One Way Car Rentals in Florida
 

For years I've been renting cars one day for one way from Naples to either Miami or Ft. Lauderdale Airports and doing so again in reverse. On the average I've usually paid about $25, sometimes as high as $45 (in high season, for example) all inclusive. And there never used to be one way drop charges or highly inflated rates for one way rentals. Well, that's apparently all changed. I need to rent a car for pick up in Miami on June 7 -- way out of "season" to drop off in Naples the next day, and I need another one to pick up in Naples on July 29 to drop off at Ft. Lauderdale airport the next day. So even with all the codes I try, Costco, AAA, and many others all I seem to find are prices of $125 or more. Yikes. Any suggestions? Does anyone know any codes that eliminate drop charges or over inflated one day rates? (although some agencies don't call it a drop off charge, their $22 a day rate if you return it to the same place change to something like $80 a day if you're taking it to another point in Florida.) Any suggestions?

Yikes - I'm about to start looking for this summer. Will post back if I find anything. Last summer I was able to get Avis Miami Beach (off airport) one way, with no drop off fee.

I just did a quick check on avis.com, 1 week rental.

MIA to MCO, over $500
Miami Beach to MCO, about $250.

I'm not seeing the same difference on Miami to Naples though. Drop off at Naples, either airport or city location, may be part of your problem.

Other suggestions.
The website I like to use for rental car comparison shopping is orbitz.

Did you look on Disney chat rooms or sites like mousesavers or disboards for codes or suggestions.

Many car rental agencies have eliminated one ways. Most remaining are expensive to prohibitibely expensive as you have learned. I no longer plan on a one way drive.

If you have access to a corporate rate where they have negotiated a fixed one way premium, worth a try.

Also, keep shopping til the last minute. A friend who booked a multi city FL air travel learned after booking of an insane $1,300 10 day rental rate for the one way from all the largest brands. Last week she found a $260 quote for the same trip.

Well, got back to this today.

First I booked a car from Miami to Naples with AutoEurope. Had to do it on the phone as the website just isn't at all specific. The agent told me it would be $46 plus just the 6% state tax, all other taxes and fees would be included. Although it would be with Dollar and Dollar charges a big drop off fee when you book with them, their contract with AutoEurope waives the drop off fee. Yippee! They sent the voucher after I charged it to my credit card. I read the fine print. It lists all kinds of fees and taxes NOT included. I called. This agent says they have problems with their contracts with Dollar, they'd have to confirm which fees are included and which ones aren't and get back to me. But meanwhile I also discovered that they REQUIRE the full tank of gas purchase -- with Dollar that's about an $87 charge. Hmmmm. I'll use about 3 gallons of gas total -- that's about $30 a gallon. The agent confirmed there was no way around this. Cancel. I don't care to siphon off a tank of gas to store for myself and try to limp to the airport on an empty tank. What a STUPID policy.

Now, surprise of surprises. I've booked both rentals with Hertz using my AAA discount. No drop off fee. The rentals are both just over $80 ALL INCLUSIVE. So that's where I stand. Still a lot more than the $25 to $40 or so charge I'm used to, but a lot better than the $125 and above I've found with everyone else.

Hmmm. Got back to this today and was surprised to find that most of the agencies are dropping the one way drop off fee -- perhaps just now that it is out of season.

So I've now booked the Miami to Naples car with Budget for a total of just over $51 and the Naples to Ft. Lauderdale car for a total of $40.

That's more like it.

thanks for posting back. Looking for the same rental this summer.

Any new restaurants in Naples worth trying? low or hi end, doesn't matter.