Rental car tips

[larie21]

I am looking at a California trip in June. We are planning to fly into San Francisco & fly home from San Diego. Pricing out rental cars for 2 weeks is outrageous. Because we are not returning the car to the same location- this costs $500-$1000 more for the rental. Anyone have any ideas on how to do this cheaper?
Also what rental car companies are reputable? And which ones should I stay away from?

 

[Lynne G]

I would stay with Alamo or budget. Did you try using the Costco code and any of the coupons from visa and bj travel? Check the transportation board for current codes. I got my DS a one way in FLA via Alamo with a code. Reasonable price using the vroom vroom code. Try all different combinations of codes. I hope you get a lower price. I am going in and out of SAN, and have a car for $272 from Alamo for 9 days.

 

[czmom]

We are in the same situation. Picking up in San Francisco and dropping off in Anaheim. Right now it's at $1000 for 6 days. Yikes!!!!! And that is with Costco and carrentalsavers.

 

[candy0730]

I priced rental out of SFO and returning in Anaheim and it is crazy expensive. I thought it would be nice to drive down the coast but then read it would take much more time than we have so instead we flying from SFO to SNA for $71 per person. We won't need a car in San Fran or Anaheim so flying works best for us.

 

[czmom]

We are going to Yosemite for a few nights so we need a car. Otherwise, flying would be much cheaper.

 

[PatriciaH]

Did you try Fox? We have a reservation for 15 nights in June picking up at San Francisco and dropping off in San Diego for $727. They had a $200 drop off fee for the different location. I held it back in February though.

 

[bball15fan]

I wasn't expecting these type of prices. I was looking to rent a car for about 2 weeks and its over $1,600 from San Fran to LA

 

[PatriciaH]

Yikes! I just priced our car rental again today and it is $1,921 up from $727! They bumped the drop off fee from $200 to $1,000. I am glad we held it in February. We are going to Yosemite/Sequoia/Joshua Tree and needed a rental too.

 

[czmom]

I just saw that too. How crazy!!!

 

[sharona]

I did this last June but in the opposite direction. SD to SF. Got a great rate from National using a discount code but it has since expired. I paid under $300 for the 10 day one way rental with no mileage charges. Grabbed a mid size suv off the aisle. Try National. Make sure you're an Emerald Club member. Google for National car rental discount codes and look for the slickdeals link. Try any code you qualify for. Many of them are free to join like various frequent flyer programs or having a Visa or Amex card. Keep checking, prices will go down. Be careful with the codes though - some of them give you a lower price but add mileage charges for one way rentals.

 

[usnuzuloose]

Some of the rental places have a good discount if you are willing to pay early. I would keep checking car places.

 

[larie21]

I've been pricing rental cars from a variety of locations. For whatever reason, the best one way deal I've found is from SNA or Anaheim to SFO. Not sure why?!

 

[czmom]

So I decided to look at rentals away from the airport. Right now I have one booked for $450 plus a $40 cab ride about 10 miles to the car rental. It's worth it to save hundreds!

 

[PatriciaH]

Try www.autoslash.com too!

 

[czmom]

Try www.autoslash.com too!

Looks like carrentalsavers. Is it the same?