Well, We've already got my plane tickets ($170 plus tax R/T to Providence, Rhode Island from LAX!) and we just need to finalize our car rental before we're ready for our Spring Break trip. We'll need the car (compact) from Saturday 3/17 11AM until Thursday 3/22 3PM. I've checked Hotwire, and it quotes $185 plus tax, but we don't know which company we'll get. This is important since we are all 21, meaning we have to pay an additional per day charge. However, Travelocity quoted Thrifty at $193 plus tax, and they charge $20 extra per day for underage fees. Is there anyway to find out which company Hotwire offers? I know Hertz and Avis charge $27/per day, so I definitely want to steer clear of those. Any advice? And is this a good deal for March?

Hotwire only uses Avis, Budget and Hertz. Won't matter as it's stated on their terms and agreement that you must be 25 to use Hotwire's rental.

Well, there's no way to tell which car company Hotwire will use - assume one of the majors. Don't they all charge about the same for under-25? Just assume the worst. I don't think Hotwire uses Thrifty - only Hertz, Avis, Budget, Alamo.

You can also try Priceline.com. I think they ask you your age during the bid but ask you to INCLUDE the $20-something extra in your bid price (read the rules). For example, if you would normally bid $20/day for over 25, maybe you would want to bid $40/day for under 25 with Priceline.

I'd use Thrifty (I'd go directly to Thrifty.com for rate comparison) as my baseline - maybe bid quite a bit less with Priceline first and if you don't succeed, stick with Thrifty. Remember, both Hotwire and Priceline are completely non-refundable/non-changeable whereas Thrifty holds you to no obligation.

I have a few reservations about using Priceline though- here's why. When I was about 12, my father told me to plan our next family vacation to Utah- flights, hotel, car rental, but to wait for his review before I purchased. I heard of Priceline's great website so I tried it, and was stopped by a credit card screen. I asked my dad to give me his credit card, since they need it to check fares. So he handed it over, and I put in $100 as the base fare and clicked away. Of course, it was approved and I had just purchased a flight to Utah! However, I was charged a total of $160 with taxes and fees and whatnot. I immediately called customer service and was informed that unfortuantely, all sales are final. Needless to say, my father was NOT pleased, and we rushed to buy three more tickets on the same flight so our family could actually travel together.

Anyways, does Priceline charge a lot of taxes and fees as I recall? Travelocity and Thrifty.com are both quoting me $136/a week before taxes- should I try $100? I know I'm being overly cautious with Priceline, but considering my past w/ them, I think it's not just paranoia.

Uh, yeah, it IS just paranoia, no offense. I've used Priceline dozens of times mostly for hotels but a few times for hotels. They are legit. You were 12 after all! No offense, but no 12 year old should be making travel reservations with daddy's credit card for hundreds of dollars for the whole family!!! Your dad should never have let you do such a thing. I don't see why this is supposed to be a knock against Priceline?

You do need to pay attention to what you are doing with ANY travel site, not just Priceline. You need to read the conditions before you submit your credit card to a website. Priceline (like Hotwire) is non-refundable/non-changable once they accept your price and charge your credit card, but any competent person can see the price they are agreeing to before they submit their credit card. For a rental car, they tell you the taxes/fees and the final price ahead of time. Like Priceline, they won't tell you the car company before they accept your price.

Here's how you would figure out the Priceline bid price: figure out what Thrifty would cost you WITH THE SURCHARGE for your age. Use that TOTAL price (with fees/taxes included) as our target to beat on Priceline, because before you submit your Priceline bid, you'll see a total (taxes/fees included) you'll be charged. You have to work backward and pick a per-day amount by guessing, go to the next screen, see what the total with taxes/fees is, and see if that total is what you want. If not, change your per-day bid price.

And remember, unlike Thrifty, Priceline locks you into the reservation once they accept - so you need to save a significant amount to make it worthwhile. So don't pick a target price that is just $5 less than Thrifty. Try to save more than that. Otherwise, why bother?

To be honest, in your situation, I'd probably just stick with Thrifty and not use Hotwire or Priceline.

I believe my father was on the phone or something, and he gave me his wallet to make me go away. LOL

I agree, with the whole underage surcharges, it might be easier to just book it through Thrifty. I like that better, since it won't charge me until I pick up the car. But I will keep Priceline in mind for future purchases now that I know more about it. Thanks!

What Andrew said is right on--to blame PL for what happened is rather silly. Whenever you use a site (no matter what age!!) you need to understand the consequences of entering the CC #. I check VERY carefully before I punch that final button!!
When I am shopping for a car rental I look on Travelocity or the like first for a ballpark figure on the rental I want. Then I look on HOtwire where they give you the final price INCLUDING taxes and surcharges for the location you are renting in (you do not have to accept this offer).
Then, knowing that my PL bid will have these added on, I bid on PL. I have usually saved about 50% on PL--if it is a time when any savings are to be had, I'll add.

Your car rental length of time may qualify for a week rental. AND when you say "plus tax", you may find some considerable amounts in this. I would venture to say it doesn't make any difference what company--they will be within range of one another on that charge.

I meant with regard to the add on for underage drivers about the "not making much difference--will be the same". Well, and I guess taxes also.

Priceline always give you the total, including taxes and fees, before you click "Buy".