Is there a best/ideal time to rent?

[Colleen27]

I am starting to get my ducks in a row about our August trip and it looks like it is going to be our first offsite stay. We've never rented a car in Orlando and haven't rented a car at all in probably a decade, so I was rather shocked by the prices I'm finding right now - close to $500 for a compact car for 6 days! I'm thinking maybe I'm just looking too early, since most of the specials and better coupons I'm finding expire before our travel dates. Is this one of those things like airfare where there is a "sweet spot" for booking at the best price? If so, when is it?

 

[kamms]

We usually will reserve our car a month or two before the trip, and then I'll keep checking the rates to see if they drop, and if they do cancel and re-book at the lower rate. On our last trip I believe I cancelled 4 times because of a better deal (We ended up using Alamo but I think Budget was the other company that was we were considering.) Bottom line is, don't feel too stressed about not getting good rates right now, you have a lot of time yet.

 

[cluvsdisney]

I am starting to get my ducks in a row about our August trip and it looks like it is going to be our first offsite stay. We've never rented a car in Orlando and haven't rented a car at all in probably a decade, so I was rather shocked by the prices I'm finding right now - close to $500 for a compact car for 6 days! I'm thinking maybe I'm just looking too early, since most of the specials and better coupons I'm finding expire before our travel dates. Is this one of those things like airfare where there is a "sweet spot" for booking at the best price? If so, when is it?

I do the same thing as Kamms...book in advance and rebook when the price drops. Our last trip started out at $500+ and we ultimately paid $155 for an 8 day, one way rental of a full sized car. I get coupon codes from mousesavers.com and follow my travel months car rental thread on the Dis.

 

[CPT Tripss]

I do the same thing as Kamms...book in advance and rebook when the price drops. Our last trip started out at $500+ and we ultimately paid $155 for an 8 day, one way rental of a full sized car. I get coupon codes from mousesavers.com and follow my travel months car rental thread on the Dis.

book and then follow the prices . . . there is no penalty for canceling a booking, so rebook as often as necessary. I found good coupon rates on Flyertalk.com as well as mousesavers.

 

[JohnneeO]

I used RentalCarMomma for a car at MCO, on a trip I just returned from. I had somthing else booked, but changed it just before I left when I found the lower rate at RentalCarmomma.

In general, rental cars and hotels (when not staying at the world) are easier to shop for prices right up until departure b/c of the liberal cancellation policies. Hotels can usually be cancelled up until 6 PM of the arrival day (depending on the rate terms), and rental car reservations do not even need to be canceled (but should be, out of respect for the rental car company).

 

[Shelly F - Ohio]

I always book 7 -10 days before my trip. That is when car rental companies release their last minute specials. For our past 4 trips we have not paid over $100 for a weekly rental of a mid-size at Alamo. Alamo seems to have the best deals plus if you join their Insider club which is free to join, Insider members get better coupons/offers than the general public.

 

[DekrRini]

I always book 7 -10 days before my trip. That is when car rental companies release their last minute specials. For our past 4 trips we have not paid over $100 for a weekly rental of a mid-size at Alamo. Alamo seems to have the best deals plus if you join their Insider club which is free to join, Insider members get better coupons/offers than the general public.

Do you pick up the car at the airport or at one of the locations at DW? I can use the ME to get from the airport to BCV and I'm not sure I'll actually need a car so I'm hesitant to rent a car for the entire week. But if it's only $100 it might be worth it.

 

[Rpsemont]

Colleen27,
As others have said, just keep checking. If you're going at the end of August, you can probably get something very reasonable. That time, through early Sept there are often low rates. One year I got my DH a 5 day rental beginning Labor day for $75 - all taxes and fees included! If it's the beginning of August, it will probably be higher. Just keep checking. Usually my confirmed best rates are anytime within a 90 day window to arrival; but sometimes there's a special much further out. Always easy enough to cancel and rebook.

Do you pick up the car at the airport or at one of the locations at DW? I can use the ME to get from the airport to BCV and I'm not sure I'll actually need a car so I'm hesitant to rent a car for the entire week. But if it's only $100 it might be worth it.

Dekrini, If at the BCV, check for rates at Alamo at the Dolphin -especially is just for a couple days vs a week. You could just walk over and pick up the car for the days you need it. Usually, I have found better short term rates at Dollar - which I pick up at one of the DTD hotels - but I would monitor both. Keep in mind you can pick up at these location and drop at the airport.
What rate you get is determined by time of year you go and number of days. Interestingly enough, I was recently lpricing rentals for our 12/13-12/21 trip.
12/13-12/21 was $225, 12/13-12/20 (note - on day less) was $350!

 

[Colleen27]

Thank you all. I'll keep watching. We're going to be there at the end of Aug so I'm hoping for "value season" rental rates to go with the value season hotel pricing.