rental car ?

[Stephaniesue]

We won't be in WDW until late October. I booked our flights almost a month ago, and I am happy with the price I got.

The car rental prices on the other hand- yikes!

How far out do most of you book rental cars? I know codes come out later, and that will help. But, when do these codes come out?

I signed up for Flying Blue today, but it didn't change the prices I am seeing yet.

Thanks for any input. I know I am WAY early, but I am a worrier.

 

[Shelly F - Ohio]

Looking this far in advance will produce high rates. You will find better rates as your trip gets closer. Just read the March rental car thread. You will see that thread started months ago and everyone complained about how high the rates are yet when the trip got closer the rate dropped a lot.

I don't ever book my car until the Tue before my trip. On Tues is when car rental places publish their last minute rates. I usually can get a mid size for $125 for the week.

 

[pad406]

I don't ever book my car until the Tue before my trip. On Tues is when car rental places publish their last minute rates. I usually can get a mid size for $125 for the week.

Good to know, not wanting to hijack the thread, but any idea if this applies to busy times such as Christmas? That's when we're planning to go.

 

[Ranger111]

Car Rental 101 (actually googling that phrase will get you a few good tutorials):

1: Check all the rental agencies you would be happy to rent a car from.

2: Pick the cheapest rental agency with policies you would be happy with.

3: Book the car -- it will not cost you anything and you cancel later with no cost(unless you book prepaid, which I don't recommend).

4: Keep checking all the agencies you would be satisifed with and if you see a lower/better offer, book it and then cancel the earlier booking.

 

[lmmantini]

Car Rental 101 (actually googling that phrase will get you a few good tutorials):

1: Check all the rental agencies you would be happy to rent a car from.

2: Pick the cheapest rental agency with policies you would be happy with.

3: Book the car -- it will not cost you anything and you cancel later with no cost(unless you book prepaid, which I don't recommend).

4: Keep checking all the agencies you would be satisifed with and if you see a lower/better offer, book it and then cancel the earlier booking.

I totally agree with this. You'll have peace of mind that you have a car booked and you can keep checking to score a better rate.

 

[Stephaniesue]

Car Rental 101 (actually googling that phrase will get you a few good tutorials):

1: Check all the rental agencies you would be happy to rent a car from.

2: Pick the cheapest rental agency with policies you would be happy with.

3: Book the car -- it will not cost you anything and you cancel later with no cost(unless you book prepaid, which I don't recommend).

4: Keep checking all the agencies you would be satisifed with and if you see a lower/better offer, book it and then cancel the earlier booking.

I wasn't aware I didn't have to prepay. I know that sounds dumb of me!

I have NEVER rented a car OR booked flights. This trip has a lot of firsts for me.

Thank you so much for this info, piece of mind for me is something I can't put a price on.

 

[Ranger111]

I wasn't aware I didn't have to prepay. I know that sounds dumb of me!

I have NEVER rented a car OR booked flights. This trip has a lot of firsts for me.

Thank you so much for this info, piece of mind for me is something I can't put a price on.

You are welcome.....but since you are a "first-timer," a couple of hints.

When you reserve a rental car, none of the legitimate agencies will ask for a credit card number -- if they do, you are booking a prepaid rate, which again, I would advise against -- don't worry -- they make it pretty obvious when you book a prepaid.

Buried in most "terms and conditions" is some sort of wording that agency will charge you some fee if you do not show up for your rental and you have not cancelled it. I have never heard of this being enforced (EXCEPT for prepaid), but it is in the terms you agree to....so if you decide to cancel the trip or you end up booking another agency, cancel that "other reservation."

Of course, if you never give them a credit card number, how would they charge you -- especially if you have never rented a car before and NONE of the agencies have any card number for you?

Well, I don't know....I also don't know how UPS knows the high school I went to, the county I was married in and my previous five addresses, stretching back to the 1970s....

 

[Stephaniesue]

Haha, UPS must have the inside scoop on all of us!

Thanks Ranger for taking the time to type this out. I have only punched in rates, never "signed in" or went clear to booking to see if they ask for my card or not. I did get a couple reward type things going that I read about on this board. Hopefully they will help me out .

I have learned so much from this board! Thanks everyone .

 

[Shelly F - Ohio]

Good to know, not wanting to hijack the thread, but any idea if this applies to busy times such as Christmas? That's when we're planning to go.

For the holidays they usually hike the rates up. and have no last minute sales for the Orlando area.

 

[Stephaniesue]

I finally got the KLM code to work, that is so nice! I got my rental from 380 down to 222. I will keep checking to see what happens in the next few months as far as codes go.

Ranger- On your advice I went ahead and reserved but didn't pay. I printed the confirmation and saved it in my email. Thanks again for your help!

 

[Detailor]

I think you've gotten good advice here.

A couple of things that I'd add.

Join the rental company's frequent renter club. In this case you will have to provide a credit card number but it's so that it's on file rather than being used to charge anything to you. You're going to cancel any reservation that you end up not planning to use so that shouldn't be a problem. That will generally give you access to speedier service at the airport - bypass the regular reservation desk, if there is one - and get email messages with new 'deals' as they come up.

Also, go out to mousesavers.com. They have a great section on car rentals, collect and post contract ID numbers and coupon codes that can be used to lower a price.

And keep coming back here, too. Sooner or later there will be an October car rental thread added.

Dick Taylor

 

[Ranger111]

Join the rental company's frequent renter club. In this case you will have to provide a credit card number...SNIP>>>DickTaylor

She's new to car rentals -- don't confuse her

Actually, Mr. Taylor gave you good advice, but, since it is your first time, I don't know if you want to mess with all of it.

Just one caution, right now, you have a rate you can live with until (IF) something better comes along.

I am always paranoid. You call XXXX car rental. You tell them your reservation number. You then tell them you just joined their "extra special super fantastic club."

You would like your rental tied to your new club membership. They say no problem.

Next thing you know, as they are messing around with your reservation and adding the member number, somehow the rate you had reserved changes and you are stuck with some not so good rate....Not that I have ever heard of that happening, but I was in the military during my formative years -- something about wading through jungle swamps has made me paranoid. LLLLOOOOLLLL

Better to join the clubs and make the reservations as a club member than risk losing a good rate.]

Just my thoughts...and I said, probably not a legitimate concern, but...