Car rental rates seem HIGH - Timeshare Users Group Online Community Forums

maddaug · February 4, 2007, 02:11 PM

It's been a one and one-half years since we rented a car for vacation in Florida but the prices I am seeing seem extremely high. Last time we rented for $170, now the prices are in the upper $200's.
Am I missing something here or what? The price of the car exceeds the price of our airline ticket.

hopetotimeshare · February 4, 2007, 02:48 PM

This is our first time renting a car but we feel the same way and so does everyone else I talk to. We got a fullsize for $223.00 through AAA, Hertz. My sister insisted that we could get a better rate because the paid just about that for an SUV last year. Who knows? Inflation? Price of gas? Still searching for a better rate even though the $223 is really not bad considering what I have seen and I tried every code I could think of.

talkamotta · February 4, 2007, 02:52 PM

Last November during Thanksgiving week, I was able to get a midsize car for $175. It was out of MCO not TPA. I looked for the cheapest rate I could find which was $225 and then I went to Priceline. First time I ever used them but it worked for me and it was Thanksgiving week.

happybaby · February 4, 2007, 03:01 PM

Last year in May at MCO thru Alamo we had a SUV 192 hrs. for 192.00. This year same time, I have several "cars" on hold at 243.00 to 265.00 for the same time frame and hrs.
The suv's are 400.00.

Maybe too early ??? I had cars on hold last year, but did not find the cheaper rate until April. Then I just cancelled my other reservations

maddaug · February 4, 2007, 03:02 PM

I just got off the phone with National Car. They agreed the prices are high and claim the reason is that car manufactuers have cut production down that car rental co. don't have the fleets they used to carry????
Who knows?
I dislike 2 day driving vacations. I tend to get crabby and tired. Now when we are retired and can take our time......I would hope I would feel differently.

At least I saved on airline tickets. They just went up $20x4 tickets to equate $80 savings from yesterday.

To think, I was almost just going to drive to get the tickets but due to the bitter cold it was worth the extra $$ to book online.

lawren2 · February 4, 2007, 03:06 PM

It's the airport taxes.

If you rent off airport your price will go down by at least half.

Just sticking it to the tourists.

Elli · February 4, 2007, 03:38 PM

Quote:

Originally Posted by lawren2

It's the airport taxes.

If you rent off airport your price will go down by at least half.

Just sticking it to the tourists.

Very true, but then renting at the airport is so convenient, especially if you arrive in the evening when other rental outlets in town may be closed.

Timeshare Von · February 4, 2007, 04:00 PM

It's not just the airport fees/taxes. Across the board I'm seeing higher than normal car rental base rates. It has been the trend for the past 6 mos or so. I find it especially concerning, given the higher price for gasoline this past year.

I just got back from Orlando where we paid a base rate of $98/wk for a midsize (Chrysler Sebring sedan). With all the fees it was $135, by far the cheapest thing around for the past 3 mos of continued pricing. At the airport, the cheapest I could find was $225 plus fees/taxes, etc. I always book the lowest price I can find as soon as I book my trip and then keep watching for the months and weeks leading up to my trip. Often a special deal will come up, reducing the price. Almost always my rate at the time of the trip is significantly lower than the recent pricing.

For our trip last summer in Alaska I booked a midsize in October. We paid around $20/day. When our four day rental rang up as right at $100, the clerk thought there was a computer error cuz the same car was normally going for $100 PER DAY.

Yvonne

talkamotta · February 4, 2007, 04:39 PM

I was checking TPA for October and Economy came up cheaper than the rental agencies with the Costco code.

Does anyone out there have any codes for Economy?

Detailor · February 4, 2007, 05:17 PM

I think that car rental prices are a little like airfares - tomorrow's price often won't likely be the same as today's. And you'll also see fluctuation based on inventory availability for certain sizes at certain locations. If the inventory is low for full size cars the price will be high but if SUVs are just sitting in inventory you may see a price break. Also, if your vacation is either coming up during a holiday week you may never get the price that would be available on non-premium weeks.
Best bet is to check the known discount websites - mousesavers.com has an excellent list of current coupons, promotions and discounts for Orlando. As mentioned by another poster, Priceline can be a very economical alternative too when you use the name your own price bidding tool.

Dick Taylor

Carolinian · February 4, 2007, 05:33 PM

Quote:

Originally Posted by lawren2

It's the airport taxes.

If you rent off airport your price will go down by at least half.

Just sticking it to the tourists.

