First time car renter - tips?

[Aimros]

Hi everyone! DFi and I will be renting a car for the first time for our August trip. I've never rented a car before so I really have no idea what kind of deals to look for. What's a good price on a week-long car rental? we're not looking for anything fancy. We would most likely rent from MCO and drop back off at MCO unless someone else thinks it can be done better . Any tips? TIA!

 

[wonderbear2]

We usually call 4 or 5 of the known companies that service the airpoort and ask for a car quote for the same car category. It's important to keep the quotes in the same class so you can compare apples to apples. Ask what discounts they offer for member affiliation.......such as AAA, Sam's, Costco, AARP. If you work for a major corporation or belong to a professional affiliation, they also may have a discount agreement with some of the rental companies.

Ask also about complimentary upgrades....I know they often will give one class upgrade if you rent frequently. Even though you don't, ask. Then ask again when you get to the counter or kiosk at the airport. They often will put you in a nicer car if they are getting swamped for requests for the class you reserved.

 

[Lewisc]

The taxes and fees can easily add 1/3 to the cost of your rental. Most agencies include them when you check rates. A few wait and add them at the very end.

Most of the optional extras aren't needed and/or are cheaper if you do it"on your own". Most of us have adequate coverage from your personal policy and from your credit card. Check your own policy. Rent the car with a full tank and return it with a full tank. The pre-paid gas plans are never a good deal. You'll have to drive the car, for miles, with the low gas light on just to break even. It's almost always cheaper to bring your own GPS rather then rent one from the rental agency. Bring a roll of quarters for tolls. Most of the rental agencies have a daily charge for use of their automated toll payment. You're generally charged that daily service fee even for days you don't actually pay tolls.

Will you have an extra driver? Shop. The COSTCO promotion, and others, waives the fee for an extra driver.

 

[IllumFan]

Where are you staying.

We love the convenience of Magical Express so we usually take the Magical Express to our Boardwalk-area resort and then walk Dolphin to rent a car there. At the end of the vacation, we drop the car off and take ME to MCO.

There is also a Car Care center on property where you can rent a car. I believe you can call for a shuttle from your Disney resort to the Car Care center to pick up the vehicle.

Enjoy your trip.

 

[Fabooliss]

My best tip is that when you get to the rental counter to pick up your car, if they offer you an upgrade for "a great price" say NO!
They are likely doing it because they don't have the car size you requested and are trying to get the higher price out of you anyway. When you say no and head out to the lot, you just end up with the larger car, without paying the extra!
At least that is what has happened to us the last 3 times we have rented a car (all different companies).


Mousesavers has a bunch of codes you can try. They seem to have the best collection out there. I've been using them for rental cars for other vacations too!

 

[Lewisc]

Reserve the size car you need. Some guidebooks suggest reserving an economy car. They say rental agencies rarely have anything smaller then a full size car.

This advice is no longer valid, and was never valid for Orlando. Many of us have observed famlies trying to fit a lot more luggage in the trunk of an economy car then could possibly fit. Reserve a larger car and the extra cost may be nominal. Wait until you need it and you're at the mercy of the rental agency. Worse they may not even have a large enough car available.

PP has a point, sometimes the rental agency will offer a great price on an upgrade. Say no and you may get the upgrade for free. Othertimes it's just a matter of inventory. They know they won't have enough smaller cars for all customers. They'll start by trying to get customers who're willing to pay for the upgrade. Say no and you may wind up with the car class you reserved.

Back to the main point reserve the car class you need. Smaller cars have small trunks.

 

[Fabooliss]

Reserve the size car you need. Some guidebooks suggest reserving an economy car. They say rental agencies rarely have anything smaller then a full size car.

This advice is no longer valid, and was never valid for Orlando. Many of us have observed famlies trying to fit a lot more luggage in the trunk of an economy car then could possibly fit. Reserve a larger car and the extra cost may be nominal. Wait until you need it and you're at the mercy of the rental agency. Worse they may not even have a large enough car available.

PP has a point, sometimes the rental agency will offer a great price on an upgrade. Say no and you may get the upgrade for free. Othertimes it's just a matter of inventory. They know they won't have enough smaller cars for all customers. They'll start by trying to get customers who're willing to pay for the upgrade. Say no and you may wind up with the car class you reserved.

Back to the main point reserve the car class you need. Smaller cars have small trunks.

Ooo.... absolutely! I didn't mean to imply you should count on the upgrade. And good tip on the car size. First time renting we reserved a car we thought would be plenty big enough and had to put the umbrella stroller on the kid's laps! And now you mention it... Orlando is the one place that we DIDN'T get an upgraded car.