Is it just me or are car rentals out of control? I rent for business at the rate of $39/day from hertz. when I checked on rates for a family holiday (5 days) it was $750 for a compact car???!!!! Larger vehicles were just as expensive and most national firms were as high or higher. Can decent rates be found anywhere? I checked Orbitz first and then Priceline. Or, am I just out of touch?

Like real estate, location location location. And timing. You're renting for a family holiday--and so are a lot of other folks probably.
I look on Hotwire for their price for what I want which will include fees and taxes, then bid on Priceline. But it will depend on time and place no matter what.

I tried renting a vehicle with Avis or Budget and online the compact was $90. When I got them on the phone, almost simultaneously, the same compact was $180.00. This, for 2 days and 21 hours. LOL

Yes, and it is usually the taxes and added 'fees' that make the total cost sky high. I am embarassed to say that my local airport, MCI, has taxes and fees that add about 40% to a typical car rental. They figured we should charge tourists and visitors to big new stadiums and event venues. I never rent there--you should go way off site and get a local company to rent to you--it's worth the cabfare to get there.

I actually haven't found that the rates are that ridiculously high, but it does depend on where you are. I rented a car for the July 4 weekend from Hertz for $54 per day, which I don't consider a bad price for the NYC area (I rented from North White Plaines). But taxes have become ridiculously high in some places.

Business rates are negotiated - and often way below what any leisure traveler would get. Can you use your business rates for this?

(And cars in NYC - with tax - are well over $100 per day - for Corolla or equivalent.)

In recent years at the end of March, I've rented from Hertz at Fort Lauderdale Airport for less than $30 day. This year, all else being equal, its over $50! Is this an abberation or have rates gone sky high during a recession? Does anyone know if something is going on in FLL that week, or is this the new rate structure? Should I watch and wait to book, or book now to avoid additioanl hikes. (Avis is even worse!) Thanks

Just had a car for 12 days from Hertz in Burbank CA airport for $20 per day including all fees. I simply bid $15 per day on PriceLine. Worked like a charm.

I made a reservation with Thrifty Car Rental for Mar 22-Apr8 for a total cost of $570 (Full Sized car, Dodge Charger or similar). The $570 includes all fees and taxes.

We are picking up and dropping off at the Orlando Airport.

The same rental at Hertz was over $1000. Book directly through the company web site. And compare different companies' prices.

I've been checking rental rates for LA and Jackson for Sept., and the rates have gone up quite a bit the last month or so.

Leased Hertz SUV this Christmas and paid about 69.00 a day with taxes extra. I got home & found an email from Hertz an extra $50.00 fee was added to my charge card...no explaination.
Called the location they said they have a sticker on front of the car if there is dog hair in the car they have to have the car detailed not just regular cleaning.

Longtime Hertz #1 Club memeber, rent 4 times a year Suvs at this lcoation & NEVER have had any extra fees ever. The dog rode in the car 1 time & I cleaned most of it myself...a regular car cleaning would have been fine.

I think I should have fought it..but next time I will use Avis if we are going to get charged extras..like the airlines....

Rent with Enterprise at off airport locations and you will never pay more than $35 a day.

Type "Car Rental Discount Codes" in Google and you can save lots of money. Also try to name your own price option with Priceline.

I've saved quite a bit with the codes on this page, which I learned about in this forum: http://www.mousesavers.com/rentalcar.html

Kieth