What exactly does onsite mean when renting a car?

[mal0808]

When renting a car onsite where excatly do you pick your car up?
and, where do you return it? Is there any kind of shuttle or tram used? Thanks in advance.

 

[mcnuss]

At MCO, all the on site providers are in the parking garage, except for Hertz which is a short shuttle ride away. To pick up, you generally go to the desk in the airport terminal, do your paperwork, get your keys, then walk across the street to the garage for the car. It's probably a 500 yard walk.

On the return, you bring your car right back to the garage, and in most cases, they check you out and give you your receipt right there.

It's very convenient!

 

[DebbieB]

Do you mean onsite at WDW? National/Alamo has a car rental location at the car care center, which is on World Drive near the MK parking entrance. They run a shuttle from the hotels to the car care center. National/Alamo also has a desk at the Dolphin. Some of the other car rental companies have desks in the Downtown Disney non-WDW resorts.

 

[mal0808]

Thanks so much for the info. I was speaking of MCO. Does anyone have a list of the onsite rental companies? We will be staying at HIFS. Would there happen to be a company that will deliver a car to HIFS? I do not know my way around Orlando at all. I will be traveling with 2 eleven year olds and I am very nervous about the drive to the hotel. I have a car reserved through Payless for $12.50/day but I don't want to stress about the return drive. Trying to find Payless may stress me out a bit.
I don't think I will ever find anything that cheap onsite but, the worry may be worth a higher price. Thanks again.

 

[inkkognito]

I thnk the onsites are L & M, Alamo/National, Avis, Budget, and Dollar.
There is a Thrifty right next to Hertz that is easy to find and often has great rates. Their shuttle, like Hertz's, is usually right there waiting. I've never used Payless so I don't know how to find them, but Hertz and Thrifty are easy to find if you follow the North Exit signs in the airport. When coming back from the WDW area, we take 417 to the airport and then drive through the airport following the signs. There is another way, but it's slower and more confusing for me.
Of course, the onsites are the most convenient of all. I get Alamo and Avis quite often through Priceline (although Hertz can come up too).
Barb
Visit the Platinum Castaway Club at: www.castawayclub.com

 

[DizBelle]

Originally posted by mal0808
Thanks so much for the info. I was speaking of MCO. Does anyone have a list of the onsite rental companies? We will be staying at HIFS. Would there happen to be a company that will deliver a car to HIFS? I do not know my way around Orlando at all. I will be traveling with 2 eleven year olds and I am very nervous about the drive to the hotel. I have a car reserved through Payless for $12.50/day but I don't want to stress about the return drive. Trying to find Payless may stress me out a bit.
I don't think I will ever find anything that cheap onsite but, the worry may be worth a higher price. Thanks again.

Don't be nervous. Orlando is a big tourist city and there are signs everywhere for everything. Once you get off the plane, follow the signs to baggage claim and get your bags. Then follow the signs to the car rental desks and look for Payless. If you don't see a counter for them then they are off site. There will be a phone (free) to use to call them and they will send a shuttle for you and tell you where to find it outside the terminal - just outside the doors from the car rental counters that are in the terminal. The shuttle will take you to the car rental site where you will pick up your car. Once in the car, follow the signs to WDW.

Coming back to the airport, again follow the signs to Payless rental car returns. The shuttle will take you to the terminal. You will need extra time to allow for the shuttle to the terminal.

Bottom line - if budget is a major concern, I don't think that the offsite car rental will be a problem for you. If you want to save time, get a car from a company that is in the terminal.

 

[Poorman]

http://fcn.state.fl.us/goaa/ops/rac.htm