Rental car drop off fee ????

[riu girl]

Possible Scenerio:
Fly BUF-MCO, take Magical Express to WDW
Stay at WDW 11 nights, then rent car and drive to Tampa area for 5 nights
Fly back to BUF from Tampa (instead of Orlando)

Question:
Would there be a big "drop off " fee for us to drop of the car in Tampa vs. WDW or MCO?
If so, we would seriously, consider driving back to MCO (and flying home from there).
Also, we will be renting the car from Dec 26-31 so it will be an expensive rental I'm sure. I wonder if this would make the "drop off" fee more expensive then usual.

Any tips would be greatly appreciated.

Suzy V.

 

[gw_lit]

Quite a few times I have flown into Orlando, and out of Tampa (or vice-versa), for both business and pleasure, and have never had a one-way or drop-off fee. I typically rent with either Hertz, National or Avis. I imagine there's enough people that do the one way thing and the cars balance out, so there's not a huge surplus at one location compared to the other. I'd just try to price it and see what you get.

 

[Gillian]

I don't think there are fees for different locations in Florida.

 

[Horace Horsecollar]

The answer is... it depends.

Standard, unlimited mileage rates in Fllorida typically allow you to pick up at one location and return at another, with no drop charge or mileage fee (as long as you specified your return location as part of your reservation).

However, coupons and promotional rates often require you to pick up and return at the same location, or they're not valid.

Also, there are negotiated corporate rates (that employees are allowed to use for personal travel) with unlimited free mileage if you pick up and return at the same location, but where there's a per mile charge for every mile you drive if you return to a different location.

In any case, even if you can't get the very, very lowest rate, I would urge you to return the car in Tampa if that's where you'll be. Time is valuable too.

 

[OntFamily]

The State of Florida doesn't allow drop off fees, for cars returned in Florida, when the rental originated in Florida.