May 2016 Car Rentals

[jerseygal]

I was just messing around with codes on budgets website and I can get an intermediate SUV from May 14th-20th for $169 total. Just made a reservation as a back up in case alamo gives me a hard time on my $158 reservation. If anyone is interested the BCD code is D726100 and I believe it's good until 6/15 and the coupon code is mugz027 which is $35 off.

THANKS for providing the BCD code and coupon code with Budget. Wound up saving $60 on a minivan versus a premium car. Can use the space since we are driving from MCO to Universal, stopping 1 night at Poly, then continuing on to Vero for a "wind down" of peace and quiet! NICE saving $60!

 

[Bullseye]

GLAD you posted this as a "reminder" to research for our upcoming trip as it has been about 3 years that we rented in Orlando. It seems each car rental company CHARGES for the sunpass whether or not you use it. For example, we are renting through Alamo and I believe they charge $3.95 per day for the USE of the Sunpass, maximum $19.75 per rental period. The per toll usage is charged extra. I have read to SCRUTINIZE your car rental bills as we always have, but now that we know that the USE of Sunpass will be automatically charged, we will be EXTRA CAREFUL to review bill.

I thought you were wrong as I don't see anything on my Alamo reservation about Sunpass. But I just went through the booking process again to see if Sunpass is offered as an option and it isn't. So, now I wonder if the $2.00 a day charge for "Florida Surcharge" on my res is for the Sunpass?

 

[jerseygal]

Bullseye, the customer service agents at Alamo could not verify the exact per day charge, nor rental period maximum, but do a Google search on Sunpass Florida in Orlando and you will probably see some articles on renters "dismay" over lack of disclosure. All car rental companies should be more up front" IMO about per day charges especially when there are SO MANY international travelers to Orlando who are unfamiliar with the concept of cashless tolls, Sunpass. Keep in mind that the actual tolls used for your trip are additional.

 

[Finbar127]

The Florida Surcharge is not the Sunpass fee. There is no "opt in" or "opt out" with Alamo. Alamo will charge you the daily fee for the Sunpass only on days that you use it. If you use the Sunpass (ie. go through a Sunpass lane) you will be "opted in" for that day and Alamo will charge you the fee for that day plus the toll. I used Alamo last August for 2 weeks, always used the cash lanes, and did not receive any Sunpass related charges from Alamo.

https://www.sunpass.com/rentalcar

 

[staceyj2]

The Florida Surcharge is not the Sunpass fee. There is no "opt in" or "opt out" with Alamo. Alamo will charge you the daily fee for the Sunpass only on days that you use it. If you use the Sunpass (ie. go through a Sunpass lane) you will be "opted in" for that day and Alamo will charge you the fee for that day plus the toll. I used Alamo last August for 2 weeks, always used the cash lanes, and did not receive any Sunpass related charges from Alamo.

https://www.sunpass.com/rentalcar

Just to clarify, cash lanes are still available between Mco and Disney and as long as I use those, I won't incur any of these extra charges? I always pack change in my carryon to pay my tolls but haven't been to DW in 2 years and thought things might have changed.

 

[Finbar127]

Just to clarify, cash lanes are still available between Mco and Disney and as long as I use those, I won't incur any of these extra charges? I always pack change in my carryon to pay my tolls but haven't been to DW in 2 years and thought things might have changed.

Yes cash lanes are available and normally manned however you are right to carry change. Some of the secondary toll roads/exits have unmanned exact change lanes only. The one that comes to mind is the road that runs behind Windsor Palms. My GPS sent me that way to the supermarket and I did not have any change. Luckily another driver took pity on me and gave me change. The main highway between MCO and Disney has manned cash lanes.

 

[ashleyrm]

So, I had a May trip booked, cancelled it along with my car rental and am now rebooking trip. Tried the $50 off code (AD4004JDK) and got this "Reservation start date must before Tue Mar 01 23:59:00 CST 2016". The $25 code worked as well as the one class upgrade code.

So, here's what I ended up with:

Coupon Code: AU5059ODT (one class upgrade)
Contract ID: 7014926 (Save with Alamo)
Product Code: AS1

5/26 - 5/29
Compact (upgrade to Midsize) $128.22
Midsize (upgrade to Fullsize) - $151.59

With $25 off coupon instead of one class upgrade:

Coupon Code: AD3868JST ($25 off coupon)
Contract ID: 7014926 (Save with Alamo)
Product Code: AS1

Midsize is $122.30
Fullsize is $136.77

Also tried the Vegas Brazil code and the Disney AP code and they were both a little higher than the "save with Alamo" code.

This is all so much fun.

 

[Cloudy]

Checked in May 7 At MCO skip the counter. Used AS1, Costco, and $25 coupon. No problems at checkout. Everything went through without a hitch. Have a beautiful Nissan Pathfinder 7 seater with only 3000 miles 9 day rental dropping off at TPA for $280 total.

