Renting cars for Dummies...

[JenB]

In all our trips to WDW, we have either used Magical Express or Florida Tours. My daughter is doing college visit stuff the last weekend in January and although we will be staying at Saratoga (DVC), we will be flying into Tampa and visiting Florida Southern so we will need to rent a car. Where do I even begin? There are so many companies! Thanks in advance!!!!

 

[goofy4tink]

I usually rent through Alamo at the Dolphin. There are many car rental counters in the DTD resorts. For instance, Budget is located at the Doubletree. Some will pick you up at your resort and bring you to their office.
Many people book early because you don't have to prepay. Then, they keep an eye open for lower rates....with all the rental companies.

 

[Horace Horsecollar]

My daughter is doing college visit stuff the last weekend in January and although we will be staying at Saratoga (DVC), we will be flying into Tampa and visiting Florida Southern so we will need to rent a car.

If you're flying in and out of Tampa and WDW is just one of your stops in Florida, it makes sense to rent at Tampa Airport (not through Alamo at the Dolphin).

Tampa Airport has all the major car rental companies. Click on "Rental Cars" at Tampa Airport's Ground Transportation webpage: http://www.tampaairport.com/ground-transportation

You need to decide what size car you need. Normally, you reserve a car category (such as midsize or fullsize), not a specific make and model of car. Be aware the your idea of a car size and the rental car companies' categories may be different. For example, "midsize" cars can be quite small.

You'll want to look for a good rate. There is not any one company that's consistently less expensive. You'll find all sorts of rate discussions if you search this forum.

I strongly suggest never booking a "prepaid" car rental that cannot be changed or cancelled. If the airline changes your flights or you find a better rate, you would want the flexibility to make a change.

There are a bunch of other things to read up about, such as gasoline (car should have a full tank and you should return it with a full tank), insurance (most renters can safely decline the insurance that car rental companies try to sell because they're covered through their regular car insurance), and tolls (no tolls between Tampa and WDW, but plenty of toll roads in Florida).

 

[goofy4tink]

If you're flying in and out of Tampa and WDW is just one of your stops in Florida, it makes sense to rent at Tampa Airport (not through Alamo at the Dolphin).

Tampa Airport has all the major car rental companies. Click on "Rental Cars" at Tampa Airport's Ground Transportation webpage: http://www.tampaairport.com/ground-transportation

You need to decide what size car you need. Normally, you reserve a car category (such as midsize or fullsize), not a specific make and model of car. Be aware the your idea of a car size and the rental car companies' categories may be different. For example, "midsize" cars can be quite small.

You'll want to look for a good rate. There is not any one company that's consistently less expensive. You'll find all sorts of rate discussions if you search this forum.

I strongly suggest never booking a "prepaid" car rental that cannot be changed or cancelled. If the airline changes your flights or you find a better rate, you would want the flexibility to make a change.

There are a bunch of other things to read up about, such as gasoline (car should have a full tank and you should return it with a full tank), insurance (most renters can safely decline the insurance that car rental companies try to sell because they're covered through their regular car insurance), and tolls (no tolls between Tampa and WDW, but plenty of toll roads in Florida).

DUH!!!! Perhaps I need remedial reading skills!!! Thanks for catching that.

 

[JenB]

Thank you both!!

 

[canadiankim]

I've used Sky Scanner to search for car rental prices. I got a really good deal for August including the extra driver. You just plonk in your dates and airport arrival and it does the work for you. They are not the only site to do this obviously but I found them to be pretty good.

Happy hunting