I often go off the airport in Europe to rent a car to avoid the airport taxes (except London where you pay the tax in the London area anyway), but public transportation from the airport to the city is much better in Europe than in the US.

Kola · February 4, 2007, 06:14 PM

My advice: stop renting SUVs, which you don't need anyway unless you are driving in a desert, and the rates will be 40% lower. And, of course, you will be making an important contribution to preserving the environment.

Kola

LynnW · February 4, 2007, 06:47 PM

I just booked a car through Thrifty for 3 weeks next Nov. We are not picking up at the Ft Lauderdale airport but at a location about 2 miles away and we are able to drop off at the airport. We got a full size 4 door for $150 per week a total of $534 including taxes.

Lynn

LMD · February 4, 2007, 07:52 PM

I almost always book through Priceline. Most recently I booked a car for my inlaws the week of Jan 13th at Ft Myers Airport. My priceline rate including all taxes was $150 for the week(midsize). The same rate through the Hertz web page was $350..with a discount code the rate was $250. Still saved $100 over the lowest rate.
Lisa

Kelso · February 5, 2007, 12:33 AM

I am shocked with how much some locations charge for the additional charges like taxes. I am flying into Portland, Maine and the required additional charges MORE THAN DOUBLE the price. I refused to pay well over $400 for a week rental of a midsize car. I was shocked when I tried Hotwire for the first time. My price was $278 total. After you agree to the price then you have to lock it down. That means Hotwire charges your credit card immediately and you can not make any changes to the reservation or get a refund for cancellation. In order to save $250 it was worth it to me to lock it down. I sure hope there are not any surprise charges waiting for me at Avis when I get the car. It comes with unlimited mileage and the right to drive the car into Canada. Those of you that have used Hotwire before, were you satisfied.

I am reluctant to lockdown a flight not knowing who it is with and the amount of time in the layovers. However, I thought it made a lot more sense to use them for a car rental.

Kelso

ira g · February 5, 2007, 07:15 AM

Quote:

Originally Posted by Kelso

I am shocked with how much some locations charge for the additional charges like taxes. I am flying into Portland, Maine and the required additional charges MORE THAN DOUBLE the price. I refused to pay well over $400 for a week rental of a midsize car. I was shocked when I tried Hotwire for the first time. My price was $278 total. After you agree to the price then you have to lock it down. That means Hotwire charges your credit card immediately and you can not make any changes to the reservation or get a refund for cancellation. In order to save $250 it was worth it to me to lock it down. I sure hope there are not any surprise charges waiting for me at Avis when I get the car. It comes with unlimited mileage and the right to drive the car into Canada. Those of you that have used Hotwire before, were you satisfied.

I am reluctant to lockdown a flight not knowing who it is with and the amount of time in the layovers. However, I thought it made a lot more sense to use them for a car rental.

Kelso

Took your advice and tried Hotwire. Saved over 30% from what I was getting on Carrentals.com. Thanks for the good advice. Didn't have to pay yet and booked directly with Alamo at the same price as Hotwire. Thanks again.

itchyfeet · February 5, 2007, 12:55 PM

Just booked two Hawaii weeks thru Hotwire. Got a premium car (Grand Marquis) one week in Kona, $265 & one week in Honolulu for the same price. Got Hertz both times. Saved a bundle (I think). We need a larger car because we'll have four adults & need to get baggage to & from the airport. Actually the airport charges weren't that much - $50 for Kona & $55 for Honolulu. Could have reserved an Alamo full size through the Costco site for $208 total for each location, but we needed the larger car.

JACKC · February 5, 2007, 05:35 PM

Over New Years, one-week rates at Ft Lauderdale and West Palm Beach were over $500 for standard cars!! Snagged a deal with Enteprise at Ft about 3 months out at Lauderdale--Luxury car about $300 (incl. fees). Got a red 320 Benz sports car that thrilled my wife.

Booking in Savannah, GA (our HHI vacation) March 10-17. Rates are typically around $200 (inc. fees) for standards, but figure on saving on Priceline. Haven't booked yet.

Guess it depends on when and where.
Jack

JLB · February 5, 2007, 06:13 PM

Be careful what you say. That plane fare could go up.

Have you looked on flyertalk for discount codes?

Our car was going to be $1200 and higher, for 18 days at Christmastime. A discount code and online coupon got it down to $570. When we got there they had an SUV (Rendevous) so we upgraded for $10/day.

