Just can't get my head around car hire...

[halloween12]

I don't consider myself to be too mentally challenged... I have manged to book the holiday, flights, wedding, photographer, insurance etc all by myself, but...

I just can't figure out the car hire, if someone could help me I would be massively grateful.
We arrive 23rd Oct and leave 7th Nov (15 days)
There are 4 of us - 2 adults, 2 kids (9 and 13), average luggage + wedding dress.
I am the only driver
We would prefer airport pick up and drop off
We will be using the car around Disney and for trips out to universal studios, sea world, discovery cove and Busch gardens.

Could someone please tell me:
If there are any current good offers on (looking to book in the next week or so)
Which company to go with
I've read that some have members options which mean no queuing
Which toll options are gunna work out cheapest for us
Which insurance is NECESSARY

And anything else that I may not have thought of.
Please respond as if you are trying to explain it to the stupidest person you have ever met - I seem to have a total mental block when it comes to the subject.

 

[bazzanoid]

Ok, there's a VERY easy way to simplify the process.

Book through:

http://www.uscarhire.com/
http://www.usrentacar.co.uk
http://www.holidayautos.co.uk

and the rates quoted are fully inclusive of all necessary insurances, knocking one thing off the worry list. All you have to do is enter your pick up and drop off dates and approximate times (go for 30 minutes after your plane is due to land and an hour before your departing one is due to leave), select your airport (MCO - Orlando International or SFB - Sanford) and away you go.

You will see the options of Silver and Gold on most of them, the ONLY part of these options you will need to think about is fuel. With GOLD option, you are paying for your first tank of gas, and you can return the car as empty as you like. With SILVER, you will either pay for your gas on arrival or can choose to return the car with a full tank. Look at the cost difference, decide for yourself what you want to do. As a first time DIY'er, I would recommend the gold, it's normally a slight premium as the only benefit for your needs is the fuel, but you don't have to worry about finding a petrol station within a few miles of the airport on the way back.

Still with me I hope!!!!

As for express programmes, Dollar and Alamo both offer them and are both free, although I would check with whoever you're booking with that you can add your membership details to the booking, Dollar shouldn't be a problem but Alamo can be a bit funny about working with some providers. Both express programs allow you to pretty much bypass the rental queues at the airport.

Tolls: The cheapest option is to pay as you go, so as you leave the airport pop into the petrol station just outside and buy something like a bottle of coke to get a nice handful of change. The only tolls you should encounter will be on the way to/from the airport unless you venture off a little further on the toll roads. If you book with an Alamo car, you can just drive through the tolls and you'll be billed the tolls and $2 per day (up to $6 max + tolls) when you return the car if you wanted to do so. Dollar's toll option is more expensive and not good value, so stick with pay as you go if with them.

Credit Card: When you collect your car you will need a credit card to be swiped by the rental company, they put a block of about $300 - $500 on it for the duration of rental as security.

Lastly, car class: My advice (and this is purely my opinion from my experience, everyone has different views on this) would be that for 4 people and luggage go for a standard SUV - plenty of space and you should be able to lay the dress out on top of the luggage for safe, crease-free transport.

Hope that helps!!!

 

[orangetiggs]

I have to add it doesnt need to be a credit card, i used my visa debit from natwest last year and no block was put on as the account was empty.

In previous years i have never put a card number down as never had a credit card and we always go for the gold option

 

[wayneg]

When you are ready to book post your price and then others can post any better deals. Could save 20-30% on the links above depending what deals are about.

 

[halloween12]

Thank you so much - That is so helpful
bazzanoid - that must have taken you ages, i really do appreciate you taking the time to help me x
orangetiggs - handy to know! as i will only have my debit card (and hopefully a prepaid 'credit card')
wayneg - We are ready to book now! I am going to have a scout around in the next hour... I will put the price on here before i press the final button x

Thanks guys

 

[halloween12]

This seems to be the best deal - the total amount on the right side includes total damage excess waiver (TDEW) £76.00, but doesnt include GPS - it seems quite expensive... buti think thatis because I have seen you guys get some fab deals

Is this price any good?

 

[wayneg]

http://www.flyertalk.com/forum/othe...e/734198-holidayautos-discount-worldwide.html

Use this link to get 15% discount and instructions how to claim Quidco ontop, just now Quidco is only 6%, a few days ago it was 10%, sometimes they offer upto 15% so I am waiting for a better rate than 6% to book my Oct rental.

The link should bring your rental down to £290 less 6% = £272 which is £69 saving on your price.
Personally I would never buy TDEW, never needed it in 30+ rentals and never expect to need it.
Sat nav is way overpriced for rentals, I bought my Tom Tom at Walmart for £35.

