Car Rental Pricing

[GRG a/k/a goldenrulegirl]

is insane.

Do you know that the exact same car can rent for several different prices at the exact same location for the same rental period?

You have to watch these scam artists.  Sort the results of your search by lowest price first, otherwise, you get some outrageous pricing.  I just want a mid-size SUV or a van for an upcoming road trip.  The pricing ranges $258/week to $337 per week depending upon which selection you make.

Sleaze bags.  

[wvugurl26]

I think the bigger scam is the price difference between walking in and having an online reservation. Stand outside the door and make it on your phone. Saves a ton!

[wmpeon]

I recommend you try calling the rental location for pricing as well.  A few months back I rented through Avis, which for my arrival location had competitive pricing and decent reviews (yes, I checked).  I called because I wanted to confirm some details for the location, and their reservations line offered me an additional discount if I booked over the phone.  My rate after taxes went from $280 down to $235 or so, and they emailed me the confirmation while I was still on the phone and was able to verify the confirmation details were correct.  Pretty spiffy. 

[The Walk of the Penguin Mich]

I've sat in the car rental area, made a car reservation online and walked across the room to pick up a car.  Car rental is one place where I have absolutely no loyalty to any particular place.

However, one of the easiest ways of getting a cheaper car rental from an airport is to go off the airport property.  A friend of mine who rents cars says that rentals from airports usually carry a hefty surcharge.

Last time we rented for a week, we saved $100 including the $10 cab ride to the off airport location.

[wvugurl26]

I have got good deals at airport locations by going through priceline. The fees and taxes can be insane in some places.

[zibazinski]

Sometimes you just keep checking and if you enable the cookies, you start getting ads for better prices.

[AgeOfEnlightenmentSCP]

Feb 12, 2016 18:08:18 GMT -5 GRG a/k/a goldenrulegirl said:

is insane.

Do you know that the exact same car can rent for several different prices at the exact same location for the same rental period?

You have to watch these scam artists.  Sort the results of your search by lowest price first, otherwise, you get some outrageous pricing.  I just want a mid-size SUV or a van for an upcoming road trip.  The pricing ranges $258/week to $337 per week depending upon which selection you make.

Sleaze bags.  

I don't use it for everything, but when I need to rent a car- PRICELINE is the shizzzz!  I rented a car in Chicago last summer for $129 for the WEEK.

[GRG a/k/a goldenrulegirl]

I need a car for 3 days.

It is half the price of a 3 day rental to rent it for a week.  

I am am sure there is some sort of usage/consumable factor at play here -- the car rental companies justify inventory levels by the number of days a car is NOT on the lot, but, still.  

I'm glad I took the time to play with the rental dates...

[wvugurl26]

In many cases I've found that a couple days is more expensive than a week. I paid $200 recently for a week long rental. They tried to claim I returned it late and wanted to charge me an extra day at $62. The guy fixed it though when I questioned the total.

[8 Bit WWBG]

Count me among the Priceline fans.  Also, if you are willing to get a location that isn't right on the airport premises, you can do much better.  It is less convenient, but tolerable.

[GRG a/k/a goldenrulegirl]

Yup, I'm choosing from several different suburban locations -- all within 10 miles of the starting point -- and the price difference between them all for the same exact vehicle for the same rental period are enough to make me  .