Renting a car - prices just went up

[GoldmanTrust]

hey guys,

We are planing a trip to Florida from Northern Europe in September. We travel a lot as a family and we like to have a car at our disposal when we go to the States.

I have been monitoring the prices on rental cars for our dates on the biggest sites. And the prices on all of them just skyrocketed (3x more than before).

The trip is late sept/early oct so it will probably go down (I will wait it out).

I'm just curious to know why this happens. Do you think the prices are tied to the number of rentals right now (high season - early June). Or is it anything else that is happening?

Do you guys have any tips - on how to rent a car without breaking the bank?

 

[gottalovepluto]

Yikes! I booked our car a few weeks ago when I saw rates I could afford. The key to me is "refundable" if I can find an affordable, refundable rate I book it and watch rates from there. I don't know the secrets of good rental car prices (does anybody besides the rental car companies?) so this is the method I have become most comfortable using. Hope your prices drop!

 

[powellrj]

I just always book when I find a great price and then cancel if it goes down. Have you checked mousesavers for codes? That may help you out.

 

[dhardawa]

Just FYI, that can be a busy travel time due to kids being out on fall break.

 

[GoldmanTrust]

Thanks a lot guys for these replies! They help!

 

[NinaBella]

I always use Hertz and the price is always pretty much close to the same. I am not sure what companies everyone else uses that the prices keep changing. I booked my rental car that I used last weekend about a month in advance for about $26 a day, then upgraded it to a larger veh for $27 a day. This was under the PAY NOW not their PAY LATER option. So I also need a rental for this Saturday and never got around to booking it until last night. So they don't have the PAY NOW, only the PAY LATER so I booked the car for $29 a day. To me, that is fairly close in price. I also use the USAA Member discount code. I also notice Group A vehicles were not available so they must have been sold out.

My trip happens to be flying into BWI so I do pay extra in airport fees. So here are some numbers from my e-mail confirmation for a rental booked three days before I needed it for a one day rental (pick up in morning, returning later that night). The only extras I get is the GPS.

YOUR VEHICLE
Compact 2 or 4 dr. Group B CCAR
(B) Nissan Versa or similar

Rate Details
1 weekend day at 29.00 USD 29.00 USD

Fees
Airport Concession Fee Recovery 5.14 USD
Vehicle Licensing Fee Recovery 0.29 USD
TRANSPORTATION AND FACILITY CHARGE 5.40 USD
Taxes 6.53 USD
Amount to be paid at time of rent 63.35 USD

TOTAL
63.35 USD


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Comparison
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I booked my husband's rental about a month ago for his trip to Austin in two weeks. This is a rental picking up at Austin Airport.

YOUR VEHICLE
Intermediate 2 or 4 dr. Group C ICAR
(C) Toyota Corolla or similar

Rate Details
1 week at 207.63 USD 207.63 USD

Fees
Airport Concession Fee Recovery 24.67 USD
Vehicle Licensing Fee Recovery 12.88 USD
ABIA CHG 41.65 USD
Energy Surcharge 1.49 USD
Taxes 43.24 USD

Upon booking, your credit card will be charged 331.56 USD

 

[MommaBerd]

@GoldmanTrust - You may want to hop over to the Transportation forum to ask your question/search for info. I'm sure someone over there can help you!

 

[SandyinMonterey]

We used to rent a car for every vacation. I would start watching prices as soon as I knew definite dates. In my experience, prices went up and down just like airfare. Like the previous poster replied, try the transportation board. There you will find some good advice, tips, etc. Sometimes people even post a coupon code or a great bargain. If you're traveling while kids are out of school, rates will always be higher. Sign up for the rental car rewards program, I've gotten some better rates and discounts that way. I always book refundable in case price drops.

 

[queenofthehive]

Yes, car rental prices fluctuate a lot. It should get cheaper the closer you get to your trip and sometimes the best pricing can be had a week before your trip. I use a site carrentalsavers.com. It compares various rental company prices. I would start buy booking at a price point you can live with. You do not need to pay at this time to hold a reservation. Write that booked amount on a stickie note next to your computer. You then will need to check prices often (once a week to once a day at various times during the day). Rebook when the price drops and cancel the old reservation. Keep rebooking every time it drops. There is no penalty to cancel. When it is time for your trip, make sure to take a paper copy of your reservation with you so you have when you pick up your car. Also, it usually cheaper if you pickup and return your vehicle to the same location. Good luck!

 

[disneylove69]

It does this every year at this time. It will go back down. Keep checking and reserve at a price you are fine with. Keep checking until you walk up to the counter. Ince the line was so long I got inline and found the competitor offering cheaper rate. Jumped over to the other line.