Experience with Dollar Express

[greenclan67]

The car was pulled up front waiting for us, didn't see any other cars.

9:30 pm on Saturday was happy to bypass the lines in the terminal and at the outside booth. A quick stop at the checkout lane and we were on our way.

I signed up for Dollar Express Sunday evening still haven't got anything from them. It said 3 days. We leave Tues. I hope I see something soon.

 

[summerrluvv]

I signed up for Dollar Express Sunday evening still haven't got anything from them. It said 3 days. We leave Tues. I hope I see something soon.

Go on the page and click on the part that says something like "forgot number" and they will email it right away. That's what I did

 

[mieuxmew]

Just got back. Rented a full size from Dollar as an Express member. Car was waiting for me when I arrived. I was given an Impala LE with 1,800 miles on it (which agent said was a premium car?)

Had a choice of any vehicle in the aisle. Would have preferred an Altima. There were mostly Impalas and Altimas. All the Altimas has 30,000-50,000 miles on them, so I took the Impala I was assigned.

Car was comfortable. Satellite Radio was working. Car was in excellent condition. When I returned the car, the rate was as promised. No complaints here!

 

[katallo]

I am so glad I signed up for express. They linked our reservation without problems. I was concerned I would have to go to the counter since it is the first time we are using express, but they said just go to the garage.

 

[katallo]

Our friends signed up for Express over a week ago and have not had a response. Anyone else have this problem? I think they are going to resubmit.

 

[conniehar90]

I had that problem. I called Dollar and found out that I had been a member many, many years ago so they just reactivated my account instead of issuing a new account. But, they never sent me an email or anything! No biggie - I was able to get my ressie linked so all is good.

 

[katallo]

Think I will tell them to call since they have not been members in the past.

 

[maciec]

I had the same problem. They never sent me a conformation that they had assigned me and number. So I just went on and pretended like I forgot my number and poof it was there!

 

[BigTigger]

I rent with Dollar at MCO regularly. Since I mostly fly in via JetBlue and put my flight on my reservation, I've never had issues with the car not showing up on the Dollar Express TV board in the A side garage.

I went to the counter the first time trying Express last year and they told me to head to the garage as my car is already selected there. Once in the garage, they have a flat screen TV on the left front side of the booth with the names and car locations for Express member reservations. If your flight is very early, you may be on the board without an assigned car yet. An agent with a clipboard will usually take you to the car and go over it with you (always check for dings and have them noted - take cell pix if you want even more proof). Many times we walk by a car I desire more and ask to switch to it which they will generally do (haven't tried to switch from a mid-size to a Mustang or similar "hot car", but always was allowed to take a Buick Regal versus an Altima or similar. Sometimes the Dollar cars have higher mileage (had a Cruze with 40K in November), but even their higher mileage cars are usually in good shape - just the satellite radio has expired compared to the newer rentals.

One other thing to do with Dollar is about 5-7 days ahead of the rental, go on the website and try City Specials for your pickup location. I can sometimes cut my cost in half and get a nicer car class at the same time - even during peak rental periods.

 

[maciec]

Great information! Thank you!

 

[Our2Girls&Disney]

i have never rented from Dollar, I am strictly an Alamo/National girl, but you guys are putting a positive spin on this, that I am willing to try Dollar for the first time. I just wanted to subscribe to this thread so I can provide feedback following my trip. Thanks.

 

[Shelly F - Ohio]

Just be careful Dollar is one of the companies that on occasion has asked to see your refueling receipt to verify that you refueled at a gas station 10 miles or less from the airport. It is also written in the contract that states the car must be refueled within 10 miles of the airport.

Just wanted to warn you.

 

[rdevine10]

Never rented from Dollar before, I am an Alamo girl, but given the rate we have with Dollar is about $150 cheaper than my National Reservation and about $400 cheaper than Alamo currently, we are taking the plunge.

Thank you to the poster who gave the step by step on adding the dollar # to your existing reservation.

Hopefully this will turn out well. I love National and Alamo as you bypass the lines and pick out your own car- by passing the lines is still awesome even if I dont get to pick the car out. Cant beat $161 for a full size for 10 days during Easter.

 

[bcuinohio]

Never rented from Dollar before, I am an Alamo girl, but given the rate we have with Dollar is about $150 cheaper than my National Reservation and about $400 cheaper than Alamo currently, we are taking the plunge.

