REASONABLE Car Rental in California
 

Starting our California trip flying into OAK, then to SF for 4 days. I don't want to rent a car at the airport, just to pay to park it in SF. When we leave SF, we'll need a car. Problem: we want a one-way rental for 17 days to pick up around Union Square in SF and drop off at LAX. I can't find any online discounters who do one-way rentals, and many major car rental agencies don't do them either. Of those who do, most require you to pick up and drop off at an airport. The two quotes I have been able to get were about $800+ (unlimited mileage). This seems awfully high to me, but maybe it's typical for California. A couple of years ago we were able to do something similar in France(pick up in the city, drop off at airport) for about $400. Any comments/advice/suggestions would be appreciated! Thanks!

That sounds about right to me. 2 weekly rates plus 3 daily rates = 17 days. It's always a LOT more too if going one-way only.

It's hard to know if that is reasonable or not without knowing the size of car or the exact dates of rental.

I just went into Travelocity and put in SFO and LAX for 17 days from August 3 to August 20.

Pulled up Alamo, intermediate car for $169/week, plus $116 for the three additional days. Drop off charge about $126, for a total $644.00.

Budget had a much higher per week rental but NO drop off fee and came in over $700 for the same info.

We also belong to a travel club, Travelers Advantage (1-800-548-1116), and sometimes have very good rates with them for one-way rentals. However, we always comparison shop.

Otherwise, try calling each car rental agency directly on their 800 number. Deals come and go depending on each agency's car inventory.

Good luck!

What are the dates? If you are booking way ahead, only standard rates pop up and you should wait a while to book. Two months in advance is probably good, but no sooner.

Dates are August 7 - August 24. Just 2 of us, probably a compact or an intermediate (would even go smaller), but I want a large enough trunk to conceal all the luggage).

It pays to shop around! Nationalcar.com offers a much lower rate from its O' Farrell street location than it does from Union Square - go figure!. I'm sure you can get to O'Farrell street if it means saving $250-$300 !!!

Use contract I.D 6600334 which is Ralph's supermarket shoppers discount. You can stop into any Ralphs that you pass to get a quick membership card (free), but I have never been asked to show it so you probably don't have to worry about it.

Thank you for shopping Fodors!

OK, any other ideas on reasonable car rental. Another idea would be to get a shuttle to Palo Alto (where we are attending a wedding) and rent a car from there.

That wouldn't be easier than walking a few blocks to O'Farrel Street.......

Not much help in SFO, but I got a Ford Focus in SAN in Mid May @ "City rent a car" just up Laurel on the R for $45.53 for 3 full days with ins and U/L miles - no MX 'tho.
I found the deal on www.tripadvisor.com
M

Yes, I've been making some phone calls-- $103.50 to take Super Shuttle to Palo Alto! Unbelievalbe!

Thanks, mikemo. I'll try that!

have fun with the taxes! I dontknow how it is in Ca but when i flew into Phx. Az the taxes for the car alone were 230 (no additional insurance), there was some "airport tax", also maybe i was overtaxed becasue i booked the car with an all inclusive expedia trip.

Having tried "shuttles" before (in Paris), I think we'll do a taxi from the airport. Our Paris shuttle let us off about 2 block from our hotel, but dragging suitcases down the Champs Elysees when all we wanted was a drink, was excruiating! With a shuttle you can save a few $$, but you have to think about whether it's worth it. And if it's going to be over $100 to take a shuttle from San Francisco to Palo Alto, we might as well rent a car!

Why don't you like National's rate, have you had trouble previously with National Car Rental?

I'm far from finished with this -- I will definitely call National as well as anywhere else I can get a lead on...

Just did a search for you on sidestep.com The cheapest price was from a company called Fox (foxrentacar.com) You'd have to pick up at San Fran airport but the total with tax was $621.04 including a $150 drop off charge and unlimited mileage for a Ford Focus or similar car.

Thrifty appears to have a location near Union Square but you can only drop off at Oakland or SF airports when you pick up from that location.

If you find a company that has pick up and drop off locations that suit your needs, you might go to biddingfortravel.com where they have a list of discount codes that could reduce the price considerably.

Couple other tips...
Does your airline have a car rental affiliate? Whichever one it is might be a bit cheaper, even if you don't rent right away.
Also, do you have any credit cards with "points?" We used all of ours to pay for more than half of our car rental. Doesn't really "lower the price," just what you pay out of pocket.
Good luck!

also i remember hearing about a company called rent-a-wreck. (lol) but serisouly they have ceeper rentals, its just that they may be older cars and not as spiffy as most renatls. But they are not wrecks as the name saids, they do have a web site, i have never used them so i cant speak from experience. As a side question I am 23 and will be flying to la soon, do you think that i can rent a car?

I recently "called" National and was quoted a rate that was 70% higher than their online rate. Try calling, but if you don't get the low rate that Clark mentioned, book it online. And you should book before the rates change because car rentals are cancellable/changeable with no penalty.

Ok, thank you all for your help. Especially, clarkgriswold who alerted me that O'farrell street was so close to where we were staying in SF. I found a rate of $525 for a mid-sized car for 17 days through Alamo and using Entertainment.com That seems reasonable to me!