Do you defintely need those times, If you return same as collection (or before) you save a days rental bringing it down form £272 to £253.

 

[halloween12]

Thanks Wayne - I will get straight onto it

 

[bazzanoid]

RE: Satnav, do you have an Android-powered phone with reasonable storage space and GPS built in? If so, before you go, Google Maps has a brilliant offline navigation feature, you can select an area, make it available offline for your phone, and hey presto, free sat nav. Just remember to turn off the phone and data signal when you land in the US and only leave the GPS on

 

[halloween12]

Great Wayne- I have done that and as you say it is a big saving...
I am just wondering a few things before i press the final button

* are holiday autos based in the airport?
* What driving docs do I need to take with me?
* does this price cover me totally for insurance? (I took off TDEW as you suggested)

Ta x

 

[wayneg]

Great Wayne- I have done that and as you say it is a big saving...
I am just wondering a few things before i press the final button

* are holiday autos based in the airport?
* What driving docs do I need to take with me?
* does this price cover me totally for insurance? (I took off TDEW as you suggested)

Ta x

HA are only the agent, your car will be with Alamo who are in the airport, I collected a car from them last month using this exact procedure.

You will need both parts of you DL if its a new photo one, old ones you just need the paper doc.

HA prices are fully inclusive of all insurance and tax, thats not to say they won't try to upgrade you, sell you roadside asssist (TDEW) etc, just say no to everything they throw at you, as with any rental company. Confirm with the agent there will be no fees on return(it should say xpected fees $0 on your contract), on return check the reciept it must say $0 to pay before you leave for your plane, I return a dollar rental last weekend to find $45 to pay, they had charged me for a 1 way rental(collected from MCO returned to TPA) straight into the office to get it removed.

One thing to consider is the extra driver & tank of gas, I have closed the page but I think it was about £75. I didn't take that option this time but I sometimes do, just to have DW on the policy if I can't drive for any reason, she never has yet in the 14 months we have spent out there but if the cost is low I add her for any emergency, easier than adding her later. £75 might be a little high, gas will only be worth about $60 (£40) extra driver costing you £30-35.
If you don't take this option you have the option to buy a tank of gas at the desk on arrival, usually a few cents cheaper than local garages, its probably the easiest option but not the cheapest as you take it back empty, not bad if you can guage empty but often you leave something like a 1/4 tank so makes pre-pay an expensive option.

Car rentals are really easy when you know how to deal with them, just sounds complicated.

 

[halloween12]

Thank you - you guys have saved me a lot of money and time - we really do appreciate it x

 

[seobaina]

This is interesting but I'm slightly confused by the links Wayne's posted. I was going to go through uscarhire when booking next week (waiting for payments). I've used them before and I like that I didn't get bugged for extras, new what was included etc. But how do these links differ? Do you book via the first link (that's 15% off)? What's quidco? thanks

 

[wayneg]

This is interesting but I'm slightly confused by the links Wayne's posted. I was going to go through uscarhire when booking next week (waiting for payments). I've used them before and I like that I didn't get bugged for extras, new what was included etc. But how do these links differ? Do you book via the first link (that's 15% off)? What's quidco? thanks

UScarhire again are just the agent, you then get your car from one of the rental companies, Dollar, Hertz, Budget, Alamo etc. It doesn't matter which agent you use or which rental company you get they all have good and bad agents, targets to meet etc, you might be given the hard sell by any.

The link I posted is supposed to be for 15% off for One account holders but it is open for anyone to use. I have used it about 4 times now. Post #3 in the link gives you instuctions how to get cashback from Quidco as well as the 15% discount. You will need to open a Quidco account if you havn't got one, anyone buying on the internet should have a Quidco account (or similar, Topcachback is also popular)
Anything you buy on the net you buy via the Quidco website, it tracks all purchases and gives you cashback, I have had about £3,000 back since I started using casback sites. Just recently I bought AA breakdown cover at £101 Quidco gave me £60 back.
I am just thinking about buying this(if three won't give me a good retention deal) (***Sorry can't post the mobile network****)
£6.90/month x 12 month = £82.80, Quidco are offering £50 cashback on this SIM meaning the whole year will cost me £32.80.

 

[seobaina]

wow, that's good!

Thanks Wayne, sorry if I'm being thick. I'm the one trusted to check everything/book everything so I don't want to mess up.

Oh, we're driving out of state, and I've checked with Alamo direct and with UScarhire and they both cover that in their bookings direct or booking via the agent (UScarhire). Do you know of any issues with this that I should be aware of? Companies that charge for this?

Thanks

 

[wayneg]

You can drive out of state no problem, your only issue is if you return the car in another state, there will be a one way fee, no fee if you return it to an office in Florida.

 

[seobaina]

Thank you again