NeoPatrick

I'm not saying they are always the lowest.

But I question when people like joesorce seem to be quoting those sites as if those were the actual prices to compare, perhaps they have not checked the actual sites -- clearly in this case he wasn't comparing the ACTUAL Dollar site, but rather just a so called "discounter" site which was higher. I strongly suspect that many people use such sites as Hotwire or Rentalcars.com assuming they are the lowest without looking for the specials on rental car sites that may be even lower.

And I also got the firm impression that Liz in her original post WAS assuming that by going to Hotwire and looking at the listed prices of all the agencies, she was mistakenly believing that those WERE the prices from those companies' websites. Did Liz actually go to the websites and check to see if they were doing specials that were lower than shown on Hotwire? From reading her post, I really don't think so. I often see posts her suggesting to people that they can go to Hotwire and find the prices from all the agencies. That just isn't true. They may not be the same prices as the agencies at all.

That was my point. If people are checking with actual websites and finding the lowest possible direct rate fine. But I think it's silly to worry about getting the special discount codes for discounters WITHOUT comparing to the actual company.

dmlove

We're in the process of making a car rental reservation for Palm Springs for October. With all this advice in mind, after my husband reserved a Dollar car through Orbitz, I checked Hotwire and the Dollar website. Hotwire was the same price as Orbitz (which was the same price as the "regular rate" on the Dollar website), but the Dollar website had a "click here for savings on this car" button, and it was indeed $30.00 less expensive.

On the other hand, we saved $50.00 on our Maui car rental last month by using Hotwire (Avis) over the Alamo car we had previously reserved.

NeoPatrick

dmlove. that's the sort of thing I'm talking about. While all the sites show $171 for Dollar's Phoenix rate for me, their website shows that too, until you click a "special savings on this car" button and save $21. But you can't do that on the "discount" sites. Sometimes those savings are a whole lot more.

Liz5959

Yes, Patrick, I always check the actual rental car websites. The prices for last week were the same or within a dollar or so from the Hotwire price. I have never before booked a car through Hotwire that was not their "Hotwire Discount Rate" which is often the least expensive way to rent a car.

My original post was really to express my surprise that there were no discount rates available from Hotwire for my time frame. That seemed highly unusual to me. In this case, Dollar worked out. But, I will always look at Hotwire Discount rates, along with other car sites before I book a car. And, I assume, I will contine to mostly use Hotwire for their discount rates.

smartcookie

I rented a car last weekend through Thrifty. First, found a cheap rate on hotwire for it, but then checked on Thrifty's website and it was $10 cheaper per day.

HKP

Am usually an advocate for Hotwire, but it looks like some of their practices are shifting -- e.g., they used to represent only 3 companies, and then Liz5959's story isn't the first like that I've heard.

So I do still compare with home webpages for car rental companies, and especially those that allow AAA (and AARP if you're an old poop) discounts.

clarkgriswold

Alamo usually has a coupon right on the website for $15 off or $20 off a weekly rental. You can combine this with a corp code that usually gives another 10% off. This sometimes brings their prices down to Dollar's level and then Dollar's fees are $5 to $10 higher.

Obviously if you compare a $100 Dollar rental to a $150 Alamo quote, the taxes for Alamo are going to come out higher. It's an apples to oranges comparison. Compare a $100 alamo quote to a $100 Dollar quote and you will see the nickel-and-diming that Dollar tries to squeeze in there.

I have gotten lousy cars from Dollar on a couple of occasions and find their facilities in a few cities to be sub-par, so I usually try for something else. Also, I've noted that Alamo prices often come down as the rental date approaches, a strange phenomenon. I booked a midsize car in Nashville at $168. The day before arrival I double-checked and they had a special pop up, $138 for a small-size SUV. Coupled with the $20 onsite coupon and my 10% discount, I was into a Kia Sportage for $103 a week. By the way, the corp code I use w/Alamo is 224280

smartcookie

Enterprise is almost never on the search engines and they reguarly have 50% off weekend specials and $10 per day weekend specials on their website.

TxTravelPro

Well, since we are talking about car rentals... I have been absolutely obsessive about a rental in Denver.
Pick up date: Oct 9 at 9pm
Return date: Oct 13 at 3pm
Compact car
The best rate I can find is Hotwire (by far) at 146.00 for 4 days... which includes all taxes and charges.
It is a 'major' car rental agency. I am not interested in the no-name brands.
Dollar is 225.29
Any suggestions? Denver is tough because of the high taxes.

NeoPatrick

Maybe my computer has a special deal with Dollar? I entered your Denver information and get $162 for a compact, $166 for an intermediate, or $168 for a full sized. All those are the all-inclusive. Where did you find the $225

NeoPatrick

Whoa. This is bizarre. After I posted above I realized you said 4 days, and that I had misread your arrival as 9AM not 9PM. The rate I quoted was actually for 5 days, not 4. So I reentered with Dollar -- which would be one day less. And guess what -- I got the $225 rate. So tell me why it would be $60 cheaper to get it for an extra day? That's what I hate about car rentals -- none of it makes any sense.

tracys2cents

As far as those Enterprise 50% off weekend specials go, most other car companies weekend rates are 60% or 70% off their regular rates!

Anyway, the O.P has already taken her trip so I won't get into anything else. Just wanted to rant about Enterprise, my most despised rental company.

Gretchen

Neopatrick, you are probably getting the weekly rate for the 5 days.
TXtravel, I get the rate on Hotwire and then bid on Priceline. Give it a try. We rent in Denver often.
As for Enterprise, I LOVE them in Denver. Have gotten them often on PL. I was not as pleased at Newark, but they were still the cheapest.

NeoPatrick

Gretchen, yes that's true. But it's always so silly that you pay x amount of dollars for a car for four days, but if you keep it up to three more days it becomes a cheaper total than if you turned it in after four. I understand the daily rate being less if you are renting it by the week, but nothing will ever make me understand why 7 days should be cheaper than 4 days.

sylvia3

Would there be some sort of early return penalty for paying for a week and dropping off early?

clarkgriswold

Absolutely. With the low rates that they quote, the car rental companies are just PRAYING that you break the contract by returning the car early or late, so that they can slam you with overcharges.