Welcome to the MacNN Forums.

cmeisenzahl · Aug 18, 2008, 06:47 PM

I'm not hip to the inside secrets. Looking for a mid-size for a week in Orlando in November.

Any tips or sites to recommend? Thanks! ;-)

Railroader · Aug 18, 2008, 07:22 PM

Check with your auto insurance company about rental car insurance. You may not need what the rental company tries to add onto your contract. When you actually check in to pick up your vehicle, ask for a free upgrade to the next class. About 75% of the time I have been given free bump into a mid-sized luxury car after initially reserving a mid-sized sedan. It doesn't hurt to ask.

FireWire · Aug 19, 2008, 12:11 AM

Originally Posted by Railroader

Check with your auto insurance company about rental car insurance. You may not need what the rental company tries to add onto your contract. When you actually check in to pick up your vehicle, ask for a free upgrade to the next class. About 75% of the time I have been given free bump into a mid-sized luxury car after initially reserving a mid-sized sedan. It doesn't hurt to ask.

I'd be curious to know how do you bring the subject to the employee?

Splinter · Aug 19, 2008, 12:56 AM

Car rentals are usually about the same all around $35-$45 a day but if you are getting a full 7 days it only adds up to around $20 a day so it's well worth it to extend it a day or 2 if you were only planning a 5 or 6 day rental

Also figure around $25 or so a day for full insurance on you and the car and knock $5 off that if you don't want yourself covered.

Aside from that the only major factor I can think of is that if you are under 25 then I would say you should go with Enterprise... all the other companies I saw charge $25 a day underage fees while Enterprise charges $10.

And if you want the upgrade just use the promotion code UPGRADE1 when booking online just be sure to call the branch right after you make the reservation to tell them you have an upgrade, so they'll reserve the upgraded vehicle (then you're not subject to what's avail when you get there).

Railroader · Aug 20, 2008, 10:48 AM

Originally Posted by FireWire

I'd be curious to know how do you bring the subject to the employee?

I usually say something like:

"Do you have any luxury cars that would be a slight bump up from what I reserved? If you do, could I get a free bump up?"

Simple as that.

I usually rent from Enterprise. I have no idea if they are the cheapest or best value, I am familiar with them and have never had any problems.

nonhuman · Aug 20, 2008, 11:13 AM

My only recommendation is to say that I usually rent from Alamo. Why? Because once I rented a car from Alamo for a weekend. Was supposed to cost several hundred dollars despite the fact that I had reserved a tiny, shitty, subcompact that I would barely fit into. But then the guy bumped me up to an SUV (the only bigger car available) for free. On top of that, when I got my credit card bill for that month, Alamo had only charged me 1¢ for the entire rental.

wallinbl · Aug 20, 2008, 11:18 AM

Dollar has a thing where you can get a really good rate if you're willing to let them pick the vehicle. Rented for a week in Portland recently for half the price of everyone else. Ended up with a Jeep Grand Cherokee, which cost me a little in gas, but not nearly as much as I saved.

nonhuman · Aug 20, 2008, 11:20 AM

Originally Posted by wallinbl

Dollar has a thing where you can get a really good rate if you're willing to let them pick the vehicle. Rented for a week in Portland recently for half the price of everyone else. Ended up with a Jeep Grand Cherokee, which cost me a little in gas, but not nearly as much as I saved.

Wait, so you drive around for a while then just leave the car for them to come pick up? How does that save them money?

Railroader · Aug 20, 2008, 11:24 AM

Originally Posted by nonhuman

Wait, so you drive around for a while then just leave the car for them to come pick up? How does that save them money?

As I read it, the company picked the vehicle he rented. As in picked which model to rent to him.

As a side note: Enterprise will deliver the car to you for free.

nonhuman · Aug 20, 2008, 11:27 AM

Originally Posted by Railroader

As I read it, the company picked the vehicle he rented. As in picked which model to rent to him.

As a side note: Enterprise will deliver the car to you for free.

Ah, now that I've re-read his post I see you're correct. I guess I just imagined an 'up' in there. That makes a lot more sense.

cmeisenzahl · Aug 20, 2008, 11:46 AM

Thanks very much, everyone! ;-)

wallinbl · Aug 20, 2008, 11:56 AM

Originally Posted by Railroader

As I read it, the company picked the vehicle he rented. As in picked which model to rent to him.

Yes. I assume I got the Jeep because everyone else reserved more fuel efficient vehicles. No real matter. Only about $20 extra in gas and the rental was $150 cheaper than any other I could find.

GSixZero · Aug 20, 2008, 04:39 PM

I've heard one trick to get a good deal is to tell the counter guy that you need the rental is because your car got hit and is in the shop. You tell him that your insurance agent told you to come here and get a car and that insurance reimburse you for the rental later. The insurance companies have sweetheart rates with the rental companies, and going this route can get you the insurance rate. Not sure how well this would work with a rental at an airport, but you can fill in the details on how to make this work for you.