Renting a car for first time

britfish

DIS Veteran
Joined
Apr 27, 2008
Messages
1,268
I've never had to rent a car before and I will need to in the Tampa area in March. I am going to need a full size sedan and will need it for 6 days. Are there any tips on getting the best deals? I looked on expedia and southwest and they both seem to price out about the same but I did not know if the rates change at all or I should look for a discount or a price drop.
 
If you have a standard US automobile insurance policy more than likely the policy will cover a "temporary substitute automobile".

Also, if you will be using a Gold or higher credit card there is a good change that the card will proivide coverage.

Check with both your insurance company and your credit card for exactly what is covered. Don't buy the insurance no matter what they say if you are covered by your policy or card.

They will try to upsell you to a higher level of car. This is somewhat of a scam. If you make the decision to go to a higher level of car you have to pay the difference. Often they will try do do an upsell when they are out of the level you reserved but they must give you a higher level if they are out of the reserved level without charging you any extra.
 
We used Priceline in August in Tampa. We were travelling in a group, we all used Priceline within a couple of days of each other and we all got Midsize cars from Hertz for $15/day. 2 people decided to take an upgrade to a full size car for $18/day. At the time they were running about $65/day going through the agencies and even Costco. We had the cars for 4 days for about $68.00 TOTAL.

Do your homework. Make sure your dates are firm because you pay for the non-refundable, non-changeable reservation when you book.

I :love: Priceline.
 
I would recommend that you post over at the Transportation Board. You should check the codes at Mousesavers (http://www.mousesavers.com/rentalcar.html) as a start. Since your rental is more than 5 days it will be considered a weekly rental which is cheaper than paying the daily rate.
 

Ditto the comments about the insurance. DH and I recently rented a car in Nevada (Las Vegas) and the rental clerk was insistant that we take the insurance "BECASUE YOU ARE IN NEVADA NOW". I was trying not to get too annoyed, I know she is doing what she is instructed to do. However, in my head - I was saying...THANK HEAVENS WERE ARE IN NEVADA...that means the pilot knew where he was going!

They will also try to upsell you on SIrius radio, car seats, a GPS. All very expensive add-ons. The insurance is the worst. If you have auto insurance on your personal vehicles, just make sure they cover rentals.
 
I agree with priceline. Also, make sure you aware of what you are getting into tax wise- taxes can double the price.
 
if you also have a BJ's or Cosco card you can try there web site i got a full size for 6 days in MCO for under 100.00 with taxes
 
thanks for all the advice, I would never have known about the insurance so I will have to check in to that. I've never done priceline so I will have to look in to that process.
Someone mentioned a weeks rental might be cheaper than 6 days, what would I do, just return it a day early? will I get penalized?
 
thanks for all the advice, I would never have known about the insurance so I will have to check in to that. I've never done priceline so I will have to look in to that process.
Someone mentioned a weeks rental might be cheaper than 6 days, what would I do, just return it a day early? will I get penalized?
Car rental "weeks" start at 5 days, so a 5, 6 or 7 day rental is often the same price.
 
thanks for the quick reply. Just one more question, I looked on priceline and saw the area for name your own price but I did not see where you could specify the size car you want. Is that the gamble? I definitely need a full size car.
 
Also to add....you won't start seeing discounts for your dates any sooner than about two months before your rental. I would check hotwire regularly, it will give you an idea of the rates, and you can do better than those on the name your own price on priceline. Try all the discount codes and coupons you can find, and try them often. Fortunately, you can make a reservation without putting down a deposit. So I would find a rate you can live with, and book it, in case you can't find anything cheaper. Then as your trip gets closer, continue to check the rates. (Must add...if you actually book with hotwire or priceline, you will have to pay right then, but if you book with alamo, national, etc., you can reserve without a deposit.) I wouldn't even try to priceline it any sooner than a month before.
 
thanks for the quick reply. Just one more question, I looked on priceline and saw the area for name your own price but I did not see where you could specify the size car you want. Is that the gamble? I definitely need a full size car.

You do specify what type of car you want. It's on the initial search right after your dates.

It was mentioned to use Priceline about a month out. I agree. I think we started bidding about 6 weeks out. It took 3 tries. (I started at $12/day) You can only bid once in a 24 hour period. It can be a little scary the first time you use PL, but it really is easy.
 
You do specify what type of car you want. It's on the initial search right after your dates.

It was mentioned to use Priceline about a month out. I agree. I think we started bidding about 6 weeks out. It took 3 tries. (I started at $12/day) You can only bid once in a 24 hour period. It can be a little scary the first time you use PL, but it really is easy.

Thanks, I see that section now, I don't know how I missed it! I think I'll hold out and try priceline in Feb.!
 
One tip is to check with your employer - I can rent through the same agency that my employer requires us to use - and get the same daily rate (which is 40% off the regular rate).

AND to reiterate what everyone else has said - the optional insurance is just that - OPTIONAL. They will guilt you - trick you - and out right insult you if you don't take it. That's why it's best to book ahead of time - pay ahead of time - and know what your credit card coverage entails - AND what your own auto insurance covers.

Also as a general rule - the more heavily traveled an area is (top vacation destination) you can typically get much better rental prices FAR in advance. I've seen Orlando as cheap at $3.00 a day in the off season for a compact car - AND at that time if we had been traveling there was a free upgrade coupon active.

SO- if you do your research you can get a very good deal!
 












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