What the heck is going on with rental rates?

[CloveLeaf]

Try carrentals.com
I just got a quote @86.16/week for an Economy 12/05 to 12/11. Compact is $92.46/week, Intermediate $99/week. Full size is expensive though. It is $186.5/week. It equals to TWO Economy cars

 

[DisTwix]

Try here:

http://www.carrentalsavers.com/florida-car-rental.html

The Avis deal comes out to about $150 after taxes and fees if you use the coupon.

Thanks for the tips on that website!!! I'll keep eyeballing it - I just checked using all the appropriate codes and everything and still was getting $190 with taxes for Avis, etc... it's gotta be my dates. I might just do Advantage for $140 and shuttle it.

 

[Mouseaholic!!!]

Good night, I thought better deals would be had with this economy.

Help !

The economy is part of the problem.

Hertz just released thier most recent earnings statement - profits down almost 90 % --- yes, ninety percent from last year.

 

[Lewisc]

It makes sense for a hotel to deeply discount a room rather then let it go empty. Hotels will sometimes offer rooms through PL for less then half the going rate. The marginal cost for an occupied room is a the cost to clean the linens, little bottles of HBA and some electricity.

Same logic applies to airlines. The extra fuel burned by putting a passenger in a seat that would otherwise be empty is nominal.

Rental agencies are starting to learn the same logic doesn't apply to them. Car mfg are no longer offering great deals on short term leases and guaranteed buy backs. The re-sale value of a rental car is largely based on the mileage. It makes more sense to let the car sit on the lot rather then rent it at some of the low rates we've gotten in the past. It makes even more sense to remove some cars from inventory. I suspect a decreasing number of customers are purchasing the gas plans and other optional (and profitable) extras. Rental agencies are constantly selling and buying cars. It's a lot easier for a rental agency to reduce the size of their fleet then it is for a hotel to reduce the number of rooms or for an airline to reduce the number of planes. Rental agencies have the ability to move cars from locations that only rent with large discounts to other locations.

People who are willing to shop are still getting good rates. Prices to rent a car in Orlando are significantly lower then rates in other parts of the country.

 

[mmmgood]

Thanks for the tips on that website!!! I'll keep eyeballing it - I just checked using all the appropriate codes and everything and still was getting $190 with taxes for Avis, etc... it's gotta be my dates. I might just do Advantage for $140 and shuttle it.

Just an FYI, the Avis $35 off coupon is deducted at the counter so that may be the difference. It usually takes off about $40 from the total price.

 

[carol-lamb]

I booked my September trip towards the end of May and I don't know how I completely forgot about a car. Probably because I was too excited for my trip in June and just sort of pushed the September trip to the back of my mind! Anyways, I just remembered that I never rented a car yesterday and scoped it out this morning using various coupons from my Entertainment Book and the cheapest I could get was through Alamo - a compact for $123 for a 4-day rental (Sept. 24-28). I don't think that's too bad. I paid about $225 for a weeks rental in June.

 

[Wish_I_Was_At_WDW]

There was a story on our local news about airfare going down but they said rental car rates are going up. It was a promo and I wasn't able to see the actual story but I'm having trouble finding a decent rate for October (renting in Jacksonville). I haven't been too worried because we've always found the prices drop but so far nothing.

 

[Cee]

We just booked through Orbitz for a rental with EZ and got a mid-size for $135.00 for a five day rental. With the $62+ added tax it came to $198.00 and change. I think that's as good as it's gonna get! The dates are 9/6-9/11.

Good luck, everyone!

 

[Disneychix]

I agree that cars rentals are crazy! We got a full size SUV last year for 1 week through Alamo for $99!! I know that was extremely low but I can't even find any bigger type car for less then $200 this year.

Looks like it will be ME for us!

 

[ElizabethB]

Car rental companies are reducing their fleets. It's been in the papers. Unlike hotels and airlines, it's easy for car rental companies to sell off excess rental inventory rather than discount it. And, that's what they are doing.

They can make the same money by renting 20 cars out for $100 per week, or 10 cars out for $200 per week. They're choosing the 10 cars at $200/wk approach.

Actually, they probably make more with the second approach since it reduces car maintenance bills and employee costs.

 

[Maxwell]

I booked a mini van for 9 days with National for $289 (and another ressie for $303 with 2nd driver incl). We are now getting in 8 hours sooner and if I edit or rebook, it is $900! I check several times a week and I can't get it any lower. We are just going to show up early and if there is any type of penalty I will walk over to a different comapany and rent the cheapest possible car (or two) for the afternoon and come back at 8pm!

What codes did you use?

 

[SamSam]

I just checked Dollar and they have some good rates for the end of Sept. when renting at MCO. I didn't use a code and had a rate of $128.00 for 1 week. That does not include taxes and fees which really add up.

 

[winterman]

SamSam,

Thanks for the post. I was able to lower my 9-14 to -9-24 rental to
$263.95 total inclusive of all fees. Compact car.

 

[DisTwix]

Hey all ... I checked with Avis again today, and used the AWD # K199060 and coupon MUWA003 and got a compact car for around $158, after the $35 coupon (it's hard to say what the exact total is because of the taxes).

I went ahead and reserved it... of course I'm still hunting for something cheaper, but that's the best I've seen in weeks of searching!

Thanks all!!!

 

[DisneyAndRedSox]

What codes did you use?

1st ressie: Contract ID 3715444 (car and Driver), I think this is the one that gives a 2nd driver at no extra charge
2nd ressie: AAA Contract ID 6100253, discount is 5% better than first one, I think

plus I used a coupon from the Entertainment book for a free day. Sometimes they ask for the coupon.

I have been trying to rebook with an earlier arrival (same day) and can't even come close to the rates I got before!

If you google Mousesavers National, that will give you the list I got all the codes from.

 

[DisneyAndRedSox]

1st ressie: Contract ID 3715444 (car and Driver), I think this is the one that gives a 2nd driver at no extra charge
2nd ressie: AAA Contract ID 6100253, discount is 5% better than first one, I think

plus I used a coupon from the Entertainment book for a free day. Sometimes they ask for the coupon.

I have been trying to rebook with an earlier arrival (same day) and can't even come close to the rates I got before!

If you google Mousesavers National, that will give you the list I got all the codes from.

Out of curosity I tried it again. $871 now, I have same thing booked $303.

 

[luvsTink]

Hmm, I have been looking for something Jan 6 - 16 and the prices are outrageous...like almost 2,000 for a 16 passenger....and over 400 for an economy am I just checking too soon???

anne

 

[DisneyAndRedSox]

Hmm, I have been looking for something Jan 6 - 16 and the prices are outrageous...like almost 2,000 for a 16 passenger....and over 400 for an economy am I just checking too soon???

anne

Just keep looking everyday with Mousesavers codes at your side! My Mom needed a mini van for 2 days in Ft Lauderdale, best was $200. I looked 2 days later and got it for $100 w/taxes, same rental company.

 

[SteveS]

Forget the codes. Car rental rates are terrible and getting a 10 - 15% discount still isn't a good deal.

I have found that nothing beats using Priceline.com. Try it within 10 days of your trip and bid wisely and you can get come incredible deals.

I will be using Priceline again in October.

 

[Wish_I_Was_At_WDW]

I always, always rent with National or Alamo but just saved $100 by making a ressie with Enterprise (Jacksonville location, 9 days in October, no coupon). It was $381 with Alamo, $387 with National and $281 with Enterprise. I'll keep checking but at least I can live with $281 over the other two.