January 2014 Rental Car Deal Watch

[tinabeana2]

I just booked our car - Jan 10-19 at Dollar for $257.08 for a midsize using code 5C11M. Thanks for the tip! I have never used Dollar so hoping all goes smoothly.

 

[Squirlz]

I just booked our car - Jan 10-19 at Dollar for $257.08 for a midsize using code 5C11M. Thanks for the tip! I have never used Dollar so hoping all goes smoothly.

I got a price of $117 for a full size, Jan. 12-19.

 

[rbrainerd]

I used this code and thought I had a good deal but was only looking at the base rate ($272 for 1/8-1/23) They added on over $100 in estimated mandatory charges (total $382) Still have a better price with Alamo at $376. Hope your looking at the total price!

 

[Squirlz]

I used this code and thought I had a good deal but was only looking at the base rate ($272 for 1/8-1/23) They added on over $100 in estimated mandatory charges (total $382) Still have a better price with Alamo at $376. Hope your looking at the total price!

That was the 'Total price'. But with an asterisk. One more click gives you the GRAND Total Price (aka HAHA Sucker! price) That was $174.

Fortunately I wasn't actually booking. I'm going with a Town Car.

 

[gcarney]

That was the 'Total price'. But with an asterisk. One more click gives you the GRAND Total Price (aka HAHA Sucker! price) That was $174. Fortunately I wasn't actually booking. I'm going with a Town Car.

I booked about 2 weeks ago. My total price is $174 for an 8 day rental. No mandatory insurance needed.

 

[gcarney]

I used this code and thought I had a good deal but was only looking at the base rate ($272 for 1/8-1/23) They added on over $100 in estimated mandatory charges (total $382) Still have a better price with Alamo at $376. Hope your looking at the total price!

You get mandatory charges with every rental company

 

[bumbershoot]

That was the 'Total price'. But with an asterisk. One more click gives you the GRAND Total Price (aka HAHA Sucker! price) That was $174.

Fortunately I wasn't actually booking. I'm going with a Town Car.

Aha! Just when you think you know how to look for the total price...

Yes they are affiliated with Thrifty whom I've used several times and have been great. They are right in the airport with the other big names.

Thanks for the info!

 

[tinabeana2]

I used this code and thought I had a good deal but was only looking at the base rate ($272 for 1/8-1/23) They added on over $100 in estimated mandatory charges (total $382) Still have a better price with Alamo at $376. Hope your looking at the total price!

Yes, $254 was my total price. That is sad to have to pay so much in mandatory charges!

 

[gcarney]

The price on Dollar with coupon code 5C11M went down a little more today . VERY Close to what I paid - only a few dollars more

Good Luck

 

[vacation_junkie]

You get mandatory charges with every rental company

Exactly!
But it does vary based on companies.
As well some charge a crazy one way drop off fee and others do not.

People should always post the total rental price. The base price really means nothing.

Our 2.5 day rental..looked great as well before I hit enter
Rental Time:
BASE TOTAL -2 Weekend days at $27.90 per day. Unlimited mileage. 4 Extra Hours at $4.74 per hour. Discount: 15% Total Base Rate $63.55

REAL TOTAL - Energy Recovery Fee $1.74 One Way $35.00 Port Recovery Fee $2.75 State Transact Srg $6.06 State Tax $6.66 Vehicle License Fee $1.86 Total Est. Mandatory Charges $54.07 Est. Grand Total $117.62

 

[gcarney]

Exactly! But it does vary based on companies. As well some charge a crazy one way drop off fee and others do not. People should always post the total rental price. The base price really means nothing. My one way Dollar reservation looked awesome $44.97 for 3 days but once I finished the reservation after the $35 one way drop off fee & the rest of the fees & taxes were added on the reservation was over $130. Not so good of a deal anymore.

They are the same for all taxes and fees. Those are set by city and state. Drop off rates, no clue.

 

[vacation_junkie]

They are the same for all taxes and fees. Those are set by city and state. Drop off rates, no clue.

