Help Please! - totally new to car hire and driving in USA!

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I posted this on Transportation Board and someone suggested I post here.

Hi our family are flying into MCO on 24 August 2013 for 2 weeks. We are staying in Animal Kingdom Villas for first week, so may use Magical Express. We have always done this as we have always stayed on site and never used car hire. This time we are staying the 2nd week in Windsor Palms, so we would like to get a car. There are 6 adults (all big) and at least 6 suitcases, so we need something BIG! I have been reading all the threads about hiring vehicles and am now really confused. I don't understand the difference in insurance cover and needs, or who charges for an extra driver or SAT Nav. My husband and brother in law will be taking turns driving and neither have driven outside the UK before, they are both nervous about it. They are both in their 50's, if that makes a difference with insurance. Can some of you kind experts give us advice on where to hire, costs etc. When to book and what to expect. Where can we get tips on driving in U.S - other side of road, lights etc. Any advice would be appreciated. Also if we can get a reasonable price, we may hire for both weeks.

 

[kevin harrison]

http://www.kissimmee-us192.com/british/driving.htm

 

[wayneg]

See this thread http://www.disboards.com/showthread.php?t=3017130
Hertz have a sale on just now. Go via Quidco and click on the 30% off sale link. It will give you a 7 seater minivan for £272.40 less 10% Quidco = £245.16. Extra driver will be payable locally, again see the thread for details ($91 max charge, approx £56)
Sat nav is never a good thing to rent, they will charge you a fortune (£120ish?)
Bargains pop up on Ebay, use them for your 2 week and sell again to get you rmoney back, costs next to nothing.
This just sold for £22 (plus £8 del) http://www.ebay.co.uk/itm/Tomtom-On...6?pt=UK_In_Car_Technology&hash=item3f1dff87fe

I bought mine in Walmart last year for £35, they are as cheap as chips out there.

 

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http://www.kissimmee-us192.com/british/driving.htm

than you so much this is great

 

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See this thread http://www.disboards.com/showthread.php?t=3017130
Hertz have a sale on just now. Go via Quidco and click on the 30% off sale link. It will give you a 7 seater minivan for £272.40 less 10% Quidco = £245.16. Extra driver will be payable locally, again see the thread for details ($91 max charge, approx £56)
Sat nav is never a good thing to rent, they will charge you a fortune (£120ish?)
Bargains pop up on Ebay, use them for your 2 week and sell again to get you rmoney back, costs next to nothing.
This just sold for £22 (plus £8 del) http://www.ebay.co.uk/itm/Tomtom-On...6?pt=UK_In_Car_Technology&hash=item3f1dff87fe

I bought mine in Walmart last year for £35, they are as cheap as chips out there.

great info thank you!

 

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just went onto the Hertz site to price a Dodge Van which we can get for £263.63 for 2 weeks. I checked the terms and inclusions and this comes up


Air Conditioning | Dual Airbags | ABS | 19 miles/gallon
Included in the rates

Airport Concession Fee Recovery On Flight Arrivals
Loss Damage Waiver
Tax and other charges
Liability Insurance Supplement
Customer Facility Charge
Rental Surcharge
Vehicle Licensing Cost Recovery
Energy Surcharge


Not included in the rates

Personal Accident Insurance / Personal Effects Coverage
PREMIUM EMERGENCY ROADSIDE SERVICE
Refueling Options
Additional Driver


Apart from the additional driver, which we will get, do we need any of the other stuff??????

 

[wayneg]

Not included in the rates

Personal Accident Insurance / Personal Effects Coverage
PREMIUM EMERGENCY ROADSIDE SERVICE
Refueling Options
Additional Driver


Apart from the additional driver, which we will get, do we need any of the other stuff??????

PAI & PEC should be covered with travel your insurance.

You are covered for standard breakdown cover, what they offer is for accidental incidents like leaving lights on all night, losing the keys etc, something I have never bought and never will.

Refuel, you can pay on arrival for a tank if you want then return empty, I prefer to not do that option and return full, personal choice.

 

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PAI & PEC should be covered with travel your insurance.

You are covered for standard breakdown cover, what they offer is for accidental incidents like leaving lights on all night, losing the keys etc, something I have never bought and never will.

Refuel, you can pay on arrival for a tank if you want then return empty, I prefer to not do that option and return full, personal choice.

