Expert Help Please! Renting with drop off location different

[fostrmom2mny]

First off, the rates we have gotten hadn't been very reasonable IMHO, due to a "drop off fee". Here is our senerio. Attending a Conference in Atlanta, GA. It is over on Nov 7 (Sun). We were wanting to drive to Orlando. My collegue will be heading on to Miami after a day at WDW, then returning (driving) to Orlando Nov 11 PM. The drop off fee was around $200. (A travel agent looked this up for us with a $580.00 price) I also tried National for that time and it is over $600 for a midsize. (Gotta have a car with legroom as my collugue is 6'4")
We could fly to Orlando for $90 each, then he could just rent a car in Orlando, but we kind of would like to take the road trip ad neither of us have ever been in that area.
First, is a drop off dee a normal cahrge?
Second, anyone have any discounts that I haven't thought of that would bring the price down to $300 for a Sun thru Thurs?
Third if not, what kind of rates are peoplpe getting for a rental for three week dayys in Orlando?
I thank each of you who help out.

 

[kaytieeldr]

Well, a drop-off fee, especially interstate, isn't abnormal. The agency needs to get the car back to (in this case) Atlanta when you're done.

See mousesavers.com for discount codes BUT you're only renting for four days apparently (four 24 hour periods, i.e. not a rental car week) and you're not renting over a Saturday night. You're probably not going to find any big discounts.

It's $200 to drop off the car in a different location (state), but $180 to fly to that state then rent a car, and you want to do a road trip? I don't see a huge difference there.

 

[Lewisc]

Kayak is finding rates of around $500. People who rent one way put more miles on the car. Mileage affects the resale value of the rental car.

Rental agencies generally charge a drop fee, black out discounts and/or limit your free mileage.

You have to shop.

Some agencies offer great one way rentals in November. They want to move cars to Florida for the winter. Generally you have to rent in the NE (NY, BOS etc). I don't know if Atlanta qualifies. You may have to pickup the car in South Carolina.

Last year the promotion ran the first two weeks of November. You may get lucky.

Book something you can live with and keep looking.

edited to add--Check each agencies website. National is $33 /day but Virgina is as far south as you can pickup.