Why is it so much more to rent at the airport?

[DisneyDreamer1974]

Is it easier, better selection of cars, what?

 

[retlaw_yensid]

My guess: You're a captive customer in need of a car right then and there.

 

[robinb]

Sometimes the "concession fees" are higher at the airport.

 

[Oh So ONO]

Depends on the airport. MCO rates are pretty good because it has more cars than just about any other place. I've always gotten a pretty good deal there.

 

[goofy4tink]

It isn't always!! I've gotten a better deal by returning to MCO to get my rental car vs picking it up onsite at WDW or close-by. You have to check all the possible combinations when booking a rental car.

 

[Missyrose]

It all depends on which location has more inventory to get rid of when you need to rent a car. We've had the airport come in cheaper some times and sometimes the places closer to Disney come in cheaper. Gotta work all the different combinations in the last 6 weeks before a trip.

 

[OrangeCountyCommuter]

Fees..?

Local authorities often add on "airport fees" This allows them to "tax" without taxing the people that vote for them

 

[kydisneyfans]

Most airports have extra fees attached.

That being said, locally it is much cheaper to rent from the airport. Most rentals are twice as much offsite.

 

[Horace Horsecollar]

There are two different pieces to the total cost of a car rental:

1. The base rental rate from the rental car company
2. Various taxes and fees that the rental car company is required to collect on top of the base rate

For example, at Chicago-O'Hare, a typical rental bill is around 60% more than the base rental rate due to taxes and fees:

• Customer Facility Charge 8.00/day
• Vehicle License Recovery 1.25/day
• Concession Recovery Fee 11.10 Pct
• Lessor Tax 2.75 Usd/rntl
• Auto Renting Occupation Tax (5.0%)
• Mpea Tax (6.0%)
• Mass Transit Tax (1.0%)
• Chicago Transaction Tax (8.0%)

Of course, if you start with a low, promotional rate at an airport, the airport rental can cost less. But if the base rate is the same, the total bill for an airport rental is typically much higher.

But watch out. There was a time when off-airport rentals involved just the base rate and a normal, single-digit sales tax rate. Now, however, rentals from hotels can involve a "Hotel Facility Charge" or other fees on top of that. And if an off-airport rental agency picks you up at the airport, it may be required to charge airport fees.