Check your rental car rates...they're going down!

[ranthony]

I just changed my car reservations from Dollar to National. When I
booked in Feb. Dollar was less than other companies (even with using codes from Entertainment books, etc.)

My original reservation was for a compact car for a week at $158 from Dollar. Now Dollar has lowered the rate to $122 (I think) but
National is at $118 for a compact. Since National has coupons in the Ent. book I applied the "2 class upgrade" coupon to my National ressie and now I'm getting a standard size car for $118/week. I tried to apply the "$20 off" coupon to the compact but it came back not valid for that car. I could have tried to upgrade the car one class and then apply the $20 off and perhaps it would have worked but I chose to go for the bigger car since we will be 3 adults and 1 child in a carseat.

Bottom line is that for $40 less than my original Dollar reservation
I now have a much nicer car for the week. Check your car rates on-line. I'm sure when one company lowers rates, others follow.

Rhonda

 

[GAIL HAYDEN]

You can only use one coupon per rental, so, while it was a great thought, it would not have worked.

 

[zoeyandmakennasmom]

I read this and decided to check my Alamo rates just for the heck of it. Well they were down by $100. So I made a new reservation and canceled my old one. Thank you Thank you Thank you!!!!!!!

 

[Phrank40]

Car rental rates are all over the place. Just made a reservation with Delta for trip to WDW in May. Delta rep said she could put me in touch with one of the car rental companies in the Orlando terminal to rent a car with a Delta discount, can't remember which company. Said okay, put me through. He quoted me about a $100 more for the same car that I already had through Dollar. My rate with taxes, etc., around $30 per day, his was over $50 per day. Said thanks but not thanks.


Phrank

 

[n2mm]

I agree, my rates have been dropping steadily for the past 2 weeks. I never know what to expect everytime I check. I hope my summer ones will drop equally as much!

 

[arminnie]

Thanks - I just saved $60 on a Hertz rental for May.

 

[yasuern]

Soo Funny I just redid my ressies with Dollar one over Memorial Day wknd and one 4th of July week - and saved almost $115.00 between the 2 of them!

I always check the rates if i find a lower one I book it and then go in and cancel the old ressie!

Sue

 

[arminnie]

I got an email from Hotwire saying that rates had dropped since I had last checked them (I didn't book with them).

I checked and the reservation for May came up at $50 less than the one I was holding at Hertz (which I had already had reduced by $60 a few days ago).

I like using Hertz because of the quick service but I decided that $50 is $50 so I went with the Hotwire res. It came up Hertz!!

So I've saved over $100 in the past week.

 

[javaj]

I regret using hotwire. I made a hotwire reservation last month thinking SUV rates were pretty good at 28.95/day. Well, not only are other rental companies' cheaper for my dates (5/29-6/6), even hotwire has lower rates now (26.95/day). They won't match other companies (which I understand due to the nature of their business) but they won't even match their own low rate. Even airlines give you a credit on nonrefundable airline tickets when their own rates go down.

For me the only advantage of hotwire was the low price. Well now that I know it hasn't given me that, it was wasteful for me to use it. Oh well, lesson learned, I won't be using hotwire again unless it is a last-minute, day before reservation.

 

[arminnie]

You have to really do your research before booking on Hotwire. Often when I check rates they are NOT any better than direct booking and you lose the flexibility.

I got the rate I just booked at a little over $10 a day so I knew that this was just about as low as it was going to go so I didn't feel like I was giving up the possibility of a cheaper rate.

It helps to be pretty familiar with the rates and to be able to recognize a real deal as opposed to just an ok rate. I probably wouldn't have switched to a Hotwire reservation just to save $10 or $15 total.

 

[hookedondizney]

Thanks for the great information!!! I just called Dollar and changed my ressie and now I am saving $56.00! Thanks again! Hey every dollar counts!

 

[DD2Disney]

Thank you so much. Just saved $40 for our reservations next week. You guys are the best. Two weeks ago I got info for our flight and you guys saved me $150. Since this is a budget a trip for us it worked it out great. THANK YOU.

Tricia

 

[BWVPam]

Checked my National rental for June/July. It dropped about $45 for my two week period. I thought I had a great rate, but it dropped even more. Two weeks for an intermediate through Emerald Aisle is coming out w/taxes to $320.59.

Pam

 

[snwwhite]

Thank you. I just saved $20.00 on my rate with National. I still have Emerald Aisle service. $20.00 doesn't sound like much but, it will at least cover one day's lunch or dinner.

6/15 - 6/22
Itermediate - emerald aisle
Used the $20.00 off week rental coupon from Entertainment book
$138.40 after taxes!!

 

[MrsPotts]

BWVPam how did you get $320 for two weeks? Apparently, I'm not doing something right. I tried to get two weeks for July/Aug and it comes up to $570. Any help or suggestions would be appreciated.

Thanks

 

[BWVPam]

Mrs. Potts:

I have Emerald Aisle, and used the discount code with that. With Emerald Aisle, you automatically rent an intermediate and you get to pick any car in the Emerald Aisle. Also, it applies its own discount code. I also used the $20 coupon in the Entertainment Book. I originally made this reservation last September, and the price has come down over $100 from my original reservation. This is the second time I have modified to get a lower rate. The base rate was $153.75 per week, then less the discounts and added on for all the taxes.

Pam

 

[lawgs]

any car on the Emerald Aisle might be just "intermediate" since they changed the format of Emerald Club this week....

wonder if they will include "intermediate" SUV's in this mix???

 

[airplane]

At MCO a/p, National and Alamo share the same counters and agents. When I book rental cars I usually like to reserve a car w/ 2 companies that don't require a credit card to hold the ressie just in case something happens w/ one reservation. The prices for Alamo and National are a lot cheaper than the rest of the companies. I was wondering if anyone else has ever done this. I would like to reserve a car w/ both national and alamo but I am not sure if the computer sytem would notice the same name for 2 different cars. Does anyone know how this works?

 

[BWVPam]

How did Emerald Club change? We have always used them in the past with excellent luck. Matter of fact, I don't think I have ever even gotten one of the intermediate cars.

Thanks,

Pam

 

[GAIL HAYDEN]

Originally posted by BWVPam
How did Emerald Club change? We have always used them in the past with excellent luck. Matter of fact, I don't think I have ever even gotten one of the intermediate cars.

Thanks,

Pam

The updated information is on National's web site.