I need a Dummies Guide to Car Rentals

[tchrrx]

We will be flying to Orlando, then renting a car to drive to Vero Beach. After three days at Vero, we will drive to the cruise terminal. Then, we'll need to return to the airport.

1- How far in advance do I need to book a car to get a good deal?
2- What's considered a good deal?
3- Should I turn the car in at the cruise terminal, then rent another one after the cruise? Is there an easier way to get to the airport from the cruise port?
4- Any other advice would be greatly appreciated!

 

[goofy4tink]

I have to admit...renting a car for the first few times can be unnerving!!
I like to start looking really early....at least 6 months prior. I often find an 'ok' rate and book it...just to have one. Then, I continue looking, right up to the time I'm ready to fly down!!! Sometimes you can get really low rates really close to your date. But, don't wait until then to start looking.

I'm one of those that likes to have my car, at port, when I get off the ship. Yes, it's more expensive usually. But I have compared renting a car to get to port, then turning it in before the cruise, and taking the shuttle back to the ship. Then, shuttle back to the car rental office, rerent a car and head back to Orlando to get a flight home, to just renting the car in Orlando, driving to port, parking at the terminal, and driving back and returning the car. I found that keeping the car was only about $20 more than returning and re-renting!! Now, that may have been a fluke...I don't know. But I do know that I hate taking shuttles. The shuttle is going in the wrong direction in the first place...so when you get the car back, you pass right by the ship on your way back to Orlando from the car rental office!!!

Price it out all sorts of ways. Book when you find something you can live with. And then? Keep looking.

 

[davedmaine]

We will be flying to Orlando, then renting a car to drive to Vero Beach. After three days at Vero, we will drive to the cruise terminal. Then, we'll need to return to the airport.

1- How far in advance do I need to book a car to get a good deal?
2- What's considered a good deal?
3- Should I turn the car in at the cruise terminal, then rent another one after the cruise? Is there an easier way to get to the airport from the cruise port?
4- Any other advice would be greatly appreciated!

Always search online for coupon codes ... I.e in Google, search for Hertz promo codes.. Every rental company will have some kind of deal available..

 

[ncc1701]

Check your auto insurance and the CC you are going to use to see if you will need to buy any insurance.
Also if there will be 2 drivers see if you get charged for the 2nd driver.

P.S. Goofy4tinks advice about booking early is great.We do this any time we need a car on a vaction. We do it right after air & hotel. We just make sure it is a reservation with no CC Card guaranty or one that can be cancel with no penalty. Sometimes they have a prepaid rate which is lower so read the fine print to make sure you can get your money back.