<p>So, I need to rent a car from this Friday at around 7:00 pm (not earlier) until Saturday night (around 11:00 pm) or Sunday morning/evening (if they charge me for two days anyways).</p>
<p>I am on a pretty limited budget and looking for the cheapest option possible (no more than around $140 for both days with all the taxes, etc.). The problem is I am in NYC. I am willing to travel to Jersey City, etc. to pick up the car. I’ve been trying to find something for the past week and has looked on all the sites (Priceline, etc). The problem is every time I find something suitable, I run into another problem (for example, they charge a higher rate if you are picking up at an airport but not coming from a fligh or if you pick up in NJ but live in New York). I feel like I am going crazy!! I don’t know what to do.</p>
<p>The other problem is the driver is under 25 (but over 21), and I know there are fees for that, but fees are vastly different from $10 a day to $27. I will also need to buy the rental place’s insurance.</p>
<p>Does anyone have any ideas where I could go? Any good experiences (or even bad ones so I don’t go there)? I really need to figure this out! By the way, borrowing a car or taking a bus is not at all an option in this case.</p>
<p>It’s not that I want to get around those charges - it’s more that I am trying to find a cheaper place (I will definitely take a look at the zipcar), and I thought maybe there is one in NJ, since Manhattan is very expensive.</p>
<p>Also, some companies just don’t tell you ahead of time that the rates are based on whether you have an airplane ticket or not.</p>
<p>Are you a college student? Some universities have “arrangements” with rental companies for rates for their students. Boston University, for example, has an arrangement to rent cars to BU students…no surcharge for being under 25, and the price is quite modest (when DS was there, I think it was less than $25 for a day). You might want to contact someone in student services or something at your university and at least inquire.</p>
<p>thumper1, unlike my name suggests, I am actually not a student (I graduated a little while ago). I only recently moved to New York, which is why I don’t know much about the surrounding areas.</p>
<p>Rental car rates are sky high suddenly. If you have a few minutes to search, go to the web site [FlyerTalk</a> - The world’s most popular frequent flyer community](<a href=“http://www.flyertalk.com%5DFlyerTalk”>http://www.flyertalk.com). It’s a web site for people who travel a lot. I got a discount code for Budget there that cut my rate by 65% for my upcoming Florida trip.</p>
<p>Enterprise does the young driver thing for $10 not $25, at least they did, but be careful, they will totally push you to take extras, my DD “SAID” no to the insurance, but did not read what she signed and the guy had checked the ‘yes’ boxes They were total jerks about it. So if they are the cheapest, be cautious and protect yourself</p>
<p>I’ve found that ‘local rentals’ are cheaper than ‘airport rentals’. They’re also usually more convenient since you can usually find one close to you and you don’t need to hassle with the airport area. The local ones will usually have a daily price that’s less expensive than the airport. Also, contact the local rental offices directly. For example, if you’re going to rent from Avis, Enterprise, etc., find the local number rather than the 800 nationwide number. You can ask the local office for the exact charges (and get their name). These local office numbers are on the companies’ websites.</p>
<p>I think rental car companies make a lot of money from the insurance they sell. If you have your own car insurance it usually will cover you on a car rental but check with them first. I suppose you don’t though which is why you’re renting a car. Some credit cards also cover insurance for rental cars if you charge the car rental on that card. Check your credit cards to see if they cover this. Otherwise, you’re stuck with the rental agency’s overpriced insurance.</p>
<p>The other money-maker for the rental companies is the ‘fuel charge’ where they either charge you money up front for a fuel option or charge you ridiculous rates if you return it less than full. Make sure you fill it up at a gas station close to the lot when you return it - even if it needs only a quarter tank or less.</p>
<p>When you get the car, take clear digital pictures of it all around before you get in it. This is to protect you if it already has a dent/scratch from the rental company trying to charge you for repairs for something you didn’t cause.</p>
<p>acollegestudent - It kills me to say this, but consider taking the insurance. In the circumstances described, you are essentially a defenseless mark. (You DO realize the rental car company can “accept” the car upon return and later contact you at home to discuss “damage done to our car.”)</p>
<p>I’ve rented from enterprise under the age of 25 and had no issues. Try looking around online, you can probably find coupon codes and such. You probably can even do the rental online and just go pick up the car somewhere, that way a sales person can’t talk you into things. When i was in florida we had done an online rental and then just went to a kiosk in the place to register and they brought us the keys. no hassle.</p>
<p>I just flew into White Plains airport and rented a car from Thurs afternoon to Sun afternoon for $19/day!! Total bill, with all junk fees, was about $101 (and they gave me a PT cruiser). I don’t recall if I put my air arrival info in the registration (many times I just select the “dont have that information available” option. Now, I am over 25 so I dont have those fees, but you have several options. First, try going to Hertz’s website, find the best weekend deal (see the options on the left) and when ou have the option to select a special rate plan, put in “last” for last minute deal. You can get some great deals. The other trick is to look at the prices on Orbitz and then look at Hotwire for the lowest price you can find, and then bid 20% below it on Priceline. Usually works like a charm, but your credit card will be billed if your bid is accepted. Dont bid too low as you will be locked out from rebidding for 3 days. My $19 bid was accepted (on a compact,tho they gave me a bigger car as I said). Somewhere when I was on car rental sites recently looking at cars in Steamboat Springs, I stumbled across something (but I cant recall where) that indicated Priceline would have accepted a $14 bid, but it was too late as I’d already paid the $19 rate. Good luck!</p>
<p>For some reason, my AAA in Hawaii has been very helpful at getting the Hertz in whatever city I want to rent at match the lowest rates I can find anywhere. I have had to turn down her booking when I get a lower one but often she can match or beat the lowest rates I can find. If you’re an AAA member, you may wish to see if they will do that for you as well.
I have had very bad experiences with Enterprise (trying to strongarm us into buying extra insurance we didn’t want) tho my sister loves them–we’re all different. I have heard horror stories of folks who said rental car companies came after them after they returned the car for damage they never did but it hasn’t happened yet to hubby or me (perhaps because of the card we charge it on or perhaps just lucky so far).</p>
<p>Rentals at airports are expensive because there are airport fees and taxes to pay for the stadiums for pro sports and convention centers cities have built.</p>
They were total jerks about it. So if they are the cheapest, be cautious and protect yourself</p>