Priceline vs Hotwire for car rental

[Debbie Jean]

I'm looking to rent a car out of MCO for 5 days next month. Are the companies listed on Priceline and Hotwire the only companies they use?

TIA

 

[keliblue]

I'm looking to rent a car out of MCO for 5 days next month. Are the companies listed on Priceline and Hotwire the only companies they use?

TIA

Yes, although it seems Hotwire has started using Thrifty. I just got an 11 day rental (full size ) on Priceline for $13 a day.. I should have bid lower though

 

[Debbie Jean]

Yes, although it seems Hotwire has started using Thrifty. I just got an 11 day rental (full size ) on Priceline for $13 a day.. I should have bid lower though

I dunno about that... it sounds pretty good to me
I just tried submitting a price of $15 a day on Priceline for a compact for my five days in August and they told me to get stuffed!

 

[rlduvall]

I just tried submitting a price of $15 a day on Priceline for a compact for my five days in August and they told me to get stuffed!

REALLY!! They sure have changed their rejection comments.

 

[bab31]

use hotwire to get a feel for the going rate of the vehicle size you want...go to priceline and bid at least 30% lower. heck go 40- you can change your bid by changing two items on your bid ( change the rate and type of car) or just wait 72 hours and rebid. $13 per day for a full size (note-full size is really a midsize) car at MCO is great! That is the rate I got for my SFO trip and was quite pleased - I got Avis. From now on I am renting cars on priceline. I know I could not have done better with any of the coupons floating around.

But remember once your bid is accepted it is yours. So be sure all your info in correct. The car rental agencies also hold your car for you if you are delayed. We had a 7 hour delay in Milwaukee and as I understand it they would have held my car till midnight...or did they say 24 hours ...in any case they hold it.

 

[ruadisneyfan2]

(note-full size is really a midsize)

why do you say this? what model did they give you? tia!

 

[maciec]

why do you say this? what model did they give you? tia!

I've always gotten a full size when I have booked a full size. Now standard on the other hand (I believe) is a mid-size car.

 

[CarolA]

I think a lot of us think the rental car companies are 'generous' in their descriptions.

When you go to buy a car, do you consider the Corolla a "mid size" Probably not. Rental car companies do so that allows them to roll a lot of cars into the "full size" category.

 

[carolina_yankee]

I also scope Hotwire's prices and then bid less on Priceline. I haven't done that at MCO, though, because I don't want an off-site company. I'll pay more to not do a shuttle (or even just use Magical Express). If Hotwire's price is decent and Priceline doesn't accept the bid, I know I've got something that makes me happy.

I do have a friend who uses Thrifty every time and raves about the experience and price.

Dirk

 

[Lewisc]

Customers that book conventionally can usually find a code/agency that will waive the additional driver fee. Book through PL and Hotwire and you may have to pay that fee. PL and Hotwire reservations can have a very high rates if you need to keep your car longer then you reserved. I wouldn't use PL or Hotwire for a rental car until you're close to your travel date. You don't want to have a change in your flight to create problems.

 

[keliblue]

I also scope Hotwire's prices and then bid less on Priceline. I haven't done that at MCO, though, because I don't want an off-site company. I'll pay more to not do a shuttle (or even just use Magical Express). If Hotwire's price is decent and Priceline doesn't accept the bid, I know I've got something that makes me happy.

I do have a friend who uses Thrifty every time and raves about the experience and price.

Dirk

Priceline only has onsite companies that they deal with, I don't like to shuttle either . Hotwire used Thrifty.

 

[kaytieeldr]

Doesn't Priceline use Hertz?

 

[keliblue]

Doesn't Priceline use Hertz?

You are absolutely right ..!! I guess I have just been lucky and never gotten it.. Learn something new everyday

Priceline

also offers rental cars, and it's possible to get a very good daily rate if you've done your homework and know how much to bid. Keep in mind that you cannot pick the rental agency (in Orlando, it's usually Alamo or Budget, sometimes Hertz) and once you place your bid, it's no refunds, no exchanges.

 

[agnes!]

Is there a how-to thread around here somewhere that takes a newbie through the various Hotwire/Priceline car rental bidding processes? I'm thinking about taking a look at priceline, but definitely don't want off-site, so it looks like Priceline would work...

Thanks,
agnes!

 

[riaesq]

Check out Bidding for Travel and Better Bidding for walk-thrus.

 

[carolina_yankee]

You are absolutely right ..!! I guess I have just been lucky and never gotten it.. Learn something new everyday

Priceline

also offers rental cars, and it's possible to get a very good daily rate if you've done your homework and know how much to bid. Keep in mind that you cannot pick the rental agency (in Orlando, it's usually Alamo or Budget, sometimes Hertz) and once you place your bid, it's no refunds, no exchanges.

That's good to know. I've not used Priceline at MCO because I assumed it WOULD MOST LIKELY be Hertz (larger fleet, lower rates since off-site). I might give it a try sometime when the flight timing wouldn't bug me if I got Hertz.

Dirk

 

[bab31]

why do you say this? what model did they give you? tia!

Maybe I am out of date on this...ok ok ..I am out of date on this...my train of thought is that a Taurus, or an Aura in my ( and I emphasize my ) opinion is a midsize car. The rental agencies call them full size....

At SFO I rented thru priceline - Avis- A Saturn AURA- was a very nice car - and yes I know when I am renting a full size car, that I got what I rented- I really should have gone the next catagory up. But I am thinking I wouldnt mind owning the AURA