What is explanation for high car rental rates?

[Cameo]

I'm driving myself nuts watching National's website for any sign of a dip in price for our early March trip. What is going on with this place? Why are prices so outlandishly high for the last several months? Is everyone paying them anyway?

I know National redesigned their website, but that alone can't be the answer as to why they have increased their prices by such dramatic amounts. Does anyone have the inside scoop on this rental agency?

 

[NancyIL]

Same reason WDW resorts charge more....March is spring break. High demand = higher prices.

 

[keishashadow]

Of course March is Spring Break/prime time, however....

Every week I've looked @ on National for this year is double what I've paid in the past.

$300 for an intermediate for 1 week, with disc. is outrageous IMO.

Sure hope the rates come down...realize the rental co.'s are in business to make a profit But, have booked with Alamo as a back-up (hate to lose the EA service) & might use ME to WDW & other modes of transport (taxi's, Mears etc.) for offsite excursions if we have to.

 

[PooohBear]

I would look into booking with another company! I did since National was significantly higher than everyone else

 

[deltachi8]

I have noticed them, Alamo and Hertz being very high for early March.

I grabbed a compact (solo trip) at Thrifty for $93+tax for Mar 2-7. I used them last march and they were great.

 

[alecam]

I just booked an economy car at Thrifty for $67.97 for three days total for March 3-6th.!!

 

[Michael623]

I have a reservation for 1/28-2/4 and the cheapest rate I could get was a compact at Enterprise for $185. Last year I got an intermediate car (EA) from National for $86 for the same time period. Cearly not spring break. I wish I could tell you why the prices are skyrocketing but I can't. Believe me, I feel your pain

 

[crazywig]

i haven't used national at all in the last year (3 trips) and we go in off season! i used to love them and their good deals.

by hunting around and checking codes/coupons compulsively i was able to get decent deals at alamo and dollar.

we leave tomorrow for a week and i got a standard suv with alamo for $167 wk using the alamo.com $20 coupon and walmart codes from mousesavers.

 

[AllyBri]

I don't think Spring break has anything to do with it. I have ressies all different times and some are 2-3 times higher then last year. Between ME and the gas prices, I keep thinking the prices will do down, but no way.
The different aisles at National are filled with cars, so I don't think they are renting as many as they use to.

 

[MainStreetFan]

Central Florida is packed during mid February thru April 1. We have the Daytona Races, which packs Orlando as much as Daytona, Bike Week, also encompasses all of central Florida and then spring breaks. Rates for hotels, cars and many other things go up during this time of year.

 

[SimbaDog]

The "other" charges are crazy. Taxes, tire use fee, highway use fee, airport convience fee, and look out if you don't bring it back with the same amount of fuel!

 

[kcork1026]

We are going to Disney in June, same exact dates as last year. Last year got a mid-siz or standard (forget which one) paid $91 and change. This year they are $200 it is CRAZY!

 

[toystoryduo]

I'm driving myself nuts watching National's website for any sign of a dip in price for our early March trip. What is going on with this place? Why are prices so outlandishly high for the last several months? Is everyone paying them anyway?

I know National redesigned their website, but that alone can't be the answer as to why they have increased their prices by such dramatic amounts. Does anyone have the inside scoop on this rental agency?

I wish I knew what was going on too. Last December, we rented an Intermediate from National for two weeks for $263 (out of Cleveland-we drove to WDW) out the door. When I priced an Intermediate from National for our trip this December, the total was well over $400! I wonder if this is a "National" issue or if it's an industry-wide issue....

 

[seashoreCM]

Ans: Daytona Week.

Try using Travelocity .com to look at (not necessarily book) car rentals. They give a list of several rental companies along with prices so you can see right off the bat whether some are much lower or much higher than the average.

Try slightly different dates, the price could vary profoundly even if the length of rental is the same.

Disney hints:
http://members.aol.com/ajaynejr/disney.htm

 

[cheerful chickadee]

It's gotten so frustrating with these prices. Last year we booked a mid-size SUV through budget, 10 days in Orlando and the total was $220 with a code I found online, that also included re-fueling charges!!! This year we're going for 11 days and budget's lowest price is over $160 more. Right now I have a mid-size SUV reserved through Alamo for $279 total. I'm holding out hope for Budget since we had a really good rental experience with them but unless a minor miracle happens it looks like we'll be sticking with the $279 through Alamo.

 

[Allison]

It's gotten so frustrating with these prices. Last year we booked a mid-size SUV through budget, 10 days in Orlando and the total was $220 with a code I found online, that also included re-fueling charges!!! This year we're going for 11 days and budget's lowest price is over $160 more. Right now I have a mid-size SUV reserved through Alamo for $279 total. I'm holding out hope for Budget since we had a really good rental experience with them but unless a minor miracle happens it looks like we'll be sticking with the $279 through Alamo.

Alamo has the lowest rate by far for our June trip.

 

[owtrbnks]

As a PP said, supply and demand. Just like the airline seats.
Keep checking and Good Luck!

 

[NotUrsula]

Don't forget that all last year's natural disasters are influencing the rates, too. Cars were lost in the storms, and some that were rented ended up so far from their home bases that it was cheaper to sell them at a loss than pay to bring them home. They had to replace a lot more cars than usual.

Also, as expected, DME is having an impact. MCO used to be super-cheap because it was super-competitive and super high-turnover. Now they are not moving nearly as many units per day, and they cannot discount the way they used to and still cover their overhead.

 

[bavaria]

Don't forget that all last year's natural disasters are influencing the rates, too. Cars were lost in the storms, and some that were rented ended up so far from their home bases that it was cheaper to sell them at a loss than pay to bring them home. They had to replace a lot more cars than usual.

Also, as expected, DME is having an impact. MCO used to be super-cheap because it was super-competitive and super high-turnover. Now they are not moving nearly as many units per day, and they cannot discount the way they used to and still cover their overhead.

(Can't find that green 'nods in agreement' smiley or I would have used it....)

According to media reports, car rental agencies 'misplaced' thousands of cars after 9/11, when they had a huge increase in one way rentals and 'trades' bwn companies as travellers drove themselves home across the country. We are seeing a similar trend now after the 2005 storms, and feeling the impact.

I also agree about DME - MCO was the cheapest location to rent a car in North America for years, but that is no longer the case. I am seeing rates comparable to what I book in other large US cities.

 

[makinorlando]

I was helping a friend find a rental car for her family's trip here next week, and even with corporate discounts, etc. we found Thrifty to be the cheapest. It's all the taxes and fees on top of the daily rate that get you.... and $8.00/day for a booster seat? I'm going to go to Target and buy one for her, that I will also be able to use when I have guests - for way less than $64 for her 8 day trip!