How early do you rent your car?

[MrsSkellington]

We need a car from 10/26-10/29. Should we book now or wait for a deal? If we wait, they might not have anything available, right?

 

[migel]

Depending on who you book through, i.e. Costco, you can lock in a price now, and cancel if you get a better deal closer to the date. Other sites like Expedia, may charge your credit card as soon as you book, but offer free cancellation right up until the rental dates.

I recently reserved a car for August through Costco, but I'm still checking for better rates elsewhere.
I also need a car for 6 days in October, but prices seem quite high right now, so I'll be waiting a while until I book.

 

[kj2mom]

I am loving the site carrentalsavers.com that someone linked on this site. What I did was book the least expensive one for the time I wanted and every day I go back and check to see if I can catch anything less. The other day I caught one $5 less so I booked it and cancelled the original one. Now they have gone back up the $5 so I guess I caught it at a good time ($222 total for an SUV for 4th of July week). I am still hoping to get something lower as we get closer (July) and will keep watching but I have peace of mind that I have something booked at the best price I can at the moment. I highly recommend that site.

 

[Lynne G]

I do out as far as I can, never adding my credit. I cancel several times, as I find a better deal closer. If not, than I am happy I have the rate I was at least willing to reserve. Right now, I booked for end of December, and have rebooked several times, but lately has not changed. I found, at the end of summer, the best rate was right before I left, but for the holidays, I was glad I reserved at least 3 months ahead, as the rates got higher and higher closer.

 

[nacho113]

When you have your flight dates/times nailed down, check the popular companies and discount codes and book the best price that you can find (making sure that you only book a reservation that is cancellable (only book a pre-paid if you find a phenominal price since there are change/cancellation fees on pre-paid rezzies)
Check back often as prices can change daily and new discount codes will pop up too.
Don't get discouraged if you see the prices jump up, invariably they will drop again.
If you find a better price, book it, then go back to your old rezzie and cancel it. Rinse and repeat as prices can change all the way up until you actually arrive in Florida. I found a significant price drop once when we were sitting in the airport waiting for our outbound flight.

 

[richmo]

You should book something non-binding now, then keep looking. None of the major rental agencies take your credit card info (unless you are pre-paying, which is something you definitely should not do). Often, best rates are found in the last three weeks or so before departure. But definitely line something up, just in case...

(I will add that for late October, you should see some really good rates probably around the middle of the month)

 

[tobikaye]

Like the PP, I make my reservation out farther when I find what could be a good deal and does not require a credit card guarantee. I then check occasionally for a better deal. Once I get within a week or two and find a great deal that does require full payment at time of booking, then I might book it, but never less than 2 weeks out.

 

[Gina-Gina-Bo-Bina]

I do out as far as I can, never adding my credit. I cancel several times, as I find a better deal closer. If not, than I am happy I have the rate I was at least willing to reserve. Right now, I booked for end of December, and have rebooked several times, but lately has not changed. I found, at the end of summer, the best rate was right before I left, but for the holidays, I was glad I reserved at least 3 months ahead, as the rates got higher and higher closer.

+1

 

[bcuinohio]

I always book right away. I never book anything that I cannot cancel. I keep checking and rebook when the price goes down.

 

[Starwind]

We are National Emerald Club (their frequent rentor program) members. We only rent from National, or, if not available Alamo.

I book a soon as I have enough trip info to be able to (dates can be changed later if plans change). I book directly with the rental company through their website. I scour the web for discount codes to try and see if I can get a better deal. Worst case, I will still have the original reservation at whatever rate it is, so i know what the most I will have to pay is.

Then, I recheck regularly to make sure I still have the best deal. If a better deal comes along (and it usually does; I think only one time did I end up with the original rate for the actual rental), I shift to the better deal.

Booking directly with the rental company, although they have my credit card info (since it is required to be on file for Emerald Club), the card is not charged at the time of booking, only at the rental itself.

SW

 

[Ress76]

Book something you can cancel, and then cancel and rebook as your trip gets closer and you find lower rates.

 

[canadiankim]

I booked our first car in November for our trip in August. Since then I have probably booked 6 others (cancelling the previous one!) as the prices keep changing. No problem doing that so long as you don't had over your personal details.

Sign up for websites too as you might get the odd deal that way such as Alamo insiders etc.