How to find a rental car deal in the US?
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You do not want to deal with an off-brand rental company. The horror stories are legion.
I would echo Lufin's suggestion of Enterprise. I've used them for 20+ years with good results and decent prices. Avis and Hertz are good too but a little more expensive. Enterprise will give you a week for the price of five days usually.
As far as insurance, check with your company to see if it covers you for an overseas rental. Also use a major credit card like Amex. They have some protection on rental cars. I have never paid for extra insurance.
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I would deal directly with Enterprise.
@lufins-dad said in How to find a rental car deal in the US?:
I would deal directly with Enterprise.
You mean book directly via the Enterprise website?
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In addition, these aggregator sites like Kayak don’t actually save you money. One time I got a quote from them and then Karla got the rental directly from the agency. Her rate was $5 cheaper per day. I’ve done comparisons twice since then and it comes up the same. I get a better rate from the company directly. I’ve checked the hotels, too. Same thing.
@lufins-dad said in How to find a rental car deal in the US?:
I get a better rate from the company directly. I’ve checked the hotels, too. Same thing.
This.
"Now look here, you Baltic gas passer... " - Mik, 6/14/08
The saying, "Lite is just one damn thing after another," is a gross understatement. The damn things overlap.
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@lufins-dad said in How to find a rental car deal in the US?:
I would deal directly with Enterprise.
You mean book directly via the Enterprise website?
@klaus said in How to find a rental car deal in the US?:
@lufins-dad said in How to find a rental car deal in the US?:
I would deal directly with Enterprise.
You mean book directly via the Enterprise website?
Yep.
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Stick with Avis, Enterprise, Alamo, and Budget. I’d stay away from Dollar and Hertz.
Enterprise has consistently given me the best value vs service/convenience. Hertz used to be right there too, but there have been too many horror stories lately.
The Brad
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One thing I just found out: I don't want to book via the local Enterprise.com website. Check this out. This is for exactly the same car, same dates, same locations.
US website:
Local website:
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$443 per week is great! I was expecting to see $700…
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I've found an offer that looks suspiciously cheap on the budget.com website.
Can you spot anything that is obviously wrong with this offer? It's far cheaper than what I found elsewhere for a similar car.
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I've found an offer that looks suspiciously cheap on the budget.com website.
Can you spot anything that is obviously wrong with this offer? It's far cheaper than what I found elsewhere for a similar car.
@klaus Budget is a legitimate company that I frankly forgot about. I believe their specialty is long term rentals which is ideal for your situation.
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@lufins-dad said in How to find a rental car deal in the US?:
I get a better rate from the company directly. I’ve checked the hotels, too. Same thing.
This.
@george-k said in How to find a rental car deal in the US?:
@lufins-dad said in How to find a rental car deal in the US?:
I get a better rate from the company directly. I’ve checked the hotels, too. Same thing.
This.
And today’s little life hack…Look up the closest college/university to the hotel and ask if they offer a _____________ rate…
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The best car rental deals I have found were at Costco
And it is nice to see several options all together
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I'm a Emerald Club guy ..
“Cry havoc and let slip the DOGE of war!”
Those who cheered as J-6 American prisoners were locked in solitary for 18 months without trial, now suddenly fight tooth and nail for foreign terrorists’ "due process". — Buck Sexton
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Something tells me @Mik has rented A LOT of cars in his time…
@lufins-dad said in How to find a rental car deal in the US?:
Something tells me @Mik has rented A LOT of cars in his time…
Hundreds.
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Stick with Avis, Enterprise, Alamo, and Budget. I’d stay away from Dollar and Hertz.
Enterprise has consistently given me the best value vs service/convenience. Hertz used to be right there too, but there have been too many horror stories lately.
@lufins-dad said in How to find a rental car deal in the US?:
Hertz used to be right there too, but there have been too many horror stories lately.
https://www.cbsnews.com/news/hertz-claims-false-arrests/
Article on Hertz being sued by multiple customers for filing false vehicle theft reports leading to customers being wrongfully arrested. Hertz is also currently going through bankruptcy proceedings.
