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.