How to get cheapest rate on a rental car...

[Pineapple Princess]

I am going on a trip and I need a rental car for 10 days. How do I get the cheapest rate?? Thanks!

 

[worm761]

Google car rental mamma. My sister and my BFF go through that website and get awesome rates.

 

[momto4obkids]

I use http://carrentalsavers.com/ to check prices. It enters the coupons and contract id's for you.

 

[Jarmo]

If you have a travel rewards type credit card, check out the rewards page. Even without using points to book I saw cheaper prices from the Capital One rewards page than from anything I could get with normal coupon codes.

 

[pjlla]

Check, check, and check AGAIN! This is one place where I can almost ALWAYS continue to find a lower rate, the closer and closer to my trip I check. Most of the suggestions here are spot on.... and if you are a member of Costco, I've found for a few years now that they tend to ALWAYS be the lowest, no matter what. Good luck..........P

 

[MomToOne]

I use http://carrentalsavers.com/ to check prices. It enters the coupons and contract id's for you.

^This.

Plus, if you have AAA (or probably AARP), check through them. At times I can get much better rates, at other times the prices are the same. But it's always worth a check.

I also like to check Hotwire.

 

[bjscheel]

We are renting a car at the Salt Lake City airport next month. I just googled coupon codes for some of the companies that are in the airport and ended up using a Budget code on a Jeep Grand Cherokee. I checked the carrentalsavers link above and it had higher rates than what I paid, on the SUV row. Just saying to check directly with the companies as well.

 

[richmo]

Check, check, and check AGAIN!....

That's the correct advice. Book something non-binding at current rates then keep looking. Often the best rates are found about 2 to 21 days before the trip. But make sure you have something lined up because sometimes the rules don't hold. Car rental rates are more volatile than airplane fares...

 

[CruzTerri]

If you're a member of Costco, try Costco Travel - they have great rental car rates.

 

[tzeitel]

I found the best deal dealing directly with the rental company after Googling for codes. I keep checking to see if the price goes down but so far everyone else is more expensive (including Costco). I had really good luck with name your own price on Priceline for a last minute trip - paid $9 a day for our DLR trip - tried several days in a row with the I wanted to pay until it was accepted.

I think the best deals are found way in advance or very close to your dates, or at least that is how it has been for the times I've booked cars. Totally agree with booking something and just keeping an eye out for a better deal.

 

[Jimsig]

At the top of the transportation board there is a Hertz discount pinned for Disboard users

 

[KEVD]

Enroll yourself in all of the tental companies' frequent user programs. You'll get emails with discount codes and specials. It will definitely increase the amount of solicitation emails you receive but it definitely keeps you abreast of all the specials.

 

[descovy]

Also, compare rates in the city vs the airport. I am flying into Spokane for a 2 weeks stay. To rent a car at the airport will cost $700-$800. Instead, I am taking a $20 cab downtown and getting my rental for $350. The hassle of the cab ride is worth the $350-$450 savings!!!

 

[CruzTerri]

Also, compare rates in the city vs the airport. I am flying into Spokane for a 2 weeks stay. To rent a car at the airport will cost $700-$800. Instead, I am taking a $20 cab downtown and getting my rental for $350. The hassle of the cab ride is worth the $350-$450 savings!!!

In November 2013, this happened to me. Checked prices to pick up a car at Orlando Airport and then at the Dolphin, big big difference! So we took the Magical Express to AKV and then the next day picked up the car. Saved lots that way.

 

[woodkins]

Book a reservation then put it into autoslash.com. They will email you anytime a rental company offers that size car for those dates at a better rate. I saved a ton that way. It's a great free site to use.

 

[Smush7711]

I am going on a trip and I need a rental car for 10 days. How do I get the cheapest rate?? Thanks!

Where are you coming from? I rented an SUV in Fl and saved more than if I would have rented a compact car from home. I'm about 9 hours away and I'm leaving my car at a friend's place for the week. Oh and I've found Hotwire always gives me the best rates.

 

[robinb]

Where are you coming from? I rented an SUV in Fl and saved more than if I would have rented a compact car from home. I'm about 9 hours away and I'm leaving my car at a friend's place for the week. Oh and I've found Hotwire always gives me the best rates.

If you're going to use an opaque booking engine, Priceline's NYOP is usually cheaper than Hotwire.

 

[Smush7711]

If you're going to use an opaque booking engine, Priceline's NYOP is usually cheaper than Hotwire.

I've never tried that. I've just noticed that the other sites end up with extra charges so by the time you book, the total is not what the first amount is. On Hotwire, the total is on the first page. I got an SUV for a week for 150 and everywhere else was at least twice that plus fees.

 

[descovy]

Thanks all for the bump up!

I leave for my trip in 6 days. All along, I had a car rental in downtown Spokane VS the airport. It was $350 less to pick up a car downtown due to all the airport taxes and fees. Planned on taking a $20 cab to save $350.

Thanks to this thread reminding me, I checked again today. OMG! The airport price has dropped like a rock! It is now lower than the downtown-take-a-cab price

Will check again before we fly out, but for now, very, very satisfied!

Also, consistently Costco Travel has had the lowest price. Even tonight. Lower than AAA, orbitz, hotwire, priceline, car rental momma, car rental savers. Lower than the car rental company directly too. And it is non binding. I can cancel later if I find a better deal.

 

[richmo]

Thanks all for the bump up!

I leave for my trip in 6 days. All along, I had a car rental in downtown Spokane VS the airport. It was $350 less to pick up a car downtown due to all the airport taxes and fees. Planned on taking a $20 cab to save $350.

Thanks to this thread reminding me, I checked again today. OMG! The airport price has dropped like a rock! It is now lower than the downtown-take-a-cab price

Will check again before we fly out, but for now, very, very satisfied!

Also, consistently Costco Travel has had the lowest price. Even tonight. Lower than AAA, orbitz, hotwire, priceline, car rental momma, car rental savers. Lower than the car rental company directly too. And it is non binding. I can cancel later if I find a better deal.

That's right. You're seeing the pattern of big drops shortly before leaving. I'm not at all surprised that you're finding a good rate just 6 days out. Do keep checking; it could get better, but sometimes it'll go up when it gets really close. Even check the morning you're leaving if you get a chance.

And this is why I try to steer people away from Hotwire or any arrangement that locks you in. When looking several weeks or months before a trip, Hotwire will indeed have the best rates. There may be times when that holds, but, as you observed, sharp drops show up close to rental time.

Costco does have good rates, but I usually take the Costco corporate code and plug it into the agency's site (like Alamo) and use coupons that may or may not be affiliated with Costco. For instance, I may use the Costco contract ID and a coupon from the Entertainment book.

Congrats on finding a good rate...your patience paid off!