Thank you to the poster who gave the step by step on adding the dollar # to your existing reservation.

Hopefully this will turn out well. I love National and Alamo as you bypass the lines and pick out your own car- by passing the lines is still awesome even if I dont get to pick the car out. Cant beat $161 for a full size for 10 days during Easter.

I'm still hoping that Alamo or National come through. I keep checking but right now they are sky high. I too have a reservation with Dollar right now that is $167 a week for a premium car.

A friend of mine returned from Orlando a couple of weeks ago. I told him about Dollars really cheap rates and he reserved a mid size SUV and it was less than half if his previous reservation with Alamo. He said the car was fine and he had no problems with Dollar. He did say that they talked him into the pre-pay fuel option which he said he normally doesn't do. On the plus side, he returned it with the fuel warning light on .

 

[conniehar90]

Just wanted to come back and post that we had a great experience with Dollar last week. We headed out to the garage but while my name was on the board, it stated that I had to speak to an agent. Luckily, there was only one other person out there so we didn't have to wait long. The gal told me that the credit card on my account was expired and that was why I had to speak to an agent.

She was very pleasant and didn't try to upsell anything (other than the gas). She even asked me how I got such a great rate and I told her it was a City Special for one day and she laughed and said that I obviously knew what I was doing!

She told us we could pick anything in the fullsize aisle but walked out with us as she thought there was a Dodge Charger there and those usually aren't in the full size aisle. There was so we grabbed that - everything else were Altimas. It was a great car - in good shape and ran great.

The agent told us to make sure to bring a receipt for our gas fill up within 10 miles of the airport. We did this, but were not asked to show the receipt when we dropped it off.

I would say the only negative was that we could not have 2 drivers without paying extra. I am used to National where the spouse is included. Not a huge deal but sometimes we like to switch off driving.

I would definitely use Dollar again if the price is right.

 

[bcuinohio]

Picked up car yesterday at MCO. They had my name on board and car was ready to go. I had a premium reserved and a Dodge Charger was waiting. I asked for something with a bigger trunk. There was nothing left but they had me wait about 15 minutes and gave me a Maxima. Trunk still a little small but I just threw a suitcase in the back seat. I was hoping for a Taurus or Impala. I got a great rate so it's all good. They did not try to sell me insurance or Sun pass. Total with tax was $173 for a week.

 

[Our2Girls&Disney]

Rented from Dollar for the first time. I had to fly into MCO for a family emergency. In a panic, I quickly searched car rentals, Dollar was the lowest. I booked it. Since it was a quick decision, I did not have a member number and needed to wait in line. Line was about 20 min max start to finish. I explained the situation with the clerk. I guessed on the return date and I was not sure where I would be returning it. The clerk was super nice. He waved the fee if I returned to TPA instead of MCO and he told me they would adjust the rate either over or under what I was quoted when I return it. I ended up returning a day early from my guessed return date, they gave me the lower rate. Nobody asked for a receipt for proof of fill up, but I was prepared. Overall a positive experience and I would rent from them again. I also applied to be a member this morning.

 

[rlduvall]

Thanks to everyone for coming back and posting their recent experience. I have a great rate with them in late May and really can't justify paying an extra $80 to Alamo after seeing how your Express reservation was handled.

 

[rdevine10]

Following up as well: arrived April 12. After our flight getting in a bit late and waiting 45 min for luggage (thank you Southwest and MCO) we headed straight for the garage. Name was on the board- car was in a special spot. Boom- right in the car and out of the aiport. We rented a full size and had a Kia (I think it was an optima). We had 1 large suitcase- 4 small and 4 backpacks. We were able to get all the suitcases and 2 of the 4 backpacks in the trunk. (not bad!). Kids had thier backpacks in the backseat with them.

Return was just as easy. No one asked for the receipt and I was worried as it was more than 10 miles since the fill up- but DH had jammed as much fuel in as he could (we filled up near downtown disney the night before and our flight was 6:15 am so hard to get up so early to find a gas station!). Charged as indicated in ressie - was about 164 for 10 day rental over easter spring break.

I would use Dollar again in a heartbeat, although I still prefer Alamo or National since I get to pick my own car!

 

[jdb35633]

Thanks for the update, we are set to leave May 3rd and I have an 8 days full-size for $137 with Dollar. I have always used Alamo but the cheapest I can find with Alamo for our dates is $211. I have been a little anxious about Dollar but after reading this thread feel a lot better about the rental!