Thank you Wayne, thats brilliant

 

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ok, we now know exactly what we need for car hire, so hopefully someone can point me in the direction of some deals. Here goes :-

We need a 7 seater van from 31st August and able to collect from somewhere near Disney Animal kingdom lodge.

Return will be on 7 September to MCO.

2 drivers required, aged 53 and 48.

We have a friend going in June, who is lending us his SAT nav.

Hope this is all thats needed.

I have a quote from Alamo uk for a 7 seater Dodge for £207.89.

Maybe we are looking too early??

 

[wayneg]

ok, we now know exactly what we need for car hire, so hopefully someone can point me in the direction of some deals. Here goes :-

We need a 7 seater van from 31st August and able to collect from somewhere near Disney Animal kingdom lodge.

Return will be on 7 September to MCO.

2 drivers required, aged 53 and 48.

We have a friend going in June, who is lending us his SAT nav.

Hope this is all thats needed.

I have a quote from Alamo uk for a 7 seater Dodge for £207.89.

Maybe we are looking too early??

Not sure how you get the price.
These prices are from Disney car care centre, return to MCO
Looked on Alamo.co.uk = £198.99 (1 driver) or add gold ( extra driver & tank of gas) = £236.99 both less 11% Quidco http://www.quidco.com/alamo/?ac

Alamo Brits deal £179.09 with free extra driver (but no gas) Quidco doesn't usually pay out on Brits deal.

This link gives £224 less 10% Quidco incl tank of gas and extra driver http://www.flyertalk.com/forum/othe...e/734198-holidayautos-discount-worldwide.html

Personally I would wait for a sale, Holiday Autos have just started a 10 day sale but USA is not included again. Maybe they will add USA or someone like Hertz come up with another deal.

 

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Hi Wayne, i priced from Dolphin hotel to MCO, not sure if that makes a difference. I will take your expert advice and wait a few months for any deals.

Thank you

 

[wayneg]

Hi Wayne, i priced from Dolphin hotel to MCO, not sure if that makes a difference. I will take your expert advice and wait a few months for any deals.

Thank you

Not sure about Dolphin but Car Care centre will collect you from Disney resorts so possibly easier for you there.
I rarely book car rental til 1-2 months out, this Easter I booked early to get the Hertz deal but would normally wait.

 

[pampat]

If you are unfamiliar with driving an automatic car, I would reallly recommend booking a one hour lesson with a driving school in an automatic before you go. it is well worth the fee to feel confident in your own ability. It will be one less thing to feel overwhelmed by!

Pam

 

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If you are unfamiliar with driving an automatic car, I would reallly recommend booking a one hour lesson with a driving school in an automatic before you go. it is well worth the fee to feel confident in your own ability. It will be one less thing to feel overwhelmed by!

Pam

thanks thats a good idea

 

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Not sure about Dolphin but Car Care centre will collect you from Disney resorts so possibly easier for you there.
I rarely book car rental til 1-2 months out, this Easter I booked early to get the Hertz deal but would normally wait.

thats brilliant, i didn't know they picked you up

 

[wayneg]

thats brilliant, i didn't know they picked you up

Just seen this page, run by USrentacar but it gives you a bit of info about the Car Care Centre.

http://disneycarcare.co.uk/

 

[luke]

Got a friend asking where would be the best place to hire a Mustang from for the 2nd til the 18th September this year, any ideas?

 

[wayneg]

Got a friend asking where would be the best place to hire a Mustang from for the 2nd til the 18th September this year, any ideas?

Just looked at Hertz with their 33% off sale, over £1100 but you get 8% Quidco

 

[luke]

Just looked at Hertz with their 33% off sale, over £1100 but you get 8% Quidco

I'll break gently to him

 

[bex7583]

Not sure how you get the price.
These prices are from Disney car care centre, return to MCO
Looked on Alamo.co.uk = £198.99 (1 driver) or add gold ( extra driver & tank of gas) = £236.99 both less 11% Quidco http://www.quidco.com/alamo/?ac

Alamo Brits deal £179.09 with free extra driver (but no gas) Quidco doesn't usually pay out on Brits deal.

This link gives £224 less 10% Quidco incl tank of gas and extra driver http://www.flyertalk.com/forum/othe...e/734198-holidayautos-discount-worldwide.html

Personally I would wait for a sale, Holiday Autos have just started a 10 day sale but USA is not included again. Maybe they will add USA or someone like Hertz come up with another deal.

these seem really good prices , we had planned on a ford escape suv but that reccommends only 2 small suitcases , im now considering the minivan