Car Rental Tips Needed

[CYKID]

I travel alot but usually drive. I am going to Telluride Colorado and need to rent a car for eight days. I have plenty of time(August) and would like to get a decent deal. Anyone have experience with getting the best deals on this. I work as a private contractor so I don't have a corporate number for discounts. Also anyone have any must do's in Telluride. I will be there a week.

 

[zumbro clones]

If you are a member of the ISU Alumni Association you can get discounts for rental cars:

Car rental and hotel rooms
ISU Alumni Association members receive discounts at many leading car rental companies including:

• Hertz
• Avis
• National
• Budget
• Alamo
• Auto Europe

 

[ekim121]

I'd use one of the online services like expedia, etc to see if you can get a deal as compared with going directly through the vendor.

Also important to note is that if you carry full coverage on the vehicle you own you don't need to buy their damage waiver....that can make things rather pricey.

 

[dustinal]

Naming your own price on Priceline can also get you some pretty good deals--BUT you can't cancel once you've made your reservation. (Been burned on that a couple of times.)

 

[cydsho]

Watch for taxes as that can add serious money to the total bill. I'm renting a car for vacation as well. Omaha has high rental car taxes but I'm renting one in St Joseph, MO (family in the area) and the taxes almost nothing. Also the weekly rate is less. So check smaller towns but you'll be limited on companies. I'm using Hertz.

 

[Wesley]

Check for dents very carefully before you leave. Gas her up at the end. Look for free upgrades. Enterprise may be worth checking. They pick you up and drop you off.

 

[zumbro clones]

Also, make sure your key works in the doors before you leave if you don't get a keyless entry.

I was stranded at a hotel in Chicago and Hertz made me come back to the airport to pick up a new key.

When I got the car the key was in the ignition and the driver's side door was open. When I got to the hotel I locked the door using the power door lock on the door. After I checked in I found the key didn't fit in the lock. Some cars have ignitions that are forgiving of key defects but doors that are not.

I always check my keys now.

 

[jdoggivjc]

Check for dents very carefully before you leave. Gas her up at the end. Look for free upgrades. Enterprise may be worth checking. They pick you up and drop you off.

Definitely the two biggest "scams" of the rental car industry is offering insurance and offering to fill the gas tank. What they don't tell you is that most of the time your personal auto insurance also covers rentals, so you're just wasting your money there. Also, pass on the deal where they will fill the gas tank for you for a nominal fee. First, the price per gallon that they charge will always be more than if you just find the gas station yourself (if they charge per gallon), and second, (if they charge a flat fee), that fee will usually be more than if you just filled it up yourself.

The one I like the most, however, is don't accept their offer to upgrade your vehicle if they are going to charge you for doing so. The reason for this is chances are the reason why they are offering this is because they are out of the size you had reserved in the first place and are trying to stick you with the costs of the upgrade. If you stick to your guns chances are you get the upgrade anyway and don't have to pay a dime for it. That's what happened to me last week - I had a midsize vehicle reserved, and by the time all was said and done I was driving a Ford Mustang all week and I didn't have to pay a cent extra for it.

 

[cybsball20]

Price is always negotiable at rental car places too. They don't make any money with a lot full of cars. I have heard of people talking down to $9/day...

 

[Kyle]

Also important to note is that if you carry full coverage on the vehicle you own you don't need to buy their damage waiver....that can make things rather pricey.

Some credit cards will pick provide insurance coverage as well if you put all the rental costs on the card.

 

[zumbro clones]

A friend just picked up a rental car in Seattle through Priceline for $11 a day. After all the extra charges they tack on, he'll end up with $22 a day!