Quote:

Originally Posted by maddaug

The price of the car exceeds the price of our airline ticket.

jesuis1837 · February 5, 2007, 07:00 PM

Your Hotwire tip was great as i found the best deal to rent a car (14 days for 300$) at Palm beach BUT i need a child seat to be added and there is no option when i wanna book...

You choose your car, you got a great price but no option offer!!!

Means i wont rent from them...

talkamotta · February 5, 2007, 08:20 PM

We are going to Longboat Bay in October 28- November 3. Because of this thread I went to Hotwire and I was quoted a week rental/midsize for $169 through Hotwire. I then went to Priceline and lowballed it for $145. So Im happy with that.

Thanks

JLB · February 5, 2007, 08:25 PM

I've used Hotwire as my Priceline bidding guide for quite some time.

Quote:

Originally Posted by talkamotta

We are going to Longboat Bay in October 28- November 3. Because of this thread I went to Hotwire and I was quoted a week rental/midsize for $169 through Hotwire. I then went to Priceline and lowballed it for $145. So Im happy with that.

Thanks

riu girl · February 5, 2007, 09:08 PM

I don't know if this info. is any use to anyone but if you pick up at MCO Dec 14 or prior using Dollar, some very good rates can be found using KISS2 or OCVB.

Also decent rates can be found at MCO through thrifty (especially if you can pick up Dec 14 or prior, not bad rates from Dec 15 onward) using Magicard code (must download and print out a magiccard from www.mousesavers.com, in the rental car info/thrifty) . The code is 004M001010

hoosiermarty · February 6, 2007, 05:59 PM

Use Priceline. Got a Full size car for $160.00. for 6 days. Compact was $218 and full size was over $280.00 with rental co.

maddaug · February 8, 2007, 06:47 AM

Wow, thanks for all the responses. Looks like I'll give Priceline a try and save some money.

February 4, 2007, 02:11 PM	#1
maddaug TUG Member BBS Reg. Date: Jun 6, 05 Location: Central Illinois Posts: 348 Resorts: Longboat Bay Club	Car rental rates seem HIGH It's been a one and one-half years since we rented a car for vacation in Florida but the prices I am seeing seem extremely high. Last time we rented for $170, now the prices are in the upper $200's. Am I missing something here or what? The price of the car exceeds the price of our airline ticket.

February 4, 2007, 03:06 PM	#6
lawren2 Guest BBS Reg. Date: Jun 6, 05 Location: Rockland County, NY Posts: 488 Resorts: Desert Breezes Resort Havasu Dunes Cape Winds 35	Blame it on the state It's the airport taxes. If you rent off airport your price will go down by at least half. Just sticking it to the tourists. __________________ Lawren There are many wonderful places in the world, but one of my favourite places is on the back of my horse. - Rolf Kopfle Save a Life. Spay and Neuter your pets.

February 4, 2007, 07:52 PM	#14
LMD TUG Member BBS Reg. Date: Jun 7, 05 Location: Marco Island FL Posts: 183 Resorts: Mt Amanzi Sudwala Towncenter at Jackson Hole Foxrun	Priceline I almost always book through Priceline. Most recently I booked a car for my inlaws the week of Jan 13th at Ft Myers Airport. My priceline rate including all taxes was $150 for the week(midsize). The same rate through the Hertz web page was $350..with a discount code the rate was $250. Still saved $100 over the lowest rate. Lisa

February 5, 2007, 12:33 AM	#15
Kelso TUG Member BBS Reg. Date: Jun 10, 05 Location: Yorkville, Illinois Posts: 165 Resorts: Fox Run Weeks 27 & 32	Huge Car Rental Savings for me I am shocked with how much some locations charge for the additional charges like taxes. I am flying into Portland, Maine and the required additional charges MORE THAN DOUBLE the price. I refused to pay well over $400 for a week rental of a midsize car. I was shocked when I tried Hotwire for the first time. My price was $278 total. After you agree to the price then you have to lock it down. That means Hotwire charges your credit card immediately and you can not make any changes to the reservation or get a refund for cancellation. In order to save $250 it was worth it to me to lock it down. I sure hope there are not any surprise charges waiting for me at Avis when I get the car. It comes with unlimited mileage and the right to drive the car into Canada. Those of you that have used Hotwire before, were you satisfied. I am reluctant to lockdown a flight not knowing who it is with and the amount of time in the layovers. However, I thought it made a lot more sense to use them for a car rental. Kelso __________________ God determines your GREATNESS by how many people YOU SERVE, not how many people serve you.