I have 3 different reservations currently, same day/time.
One AAA reservation, 1 Walmart Discount , 1 RCM Discount code.
Budget , Thrifty & Alamo.
Excluding the tax because the will vary based on the total...The charges are not the same on all of them.
This is from my Budget reservation...
fees & taxes 15.54
fees 10.20
one way 0.00
ENERGY RECOVERY FEE .60 /day 1.80
vehicle license .78 /day 2.34
STATE SURCHARGE 2.00 /day 6.00
TIRE & BATTERY FEE .02 /day 0.06
taxes5.34

 

[gcarney]

I have 3 different reservations currently, same day/time. One AAA reservation, 1 Walmart Discount , 1 RCM Discount code. Budget , Thrifty & Alamo. Excluding the tax because the will vary based on the total...The charges are not the same on all of them. This is from my Budget reservation... fees & taxes 15.54 fees 10.20 one way 0.00 ENERGY RECOVERY FEE .60 /day 1.80 vehicle license .78 /day 2.34 STATE SURCHARGE 2.00 /day 6.00 TIRE & BATTERY FEE .02 /day 0.06 taxes5.34

The price of the car determines the taxes. The higher or lower the prices of the rental the higher or lower the tax...

 

[Dizneydaz]

Our trip is now less than 3 weeks away. I checked Dollar and the rates have dropped, quite a lot. I had reserved a mid size from Jan. 3rd to Jan. 11th back on Dec. 4th and it was $185 with all fees-base rate $126/week.

Then I booked at Budget for same size for $150, inclusive ($88/week base rate)

Today I checked with Dollar again and using the code available right on their website I booked a mid-size for $141.82 ($88.03/base/week). At first it was $152 but then I tried a trick I've used before, I changed the pick up time to the 1/2 hour rather than on the hour and the rate dropped $10. This doesn't always work but it did this time. I could have gotten a compact for $134 but I decided to splurge on the extra 83 cents a day for the next size.

I used Dollar last year and I'm happy to use them again this year.

BTW code is 5C11M for 15% off.

Another BTW what's up with Alamo? Every time I try to use one of their coupons at MCO it says the coupon isn't available for that location.

 

[gcarney]

Our trip is now less than 3 weeks away. I checked Dollar and the rates have dropped, quite a lot. I had reserved a mid size from Jan. 3rd to Jan. 11th back on Dec. 4th and it was $185 with all fees-base rate $126/week. Then I booked at Budget for same size for $150, inclusive ($88/week base rate) Today I checked with Dollar again and using the code available right on their website I booked a mid-size for $141.82 ($88.03/base/week). At first it was $152 but then I tried a trick I've used before, I changed the pick up time to the 1/2 hour rather than on the hour and the rate dropped $10. This doesn't always work but it did this time. I could have gotten a compact for $134 but I decided to splurge on the extra 83 cents a day for the next size. I used Dollar last year and I'm happy to use them again this year. BTW code is 5C11M for 15% off. Another BTW what's up with Alamo? Every time I try to use one of their coupons at MCO it says the coupon isn't available for that location.

My car is $10 cheaper than last week with dollar WOOOOO HOOOOO

I've questioned a Alamo on Facebook. They say that it's the choice of the location to accept coupons. Jerks lol

 

[vacation_junkie]

The price of the car determines the taxes. The higher or lower the prices of the rental the higher or lower the tax...

Obviously!
I was speaking about the other charges/fees

 

[doublea211]

Hi all. Just wanted to let you know that I tried two coupons from the Alamo Insider page (single upgrade and $25 off a $175 rental) and both worked at MCO! I didn't try the $10 off a weekend rental, but, at least something seems to be working!

As of now, I've got a full size for Jan 10-18 for $225 all in. Hoping it will go lower. Our Nov rental never went down after I booked a month out.

 

[Judy0304]

We booked a trip to Disney from 1/13-1/23. My mother is now coming with us and we need a minivan to accommodate a scooter. Any suggestions for getting the best rate? I really appreciate any and all help!!

 

[Dizneydaz]

Hi all. Just wanted to let you know that I tried two coupons from the Alamo Insider page (single upgrade and $25 off a $175 rental) and both worked at MCO! I didn't try the $10 off a weekend rental, but, at least something seems to be working!

As of now, I've got a full size for Jan 10-18 for $225 all in. Hoping it will go lower. Our Nov rental never went down after I booked a month out.

Thanks for the tip. I checked it out and it did work but it's $159 (vs. $142 for Dollar) for mid-size right now for 9 days. I'll keep checking it out though. There have been times when I have rebooked on Alamo, several times, 2-3 days before. On one trip I rebooked twice the day before-the rate kept dropping.

 

[SAT887]

I did ask this in a FB group, but Dollar vs Thrifty... Who would you go with for the same rate? I know they are the same company but looking for service, car selection, benefits etc

Thanks in advance!