Teach me about car rental, please?

[Lesley]

We generally drive to WDW, but as our car is quite small we're considering renting a larger car for our Jan. trip...which will be 2 weeks long. I got a rate from National locally for a standard size (Monte Carlo) for about $450 (w/ the DC discount) Is this a good rate for the car type and length of time? It says unlimited mileage. Seems to me it would be worth it both to save wear and tear on our own car (that we've driven to WDW twice) and to have extras like the room, cruise control, etc....

Also is there anything I should look out for? Fees for cancellation or whatever? Extra charges that don't get mentioned until you go to pick up or drop off the car? I've never rented a car before.

Thanks in advance for any tips you can offer!

 

[Pat Marlton NJ]

Make sure that the taxes are included! There are all types of Federal, state and local taxes, also check with your car insurance company to see if your policy covers you for a rental car, if you don't have to take the rental insurance you can save big $$$$.

 

[Beverly Lynn]

you also need to check and see how they are about taking the car out of state as well.

 

[Lesley]

The rate I mentioned includes taxes.

I don't see any mention of restrictions as far as traveling out of state, just that you can't take a rental across the Canadian or Mexican border (no problem...can't actually drive the car through the World Showcase anyway ) But is this something I would need to call and ask ahead of time, rather than relying on the website to give the rules? Is it common for there to be restrictions on out of state use? I know I've heard of many people renting vans to drive WDW before.

Thanks for the other tips....I'm currently shopping for a new auto ins. policy anyway so I'll make sure it covers rentals.

 

[AllanJ]

Come out and ask about geographical restrictions, what states you can drive in and how far from home/rental pickup point you may travel.

Come out and ask about what the taxes and normal extra charges are. If you pick up the car at an airport but are not flying, sometimes there are airport surcharges that they will deduct and sometimes they won't deduct.

Note that some companies require you to buy their insurance including collision waiver if you want a child under 25 to be able to drive or if your own car does not have collision (I have passed up rental companies that require the latter.). Ask before reserving.

If you use a credit card that provides collision coverage, find out in advance from the credit card company about the maximum length of a rental that is covered and what kinds of cars are covered, some vans and sports cars are not.

Check the contract to be sure all the promises including geographic they made at reservation time are in writing. Sometimes they advertise unlmited mileage but when you told the reservation clerk you were driving from Seattle to Disney World the contract the computer prints says you only have fifty miles per day. Don't sign the contract until everything is right for you. They can make last minute changes at the counter if they want your business.

Car rental companies may have cancellation fees but they are not entitled to enforce them if you show up and they won't rent to you the car with everything they promised.

Follow all rules in the contract. If it says don't drive on dirt roads, don't. Otherise the insurance you buy from them might be denied.

More Disney tips:
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[Lewisc]

It is common to either charge mileage or limit out of state travel. Check carefully. Also check for additiional driver fees (assuming one person isn't going to be doing all the driving.)

 

[BobH]

Don't forget that you will be responsible for the deductible on insurance policy.

Also - ask your agent whether your car insurance will cover you if the rental car company charges you for loss of use if your rental car is out of service due to an accident. If your own policy doesn't cover this SOME mastercards will - BUT you have to charge the car rental to the credit card and decline any insurance from the rental agency. Credit cards usually cover you for the deductible also.

It appears to me that your primary policy may cover your liability and damge to the vehicle, and a credit card may cover your deductibles and "loss of use" charges from the rental car company. At least this is how it works for a Massachusetts resident. I would have a long talk with your agent and go over all these items carefully. This is a very slippery subject. You can't even count on buying insurance (expensive) from the car rental company and being covered for everything without reading the fine print. Credit Cards often only provide insurance that is secondary to your primary car insurance. They only give you coverage for damage to the rental car, and never cover you for lawsuits if someone decides you are at fault.

You need to know what you are covered for and how much you are covered for.