 

[summerrluvv]

So, I had a May trip booked, cancelled it along with my car rental and am now rebooking trip. Tried the $50 off code (AD4004JDK) and got this "Reservation start date must before Tue Mar 01 23:59:00 CST 2016". The $25 code worked as well as the one class upgrade code.

So, here's what I ended up with:

Coupon Code: AU5059ODT (one class upgrade)
Contract ID: 7014926 (Save with Alamo)
Product Code: AS1

5/26 - 5/29
Compact (upgrade to Midsize) $128.22
Midsize (upgrade to Fullsize) - $151.59

With $25 off coupon instead of one class upgrade:

Coupon Code: AD3868JST ($25 off coupon)
Contract ID: 7014926 (Save with Alamo)
Product Code: AS1

Midsize is $122.30
Fullsize is $136.77

Also tried the Vegas Brazil code and the Disney AP code and they were both a little higher than the "save with Alamo" code.

This is all so much fun.

Thanks for this!! I have a week booked this Summer and was at $190 for a full size, and am now down to $167!

 

[staceyj2]

Only one more week to go! So excited.

I have two additional rental car questions. I could ask them in a new discussion but thought I would ask here first. My flight arrives at midnight (yikes!). While comparing prices to see if I can get a better rate, it is cheaper if I use a pickup time of 11:30 pm on 5/19 instead of 12:30 am on 5/20. Can I reserve using the earlier pick up time, or will I forfeit my reservation? I am guessing I would be 60-90 minutes late depending on the flight.

My second question is since I am arriving so late, will there be many cars to choose from? Anyone have any experience arriving this late?

Thanks in advance!

 

[Bullseye]

Just to clarify, cash lanes are still available between Mco and Disney and as long as I use those, I won't incur any of these extra charges? I always pack change in my carryon to pay my tolls but haven't been to DW in 2 years and thought things might have changed.

Yeah if you're taking 417 south there's only two tolls that are about $1 each.

 

[Bullseye]

Checked in May 7 At MCO skip the counter. Used AS1, Costco, and $25 coupon. No problems at checkout. Everything went through without a hitch. Have a beautiful Nissan Pathfinder 7 seater with only 3000 miles 9 day rental dropping off at TPA for $280 total.

Wow $31 a day for a Pathfinder, great deal!

 

[ashleyrm]

Yeah if you're taking 417 south there's only two tolls that are about $1 each.

I think the two tolls between MCO and WDW on 417S are $3.75 if paying cash. (Tolls are at Boggy Creek Main Plaza and John Young Main Plaza). Tolls are $2.25 if taking 528W

 

[Cloudy]

Yeah if you're taking 417 south there's only two tolls that are about $1 each.

I think the two tolls between MCO and WDW on 417S are $3.75 if paying cash. (Tolls are at Boggy Creek Main Plaza and John Young Main Plaza). Tolls are $2.25 if taking 528W

Just went through the tolls on May 7. There were 2 tolls between MCO and WDW on 417S. Both were $1.50 for a car. Had manned lanes at 7 pm. Not sure about late at night. A few dollars in quarters would make things easier.

 

[ashleyrm]

Just went through the tolls on May 7. There were 2 tolls between MCO and WDW on 417S. Both were $1.50 for a car. Had manned lanes at 7 pm. Not sure about late at night. A few dollars in quarters would make things easier.

That sounds about what I remembered. I thought the calculator amount seemed a little high.

 

[Cloudy]

We arrived at MCO at 7 pm on Sunday May 7. There were a ton of cars to choose from. Maybe because it was Sunday? Or off season? There must have been at least 40 SUVs in our aisle. DH wanted the black Jeep Grand Cherokee but I won with the silver Nissan Pathfinder. Please tell me I chose wisely and settle this argument. All classes of vechicles seemed plentiful.

 

[ashleyrm]

We arrived at MCO at 7 pm on Sunday May 7. There were a ton of cars to choose from. Maybe because it was Sunday? Or off season? There must have been at least 40 SUVs in our aisle. DH wanted the black Jeep Grand Cherokee but I won with the silver Nissan Pathfinder. Please tell me I chose wisely and settle this argument. All classes of vechicles seemed plentiful.

I would always take the Nissan over the jeep.

 

[Bullseye]

That sounds about what I remembered. I thought the calculator amount seemed a little high.

Yeah same here, that's what I think it was ($1.50) last June when I went through.

 

[twinklebug]

We arrived at MCO at 7 pm on Sunday May 7. There were a ton of cars to choose from. Maybe because it was Sunday? Or off season? There must have been at least 40 SUVs in our aisle. DH wanted the black Jeep Grand Cherokee but I won with the silver Nissan Pathfinder. Please tell me I chose wisely and settle this argument. All classes of vechicles seemed plentiful.

I would have taken the Jeep.

 

[ScrapYap]

The $50 coupon AD4004JDK caused my reservation (with online check-in confirmation in hand) to be rejected at the kiosk at SFB. Went to the counter - coupon wasn't honored, but otherwise the rate stayed the same (had used the passholder code). First time that's happened - never had trouble with VROOM VROOM.