Cheap Rental Cars

Cheap Rental Cars

We are going to Phoenix. The best price we received for car rental was $300 for the week. This is for a mid-size car. We are only paying $288 for two for the flight. Does anyone know how we can get a cheap rental car? We have checked with four different companies and this is the best price.
B. J.

Several Ways to Save

There are several ways to get a cheap rental car. First, check into any associations you may belong to, such as a union, AAA, or a wholesale buyer's club. Take note of the discounts offered through these associations.

Also, sign up for memberships with the various auto rental companies. There are often 'member-only' upgrades and discounts. And membership is free.

Check online for a map of the city that you will be visiting. Check to verify the distance that the car rental office is from the airport. Often, the rates drop because there is less demand away from the airport.

Finally, call the rental places in the city. Tell them what the best rate you've gotten is and ask if they can match it.

Using these tips, I saved $126 (I had to pay a $23 cab fee, and I deducted that) when I flew into Florida
Denise

Hotwire a Deal

Regarding the couple in Phoenix who is looking to find a cheap rental car, I live on the outskirts of Phoenix and recently had to rent a car due to our car being unavailable. If you are familiar with computers, you can try an Internet site that I used www.hotwire.com. I was able to rent a mid-size car for 12 days for $450 and that price included taxes and fees.
Roseanne

Try the Local Guy

I live in Phoenix and have no affiliation with any rental car company, but my sister and her family are here now visiting from CT. After several phone calls and some Internet surfing prior to their arrival, I was able to find a local company who rents vehicles for $129 per week with 1000 free miles per week included. These are not brand new vehicles, but they are mechanically sound. The company is called Saban's Rent-a-Car. Their local phone number is 602-269-9316. My sister and her husband are very pleased with the people they've dealt with there and I was pleased with those I spoke to on the phone while gathering information.
Sandy in Phoenix

Check on Priceline.com

Have you checked Priceline.com? I always use them to find cheap rental cars for my trips. They have never turned my offer down, even though I've offered at least $15 a day less than the lowest price the "companies" offered.
Linda

Internet Connections

You can try Priceline. Go to biddingfortravel.com , which is a forum where people post winning Priceline bids and strategies. Scroll down to Rental Cars, Arizona. Read the FAQ to understand exactly what commitment you're making.

Have you tried Orbitz and/or Travelocity? Often, their rates are cheaper than calling on the phone.

Also, try the Entertainment book. Check out entertainment.com to see if they have coupons for the agency that you're calling.

Rent-a-wreck might also have some deals on cheap rental cars.
Nadine

You've Got to Go Online

Unless there's a huge convention in town that week, $300 seems pretty outrageous for a mid-size car. To get the best rates, you've got to go online.

1. Start with the individual rental car companies' web sites. On their home pages, they all have a button marked "Hot Deals," "Special Offers," or "Promotions." Check out those rates.
   
   
2. Then, go to bnm.com. This gives you links to all kinds of specials with all the major and quite a few minor rental car companies. I've gotten some amazing deals through them.
   
   
3. Next, check smarterliving.com;. This is one of the best of the overall how-do-I-get-a-discount sites.
   
   
4. If you've done all of the above, you should by now have determined the lowest available rate so far. At this point, make a backup reservation at that rate (know their cancellation policy). Then, go to hotwire.com and check their rates. If Hotwire's rate is lower than the best rate you found from steps 1, 2, and 3 above, you need to act fast, because that hotwire rate will expire in two hours. But don't commit to it yet, since committing on Hotwire is non-refundable and payable in advance.
   
   
5. Now go to priceline.com, and bid on the rental car you want, starting with a bid that is somewhat lower than Hotwire's price. Again, when you bid on Priceline, you are paying and committing, so be sure of all the details.
   
   

The best way to bid on Priceline is by going to biddingfortravel.com, where there is a ton of information on bidding strategy, so you find that perfect balance between a low price and an acceptable bid. If you bid through Priceline and your bid is rejected, you still have time to commit to Hotwire.
Sammy

Here's a Thrifty Solution

Whenever we travel my husband and I always use Thrifty car rental. They have always provided the lowest rates no matter what city we are traveling to, not to mention great service. Many car rental companies also have "Internet specials." If you reserve your car in advance over the Internet, you receive up to 20% off the weekly rate. B.J. should also check with her own insurance company to see if they cover rental car damage, purchasing insurance through the rental company will add a lot to the final bill.
Stephanie

Great Rates at Fox

Check out Fox Rent-A-Car foxrentacar.com. They have great rates, such as $159.90 for a standard car like a Dodge Stratus.
Robin

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