View Full Version : BOOKING A CAR
carole7007
09-03-2002, 02:22
When you book your car, try and make sure that it is fully inclusive of all charges. You do not want to get a shock when you go to pick it up. A lot of the fly drives say Free Car, but when you get to the rental pickup you then have to pay the insurances and taxes. This can amount to a hefty bill, and if you are not expecting it a big shock.
You can usually pick the option to pay the taxes etc. in the UK before you go. It usually works out cheaper to pay over here.
So all you may have to pay for when you pick the car up is a tank of petrol.
The staff in the car rental company will always try to persuade you to upgrade to the next size. This can add quite a bit to your bill, if you don't want it, stand your ground and say NO thank you.
Make sure you check the car before you leave the rental depot, and report any damage you find to the attendant. They should then mark it on a diagram and attach one copy to your rental agreement, they keep the other. This can save arguements when you return the car, about that scratch or dint.
Keep the directions to and from the rental car depot safe, you will need them to find your way back, when returning the car after your holiday. If they have not issued you with directions go back and ask for them.
Carole & Keith
Michelle
09-03-2002, 03:43
Another tip is to check how many persons including children the car will comfortably hold, USA car boots, or trunks as they are known in USA are smaller than UK cars, Car rental companies usually have this information in their brochures. A very important thing to remember is that all children 5 and under have to be either in baby car seats or booster child seats, this is USA law, these can be hired from car rental company. Or can take own baby/child seats, airlines will put these in the hold, I do know that some airlines will pack them in boxes. It is cheaper to hire a car from a Car rental consolidator, or via a travel agent,rather than renting direct from the rental company, and by shopping around can usually get a good rate.
floridadreamvilla.co.uk
09-03-2002, 13:55
We always take our own car seats with us as it saves a fortune - 2 seats for 14 days at $5 per day each = $140!
The airlines are more than happy to carry them and they do not seem to count against your luggage allowance.
When you check in, ask for a big clear plastic bag for the seats to be put in so they are kept clean.
John & Sarah Rooke
Orlando Villas
imported_n/a
10-03-2002, 03:08
Some rental companies offer gold or silver cover whereby for approx £2 per day you get a free tank of petrol and up to 3 drivers are allowed to drive your hire car.
steph_goodrum
10-03-2002, 14:39
If like us, you only have 1 driver on the policy it is usually cheaper to pay for a tank of petrol when you get there than to pay the extra (with Virgin it is £3 a day) meaning on our average 16 day trip it would cost £48 but the tank of gas costs about $33 (Still expensive when you can go and fill up for about $17).
Babblin Boo
I always go for the gold option but one thing bugs me. You pay extra per week so why do you only get one free tank of 'gas'? Surely if you go for 3 weeks and pay the gold option for 3 weeks you should be entitled to 3 lots of gas! Just a thought.
jacqui
A lot of the times in peak season, hire car companies will ask you to upgrade purely because they've run out of the size car you booked and have to give you a larger one anyway. I was once given a 7 seater Astro van when we'd booked a sub compact. There was only 2 of us so it was nice and comfy. People in the queue behind us were complaining, sayiong they'd have it for a day or two and then come back and exchange it for the smaller car they'd booked.<img src=icon_smile_question.gif border=0 align=middle>
Jacqui
orlandobabe
11-03-2002, 20:27
Guests booking cars should ask which rental company is being used. Dollar for example are both at Orlando and Sanford airports-but some companies such as Alamo at Orlando did need you to get on a bus for the car.
That's why I like to use Dollar-plus if anything goes wrong with the car there are a couple of depots on the 192 you can return the cat too.
Such as if you have a puncture-the whole car gets replaced as they only have space saver tyres. If anything was a waste of time and money they are!
Orlandobabe
carole7007
11-03-2002, 20:38
If like us last Easter you get to the Airport, and the airline have changed your flight, don't panick.
We were scheduled to go on a flight to Miami, because of a problem the flight was changed to Orlando (even better thats where we wanted to go in the first place, but no seats available, when we booked).
Panick set in the hire car was booked for collection from Miami.
We rang the number on the booking slip expecting problems, the staff were so helpful, they assured us there would not be a problem, they would sort it.
We arrived in Orlando International Airport, thinking is this going to be a simple as she said.
It was, they had faxed ahead, and a soon as we gave our name in, they had everything organised. No problems at all.
We were flying out of Miami, and it was all organised we could drop the car off there as originally planned.
Carole & Keith