Reminder to check your car rental rates! Possible price drops!

[nikkster]

Hi everyone - long time lurker, first time poster.

I'm headed to DL, flying through SNA next week. I just checked car rental rates to see if I could get a better deal than what I had previously reserved, and lo and behold, I have a new reservation at over $100 savings from my previous reservation! (Actually now two reservations - I have to decide which one to keep.)

Both from Wed PM through Tuesday Afternoon - 6 days, and includes all taxes, fees, etc.

Budget - intermediate class - $148.27
Alamo - SUV - $165.87 (only the SUV seemed to be on sale)

Now to decide if it's worth the extra $20 for the SUV!

Also, are both of these car rental counters AT the airport? Meaning, I don't have to take an offsite shuttle? I think so, but an offsite location would be a deal breaker for me.

Hope this helps someone get a cheaper rate! I always find it best to book directly with the rental car companies, that way you can cancel/rebook as often as needed to get the cheapest rate!

 

[uneekstylez]

So very true! But I think they're starting to climb back up.

DH was checking prices last month and they were at $250+ for 8 days Economy car. And last week (on a Weds) it went all the way down to $136 (w/Costco coupon or something)! Then he checked the next day it went down to $116. Then the next day to $99. Then to $97. Then to $88. Then to $87. Yeah. It was super crazy! So, we've got an Economy car for 8 days for $87. It went back up to $250 after that.

But SUVs are still pretty cheap right now. Check Costco.

ETA: The pickup and drop off is both at SNA if that helps.

 

[nikkster]

thanks for the Costco tip! Down to $122.65 on an Intermediate rental via Budget. Funny that intermediate was the cheapest car class available!

 

[ZanderMan]

Holly smokes mine went down $90.00! Thanks so much for the info!

 

[kailuagirl]

Yep, you gotta almost check every single day. It's amazing how the price changes so much. I've been finding the cheapest at dollar. We got a full size for 16 days for $312. Gonna go check costco site now, thanks for the heads up and reminder!!

 

[GFam1sttimers]

Can I give you a big hug and kiss...you just saved me $212.00...I would have never though to recheck the rates! Thank you! Thank you! Thank you!

 

[Sossy]

You should always check rates a week or two before leaving if you have a refundable reservation. Unless you are only two people who don't car what car they get...and can get an awesome hotwire/ priceline style rate for $130 for a week.

 

[ToodlesRN]

The major rental companies are onsite.

I checked on Sunday and the prices went down about $80 and just checked again another $50. so were at $137 for 6 days. We use Alamo and combined a Costco member code with the insiders double upgrade coupon! The prices have dropped but usually toward the end of week they will climb back up.

 

[twopeasonepod]

Yep, you gotta almost check every single day. It's amazing how the price changes so much. I've been finding the cheapest at dollar. We got a full size for 16 days for $312. Gonna go check costco site now, thanks for the heads up and reminder!!

I literally check every week. For a trip to Kaua'i next Friday for 5 days the price went from $256 to $185 for a minivan. Score! And the best part is there is no credit card info ever shared for rezzies so I just keep changing them (even with different companies). Costco seems to be the cheapest, but sometimes the Entertainment book.

 

[starshine514]

Thanks for the reminder! I had gotten a great deal (compact, Tucson airport, 6 days, Entertainment rate and coupon) for $122. I was so happy, and then today your reminder made me check again - $102 for the same timeframe!

I can't believe it's so cheap, but I happy about it!