Question about Car Rental 24 hr increments

[Haley]

We want to pick up our car at noon and drop it off at the end of our trip around 3pm. So I assumed since the rentals are in 24 hr increments we'd have to pay for an extra day.

On the Alamo website it says something like rentals are in 24 hr increments, if you return the car late you will be charged an hourly fee.

So is it better just to book the car p/u and d/o noon and then just pay a late fee? Or to pay the extra day?

Thanks!

 

[Disneyfanatic108]

I just talked to a Supervisor at alamo and they informed me that I would be charged an hourly rate for returning the car 2 hours late. After that it goes to the daily rate.

 

[Haley]

Oh, thanks! That's good to know.

 

[seashoreCM]

Most rental companies give you an hourly rate whereby racking up three to five hours of overtime exceeds the daily rate.

Still, you must get permission before returning the car late, otherwise additional "penalties" may apply.

 

[Haley]

Oh, ok-- I'll mention it to them when I pick it up.

 

[mareed]

Oh, ok-- I'll mention it to them when I pick it up.

I think you'd be much better off just making your reservation for the set time that you need it, including the extra 3 hours which will most likely be charged for an extra day. That way you'll know what rate you're being charged for an extra day rather than possibly being charged a really high "walk-up" daily rate that's effective at that time! If you know you need the extra 3 hours, just make the reservation for that time so that you know what the price will be. I guarantee that there's no chance they'll say "just keep it the extra 3 hours for no charge" if you wait until you pick up the car to notify them, and there's a chance that you'll pay much more than if you'd just included that time in your reservation.

I hope this makes sense!

 

[Chux]

I think you'd be much better off just making your reservation for the set time that you need it, including the extra 3 hours which will most likely be charged for an extra day. That way you'll know what rate you're being charged for an extra day rather than possibly being charged a really high "walk-up" daily rate that's effective at that time! If you know you need the extra 3 hours, just make the reservation for that time so that you know what the price will be. I guarantee that there's no chance they'll say "just keep it the extra 3 hours for no charge" if you wait until you pick up the car to notify them, and there's a chance that you'll pay much more than if you'd just included that time in your reservation.

I hope this makes sense!

I understand what you're saying but I don't think we want to be hanging around MCO for 3 hours on our Honeymoon.