I'm taking a trip in about 4 weeks and will need to rent a car for about a week. Does anyone know if rates change the closer you get to the date? I'm inclined to think they will go up but I don't know for sure.

Jeff

I rented from Hertz many times, what I would do is reserve and pay for my rental on line, then print out a copy of the CONTRACT. When I got the up-sale push, and sometimes downright lies at the counter. My response was to tell them I wanted what I had reserved and paid for, we have a contract, ya want to see it? The first two times it happened Ms. Lacy (Hertz sales rat) was pissed. After that she just gave me the paperwork and the keys to the car I'd contracted to rent.

Thanks,

Did you notice any change in rates based on how long in advance you made the reservation?

Try to rent away from the airport. Went to Denver last year, car at Stapleton was $704. Went 12 miles near downtown, same company was $345. Was a $30 cab ride. Going back, caught the hotel shuttle and dropped $10 on the driver. Joe

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Wisdom chases me; I'm faster

You might get a little better rate through Priceline.com, Orbitz, etc. than directly through one of the rental car companies. My son travels all over the country a lot, needs cars everywhere, and that's what he does. You do need to be aware that the counter people will push you for an upgrade. Back when I traveled a lot, the only way I would take an upgrade is if it was free. Generally the "Insurance" offered by the rental companies is quite expensive, and usually not necessary, as your personal auto policy and your credit card will often cover insurance on rental cars. I have really taken a lot of pressure several times from the counter people to buy their "Insurance." (It's actually an insurance waiver). I remember once in Virginia, the counter guy was threatening me that if I didn't get the insurance they wouldn't rent the car to me. I straightened him out on that quickly.

Jeff,

I may be wrong, but I believe that the rates can change (fluctuate) daily based on conditions at the rental site and other factors. You could always make your reservation today and then check back periodically between now and the actual rental date to determine if a better rate is available. There's usually no charge for cancelling an existing reservation and making a new one.

The Enterprise rates have generally been excellent, but I also check with Hertz. Some will match or beat a competitor. I also go through a litany of possible discounts - military retiree, Government employee, USAA, AICPA, AARP, etc.

Sometimes they have discount coupons available on the Internet. I always ask for any free upgrades at the desk. Sometimes they have more cars in a "class" than they need and they want to get that car on the road generating revenues and profits.

This backfired on us in Phoenix a while back. I always rent a four door sedan. They offered us a Lincoln Navigator. What a gas hog. We paid more for gas every day in that dog than they charged us for the car itself.

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That's what we do!

I tested your hypothesis, and logged into my Costco Travel account, where I find the best rates. I only looked at the smallest three classes of cars.
I got a one day rental price, from a nearby Enterprise, off-airport location that I do business with, starting tomorrow and advancing consecutive weeks for two months.
The cheapest was tomorrow, followed by next week, and the week after that. Then it leveled at a higher rate until the sixth week out, when it rose higher again, for the last two weeks.

Procrastination and sloth wins.

I've personally found that to be true for a one way rental. But last minute deals may be in place as well. I've been getting good rates from Costco travel. Often, standard and full size are the same rate. Still, order as soon as you can. Cancellation is free. I don't go for the pay-now, save 10%, it's non-refundable. I'm Using Costco with Alamo this trip, had a Camry just a few hours under 4 days for $122 out of Oakland CA airport. Ordered a full size 7-day one way from Phoenix to El Paso and was quoted $490. On the checkout page was offered a SUV SANTA Fe equivalent for $160 less! Ended up in a 4wd Dodge Durango Citadel with air conditioned seats, sunroof, leather, and Nav for $330. I thought that was decent for a full week one way. These rates were competitive with the bargain sites.
Ditto on the extras. My Visa covers the deductible and rental car "loss of use" in the event of a crash. All of my car insurance carries over to the rental. Costco also allows a free extra driver, even if unrelated. $10/day is typical for that. They all really push the prepaid gas. You buy the tank of gas in advance at a normal price. What a ripoff. The only way to make out on that is to bring it back empty. I don't like trying to run my tank low while out of town. They try to scare you with a refill price about $3 higher per gallon if you bring it back below full and did not prepay. I always fill it up a few blocks from the return location. Never had a problem finding a place. Use your smart phone.


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Regarding the second driver - My brother found out about that the hard way about a year ago. He allowed his son-in-law to drive a rental car on a family trip without being listed as a driver. And got into an accident. No end of hassle over that. I am not a Costco member, but I'm not surprised they offer some kind of travel club for members. Some employers may have negotiated rates with the car rental companies and employees may be able to get the same rates for private use. Worth a try. I think NRA has special rates for members, but I have not used that.

Plus one on Costco..

