Prebook USA car rental or not?

laissez-faire

laissez-faire

laissez-faire

Soldato
Joined
23 Oct 2002
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Location
Edinburgh/Southampton
Flying in to Atlanta next week...

I know that in America things very rarely run out so my question is purely about cost -

Is it going to be cheaper if I just turn up on the day to hire a car without a reservation or is it better to book online?

In the past when booking online it has said 'you may charged a fee for being underage' (I am 21) but when I have picked up the car I've never been charged a fee. So perhaps booking online I'm less likely to pick up a surcharge?

Suggestions?
 
I've found it's much cheaper to book in advance, but usualy through a different company. Do a search online and you should find a few deals. They often include insurance and different fuel deals, like bringing it back empty at no extra cost, sometimes you have to remind the hire company of this when you arrive.

I've also had to deal with being under 25, one time there was only one company that would allow under 25's. Since then there's been none without a surcharge, which is usualy stupidly expensive, about $25 a day :o on top of the usual rental price. I think things have gotten worse in the last couple of years.
 
The one and only time we tried to pre-book, we turned up and they had no record, and it was cheaper to just turn up and rent anyway. Forget who we "booked" through, lastminute.com comes to mind but may not have been...
 
Yes you should book online with a company like www.airline-network.co.uk - you make sure you get all the insurance you need if you book from a UK site. In the US Americans rely on their own personal insurance policies to give them adequate cover when driving rental cars.

Also try www.usrentacar.co.uk - I've used both before with good results. The gold package is worth getting now including the full tank of fuel since gas prices have gone up a lot.
 
There is NOTHING that you can do in the UK when booking that you can't do in the USA when standing at the kiosk. You can Dutch auction the various providers to get best value, I know because I did it a few weeks back in both Boston and NY. Booking your car hire in the UK is not going to secure best value unless you are booking at a busy time, such as when a major conference is in town or a major sporting event taking place.
 
housemaster said:
There is NOTHING that you can do in the UK when booking that you can't do in the USA when standing at the kiosk. You can Dutch auction the various providers to get best value, I know because I did it a few weeks back in both Boston and NY. Booking your car hire in the UK is not going to secure best value unless you are booking at a busy time, such as when a major conference is in town or a major sporting event taking place.
Click to expand...

What did you get as a starting price and what did you get them down to?
 
housemaster said:
There is NOTHING that you can do in the UK when booking that you can't do in the USA when standing at the kiosk. You can Dutch auction the various providers to get best value, I know because I did it a few weeks back in both Boston and NY. Booking your car hire in the UK is not going to secure best value unless you are booking at a busy time, such as when a major conference is in town or a major sporting event taking place.
Click to expand...

...also best to book before hand if you want a better-than-average car. I always rent the more prestigious cars - the 4x4's, the mustangs, the hummer (well, that's this May in vegas :) )


Try getting a Q7 or similar when you turn up at the kiosk, they'll be out!
 
if you really need a car i would prebook, although saying that i was in Raliegh NC last easter and got a pickup truck for just $60usd for four days (fully insured) from enterprise. As soon as the last car was gone they could close for the weekend and they had 3 left so they were desperate to get shot of
 
laissez-faire said:
What did you get as a starting price and what did you get them down to?
Click to expand...
Sorry, I can't recall exact numbers. I was on business a few weeks back in Boston, Columbus and New York, and I had to hire a 4x4 in Boston as I needed to transport a few people and I hired similar in New York. I reviewed the prices I was getting quoted online in the UK and interestingly in the US too and took advice from US based colleagues who said sort it locally.

In the end I saved about $50 in Boston I think and a bit less in NY. I simply did a deal trading off Hertz and Budget at Logan and much the same at JFK. I also managed to upgrade to first class with Delta on my way back for $50 so I do have a knack after 20 years travelling. ;)
 
housemaster said:
Sorry, I can't recall exact numbers. I was on business a few weeks back in Boston, Columbus and New York, and I had to hire a 4x4 in Boston as I needed to transport a few people and I hired similar in New York. I reviewed the prices I was getting quoted online in the UK and interestingly in the US too and took advice from US based colleagues who said sort it locally.

In the end I saved about $50 in Boston I think and a bit less in NY. I simply did a deal trading off Hertz and Budget at Logan and much the same at JFK. I also managed to upgrade to first class with Delta on my way back for $50 so I do have a knack after 20 years travelling. ;)
Click to expand...

What type of ticket were you flying on?

Also I forgot to mention, www.kayak.co.uk, that should be good for comparison also. It's better to have everything booked beforehand imo,

also,
http://www.insurance4carhire.com/
 
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