How far ahead do you make reservations for your rental car?

[CR Resort Fan 4 Life]

Since my family & I fly to WDW in December we make the reservations for our rental car from Avis the middle of September. So how far in advance do you make reservation when renting a car?

 

[tmt martins]

A few months ahead as well .They normally start giving codes from the rentals web-sights at that time.

If I find a code earlier then I take what I can get you can always cancel later.

I've also decided to start renting either on sight or at one of the DTD hotels and using ME more . It could shave a day or so off your rental.

 

[AllyBri]

As soon as you know your dates start looking at rental rates.
I have gotten low rates 6 months before travel and they have never come down lower then that again.

 

[Letsbgoofy]

I also book as soon as I have my dates. Then I keep checking back for discounts. I got a great rate for late August in mid April - nothing lower since.

 

[DVC-Don]

I book as soon as we book out resort. Then I periodically re-shop and quite often can better the original price. For example, for our upcoming August trip I booked the resort last September and then booked the minivan. In February I rebooked the minivan at a price that I have not been able to beat since then.

 

[n2mm]

Book as soon as you find a price that you like, if you know your dates. Sometimes when I've not booked airfare, I will book several reservations if the price is right with different arrival times, but what flight I MIGHT be on....but that's only if the price is excellent. Rental prices have not been very good lately and we are hoping that it changes. My August rate is pretty low as I got in one morning when the rate dropped, but then went back up by the afternoon....so no room for hesitation. My Oct rate is not great, so I watch for that one constantly. I've not attempted to look for anything for our February trip yet.

 

[janets]

I've been known to have a car reservation and nothing else. Since it's so easy to book (provided you have an idea of what you're thinking about time wise) you might as well book something, then either modify or rebook when you have firm times.

I booked our September car in April and have watched periodically as rates went way up. Then this week, saw a post about rates coming down and lo and behold, mine went down $30. So I rebooked and cancelled the original. I've had my November booking for a while too, but that hasn't moved at all so I'm waiting for that too.

With no cancellation penalty, you might as well look for a good rate now.

 

[tmt martins]

I've been looking ( again thanks to this thread) and it's been bad $400 for 5 days ( dec18-22) is the cheapest I could find.
Codes just aren't out for that time.

I did a check today and was looking at the DTD hotels and CCC well Dollar got me a Magnum for $180 with the only code that came up automatically from Grosvenor Resort.

We were planning on Taking DME and just renting on-sight so all I have to do is walk across the street then get gas right there before I turn it in.
By doing it there I also take a day off the rental as I can just pick it up at noon and drop it off at noon as well.

I'll keep looking but I took this in the mean time.

 

[DebbieB]

If I see a half decent price (under $200), I book it and then keep watching. I always use National for personal travel. For my trip last month, it started at $194 in February (backup Alamo $145) and dropped all the way down to $104 about 2 weeks before the trip. I have a trip Oct 22 to 27, National is really high, I reserved Alamo for $161. I will keep watching.