February 5, 2007, 05:35 PM	#18
JACKC TUG Member BBS Reg. Date: Jun 6, 05 Location: Bloomsburg, PA Posts: 226 Resorts: The Pines at Island Park (ID), Westwood at Lake Harmony (PA), Foxrun (NC), Sudwala (SA)	Over New Years, one-week rates at Ft Lauderdale and West Palm Beach were over $500 for standard cars!! Snagged a deal with Enteprise at Ft about 3 months out at Lauderdale--Luxury car about $300 (incl. fees). Got a red 320 Benz sports car that thrilled my wife. Booking in Savannah, GA (our HHI vacation) March 10-17. Rates are typically around $200 (inc. fees) for standards, but figure on saving on Priceline. Haven't booked yet. Guess it depends on when and where. Jack __________________ Life's short. Fish hard!

February 4, 2007, 02:48 PM	#2
hopetotimeshare TUG Member BBS Reg. Date: Mar 5, 06 Location: Connecticut Posts: 381 Resorts: Sheraton Vistana Resort, Lakes Phase	This is our first time renting a car but we feel the same way and so does everyone else I talk to. We got a fullsize for $223.00 through AAA, Hertz. My sister insisted that we could get a better rate because the paid just about that for an SUV last year. Who knows? Inflation? Price of gas? Still searching for a better rate even though the $223 is really not bad considering what I have seen and I tried every code I could think of.

February 4, 2007, 02:52 PM	#3
talkamotta TUG Member BBS Reg. Date: Jun 7, 05 Location: Sandy, UT Posts: 1,273 Resorts: Sands of Kahana, Longboat Bay, Westgate Vacation Villas, etc	Last November during Thanksgiving week, I was able to get a midsize car for $175. It was out of MCO not TPA. I looked for the cheapest rate I could find which was $225 and then I went to Priceline. First time I ever used them but it worked for me and it was Thanksgiving week.

February 4, 2007, 03:01 PM	#4
happybaby TUG Member BBS Reg. Date: Jun 6, 05 Posts: 622	Last year in May at MCO thru Alamo we had a SUV 192 hrs. for 192.00. This year same time, I have several "cars" on hold at 243.00 to 265.00 for the same time frame and hrs. The suv's are 400.00. Maybe too early ??? I had cars on hold last year, but did not find the cheaper rate until April. Then I just cancelled my other reservations

February 4, 2007, 03:02 PM	#5
maddaug TUG Member BBS Reg. Date: Jun 6, 05 Location: Central Illinois Posts: 348 Resorts: Longboat Bay Club	I just got off the phone with National Car. They agreed the prices are high and claim the reason is that car manufactuers have cut production down that car rental co. don't have the fleets they used to carry???? Who knows? I dislike 2 day driving vacations. I tend to get crabby and tired. Now when we are retired and can take our time......I would hope I would feel differently. At least I saved on airline tickets. They just went up $20x4 tickets to equate $80 savings from yesterday. To think, I was almost just going to drive to get the tickets but due to the bitter cold it was worth the extra $$ to book online.

February 4, 2007, 04:00 PM	#8
Timeshare Von TUG Member BBS Reg. Date: Mar 13, 06 Location: Milwaukee, WI Posts: 2,590 Resorts: FF/Wyndham Flagstaff, FF/ Wyndham Williamsburg - Kingsgate, FF/Wyndham Myrtle Beach/Westwinds, Lifetime in Hawaii (Oahu)	It's not just the airport fees/taxes. Across the board I'm seeing higher than normal car rental base rates. It has been the trend for the past 6 mos or so. I find it especially concerning, given the higher price for gasoline this past year. I just got back from Orlando where we paid a base rate of $98/wk for a midsize (Chrysler Sebring sedan). With all the fees it was $135, by far the cheapest thing around for the past 3 mos of continued pricing. At the airport, the cheapest I could find was $225 plus fees/taxes, etc. I always book the lowest price I can find as soon as I book my trip and then keep watching for the months and weeks leading up to my trip. Often a special deal will come up, reducing the price. Almost always my rate at the time of the trip is significantly lower than the recent pricing. For our trip last summer in Alaska I booked a midsize in October. We paid around $20/day. When our four day rental rang up as right at $100, the clerk thought there was a computer error cuz the same car was normally going for $100 PER DAY. Yvonne

February 4, 2007, 04:39 PM	#9
talkamotta TUG Member BBS Reg. Date: Jun 7, 05 Location: Sandy, UT Posts: 1,273 Resorts: Sands of Kahana, Longboat Bay, Westgate Vacation Villas, etc	I was checking TPA for October and Economy came up cheaper than the rental agencies with the Costco code. Does anyone out there have any codes for Economy?

