Renting a vehicle to drive to Orlando for President's Weekend 2015

[BCVNovember]

My kid's gymnastics team attended the Presidential Classic meet at WWOS this past February and I brought the rest of my family along. We had a great time, other than our flight on the Wednesday before being cancelled due to the huge ice storm in Atlanta and not being able to get on another flight until Saturday morning. So now the team is planning to go again and we want to go again too - but I don't want to be at the mercy of the airlines this time around.

We live in SW Ohio and I will have 2 additional drivers available this time (2 older kids will have had their licenses for a while by then) so I'm seriously considering renting a minivan or SUV for the trip. How far in advance should I book the vehicle? We are also planning on 3 days/2 nights at Universal and then 4 nights at the Beach Club so we'll have to move between the resorts and also WWOS.

So excited to be thinking about going again!!

 

[PrincesCJM]

First, where do you want to pick up the rental? in Ohio or Florida?

Second, as long as you don't prepaid for a reservation, I would book one now. I start looking for a rental as soon as I know the dates. Check back frequently for better rates. As long as you haven't prepaid, you can create and cancel as many times as you wish.

 

[PlutoPony]

Check with rental companies about the teens driving. Not sure what the policy is for young drivers if their parents or a responsible adult is in the vehicle with them. They may be considered underage drivers which could involve a hefty surcharge.

 

[BCVNovember]

Check with rental companies about the teens driving. Not sure what the policy is for young drivers if their parents or a responsible adult is in the vehicle with them. They may be considered underage drivers which could involve a hefty surcharge.

Ooh, I had no idea. Thanks for the information.

 

[ancestry]

Check with rental companies about the teens driving. Not sure what the policy is for young drivers if their parents or a responsible adult is in the vehicle with them. They may be considered underage drivers which could involve a hefty surcharge.

Agreed. Most rental companies want drivers to be 25 or older. If you can find a rental car company who rents to younger people you often will pay a premium.

Also often rental cars are contracted to be driven only by the person renting them. Some companies offer a "free spouse" option meaning you can add your spouse as a driver free of charge but to add others will often cost additional fees.

In addition you need to make sure that the rental car company allows you to take the car out of the state in which you rented it. Some companies offer unlimited mileage but to require that you don't leave the state with the vehicle.

 

[stitchlovestink]

Agreed. Most rental companies want drivers to be 25 or older. If you can find a rental car company who rents to younger people you often will pay a premium.

Also often rental cars are contracted to be driven only by the person renting them. Some companies offer a "free spouse" option meaning you can add your spouse as a driver free of charge but to add others will often cost additional fees.

In addition you need to make sure that the rental car company allows you to take the car out of the state in which you rented it. Some companies offer unlimited mileage but to require that you don't leave the state with the vehicle.

Here where we live you are covered to take a rental car into a state that 'touches' our state as we are a smaller state and many people work in one state but live in another. I have rented locally MANY times and they always go over which states are automatically covered and ask if there are others you may be traveling to. They always advise that you can call add add additional states if needed. But be advised when you are renting to travel that way, they typically do not give you unlimited mileage and you can pay an additional daily charge to add each additional driver. Bad part is all those costs add up.
Good Luck!!