Picking up and dropping off a rental at two different locations

[disny_luvr]

We are flying to CA next summer and are planning on picking up our rental in San Francisco and dropping it off in either Los Angeles or San Diego. I know it is more expensive to pick up and drop off at two different locations. Can anyone tell me about how much of a difference we are talking? Is it $50? $100? $500? We always use Enterprise because my husband gets a really good corporate discount with them. I did look on Enterprises website, but I'm guessing they didn't release their dates for when we are traveling next summer yet because it says that they don't have any cars available and I'm having a hard time believing they'd have no more rentals a year out, unless it is because we are picking up and dropping off at two locations.

 

[nekonekoneko]

Depends on the company, really. I'd think it might be somewhere between $50 and $300 extra for the one way bit

I wanted a rental car from LAX to LGB, and Alamo wanted to charge me $150 to drop it off at the other airport. None of the other rental car sites seem to charge.

 

[robinb]

I would check another random date that is a month or two before yours to get an idea of the cost. Check round trip SF/SF and then one way SF/LAX and SF/SD. My DH gets a really great rate with Hertz. One way in Florida is the same rate as round trip with free mileage. However, when we drive one way across multiple states, like when we rent a car to drive to O'Hare to catch a flight, we get the cheap rate but have to pay mileage.

 

[RoseGold]

I've done this a lot on Hotwire. It wasn't much price difference at all for what I was doing.

You should be able to price this out for a few months from now and know roughly what you are dealing with.

 

[Anthony1971]

If your Husband is extended the real corporate discount or he is using the internal discount the amount will be pre negotiated as per the contract as will the rate for the rental. However without a corporate contract dropping off at a different location without can be the same, more and sometimes less depending on the need for cars at the other location. Airport to Airport is usually the same rate. Airport to a small neighborhood location is where it can get expensive.

 

[RedHead0186]

I did look on Enterprises website, but I'm guessing they didn't release their dates for when we are traveling next summer yet because it says that they don't have any cars available and I'm having a hard time believing they'd have no more rentals a year out, unless it is because we are picking up and dropping off at two locations.

It is a lot harder to book one-way rentals than it used to be. There's been several times I've tried to book a one-way rental and be told there were no cars available, only to then do a 'roundtrip' rental from the same location with the same dates and be able to book a car. Try that and see what comes up, that might tell you if it's too far our or if they're not allowing one-way rentals.

 

[Ralph&Pam]

It is a lot harder to book one-way rentals than it used to be. There's been several times I've tried to book a one-way rental and be told there were no cars available, only to then do a 'roundtrip' rental from the same location with the same dates and be able to book a car. Try that and see what comes up, that might tell you if it's too far our or if they're not allowing one-way rentals.

We’ve noticed this a number of times, renting a car in Miami (MIA) and dropping off in Orlando (MCO). Booking through Costco, sometimes one-way rentals are available with Alamo or Enterprise, sometimes only with Avis and Budget. Other times, all four had cars available to book one-way. I usually continue to check rates and availability as we gets closer to our travel dates, and additional one-way availability may open up then, most typically when we’re two or three weeks out. I figure that they have a better idea of anticipated inventories closer to the rental dates.

 

[LadyBeBop]

The answer is...It depends.
Last year, we had to book a one-way rental at the last minute. Sanford to Miami. Our flight to Miami (for a cruise) was cancelled at the last minute, and the best we could do was a flight to Sanford and a rental car to Miami.
Turned out our one-way rental to Miami was cheaper than round trip to Sanford. Miami needed more cars, and Sanford didn't.