February 4, 2007, 05:17 PM	#10
Detailor TUG Member BBS Reg. Date: Jun 9, 05 Location: Montpelier, Vermont Posts: 367	I think that car rental prices are a little like airfares - tomorrow's price often won't likely be the same as today's. And you'll also see fluctuation based on inventory availability for certain sizes at certain locations. If the inventory is low for full size cars the price will be high but if SUVs are just sitting in inventory you may see a price break. Also, if your vacation is either coming up during a holiday week you may never get the price that would be available on non-premium weeks. Best bet is to check the known discount websites - mousesavers.com has an excellent list of current coupons, promotions and discounts for Orlando. As mentioned by another poster, Priceline can be a very economical alternative too when you use the name your own price bidding tool. Dick Taylor

February 4, 2007, 06:14 PM	#12
Kola Guest BBS Reg. Date: Jul 4, 05 Posts: 1,003	My advice: stop renting SUVs, which you don't need anyway unless you are driving in a desert, and the rates will be 40% lower. And, of course, you will be making an important contribution to preserving the environment. Kola

February 4, 2007, 06:47 PM	#13
LynnW TUG Member BBS Reg. Date: Jun 6, 05 Location: Calgary AB Canada Posts: 485 Resorts: Meadow Lake Golf & Ski Resort, Mayan Palace, Grand Destinations	I just booked a car through Thrifty for 3 weeks next Nov. We are not picking up at the Ft Lauderdale airport but at a location about 2 miles away and we are able to drop off at the airport. We got a full size 4 door for $150 per week a total of $534 including taxes. Lynn

February 5, 2007, 12:55 PM	#17
itchyfeet TUG Member BBS Reg. Date: Jun 6, 05 Location: Sacramento, CA Posts: 333 Resorts: Peregrine, Foxrun, WorldMark, Sudwala, Harbortown Marina, Villa del Palmar Flamingos	Just booked two Hawaii weeks thru Hotwire. Got a premium car (Grand Marquis) one week in Kona, $265 & one week in Honolulu for the same price. Got Hertz both times. Saved a bundle (I think). We need a larger car because we'll have four adults & need to get baggage to & from the airport. Actually the airport charges weren't that much - $50 for Kona & $55 for Honolulu. Could have reserved an Alamo full size through the Costco site for $208 total for each location, but we needed the larger car.

February 5, 2007, 07:00 PM	#20
jesuis1837 TUG Member BBS Reg. Date: May 15, 06 Location: Québec Posts: 307 Resorts: Palm Beach Shores Resort and Vacation Villas Marriott Manor Club	Your Hotwire tip was great as i found the best deal to rent a car (14 days for 300$) at Palm beach BUT i need a child seat to be added and there is no option when i wanna book... You choose your car, you got a great price but no option offer!!! Means i wont rent from them...

February 5, 2007, 08:20 PM	#21
talkamotta TUG Member BBS Reg. Date: Jun 7, 05 Location: Sandy, UT Posts: 1,273 Resorts: Sands of Kahana, Longboat Bay, Westgate Vacation Villas, etc	We are going to Longboat Bay in October 28- November 3. Because of this thread I went to Hotwire and I was quoted a week rental/midsize for $169 through Hotwire. I then went to Priceline and lowballed it for $145. So Im happy with that. Thanks

February 5, 2007, 09:08 PM	#23
riu girl Guest BBS Reg. Date: Mar 4, 06 Location: Ontario, Canada Posts: 187	I don't know if this info. is any use to anyone but if you pick up at MCO Dec 14 or prior using Dollar, some very good rates can be found using KISS2 or OCVB. Also decent rates can be found at MCO through thrifty (especially if you can pick up Dec 14 or prior, not bad rates from Dec 15 onward) using Magicard code (must download and print out a magiccard from www.mousesavers.com, in the rental car info/thrifty) . The code is 004M001010

February 6, 2007, 05:59 PM	#24
hoosiermarty TUG Member BBS Reg. Date: Jun 8, 05 Posts: 109	Use Priceline. Got a Full size car for $160.00. for 6 days. Compact was $218 and full size was over $280.00 with rental co.

February 8, 2007, 06:47 AM	#25
maddaug TUG Member BBS Reg. Date: Jun 6, 05 Location: Central Illinois Posts: 348 Resorts: Longboat Bay Club	Wow, thanks for all the responses. Looks like I'll give Priceline a try and save some money.

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