Search

Car Rentals are expensive!

Thread Tools
 
Search this Thread
 
Old Jan 14th, 2015, 09:14 AM
  #1  
Original Poster
 
Join Date: Feb 2010
Posts: 185
Likes: 0
Received 0 Likes on 0 Posts
Car Rentals are expensive!

Renting a car for a week in Phoenix. Could also fly into Tucson. Any tips on cutting down the price of car rentals? Have tried the consolidators (Travelocity, Expedia, etc.) as well as individual car rental companies. Any size will be fine as we won't be driving that much, but will definitely need transportation. Have you used any website lately where you've gotten a better deal? Thanks for any/all information!
kwood1955 is offline  
Old Jan 14th, 2015, 10:41 AM
  #2  
 
Join Date: Jan 2007
Posts: 17,801
Likes: 0
Received 0 Likes on 0 Posts
My best tip is to keep rechecking, and be prepared to cancel a reservation and rebook if you find a better price. I have found that prices drop (presumably in response to demand) unpredictably sometimes.

Second tip is, find out which rental agencies are in-airport, and consider an off-airport one if the shuttle is free and the price is low enough to be worth the extra hassle.

Third, seek a discount code: USAA, AAA, AARP, etc. Also try Googling "Avis Discount Code", or whatever agency. I have been surprised to find codes listed on websites like Retail Me Not that actually work to lower the daily rate.
NewbE is offline  
Old Jan 14th, 2015, 11:55 AM
  #3  
Original Poster
 
Join Date: Feb 2010
Posts: 185
Likes: 0
Received 0 Likes on 0 Posts
Thank you, NewbE! Great information!!
kwood1955 is offline  
Old Jan 14th, 2015, 12:29 PM
  #4  
 
Join Date: Feb 2006
Posts: 27,614
Likes: 0
Received 1 Like on 1 Post
Have you checked Hotwire? I have had good luck with them. I also use Enterprise on occasion.
thursdaysd is offline  
Old Jan 15th, 2015, 07:06 AM
  #5  
Original Poster
 
Join Date: Feb 2010
Posts: 185
Likes: 0
Received 0 Likes on 0 Posts
Thanks, thursdaysd. I haven't tried Hotwire -- I will check them out! And I'll try Enterprise. Thanks!
kwood1955 is offline  
Old Jan 15th, 2015, 08:23 AM
  #6  
 
Join Date: Jan 2007
Posts: 17,801
Likes: 0
Received 0 Likes on 0 Posts
You're welcome, and good luck! I generally try all the agencies listed (usually on the airport's website) that are in-airport, and find inexplicably large price differences between them. I've had good luck with Enterprise and Budget, but really, any of the major agencies can cough up a good rate.

It's a pain, but not as bad as the days when you had to call around, lol.
NewbE is offline  
Old Jan 15th, 2015, 09:50 AM
  #7  
 
Join Date: May 2007
Posts: 669
Likes: 0
Received 0 Likes on 0 Posts
In addition to Hotwire, try Priceline. I've had good luck with both.
mjz_kc is offline  
Old Jan 16th, 2015, 04:44 AM
  #8  
 
Join Date: Feb 2003
Posts: 14,007
Received 1 Like on 1 Post
If you belong to Costco, check out their car rental deals.
schmerl is offline  
Old Jan 16th, 2015, 06:10 PM
  #9  
 
Join Date: May 2003
Posts: 8,219
Likes: 0
Received 0 Likes on 0 Posts
We've also had good luck with Priceline. Used them for Phoenix a few months ago.
abram is offline  
Old Jan 16th, 2015, 07:00 PM
  #10  
 
Join Date: Nov 2010
Posts: 11,728
Likes: 0
Received 17 Likes on 4 Posts
Have you considered flying to Tucson or Las Vegas?
I used Priceline to snag a $14/day rate in LV once. Natiopnal let me choose a Mazda 2 that had less than 1K miles when I left.
tomfuller is offline  
Old Jan 19th, 2015, 05:36 AM
  #11  
TC
 
Join Date: Jan 2003
Posts: 4,859
Likes: 0
Received 0 Likes on 0 Posts
Look at picking up your rental away from the airport....at a city agency. A majority of the fees are tacked on because of airport locations.
TC is offline  
Old Jan 19th, 2015, 06:29 AM
  #12  
 
Join Date: May 2003
Posts: 27,868
Likes: 0
Received 0 Likes on 0 Posts
Book the best refundable car you can now; keep checking.
I found this on another post here; I signed up for it, let's see if it comes up with any better deals in the next 4 weeks..

http://www.autoslash.com/
DebitNM is offline  
Old Jan 19th, 2015, 06:39 AM
  #13  
 
Join Date: May 2003
Posts: 27,868
Likes: 0
Received 0 Likes on 0 Posts
try rentalcars.com they seem to have a large data base to use for finding prices.
DebitNM is offline  
Old Jan 19th, 2015, 06:51 AM
  #14  
TC
 
Join Date: Jan 2003
Posts: 4,859
Likes: 0
Received 0 Likes on 0 Posts
I just put in a random week in February on Hotwire.com If renting in "the city" the cost is $21.34 per day or <u>$172 total</u> for a week. If renting at "PHX" airport, the cost is $22.95 per day, but the <u>total is $283</u>. That is all the airport fees tacked on. Big savings if you go to your hotel and then get a car locally. Many will deliver to the hotel.
TC is offline  
Old Jan 21st, 2015, 08:33 AM
  #15  
 
Join Date: Oct 2009
Posts: 171
Likes: 0
Received 0 Likes on 0 Posts
Some car insurance companies have rental car discount coupons that have double discounts attached...like Allstate, for one. Check with your insurance company.

I agree to check regularly as the rates change often. I've been known to book online only to find a better rate later (I don' book paid in advance rates). I cancel and rebook. Many times I find if you book extra early, the rates are better than waiting until your date is closer, but, you can still continue to check.
incognitochic is offline  
Related Topics
Thread
Original Poster
Forum
Replies
Last Post
irishswampyankee
United States
5
Nov 22nd, 2011 12:13 PM
CarolRob
United States
16
Aug 3rd, 2010 11:16 AM
Hofstra1
United States
6
Aug 20th, 2009 03:28 PM
ed
United States
6
Aug 16th, 2006 06:44 AM
owrp
United States
9
May 8th, 2005 04:56 AM

Posting Rules
You may not post new threads
You may not post replies
You may not post attachments
You may not edit your posts

BB code is On
Smilies are On
[IMG] code is On
HTML code is Off
Trackbacks are Off
Pingbacks are Off
Refbacks are On



Contact Us - Manage Preferences - Archive - Advertising - Cookie Policy - Privacy Statement - Do Not Sell or Share My Personal Information -