Cheapest car rental

[VroomVroomLightning]

My family and I will be traveling from Cincinnati to Orlando in October. Due to numerous different reasons we have decided we need to drive instead of fly. I have a few questions.

1. Would we get better rates if we booked in advance for the car? Can you do that in advance?

2. What is the cheapest company to rent a car from?

3. Does AAA offer discounts on car rentals?

We are trying to figure out the cheapest way to do this overall. If anyone has any ideas or suggestions we are open to them!

Thanks in advance for any help!

 

[ruadisneyfan2]

Why not just drive your own car? I'm confused why you're renting a car then.

 

[VroomVroomLightning]

Why not just drive your own car? I'm confused why you're renting a car then.

Because we don't have the best car right now And, it may not make it down

 

[ruadisneyfan2]

Because we don't have the best car right now And, it may not make it down

Gotcha!
AAA discounts are with Hertz and they generally aren't a bargain but still worth checking out. If you belong to BJ's or Costco, their websites both have discounts that you can combine with their coupons. If you need a minivan though, most coupons don't apply. If you have kids, you might consider getting a slightly larger vehicle than the bare minimum. That's a long time to spend in the car and if everyone is packed in tight, nerves get worn pretty quickly.
I would definitely book in advance. check prices online and call to see which gets you a better rate. In our local area Budget and Alamo are cheapest.

Most discount codes that are listed on mousesavers.com would apply to renting in other states, not just FL, so check that out too.

Good luck!!

 

[mommy*RN]

I often book rental cars with the lowest rate I can find then try to DRASTICALLY reduce that price using Priceline. I will offer crazy amounts like $9/day before fees to see what they say. Just remember that once priceline locks in on your bid you pay immediately and cannot cancel. I just booked a full-size here in Milwaukee for around $50/total for 4 days over a weekend in March. Also check if there are any in-state regulations. Some rental car companies will charge extra if you plan to take the car out of state. I'm not sure which ones. The best thing to do is play around with codes and companies until you find a price you can live with. Best of luck!!

 

[kgle]

I have rented many many times, because of the same problem- a car that just won't make it long distances (well in the past). I have always found that Enterprise (here at least) has the lowest rates out of everyone else and Hertz is among the highest (plus they are stricter). Until last year I was always considered underage too. I have rented for a week at a time and never paid more than $150 or $200.