I need to rent a car from Plano, TX that will be returned in Houston a day or two later. I've spent about 20 minutes thus far (not near enough) but find that I pay a HUGE premium for returning the car in a different location. Are there any ways to avoid this?

Unfortunatly, no. Most rental car companies will charge you a hefty premium for not dropping off the car at the same location you rented it.

I knew that if there were a way, the savvy people would be here!

I'll keep hoping!

Is this for a return at an airport, or to downtown Houston?

Try avis.com out on the Plano expressway for pickup, and use AWD discount code A469100

Sometimes you can save a bit by NOT renting/returning at airport locations. I have saved by using downtown locations if available.

If possible, I would like to avoid having to return the car to the airport. The optimal return location would be on the West side of Houston near I-10 or HWY 290.

Tracy - Your code saves about $50 on the car that I like but it changes it to 30 cents per mile.


Just when I thought I had beaten the system!

Thanks for trying!

Don't know if you have been there yet, but Expedia will allow you to enter info for one-way car rentals as one of the options and then give you a great chart with various companies down one side of the chart and different car sizes across the top. Try that. You can also try airport or non-airport locations - but for non-airport be sure to factor in your time, transportation from airport to wherever you are staying.

For non-airport locations, I have been messed up twice because of the hours of these city locations - not always wht was posted on website. So be sure to check with actual city location (not just the website or 800 number) to make sure they are open when you need them to be.

I've already enountered that several rental locations close at noon on Saturdays.

What dates, times, and what size car do you need? Give us more to work with.

If you have AAA then try Avis code K250000, you can return to Houston Galleria or downtown but those locations close at 2pm on Saturdays.

The Saturday pick up time has been the problem. Many companies close at noon on Saturday in Plano. We would like to pick the car up around 3p.m.

Return time on Monday is completely open but prefer a neighborhood location.

Preferred type of car is a mid to full sized 4 door. When thinking of paying for mileage, we will put approx. 300 miles on the car.

The AAA code does work to lower the price by about $50, but again it bumps me into expensive mileage. This one is 35cents per mile.

I guess in the big picture, the price isn't so bad. I appreciate the help that I've received!

Try Hotwire. Not sure if they do one-way rentals, but their prices are usually the least expensive for the destinations I use.

Hotwire does not do one way rentals.

Avis via phone quotes unlimited mileage for AAA members so that might be the way to go since it's the only place open after 3pm.

Oh, I just can't help myself...

Anyone from the weekday crowd with some other ideas?

Thanks!

Some of the entertainment book coupons will work even when you drop off at another location. We were able to do so in Florida this summer.

If you belong to Costco, check their website for discounts w/ Hertz and Budget. They generally provide a discount code + a discount coupon for more savings. (I just rented a midsized car in AZ through them and the total w/ tax and fees was $62.00.