Help with car hire please!

[kristieuk]

For the past 10 years or so, we have booked our Minivan with Dollar through Airline Network (now NetFlights), and taken out the platinum cover for a free tank of fuel + additional drivers. I had a bit of a shock today when I priced it up, it was over £500 for the car and almost £100 extra for the platinum cover. We have previously paid more like £450 all in.

We are going in October, into Tampa, for 18 nights.

Can anyone advise if it's just much more expensive everywhere, or where else I can look? TIA

 

[orangetiggs]

we have started using usrentacar.co.uk and found them quite good on price

 

[wayneg]

The actual rental price has not gone up, its the exchange rate that is affecting the price we pay.
You paid £450 prevoiusly @ $2/£1 thats $900
New rate £619 @ $1.40 = $866

Take into account Airnets commision in £'s before its converted and the $'s Dollar get are very similar now to before.

As said look at USrentacar, they have a 7 seater with Budget for £552 with tank of gas. or check other companies.

I am same, used airnet/Dollar for I don't know how many years but they have got too expensive for me this year, next 3 rentals with US/Budget.

 

[tigger137]

I generally check USRentacar.com, Yescarhire.com, UScarhire.co.uk, ebookers.com and anyone else I can think of. USRentacar is often the cheapest and gives you a choice of car rental company if you have a preference. They also offer non-airport depots, which many websites don't.

It's also worth looking at the various direct company websites, eg Alamo, Dollar, Budget, Hertz. We have our next 2 cars booked direct with Budget, at Budget.co.uk. They came up as by far the best deal, pay on pick-up but at a guaranteed price. And if you're with Quidco, you get cashback with Budget.

 

[kristieuk]

Many thanks all. I'll check out all the recommendations, but I'm guessing we're in for a good price hike anyway. At least now I have some options

 

[merlin307]

Many thanks all. I'll check out all the recommendations, but I'm guessing we're in for a good price hike anyway. At least now I have some options

like the other posts I have noticed an increase in car hire this year (about £50 for the compact we normally hire)

usrentacar is a good site but I have always used floridacarhire.com,and have had wonderful service for the past 8 years

I checked and they are £616 for 18 days in october - full tank and unlimited extra drivers etc included

 

[Hazelmum]

I have always used floridacarhire.com,and have had wonderful service for the past 8 years

Thats interesting as they went bust in (2003 ?) owing thousands of pounds and stranding hundreds of holiday makers ! Just had a look at their web site and I can't even find a telephone number, personally i could never book anything online from anyone if there was not a number to call in case something went wrong, regardless of how cheap they might be, maybe I just cant see it though. Didn't realise they had resurfaced, then again, bad pennys and all that !

On the original post my car hire for this Spring booked through www.carhireflorida.net is over £150 more expensive than the same time last year ! But that was the best rate I could find using Dollar with the top package as we needed 3 drivers. Ho Hum, hope the £-$ rates pick up for Autumn.
Hazel

 

[merlin307]

Thats interesting as they went bust in (2003 ?) owing thousands of pounds and stranding hundreds of holiday makers ! Just had a look at their web site and I can't even find a telephone number, personally i could never book anything online from anyone if there was not a number to call in case something went wrong, regardless of how cheap they might be, maybe I just cant see it though. Didn't realise they had resurfaced, then again, bad pennys and all that !

On the original post my car hire for this Spring booked through www.carhireflorida.net is over £150 more expensive than the same time last year ! But that was the best rate I could find using Dollar with the top package as we needed 3 drivers. Ho Hum, hope the £-$ rates pick up for Autumn.
Hazel

Hi Hazel
Originally I had the same concerns but have not had an issue since i started using them............and I wouldn't have tried them if I had any doubts - been caught out too many times before on the net.........