Help with car hire please.....

[Pinky166]

I have never driven in the US before and want to hire a car for part of our stay in December...I have quite a few questions and would appreciate any help or advice you can offer.

1. What hire company do you use?
2. What size/type of car should we get...there are 2 adults and 4 cases! (I love to shop )
3. I don't really want to collect the car from the airport when we arrive. I just want to have it for a few days will the hire company to drop it at the Hotel (Hard Rock Hotel) and pick it up a few days later at the end of the hire term?
4. What cost per day should I expect to pay?
5. How do you sort your insurance? Do you go with what the car hire company offer or do it seperately?

Any thing else I should now about? Apart from the obvious....remember to drive on the opposite side of the road!
Thanks in advance.

 

[orangetiggs]

we got ours from usrentacar and we are getting an intermediate 4x4 for 4 adults and luggage (we are going out for our wedding)

This is the first time we have booked it seperate and it saved us alot of money so worth a look

 

[wayneg]

This year USrentacar has been cheapest for us, before this year Airline network, used them for years.

We were 2 adults +2 teens(1 more than usual) at Easter 4 cases, 2 bags, 3 laptops, camera case. got them all in trunk of Dodge Charger(Full size)

We always take from airport, couldn't be without a car in Florida. All other options are expensive and inconvenient imo.

August is costing us £17.25/day full size USrentacar/Budget £414 for 24 nights incl gold cover. (everything you need)

 

[Lizzybear]

We had a Dodge Caliber last year (2 adults) which is the compact model Dollar offer (booked economy and got an automatic upgrade as they don't actually have any economies to rent out!) and it wouldn't fit our 4 cases in the boot though the seats did drop down so we just did that. We were only taking cases from the airport to the resort and back, not leaving the car unattended with them on view at any point so we didn't mind doing this.
usrentacar are very competitive, we're using them this year. It's costing us £188 with fully inclusive insurance (only difference between that and the gold is the tank of fuel, but if you fill up before you return the car this shouldn't be a problem) for 14 days for an economy (hoping for the same upgrade again *lol*) That doesn't include the young drivers surcharge but that's not relevant unless you're under 25. Since we'll only have a case each this year they should fit in the Caliber's boot.

 

[wayneg]

It's costing us £188 with fully inclusive insurance (only difference between that and the gold is the tank of fuel, but if you fill up before you return the car this shouldn't be a problem)

Personally I would pay the extra £24 for the tank of gas. The Dodge Caliber has a tank just over 13 gals, about $50 to fill. More or less same price but some people have had problems at the desk with the agent insisting they pay Dollars price for a tank of gas which is more than gas stations cost.
I only did it once without taking Gold/Platinum and had no problems took it back full but be prepared for them charging and get them to remove it.

 

[Pinky166]

Thanks for your help everyone.

I have looked at the USrentacar site and it seems pretty cheap, so I think we will just go for it and get a car for the whole 2 weeks.....I'm scared! Now all I need to do is persuade my DH that we do not need to pay an extra £140 for a Ford Mustang!

Have any of you ever used the SatNav hire company they recommend? It's quoting £78 for a TomTom for 2 weeks hire....is that expensive?

 

[wayneg]

Thanks for your help everyone.

I have looked at the USrentacar site and it seems pretty cheap, so I think we will just go for it and get a car for the whole 2 weeks.....I'm scared! Now all I need to do is persuade my DH that we do not need to pay an extra £140 for a Ford Mustang!

Have any of you ever used the SatNav hire company they recommend? It's quoting £78 for a TomTom for 2 weeks hire....is that expensive?

If he wants a Ford Mustang let him have one, its only money

I have heard people buy Sat nav out there for cost of 2 weeks rental but you are without it until you buy it.
Relative of ours just bought TomTom from Empiredirect at the weekend they had a 1 day offer for £69.99, I think US maps are around £35 so if you see an offer here it might be as cheap to buy and keep for home also.
I have PDA with TomTom on don't need around the theme parks are but this August driving upto Savannah, Georgia so will take it with me.

http://www.walmart.com/search/brows...f=125875.417443&search_sort=4&selected_items=

 

[luke]

The Dodge Caliber has a tank just over 13 gals, about $50 to fill

Damn i wish i could fill my 1.2 litre Punto up for that

 

[wayneg]

Damn i wish i could fill my 1.2 litre Punto up for that

We have a 1.8L BMW and a 1.6L Diesel van, last month cost me £260 in fuel, thats over $500. I almost cry everytime I fill up these days
Just glad I owe next to nothing on the house, don't know how young familes do it these days.

 

[Netty]

Thanks for your help everyone.

I have looked at the USrentacar site and it seems pretty cheap, so I think we will just go for it and get a car for the whole 2 weeks.....I'm scared! Now all I need to do is persuade my DH that we do not need to pay an extra £140 for a Ford Mustang!

Have any of you ever used the SatNav hire company they recommend? It's quoting £78 for a TomTom for 2 weeks hire....is that expensive?

I drove for the first time last year,(7 seater minivan) and i was panicking at the thought of driving over there, but I can tell you it is much easier than driving here, so don't worry! you can always book an automatic lesson with a local driving school before you go if it helps.
here are driving instructions on this site and it gives great instructions from each airport as well.

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

 

[Pinky166]

If he wants a Ford Mustang let him have one, its only money

I have heard people buy Sat nav out there for cost of 2 weeks rental but you are without it until you buy it.
Relative of ours just bought TomTom from Empiredirect at the weekend they had a 1 day offer for £69.99, I think US maps are around £35 so if you see an offer here it might be as cheap to buy and keep for home also.
I have PDA with TomTom on don't need around the theme parks are but this August driving upto Savannah, Georgia so will take it with me.

http://www.walmart.com/search/brows...f=125875.417443&search_sort=4&selected_items=

I think I will book the Mustang and not tell him....he will love it! You only live once!

Thanks for the info on the TomTom - I will do some searching & see if there are any deals at the mo. If not I think I will buy one in Walmart.....thanks.

I drove for the first time last year,(7 seater minivan) and i was panicking at the thought of driving over there, but I can tell you it is much easier than driving here, so don't worry! you can always book an automatic lesson with a local driving school before you go if it helps.
here are driving instructions on this site and it gives great instructions from each airport as well.

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

Thanks Netty....I am sure I will be fine I just get freaked out for no reason about silly things like this....I drive an automatic anyway so that side of things will be fine. Thanks for the link....I haven't read through it all yet but it looks helpful.

 

[luke]

Just glad I owe next to nothing on the house, don't know how young familes do it these days.

With great difficulty!! We just bought our house, and have next to nothing to play with after mortgage and bills etc

 

[wayneg]

With great difficulty!! We just bought our house, and have next to nothing to play with after mortgage and bills etc

I remember 20 years ago, our 1st house, cost £13,000. needed about £7,000 of repairs. We struggled. 20 years on we drive a car over £20k and only pay £186/month mortgage.(pay more in petrol/diesel than mortgage )
A relative of mine has just renwed his car insurance, £1,400 Third party Fire and theft for a Saxo. We pay £250 fully comp for BM.
Its great financially but it means I am getting old and I don't want to .

 

[Pinky166]

Its great financially but it means I am getting old and I don't want to .

Wayne with all those trips to Disney your definately still a kid at heart!