How to split the cost of a car rental between families?

[pearlieq]

When we went with my Bro in May, we footed the bill for the rental car. But, we would have rented the same car even if he hadn't been there, and we also invited him on the trip.

If you invited the other family and the car is the same, I wouldn't ask for a contribution. If it's a joint effort and/or you would have to get a different car to accomodate them, 50/50 sounds right.

 

[vossjemi]

I think it all depends on the situation, the relationship, and what seems "fair" in the situation. DH, myself and 2 kids planned a Disney Cruise and a few days at WDW. We planned to get the cheapest car available. My parents asked to go along, so now they are in our group, and we need a minivan to accommodate 2 extra people & ALL MY MOM'S LUGGAGE!!! lol.

Anyway, I first offered to divide up cost by 6 people and my parents would only pay their portion, but my DAD insisted they pay half because I have done all the leg work on the trip...like finding them the perfect cheap cabin close to ours (we had been booked 6 months before them), finding and booking cheap air for them, researching and helping them buy travel insurance. They don't usually do all this (they just go through TA), so they felt like they could pay half of the minivan given my "services", which is fine by me. You just have to rvw your situation and decide what is truly fair given the facts and circumstances.

 

[Rpsemont]

Do you mind telling where and how you got $108 for week in Oct . Best I got was 132 for small SUV for week and was thrilled. Carol

I actually did this on 3/7, then modified 6/9 when I knew my exact flights. National EA Full Size, I think it was the priceless code, as well as Entertainment coupon. Base rate was 116.99 week, less discount, less $20 coupon, plus taxes. Actually, it ended up being $109.32. I check it every couple weeks and it's never been that low again. I have found that making car reservations as far in advance as possible is usually the best strategy. If they lower the prices right before you go, you can always change. And I've also found I've been able to modify dates and times by a day or two and keep the same original low rate. Early April, I booked our December trip and got that same 116.99 base rate for full size. Unfortunately, for our Feb 06, the best I have so far is is a base of 183.59. I only rarely check other agencies. We've always had good luck with National and love that EA.

 

[granmanh603]

I actually did this on 3/7, then modified 6/9 when I knew my exact flights. National EA Full Size, I think it was the priceless code, as well as Entertainment coupon. Base rate was 116.99 week, less discount, less $20 coupon, plus taxes. Actually, it ended up being $109.32. I check it every couple weeks and it's never been that low again. I have found that making car reservations as far in advance as possible is usually the best strategy. If they lower the prices right before you go, you can always change. And I've also found I've been able to modify dates and times by a day or two and keep the same original low rate. Early April, I booked our December trip and got that same 116.99 base rate for full size. Unfortunately, for our Feb 06, the best I have so far is is a base of 183.59. I only rarely check other agencies. We've always had good luck with National and love that EA.

Thank you for answering. I will keep that in mind. I thought I had checked Alamo and National in March but maybe it was later. I never have good luck but I will keep it in mind with your success.

 

[ckret01]

It would depend on who it is. I am going with my boyfriend, sister and Bil and I am renting a car and not expecting them yto chip in at all. If it were a friend I would probably split it between the 3 adults to make it fair. Cuz there are 3 of you and 1 of the other person.

If it were just you and 2 kids and then just her-I would say 50/50 but since there are 2 adults on your side the it should be split 3 ways fairly.

 

[Honeybehr1]

I would not ask for anything if its the same size car. But by having that extra adult go and need a larger car, than I would ask them to pay the difference.

50/50 doesnt seem fair because there are 3 of you and only one in the other family.

Have you already rented? If so, I wouldnt go back and say that you want 50% But If you havent rented, I would iron it all out before you rent

 

[buckler]

I don't think 50/50 is fair to the single person. Just because 2 adults have a marriage license and a child doesn't make them count as 1 unit. If it were me I'd split it 4 ways, counting the child as one of the passengers in the split. You might get away with splitting it 3 ways just among the adults.

Be careful how you sign up for the rental. If you all want to be able to drive you must all be on the rental contract. You will have to pay extra for that but it will give you more flexibility.

 

[mickeyluv'r]

I say it depends on who is doing the driving. In my family, being listed as the driver is considered a favor to everyone else. If one person is volunteering to do all the driving (being the onlyone listed) then maybe that person shouldn't have to pay as much.

So I'd probably say split the cost 50/50, but someone in the larger goup should offer to do all the driving.

 

[zumbergc]

How to split the cost? I would lean towards 1/3, or if you had to increase the car rental size because of the extra adult and that was more than 1/3 the cost, then that amount.

I just wanted to mention some other items. Insurance for the rental car?
Are you getting it, or passing on it.

