Salanis
Salanis PowerDork
6/28/12 5:49 a.m.

Going to be renting a car in a few weeks. Using one of those "we find you the best deal sites" is returning a cheaper price from Avis than the Avis website is (by about $40). Is this normal? Legit? Is there a catch that I'm going to get stuck with an extra charge or something? Am I not going to be able to get regular customer service if I need to do something like extend the period of time I'm going to keep my rental?

ddavidv
ddavidv UberDork
6/28/12 5:56 a.m.

The sites for rentals, hotels, airline tix, etc all negotiate with the vendor for deals. Should be legit.

One of the things I've learned is to try to avoid renting from an airport location. It is often cheaper to take a shuttle into the city to the rental location and get the car there, particularly if it's a longer term. The daily rate at airports is always significantly higher.

Salanis
Salanis PowerDork
6/28/12 6:12 a.m.
ddavidv wrote: The sites for rentals, hotels, airline tix, etc all negotiate with the vendor for deals. Should be legit. One of the things I've learned is to try to avoid renting from an airport location. It is often cheaper to take a shuttle into the city to the rental location and get the car there, particularly if it's a longer term. The daily rate at airports is always significantly higher.

I'm well aware of that. I'm already in the city and the airport is not the most convenient location for me. I'm used to taking public transport to get around town. Just renting a car for a roadtrip into Belgium.

Klayfish
Klayfish Dork
6/28/12 6:51 a.m.

Yup, it's legit. You shouldn't have any problems with customer service, etc... To Avis/Budget, you're another customer just like anyone else.

sobe_death
sobe_death Reader
6/28/12 7:10 a.m.

If you rent with Avis, be diligent and take photos of the car before you take it from them.

I just got saddled with a 400 euro charge for "scratches on the wheel" when there were literally no chances to scratch the center of an 18" wheel. They also have no record of my rental from them, so fighting it is quite difficult.

Salanis
Salanis PowerDork
6/28/12 8:24 a.m.

I'm more worried about them tracking my car to Nurberg, assuming I took it on the ring, and slapping me with a fat fine. I plan to document the process of renting and driving another car to be able to prove the econo-rental never touched the ring.

szeis4cookie
szeis4cookie Reader
6/28/12 12:50 p.m.

I've rented from Avis both through their website and through Priceline - didn't notice a single difference in the way I was treated between the two.

I have an AWD code that you can try punching in the Avis website to see if you can do better than the standard rates - can PM that to you if you're interested.

Also, if you are a Costco member back home, try out Costco Travel (www.costcotravel.com) - they may do even better for you.

Salanis
Salanis PowerDork
6/28/12 12:58 p.m.
szeis4cookie wrote: I have an AWD code that you can try punching in the Avis website to see if you can do better than the standard rates - can PM that to you if you're interested. Also, if you are a Costco member back home, try out Costco Travel (www.costcotravel.com) - they may do even better for you.

Not a costco member. My girlfriend is though. Go ahead and PM me that code, could be helpful.

poopshovel
poopshovel PowerDork
6/28/12 1:02 p.m.

Clark Howard likes to brag that his best score was $13 a day.

Giant Purple Snorklewacker
Giant Purple Snorklewacker UltimaDork
6/28/12 1:04 p.m.
sobe_death wrote: They also have no record of my rental from them, so fighting it is quite difficult.

Then you fight it by saying "I never rented a car from you"

jrw1621
jrw1621 PowerDork
6/28/12 1:24 p.m.

I do not want to brag, but my recent score was $7.41 pre-tax and $18.80 per day, all in with taxes and airport fees.

My method: I went out to www.priceline.com
Not the name your own part but the part that shows you rates for many companies all in one place.
I had to hit the "see more" tab.
Typical companies were $45 to $80 per day.
Under "show more" I found Payless Rental for $11 per day, Midsize.

I then went off to Payless' own site. Maneuvering around there I found $7.41 per day, Midsize.

Phoenix Airport
Weds Jun 20 to Fri Jun 22 (2 days) (not weekend rate!)
$7.41 daily rate
$0.77 Facility fee (typical BS at airport)
11.1% concession recovery fee (typical BS at airport) $0.91
$6 per day customer facility charge (typical BS at airport)
11.3% sales tax
5% license fee
3.25% county surcharge

All this made $7.41 go to $18.80 per day.

Low frills company but right at the airport. The car they had for me in the parking garage was a '11 Mitsu Galant. I had no idea they still made these!. It had 39k miles on it.
I kindly and nicely pointed out to the lot worker that the car was pretty rough and they put me into a 20k mile Sonata for the same.

All in all, a good experience.

I have done "name your own" many times with good results but at $7.41 how much lower could I really see? Another 20% off would only save me a $1.50. I just booked it quick before it disappeared.

sobe_death
sobe_death Reader
6/28/12 4:11 p.m.
Giant Purple Snorklewacker wrote:
sobe_death wrote: They also have no record of my rental from them, so fighting it is quite difficult.
Then you fight it by saying "I never rented a car from you"

Strange, that's the same tactic that I employed today against my card company and the rental company

integraguy
integraguy UltraDork
6/28/12 9:00 p.m.

I am thinking about renting a car for my next trip home to see my folks (2200 miles, round trip), and would like to know anyone's experiences with renting for long distance/out-of-state trips. Any one company better or worse than the others?

BTW jrw1621, Mitsubishi still sells Galants to "private customers" but you will probably have to special order one that is in a color besides refrigerator white or boring as hell silver/grey. Looking at the C&D buyer's guide for 2012: Galant gets 1/2 of a star out of 5. I'd give you the low down on it's "demerits" but space here is limited....the 2012 Galant was all-new in 2004 and has been face-lifted/"updated" off and on since.

Fit_Is_Slo (ceasarromero)
Fit_Is_Slo (ceasarromero) HalfDork
6/28/12 10:39 p.m.
poopshovel wrote: Clark Howard likes to brag that his best score was $13 a day.

stuart in mn
stuart in mn UberDork
6/29/12 9:04 a.m.
integraguy wrote: I am thinking about renting a car for my next trip home to see my folks (2200 miles, round trip), and would like to know anyone's experiences with renting for long distance/out-of-state trips. Any one company better or worse than the others?

I rented a car from Hertz last year for a 1500 mile round trip, it worked out just fine. I went through AAA to book the car, they had a special offer at the time which knocked a few dollars off the deal.

Not all rental companies will rent their cars for long distance trips, I know Enterprise is one - in Minneapolis they only allow the car to be used in Minnesota or surrounding states, no further.

blizazer
blizazer Reader
6/29/12 10:49 a.m.

The forums over at flyertalk.com are my first stop whenever renting a car. They're always up to date on which discount codes or fare matching deals are available.

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