WTH-Car rental add-on fees

[kandb]

Is it me or are the fees added on for car rentals going up? I priced out a car for our upcoming trip for Augi/Sept, flying into Tampa. For 15 nights there was a mid-size SUV that was $270 which is a great price (pay ahead of time) but then after fees it was $460, almost $200 extra for fees.

Should I wait it out to get a better price? Usually we travel this time of year and the prices are usually great. Does anyone on here ever do the "pay ahead" for their car rental?

 

[Ranger111]

Hey, it varies. IIRC, last thing I read in Bloomberg Business Week is ranges from around 8 percent to around 75 percent taxes and fees piled atop your base rate. It's the way it goes. Live with it or do not rent. Some places add fees for new water systems to rental cars (LOL). Some add fees for new football stadiums. Some don't add much at all. I always figure around 20 percent, but know that it can go higher or lower, and mostly higher.

Rental Car 101: Find the best price you can today and reserve it. Make sure you can cancel with no fees. Depending how wacko you are, check rates hourly or weekly or monthly and if you find a better rate, book it and then cancel your earlier rate. Getting within several days of your rental, make some bids on Priceline.

I NEVER pay ahead unless I am absolutely certain it is a great rate (like $85 all fees for a 7-day full-size).

 

[leebee]

I agree with what Ranger111 said. I NEVER prepay a rental, and I never make a reservation that requires a credit card. Find the best rate you can, without cancellation fees, and then keep stalking the prices. They fluctuate like crazy, with no discernible pattern or reasons. Stack codes and coupons (see mousesavers.com for a tutorial and codes) or use carrentalsavers.com "SmartBook" (on the right-hand side of the homepage), which will search codes for you. Then play the "book and cancel" game so you get the best price you can find. ALSO... check your personal auto insurance policy and your credit card agreements. MOST of the time, you shouldn't need to add on additional insurance, CDW, etc., regardless of how the car rental agents will try to scare you!

 

[georgina]

I almost always book through Costco travel, which just shows the totals up front, all fees included. The price is often high when I start out, but usually drops as it gets closer to my travel date. I just cancel and rebook (I never pay in advance) as many times as necessary. Prompted by this thread I checked a car I reserved 2 weeks ago and it had dropped $5, which isn't much but I rebooked anyway (traveling in Sept). I expect it will come down a lot more by then.

 

[nacho113]

Is it me or are the fees added on for car rentals going up? I priced out a car for our upcoming trip for Augi/Sept, flying into Tampa. For 15 nights there was a mid-size SUV that was $270 which is a great price (pay ahead of time) but then after fees it was $460, almost $200 extra for fees.

Should I wait it out to get a better price? Usually we travel this time of year and the prices are usually great. Does anyone on here ever do the "pay ahead" for their car rental?

TPA has one of the highest facility fees in the country. Last time we rented at TPA it was $5.95/day. This alone is adding almost $90 to your fees.

By comparison, the facility fee at MCO is only $2.50/day ($37.50 for the 15 days)

 

[kandb]

TPA has one of the highest facility fees in the country. Last time we rented at TPA it was $5.95/day. This alone is adding almost $90 to your fees.

By comparison, the facility fee at MCO is only $2.50/day ($37.50 for the 15 days)

Thanks for letting me know. Yes, I did see see this fee, didn't know what it was. So much for saving $$$ flying into TPA instead of MCO.