Whats going on with Rental Car Prices

[h&D3]

Has anyone else noticed that rental car prices have jumped up recently?

I've had a reservation at a good rate for awhile now, but I always check to see if they go lower.

I was shocked that they have almost tripled from what I made a few months ago.

We're not going until this summer and they usually do drop again, especially the closer we get to going.

I thought that maybe it had to do with spring break coming up.

If anyone sees any good rates out there for a mini van, let me know.

Thanks!
~D

 

[Gina-Gina-Bo-Bina]

Have you tried the National code found in this thread?

http://www.disboards.com/showthread.php?t=2878667

In order to qualify for the rates (which include a whole bunch of the extra insurances that are really nice to have), you have to sign up for a free membership to KLM Flying Blue.

We have an 8-day rental of a mid-size SUV for August for $266 including all taxes, fees and the extra insurance coverage. It is the best price we have found to date for a larger vehicle. Not sure if that would be workable over a mini van for you, or not?

 

[GrnMtnMan]

What you describe sounds pretty typical to me....I usually book a car 6-10 months ahead of time, but usually end up using a reservation that I make in the last week or two before my trip. You can catch some small discounts along the way, but rates more than 3 or 4 weeks out are usually 2 to 3 times what you'll end up paying if you look for the near term discounts that are usually posted.

 

[h&D3]

Have you tried the National code found in this thread?

http://www.disboards.com/showthread.php?t=2878667

In order to qualify for the rates (which include a whole bunch of the extra insurances that are really nice to have), you have to sign up for a free membership to KLM Flying Blue.

We have an 8-day rental of a mid-size SUV for August for $266 including all taxes, fees and the extra insurance coverage. It is the best price we have found to date for a larger vehicle. Not sure if that would be workable over a mini van for you, or not?

I did check on this one as well and it was up over $200 from what I originally booked a reservation at.

It HAS to be because of Spring Break/Easter. That's the only thing I can think of. Seems to me when we went two years ago, and I was checking this time of year, the prices jumped. And then slowly started to come back down afterwards.

How frustrating! I hate the little games we have to play in order to get a good (decent) rate.

~D

 

[MinnieLovesMickey12]

I am shocked at the price increase lately too. Last October I was able to get a full sized car through Priceline and Advantage rental cars for $13 a day.

We are booking a last minute trip for April the 14th for 5 nights and when I went to book a car the cheapest rock bottom price I could find was $33 a day and that was not even a full size car that is for a compact.

I went ahead and booked it. I didn't have any other choice. I will keep checking every week between now and then but I think they will only go up the closer I get.

Because technically April 14th through the 19th is still Spring break for a lot of areas.

But I also usually get the best price by reserving the car around 6 months out. I have never tried to get one a month prior to the trip like I am right now. We just decided today to take the trip so we haven't even booked a room yet or our flights.