Check your credit card contract beforehand; twenty years ago it was common, but nowadays many cards that used to cover the collision damage waiver don't anymore. And if you rely on your own insurance, know your deductibles, insist on a walk-around WITH the sales rep and have him sign off on every scratch and ding you find before you take the key. Do the same upon return and have him sign that there are no new scratches and dings. If you don't, you could well get a bill for a few hundred dollars a few weeks later for a scratch you know nothing about. No matter how it turns out, unless you carry a no-deductible comprehensive policy on your own car that covers rentals (which not a lot of people do because it's pricey), it'll be a hassle, since at a minimum you'll have to convince your credit-card-issuing bank that it's spurious.

When on vacation, I go ahead and pay the premium. It's worth it not to have a hassle when I get home from vacation just in case something were to happen. You're on vacation after all which is the spending of discretionary money for fun, so what's a bit more to ensure it isn't all ruined when you get $500 bill for your deductible and a ding against your car insurance for a claim?

Thanks for all the replies. I rented cars weekly for about 15 yrs. but then changed jobs and haven't rented for a while.
I'm a member at Costco so I'll check them. I did check off-airport rates through Expedia and they were 30% less than on-airport at PDX. I'm calling both my credit card providers to see about rental car coverage.

Jeff

When you pick up the car, do a very detailed inspection of the car and note ever minor ding. Also inspect the glass for any small cracks. Note everything on the contract and have the agent initial it before you leave.
If something minor happens to the car and it's still driveable, return it to one of their outlets rather than getting it towed.

Charging customers credit cards for damage is a very profitable part of the rental business. They have even been caught not repairing the damage, and charging subsequent renters for the same damage. Renter beware.

Before retirement, I used to travel quite a bit and well versed in renting cars. In June, a personal trip to Seattle area required me to rent a car for 8 days. Waited until last to rent the car. Checked all the big name rental companies, Priceline, etc. and through the airline. Best price was through Dollar Rental. They guarantee if you find a cheaper price for Dollar through Priceline, airline, etc. they will meet or beat that price. Because I was to be wheeling my mother (86 yoa) around the airport in a wheelchair, I didn't want to spend a lot a time at the counter filling out paperwork, so I joined their "Dollar Club" (free). When I got to Seattle airport, went to Dollar Rental booth near the garage and my name was on the board with the space number next to it, never talked to a person. Went into the garage space number and my car (new Toyota Camry with 146 miles on it) was parked there with keys in it and paperwork on dashboard. Handed paperwork off at the out gate and drove away. Easiest car rental ever, and cheaper than I could find through Sam's or Costco.

Looks like my best bet for Portland, OR is to take the Red Line light rail from the airport to an Enterprise location downtown, and then get primary insurance from Insure My Rental Car .com where I can get full coverage for $42.00 per week.
My own insurance will cover it but I don't mind getting the extra. All my credit cards only provide secondary coverage.

Jeff

The last time I rented a car was from enterprise a couple years ago. I was told that if I did NOT get their insurance, if I was in an accident, I would be charged for the rental every day it was in the shop for repair.

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Common sense isn't so common.

Aloha,

Costco says use their CC to rent a car thru Costco and the insurance is covered.

Since we are going to Texas in October for our Anniversary, we have reserved a Tahoe thru Costco(Enterprise) for 3 weeks.

The Wife has printed everything out.

Let you know how things go.

Expect updates on our trip when I have time.

I price shop on one of the well known travel sites where they show the prices for each company.I then book directly with the rental car company.One less layer to deal with,if there is a problem.
I rely on the collision protection offered by my credit card,and never pay for extra insurance.The downside of that,is that the companies will still look for "lost revenue" for the number of days that the car might be in a collision shop.They figure that they could be renting the car,so they want the loot that they might have made.

That's the LOU, or loss of use. Some credit cards and some auto policies may cover that.


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Typically your personal car insurance covers any car that you use with PERMISSION OF THE OWNER. If you are not a listed driver on a rental contract, you do not have permission. NEVER allow an unlisted driver to use your rental car except for a valet. NEVER drive a rental if you are not a listed driver. Spouses MAY be an exception. Check with the company. The renter is responsible for damage to the rental car in this circumstance (by contract) , and the driver is responsible for damages and injury to others.


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Haven't rented a car since retiring in 2006. 40 years before that, when I first rented a car, it was $3.00 a day and .03 cents a mile; split with three other classmates that was a good deal.

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Mike
S&WCA #3065

When I called my credit card providers they all told me that they provided rental car coverage. After I dug a little deeper it turns out that they all provided "secondary" coverage meaning that your personal auto coverage was primary and they would cover what it didn't, like maybe deductibles. It may be that some cards provide primary coverage but mine didn't.