I booked a rental car with Hotwire once, and paid for a late day return (extra day price). When I got to the counter, they didn’t have it that way and charged me (quite a lot) for the late return I contacted Hotwire but got tired of the runaround and just ate the charge (plus the extra day I’d paid for to Hotwire directly).
I always check around but end up getting the best price thru Costco. My DD2 bought a Costco membership just for the car rentals and still came out ahead. We do sometimes book off-site from an airport because it is way less- airports apparently have to charge additional federal taxes. One big tip- the agent off-site in Denver told me that if you check the box on their form that says something like “flew into the Denver airport within the last 72 (I think) hours” they have to charge you the additional taxes and your quoted fees will go up. He told me to always check NO on that box!!!
We never buy the additional insurance. I have never had a problem booking through Costco. I always get a confirmation from the rental company right after I book. One big issue I have had with Alamo/Enterprise is that I booked a car in my home town when we were going to be short a car, and when I arrived, they did not have any available cars in that class available. They refused to give me the upgrade car that they did have at the same price. I called the corporate office and was told by a manager there that reserving a car on-line does not guarantee there will be one available when you arrive there. Can’t believe that policy and try to avoid those agencies, but sometimes I can’t . They kind of have you over a barrel in some areas. Our in-town agency is very small and I have not had that problem at larger facilities.
Interesting…I’ve never seen such a box, but I’ll keep that in mind!
Reminds me of the Seinfeld episode
https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=4T2GmGSNvaM
@takeitalian, I’ve had the “no car available in that price range” and also a simple “no car available at all” at Hertz and Avis as well as Enterprise. Some of these failures to deliver at some larger airport agencies. They do have us over a barrel - anyone know the way out??
We’ve had the experience of no car available in our class but they have always upgraded us for free. No issues.
We always print out a copy of the terms to have proof of the rate et al at the counter.
Some airports charge hundreds of dollars more for airport rentals than others and DIA is one of the bad ones. I did the off site car rental in Denver earlier this year and I couldn’t believe the difference in price. I did it through Costco. When I was doing the paperwork for the car, at the rental place, I asked about how much more it would cost if I returned it to the airport, instead of the same off-site location. The agent said that because I asked before the paperwork was done, that there would be no charge! And there wasn’t.
We’re about to go on a trip to Sacramento and I again booked through Costco, but going off site would have been a hassle and I got a great deal at the airport - $126. What made it sweeter was that I started off with $279, checked the prices again and got it for $207 and decided to look one more time the other day and got the new low rate. Costco makes booking AND canceling easy.
We almost always use coupon codes from BJs when renting a vehicle. While we are members, I think you can easily get the discounts without membership since the site does not ask for a sign in and the rental places do not require your card upon pick-up. Also, sign up for as many free memberships with car rental companies as you can - National Emerald Club, Budget Fastbreak, Alamo Insiders, etc. There are a lot of time saving perks and sometimes some discounts. Full weeks are frequently cheaper than several days. Lastly, keep checking rates; they change ALL the time.
I booked a compact car in Boston through Hotwire. When we got to the airport there were no cars in that class available - they let me take an SUV at no additional cost.
That’s not uncommon. I’ve had at least a half dozen trips in the past few years where I’ve been upgraded in the class of car because the class I had booked (typically the cheapest) wasn’t available.
Another advantage to signing up with the car rental companies’ memberships is getting your rental car faster, especially if you’re at an airport. You’re either in a special, shorter line or no line at all.
Just trying to lighten the mood of this thread.
Traveling to Annapolis I always book a subcompact or smaller at BWI. I’m 6’3". They always offer me a free upgrade to a bigger car. I tell them, “Have you ever tried to park in Annapolis?” They always laugh and give me the smaller car.
Don’t forget to book through mrrebates for the additional rebate! I just saw that my 3% rebate from a recent Hertz rental posted to my account. Free money! Please feel free to PM me for more info!
If you are playing the mileage game, H booked a flight on United, as well as a Hertz rental car thru the United site.
Currently running a 40% off special on mid-size car or larger…as well as 2,750 miles. The miles currently have about a $41 value to us. He has been finding that the flight/car combo has been very competitive lately.
We usually book Enterprise, and now use Costco. The Costco bookings allow 2 drivers for no extra charge. We were questioned about that at our last booking, but fortunately I had the Costco paperwork with me, which stated that policy, so they accepted it. At one of our Enterprise reservations (off site), they had NO cars available, and we had to wait 2 hours. Fortunately we were in no hurry, and were able to spend the time at a nearby restaurant. But then I received an odd call, that asked us if we still wanted the car since it was past the pick-up time. I could only think they had a shift change, and cars happened to arrive in the interim, but they failed to call us earlier? Had we been in a hurry, I would have asked them to get another car from a different Enterprise site, since they also promise to ‘pick you up’, but in the end it all worked out ok.
Yeah me too, in the days before pulling up the email confirmation on my phone. In the Hotwire case I mentioned, the rental company didn’t care. Their own records were different and that was the end of the matter.
Yes, I always carry a printed copy of ALL my travel info, including car and hotel and plane, just in case. We have to pull it out at least 1/2 of the time.
^^ Same here. I print out everything and put them in a gallon size ziplock bag. I also highlight all confirmation numbers, flight numbers, dates, flight departure times making them easy to find.
I put them in the pack zippered pocket of my carry on for quick access. I try to always have them in the same spot because it minimizes confusion.
I also carry printed copies of confirmations - hotel, rental cars, planes. It comes in handy.