Some of it depends on what type of car insurance you have at home and if it covers you in the event of an accident in a rented car?

Reason i ask is because, when i travel, i always decline the rental car insurance. I traveled with a friend in college and was shocked to learn at the end of the trip, she included the car insurance. She was the main driver, and in retrospect she wanted the insurance because she had several tickets, accidents, and had a previous accident in a rental car.

We had a plan, i'd pay for rental car, and she bought some tickets for our several days in florida (only 1 day was at disney).
Well, costs of a rental car when purchasing the insurance $/day is a lot higher than the regular rate. I still paid my friend the entire amount for the rental car, however its something to discuss if your splitting expenses.

I guess if your not sure how to split the cost of the rental 50/50, are you going to talk about declining or accepting the insurance too.

Plus, some people prefer to prepay the gas, and not be bothered with refilling the gas talk. Its a set $$ amount. However, if you aren't emptying the tank, you loosing out on some $$. Its a time spent on vacation value (wanting every precious second in the parks), or filling up the tank time to save money.
So, the gas question comes into play too. Are you going to make the single adult contribute what amount the cost of gas?
50/50 25/75 ?

Good luck in your decision. You might want to go thru some of your other expenses you might be splitting, and discuss money issues before the trip. So everyone is on the same page.
Your looking at the situation in a my family and his family. However his family only consists of 1 person and yours consists of 3. So, if your doing strictly numbers game his cost is 1/4.
Also if your splitting checks for meals, or if you do the dining package. I'd be careful if your just asking to split the check in 1/4, or actually do the math. If he's a big eater, and your family eats like birds, you'll end up with some of his bill. If he is a light eater and only gets an entrea and your family are big eaters, desserts, appetizers, entreas at restraunts then he's getting stuck with a bigger bill than he's actually consuming.

If your worried about car rental, i'd be discussing all the costs associated with the trip up front to avoid causing surprise $$ expenses on either side.
Connie

 

[swilshire]

Why not have one family pay the rental and the other the gas? With gas prices what they are, I'm not sure who would have the higher cost.

Sheila

 

[princesspumpkin]

Thanks everyone for the advice. To address a few questions:
First, this trip will be taken in December, so we are trying to address these issues before the trip
Second, I don't have issues with the cost split. It's the other adult that will most likely have an issue - depending on how I present it to her. That's why I asked you Dis'ers for advice before I approach her with the cost split. She is someone who makes sure that things are always done "fair and square".
Third, we will go with or without the third adult. But, without her, we would definitely rent a small car (With her, we need a minivan for her comfort)
Fourth, we (DH and I) planned the trip and the other adult wanted to go as well. She is afraid to fly so we would be doing her a huge favor by including her in our trip.
Fifth, DH and I will be the only drivers (the other adult doesn't drive)
Last, DH and I are far from rich. As much as I would love to just pay for everything and not even bother with splitting the costs, financially, it's not an option.
Thanks again for all of your advice.

 

[goosedwn]

I think you should ask her to pay the different between renting a small car and a minivan. Also, you should explain to her the reason why you split the cost that way. The different may be even higher than the price of renting a small compact car. If she wants the comfort and have more luggages, she will have to pay the for it.


Wendy

 

[tlbwriter]

Third, we will go with or without the third adult. But, without her, we would definitely rent a small car (With her, we need a minivan for her comfort)

In that case, the fair thing (IMHO) would be to ask her to pay the difference between the car you would have rented without her and the van you are renting. The fact that she's not driving shouldn't be an issue - you're still paying that much extra *only* because she is coming.

 

[christinadei]

I also think that you should ask her to pay the difference. You say that she wants to be sure it's fair, so that is fair and you can present it to her like this:

We would be renting a car even if you didn't come, so we'll cover the cost that we would've paid anyway. Whydon't you just cover the difference b/t the small car that we would've rented w/o you and a mid size car? I think that will be more fair to you than having you split the cost with us.

Then she'll think that you are doing her a favor, not expecting more than her share of things. HOpefully she won't give you trouble, and if she does, do you really want to vacation with someone like that?

 

[buckler]

Now that you included more info I agree with the others. Have the other person pay the difference between the cost of the van and the small car for the rental portion. For the gas I'd say a 50/50 split since a small car gets approximately twice the mileage of a van so you'll need twice as much gas to drive the van (our Honda Odyssey van gets about 16 mpg driving around town vs 30+ mpg on our Honda Civic).

 

[Keli]

I agree with having her pay the difference between the car and the van and then 1/2 the gas. Sounds like you are being very kind to this person to include them and I think this solution is fair to you both.