth a lot more than our current vehicles so I'd likely need to add insurance, lol

The week of Patriot's Day is another school vacation week up here in the Northeast. Everyone flocks to FL!

 

[mzozzietj]

The week of Patriot's Day is another school vacation week up here in the Northeast. Everyone flocks to FL!

Yeah we are from MA it’s never as bad as February or spring breaks in the south unless it’s abutting Easter thankfully!

I’ve gotten a nine day rental for a midsize suv down to $425 now! Stalking daily is working! There is a midsize car for $407 but since we have 9 days I figured a bit more space will be nice

 

[Mle8308]

Yeah we are from MA it’s never as bad as February or spring breaks in the south unless it’s abutting Easter thankfully!

I’ve gotten a nine day rental for a midsize suv down to $425 now! Stalking daily is working! There is a midsize car for $407 but since we have 9 days I figured a bit more space will be nice

Nice! Good luck! If you haven’t already, try Autoslash, I’ve gotten some great deals there.

 

[mzozzietj]

Nice! Good luck! If you haven’t already, try Autoslash, I’ve gotten some great deals there.

Down to $401! Currently car rental saver is my best price but I’ll keep comparing for sure! Thanks