I just checked expedia, Hertz has the cheapest rate. If you were to pick up the car in Austin (not the airport) and drop it off some where in Manhattan, the rate is around 700 for a midsize car, and that’s all inclusive for a week.
You can get a discount if the rental company need to move cars to a location where more cars are needed. NYC is not such a destination, unfortunately.
Just checked Costco…roughly $750 for a week (no discount for 5 days) for mid size car… obviously guessing on dates, pick up spot, etc…
Check to see if there is a surcharge for the pet. The last car rented came with a note that there would be extra charges for smoking and for pets.
Wow, the prices you guys are quoting are so hight! (but I believe you!) I just rented a car Thurs May 21 - Monday 25th (Memorial weekend) for a total of $128 - from Costco . And that included a driver under age 25 (they waived his fee as an additional driver).
Many years ago we drove a “U-Drive” car. Basically it was a low cost service people would sign up for to have their automobile transported for them during a move. The company would charge a low rent to the one-way driver, and a low moving charge to the owner, so it’s win-win-win. I don’t know if those services still exist, but it seems like in the day of uber and air-b-n-b, they certainly should.
http://www.gonomad.com/1562-driveaway-across-the-usa-auto-driveaways
http://www.autodriveaway.com/driver
http://www.independenttraveler.com/travel-tips/car-travel/one-way-car-rentals-and-driveaways
For starters. Keywords auto driveaway; Auto Transporters
Also, Greyhound has a “Student Special” rate to ship belongings. I think UPS may have one also. The dog can be kenneled and fly in the baggage compartment of the airplane (visit to the vet beforehand, and get puppy-Valium). Could be done that way.
Not sure it will help, but National has promo and coupon codes you can stack. You will have to try different combinations to get best price (PITA, but worth a few extra minutes). Make sure the pickup location is not at the airport where rates are usually higher. Last, would Amtrack be an option. If he is gong to drive, Amtrack may be a little faster and more relaxing if they allow animals.
I second @ItsJustSchool’s suggestion. People are constantly moving cars across country and they need drivers for those cars. The pet is a complicating factor, I don’t know if movers allow for pets but it’s worth asking.
You may have to be a bit flexible on the destination. So, maybe not NYC but try a suburb or New Jersey destination on public transportation line. Drive to NYC. Move in. Drive to drop off destination and dtop off car. Take train back to NYC.
Lots of great ideas! This is sort of a cross country honeymoonish trip for them, hence the timeline. They will be visiting with friends along the way. No airline will fly a dog during the summer, for good reason. Will check on car movers today.
Personally, I twice rented one-way with Hertz and paid no drop off fee. One trip was Seattle to Milwaukee. The other was San Francisco to Seattle.
Enterprise almost never does one way rentals.
Also, check rates every couple of days. Rates can change more rapidly than you realize. Keep checking until the day before you leave.
At the end of the trip, make sure to complain (politely) about anything that disappointed you about the vehicle. Sometimes you meet a generous agent who will give you a discount. But make sure no dog hair is left in the vehicle – then you will be charged extra. Return the car a clean as you can.
Finally, make at least two reservations, with independent companies (Hertz owns Thrifty, and Avis owns Budget. Thus those match ups are not independent). Often the rental agencies do NOT have the vehicle you asked for. Their over-booking policy would astonish a cynic. No industry cares less about its customers than does car rental.