When to book rental car

[AJluvsMickey]

We are flying into MCO on October 26th.
Is it too soon to start looking at rental cars?

I'm hoping to bid on Priceline for a rental car, has anyone else done that, and how was your experience with it?

Thanks so much!

 

[wdwstateofmind]

In general, rentals aren't that cheap at MCO as you'd get somewhere like Tucson (don't forget it's pretty much a year round tourist destination). Personally, I'd avoid priceline with rental cars as their prices are usually the same as normal rates (or you can just google a promo code for whatever company you choose)...rates with cars only go up as availability gets less closer to your desired date so I'd book now (usually budget's the cheapest, but I myself prefer AVIS as long as it's not the Port Canaveral location)...

 

[AJluvsMickey]

Great, Thank you!
I was hoping price would go down the closer we got to leaving.
Avis so far does seem to have the better rates of the major rental car companies.

 

[tare]

Chk online coupon codes. I have found some great one thru budget. Like 30% off and it was for a Prius.

 

[Nemo14]

We do well with Dollar - check their city specials on their website. We have a full size car booked for a week in September for $140.00 total.

 

[Nemo14]

and check frequently - prices change not only throughout the week, but even throughout the day. Since they don't ask for a credit card at booking, I have booked, cancelled, booked, cancelled, etc. several times 'til I get a rate that I'm happy with.

 

[AJluvsMickey]

Thanks @tare and @Nemo14.
I hadn't thought of checking city specials, but have been watching the coupon codes.
@Nemo14, have you rented a few times with Dollar? I haven't read great reviews with them. But if I can get a full size for a week at the price, I would be in heaven!

 

[Nemo14]

Thanks @tare and @Nemo14.
I hadn't thought of checking city specials, but have been watching the coupon codes.
@Nemo14, have you rented a few times with Dollar? I haven't read great reviews with them. But if I can get a full size for a week at the price, I would be in heaven!

We've rented several times from them, never had an issue. As far as prices go, you need to check often. When you find a price you like, book it then (no credit card required to book), but keep looking regularly. Prices fluctuate, not only daily, but throughout the day, so the price you find this morning will differ from one you find tonight. I tracked the prices this year before I booked, and over a 3 week period, weekly base prices fluctuated from a high of $246.33 to a low of $87.98, so it pays to do your homework.

 

[lilclerk]

I always end up renting a car through Priceline. What I usually do is scout out the coupon codes on mousesavers and hold the best one I can find. Then I start naming a price on Priceline. If something better comes up, great. I usually bid ridiculously low ($8 - $12/day for compact through standard sizes, it's usually just two of us) and always get something a few weeks out. Then I cancel the one I held with the coupon code.

The downsides are you need to pay when you book, and you don't know what company you're booking with until you win. The plus is that all the companies that do name your own price are inside the terminal at MCO, so you won't need to travel out of the airport to get your car. Just walk across the street.

Now, I haven't rented a car since 2/12 so the prices I used may not work, but hey it's worth a shot.

 

[tare]

Thanks @tare and @Nemo14.
I hadn't thought of checking city specials, but have been watching the coupon codes.
@Nemo14, have you rented a few times with Dollar? I haven't read great reviews with them. But if I can get a full size for a week at the price, I would be in heaven!

You are welcome

 

[AJluvsMickey]

Thanks again to all! As per a few recommendations, I've been stalking car rental websites daily for best deals.
I had one booked a couple weeks ago through Dollar for a full size @ $210 roughly with taxes.
Just checked again today, and finally saw a price decrease! Modified it, and saved another $41!
So far, the other rental companies (namely the "name brand" ones) have been double to triple that.

I got excited at the price drop
Will of course keep watching!
Only 2 more months!!

 

[CRad1028]

I book using Alamo and there insider discount which is at least 10% off and a free additional driver. Now thru sometime 2014 it is a free class upgrade too, for compact and midsize car. I got a standard car for $186.06 for 10 days. Plus it isn't pre paid and can be change up until the trip. Just as a side note if you go get the extra pre pay discount you will give up the additional driver.

 

[jadenathanau]

Renting a car no doubt save money and time but proper planning is necessary as it not happen that trip is for only a week , and rented car is delivered after 4 to 5 days, also renting a car makes Eco-friendly by saving natural resources, but to make better deal it is better to do bargaining from website like https://ariescarrental.com.au/ instead of trying to use the promotional code as it cost same as what we speak to someone, only difference is the cost is hidden and you think that they are providing better facility at cheap cost.

 

[CRad1028]

Just to update everyone. Like I previously posted we booked a standard car for $186.02 for 10 days with a free additional driver. Just to let everyone know Alamo at MCO has no standard size car so they upgrade you to a full-size. In the full-size lot there was mostly mini vans and impalas.

 

[MOXOMUMD]

Just to update everyone. Like I previously posted we booked a standard car for $186.02 for 10 days with a free additional driver. Just to let everyone know Alamo at MCO has no standard size car so they upgrade you to a full-size. In the full-size lot there was mostly mini vans and impalas.

Free additional driver is pretty good. The last car we rented was an Impala.

 

[AJluvsMickey]

I had another price drop a few weeks ago with Dollar. Redid my reservation and saved another $30, so my reservation is for a full size at $138 for 6 days.

Prices have gone up again. I was hoping with being a month away now, maybe they'd go down (at least, the big Brand companies, since they haven't really budged)

We don't get in until 11:30pm on our flight, hoping not to run into the counter person trying to push the extra insurance on us. I'll be in no mood to deal with that

 

[AJluvsMickey]

I don't think we'll add the extra driver.
I'm better at reading the map to get us where we need to go as opposed to driving