Help Choosing Gold or Silver Option

[Josh]

Hi,

Just a few questions I need advice on from people who have done this before.

We are going to hire a car through uscarhire.co.uk for our Florida holiday as they seem to have really good prices compared to some others. We will be hiring a standard size SUV for 3 weeks.

After looking at the Gold and Silver options, we have found that the Silver option is £100 cheaper. We only require 2 drivers so am I right in saying that the Silver option would be best when booking Alamo?

Would it be cheaper paying for the fuel on arrival at the airport? as an average SUV fuel tank holds approx 20 gallons and at $4 a gallon = $80 or £52. So we would be saving approx £48.

Is this correct or would there be more things added to pay for on arrival? or am I missing something and am way off the mark here and be better off with the Gold option.

Also, do both options fully insure us with the car? is there any excess to pay? and if so, how much?


Thank you all for your time and help in advance.

Kind regards,
Josh

[Katys Grandad]

Your sums are correct so, generally speaking, Silver is the better option for a longer stay like your 3 weeks.

If you really want to save Gas money, make 3 individual week long Gold rentals and take the SUV back to a nearby local depot and change it twice during your stay. You'll pay the same for the hire but will actually get 3 tanks of Gas and clean vehicles instead of just 1. It's a very minor inconvenience but, with fuel prices where they are these days, it might be worthwhile.

[christhear]

As a member that visits every year for approx 3 weeks I can confirm that Silver is the best option. Apart form the fuel charge there are no extras to pay. You can opt for additional roadsode cover before you travel also available from uscarhire but as said this is optional. Don't know if I could be bothered to change the car every week for a very small saving.

[DaveL]

Silver is the best if you book Alamo as their fuel charge is only just above the pump price.

I booked with Dollar a few months ago and they charged DOUBLE the pump. We had an SUV and the fuel refill cost was just over $140.
When I complained their reply was 'you signed the contract', which is true.

So now I feel I have a duty to warn everybody about Dollar before they book.

Regards Dave

[Katys Grandad]

Don't know if I could be bothered to change the car every week for a very small saving.

I do understand that some people might not want to bother Christine but the saving certainly isn't "very small". At $80 to fill the tank each time the saving against a 3 week Gold comes to $160 (over £100) which pays for a couple of nice dinners. Against 3 weeks on Silver the saving is still over £50. I'm always struck by those who don't do it and then drive around looking to save a penny on a litre of petrol when they're back at home.

Of course the equation assumes that you will use the fuel but I've saved a lot of money over the years and fit the changeover into a supermarket trip or similar journey that I have to do anyway. Money for nothing in my book.

[christhear]

I do understand that some people might not want to bother Christine but the saving certainly isn't "very small". At $80 to fill the tank each time the saving against a 3 week Gold comes to $160 (over £100) which pays for a couple of nice dinners. Against 3 weeks on Silver the saving is still over £50. I'm always struck by those who don't do it and then drive around looking to save a penny on a litre of petrol when they're back at home.

Of course the equation assumes that you will use the fuel but I've saved a lot of money over the years and fit the changeover into a supermarket trip or similar journey that I have to do anyway. Money for nothing in my book.

It cost £100 more for a mid size suv (thats what we get) for 3 seperate week on Gold than it does on silver for 3 straight weeks. So 3 tanks of petrol would have to cost me more that £100 for any saving whatsoever to be made. Also you are restricted to your weekly change over being within a time frame of 2 hours. So definately not an option for me.

[Josh]

Hi,

Thanks to everyone for their replies. It is very much appreciated.

On the subject of changing each week; I know there is an Alamo next to Disney which isn't far from where we are staying, but as we would be collecting the car from Sanford Airport, would we not be charged for returning it to another location? The second week would be ok as it would be the same drop off, but the third week would be from Orlando back to Sanford Airport and possibly another charge?

Kind regards,
Josh

[DaveL]

Hi,

Thanks to everyone for their replies. It is very much appreciated.

......, would we not be charged for returning it to another location? ........

Kind regards,
Josh

As far as I know you can pick up and drop off at any point within Florida at no extra charge.

Regards Dave




This a quote from the first paragraph on the web site


"Cars can be collected from one location (e.g. Miami) and returned to another location such as Orlando"

http://www.uscarhire.co.uk/

[Katys Grandad]

It cost £100 more for a mid size suv (thats what we get) for 3 seperate week on Gold than it does on silver for 3 straight weeks. So 3 tanks of petrol would have to cost me more that £100 for any saving whatsoever to be made. Also you are restricted to your weekly change over being within a time frame of 2 hours. So definately not an option for me.

3 tanks of fuel for a standard SUV actually costs around $240 (around £154) so well above £100. Not for everybody but there are (for me) significant savings to be made if you use that amount of fuel.

[christhear]

3 tanks of fuel for a standard SUV actually costs around $240 (around £154) so well above £100. Not for everybody but there are (for me) significant savings to be made if you use that amount of fuel.

I am talking about a Mid Size Suv and it has never cost me more that $40 to fill up, the original paid for tank does cost more but still does not excedd £100 in my past experience.