The Official October 2012 Car Rental Thread

[garris3404]

I cant find the dollar city deal anywhere. can someome give me the promo code or tell me where to find it

Go to dollar website. Enter date and times. On the next page, click the "check for city special" button to get the special rates.

 

[keishashadow]

don't forget the alamo insider's # 7015135 switched to it today

 

[ammag]

Hi- our trip is oct 19-26 and the plane leaves at 7am ny time...meaning DH and I will be up arund 4am before herding DD5 and DS1 onto the plane. I am trying to find the cheapest option but I cannot be taking a shuttle to a far off car lot. What company is the fastest and easiest to rent from and drop off? Do some have the automated kiosks? thanks!

ps- prob silly question but I see people reserving cars and possibly changing/ cancelling the reservation in the future. d the companies not take payment up front?

 

[AnjieNet]

Advantage beat our Dollar City Special by $60. We now have a three day mid-size rental for $68. Still would rather do Alamo or National so we could pick-up at MCO and drop off at Car Care Center but so far the cost is so much cheaper, it'll be worth the extra time, I think.

 

[mdsd8700]

Hi- our trip is oct 19-26 and the plane leaves at 7am ny time...meaning DH and I will be up arund 4am before herding DD5 and DS1 onto the plane. I am trying to find the cheapest option but I cannot be taking a shuttle to a far off car lot. What company is the fastest and easiest to rent from and drop off? Do some have the automated kiosks? thanks!

ps- prob silly question but I see people reserving cars and possibly changing/ cancelling the reservation in the future. d the companies not take payment up front?

The major companies, National, Alamo, Dollar, Budget, Avis, Thrifty, Hertz are all located on property at the Orlando Airport so no shuttle involved, you just walk across the street. If you sign up for any of their "programs" you can use pre enter all your information and use a kiosk to get your car. We have used Dollar, Budget and Alamo doing this. Feel free to book and cancel reservations as you find better rates, there is no penalty/payment up front for doing so

 

[sanibelover]

Hi- our trip is oct 19-26 and the plane leaves at 7am ny time...meaning DH and I will be up arund 4am before herding DD5 and DS1 onto the plane. I am trying to find the cheapest option but I cannot be taking a shuttle to a far off car lot. What company is the fastest and easiest to rent from and drop off? Do some have the automated kiosks? thanks!

ps- prob silly question but I see people reserving cars and possibly changing/ cancelling the reservation in the future. d the companies not take payment up front?

National Emerald Isle (medium sized cars or better) is very convenient - just go to the Islae and pick your car. No lines at all. You can also do Emerald Reserve which just means you reserve the car class you want (ie mini-van), then you just go to the mini-van line and pick the one you want. Again, no lines, no kiosk, etc.

There are alot of discount codes and coupons (you can use both) available online. We have an Emerald Isle ressie for Oct 9-15 for $204 total.

 

[sheri236]

just booked the city special thru dollar for $215, full size oct 25-30. its the lowest i've seen yet but alamo did drop $40 for us so hopefully it keeps coming down as we would definitely prefer alamo.

 

[ppony]

Oct. 13-22 here. I'm trying to decide if we can make do w/ a full size at $278 or need the mini-van for $100 more. Still a great price on a minivan through Dollar. sigh If we didn't have so much "stuff" we travel with.

 

[Joan S.]

Hi,Since my trip is now 2 months away I am looking everyday for my car rental fee to go DOWN!! Is there any MAGIC number of weeks before the trip that prices tend to be at their lowest?? Thanks,Joan

 

[ktm62]

keep checking car rentals dot com. my price has gone down several times now paying 195 for 11 days ,full size car.... they list all agencies

 

[brenda1966]

Am trying to do a one way rental from TPA to MCO 10/26 - 11/3.
So far best rate I can find is 312 with fees and taxes (avis).
I saw Advantage for less (252) , but I'm not sure of the reputation of this company.
Of course Fox is way less, but with such bad rep, I won't risk driving a car from there that far and that long.
Any ideas? Most of the coupon codes don't work for one way rentals.

 

[Angel16]

Just booked Dollar's City Special Mini Van at $165.30 per week and $23.48 for two additional days. We are renting for 16 days mid September.

I would still like to get a deal from National and not sure we need a Mini Van. Just thought it was closer to what we are use to...a Highlander. I have time to figure it out and change.

 

[GrnMtnMan]

Is there any MAGIC number of weeks before the trip that prices tend to be at their lowest??

For the pas few years, its been around 3 to 4 weeks before a trip that prices finally came down to the good deal ballpark.

 

[webworm]

Just booked Dollar's City Special Mini Van at $165.30 per week and $23.48 for two additional days. We are renting for 16 days mid September.

I would still like to get a deal from National and not sure we need a Mini Van. Just thought it was closer to what we are use to...a Highlander. I have time to figure it out and change.

Just to clarify that would be $292.62 inc taxes. If the additional driver is important to you Dollar charges $10/day extra.

 

[HayGan]

Everyone I check remains significantly higher than the ~$280 rate I currently have with National using the KLM code for Oct 12-22. I even tried the carrentals.com site and they only thing I can get for a better price is an economy (and that isn't happening!!!)

 

[90byrd]

I don't understand, all I am looking for is an economy/compact for a week in Oct (20-27). The best I'm finding anywhere is $300+ What am I doing wrong here??

 

[GrnMtnMan]

What am I doing wrong here??

Looking too soon.

Anyway, prices are high right now, but we're all hoping that the typical pattern is followed, and 3-4 weeks out from trip dates the discounts start coming in.

Also, Dollar has these city specials that look to be decent deals....do a reservation search on Dollar's website then click on the city special link and you'll see better rates...closer to what I'm expecting/hoping Alamo and Enterprise to be once my trip window approaches.

But be warned that apparently Dollar likes to nickle-and-dime and does not include a spouse as a driver for free...so add $10 per day if applicable. In my case that added fee makes their rates just as high as all the other companies.

 

[90byrd]

Thanks!
I did find a good deal at Advantage, are they a decent company? They offer a Gov't leisure rate that I would qualify for.

I'd get a large car for $154.

 

[jjj444]

Am trying to do a one way rental from TPA to MCO 10/26 - 11/3.
So far best rate I can find is 312 with fees and taxes (avis).
I saw Advantage for less (252) , but I'm not sure of the reputation of this company.
Of course Fox is way less, but with such bad rep, I won't risk driving a car from there that far and that long.
Any ideas? Most of the coupon codes don't work for one way rentals.

I am looking for a one way rental the same places as you just different times and am getting really worried!! Why should that drive up the price of the rental?? I thought this type of thing was done all the time

 

[brenda1966]

I am looking for a one way rental the same places as you just different times and am getting really worried!! Why should that drive up the price of the rental?? I thought this type of thing was done all the time

It drives up the price of the rentals because we are penalized for not taking the car back to its starting point. If too many people want to move cars in one direction, and no one wants to move them back, then we pay more. Also depends on whether the company charges 'drop fees' for this. They shouldn't since it's instate and not that far. Mostly I think it's because most coupons and deals are null and void for one way travel.

So, I don't expect I'll find as low of a deal as others here, but I don't want to get ripped off either.