Explain Priceline to me please

[LurrrvtheDuck]

Ok, so I've been reading about Priceline and the name your own price option, but I don't quite get it. Can someone please explain the process to me.

I'm looking to do a car rental for my upcoming WDW trip and the cheapest I can find is $300.

Can I specify the type of car (make/model) I want or is it just random? I know you can specify type (like SUV, Minivan,etc.)

I understand you enter the amount you want to pay.
Then who is that "accepts" this amount? The car rental company?
How do I pay them, online or at the car rental center?
Am I dealing directly with a car company?
Can I use further discounts like from AAA or company discounts?

Is this process the same as a regular rental process?

Thanks in advance!

 

[Emell64]

I've only used Priceline once but for a car rental for our last December trip to Disneyland in Anaheim.

First I checked out the going rate for a midsize car (about $33/day) then I went on the Priceline and bid $15/day for a midsize car and I said I only wanted to rent from the airport not offsite. (I had already checked out the airport rentals and found out that only the "big name" companies were there and that made me feel safer about the whole thing!) I got a message saying my bid was probably too low but I went ahead anyway and it got accepted with Avis. I had given my credit card no. so once my bid was accepted there was really no changing it (I think there was one clause that would've allowed me to change it incase our flight was cancelled because of bad weather but I'm not entirely sure about that....)

I could specify the type of car (ie. compact, midsize, etc) but not the exact type.

Once your bid is accepted your rental is directly with the car rental agency. I don't believe you can use any other discounts...the price you bid is the price you pay, if your bid is accepted.

I definitely would do it again for car rental. We had a great experience and got a great car at less than half what I would've paid had I booked it without Priceline.

Emelle

 

[lowie]

it's pretty easy to do. at first you get to choose the size car, location, price, dates. if your first choice isn't taken then you have to change something along with your price. or wait a few days and try to same price again.
i like to go for the cheapest car and then try to upgrade at the rental place. i got a jaguar once in NY for a total of $18 per day!!
i love priceline!

 

[powellrj]

go to biddingfortravel.com and they have a whole section about how to do it!

 

[Faerie]

I LOVE priceline for rentals. I won a economy (just me traveling to visit my grandparents for the weekend - no need for a larger car) in December at TF Greene airport. I had a late flight and got in after midnight. I ended up with a mid-size for free because they were out of smaller cars - my cost was $13 per day