Do car hire firms run out of cars?

[2BoysMum&Dad]

A friend of mine who lives in Florida says why not hire the smallest car you can and then negotiate an upgrade when we get there. Seems like a nice idea. The worst that can happen is that we will have to pay the difference in price if we want a bigger car. On the other hand, they might not have any bigger cars left as they have all been booked up.

What do you think?

We are a family of four (2 adults & two boys) with an average amount of luggage (at least two large suitcases and four pieces of handluggage).

2BoysMum&Dad

 

[RUSHBURY]

Hi

We booked an intermediate 4 door in 1999 and Dollar had run out of this particular category - we were upgraded FREE of charge to a 7 seater minivan - spoiled - now we only book for a 7 seater as we wouldn't like anything smaller - the extra room is great. Again we were upgraded FREE of charge in 2002 to an 8 seater as they, Dollar, had no 7 seaters left.

We are a family of 5, 2 adults, 2 teenagers and an 8 y old

 

[GerryH]

We've always found the upgrade prices at the car hire dealers to be more expensive than booking the upgrade here.

 

[paulh]

we have always booked the smallest car available and have never got it in 13 visits they only have a few small ones and they go early on in the day and as us brits get there mid afternoon you will tend to get the bigger cars if they do give you a small car just upgrade there
Paulh

 

[suei]

A couple of years ago we booked an Intermediate car through Budget Cars. We were offered an upograde at the desk, but decided to stick with what we'd booked.
When we went to the car park, we found a brand new Kia Sportage Jeep in the space we'd been told to go to! We only believed it when the key we'd been given started it!! It was wonderful, and we loved driving it.
When we came home our car hire company told us we'd have been given the same car if we'd agreed to an upgrade (and of course, would have paid the difference-apparently about £250 at the time!) as the company had obviously run out of Intermediate- size cars.
So, my advice would be wait and see what you've been given, and if you still want to upgrade go back to the desk, but you may be lucky like we were!

 

[2BoysMum&Dad]

Wow Sui!! Can I have a piece of your luck please!!

2BoysMum&Dad

 

[vernon]

As Paul says it's usually the smallest cars that they "run out" of . If I know that I could make do with the smallest car they have I will book one of those and refuse the "upgrade" at a cost. I think I've been given a free upgrade everytime.
Obviously in your situation (with 4 of you) it's debatable if you could get by on the smallest car they have so I would think it's a safer option to book a larger car from here before you travel. Generally it's more expensive to upgrade once you arrive.