car rental
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From: san francisco, ca
Car Info: 06 wrx wagon
i generally priceline it and try to name my price. priceline will generally tell you if your offer is too low so i start pretty low (at like 8/day for mid-size) and try to retry a dollar higher until that screen doesn't come up again. then i try the last offer that was rejected as sometimes that "too low" price works.
sounds long and arduous but i'm a cheapass.
i also get discounts with my SCCA membership. this helps since i slacked for renting a car this weekend and the prices almost doubled by the time i remembered. the SCCA discount ended up being less than the priceline name your owns that were rejected.
hint: it helps to book very early with car rentals.
sounds long and arduous but i'm a cheapass.
i also get discounts with my SCCA membership. this helps since i slacked for renting a car this weekend and the prices almost doubled by the time i remembered. the SCCA discount ended up being less than the priceline name your owns that were rejected.
hint: it helps to book very early with car rentals.
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From: pew, pew, pew!!!
Car Info: nonplussed
I had to rent a car to go down to LA a few weeks ago and went through this myself. I needed an SUV 'cuz I had to pick up some stuff so ymmv but I found Fox car rentals (SJC) to have the best prices..
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From: Sharks Territory
Car Info: '14 Cayman
i wouldnt recommend Budget. they were the cheapest when i booked but when I picked up the car, they had all these hidden fees. I liked the one where I returned the car driving less than 40 miles and having to pay $13.99 for a refill fee.
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From: Bizerkeley
Car Info: MBP 02 WRX wagon
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From: San Jose, CA
Car Info: http://kiva.org/invitedby/brett4254
Being an employee of a rental car company (but not in car rental) here are a couple of recommendations
Never book a car at the airport unless you absolutely have to. Airports have all sorts of taxes on rental cars... I believe that SJC adds almost 30% to rental charges in taxes. There is nothing you can do about it, the rental car company's all have them.
Always book well in advance; if you just walk in or call the same day, you are screwed.
Never ask for a specific car unless you really need it... as soon as you ask for say a 4x4 SUV, the prices go up. Call up and book an economy car, you can always upgrade at the counter.
Buy the Damage Waiver. All rental company's evaluate their employees on how well they sell Damage Waiver. If you say you want DW off the bat, prices can be a little more kind. For ~$15/day you can burn a car to the ground and walk away from it, that's value.
Use an actual credit card, debit cards are viewed as liabilities by rental car company's and you will have to go through a bunch of extra crap at the counter to qualify.
No company really deliver's cars regardless of what you see on TV. Some will send a person to pick you up.
Never book a car at the airport unless you absolutely have to. Airports have all sorts of taxes on rental cars... I believe that SJC adds almost 30% to rental charges in taxes. There is nothing you can do about it, the rental car company's all have them.
Always book well in advance; if you just walk in or call the same day, you are screwed.
Never ask for a specific car unless you really need it... as soon as you ask for say a 4x4 SUV, the prices go up. Call up and book an economy car, you can always upgrade at the counter.
Buy the Damage Waiver. All rental company's evaluate their employees on how well they sell Damage Waiver. If you say you want DW off the bat, prices can be a little more kind. For ~$15/day you can burn a car to the ground and walk away from it, that's value.
Use an actual credit card, debit cards are viewed as liabilities by rental car company's and you will have to go through a bunch of extra crap at the counter to qualify.
No company really deliver's cars regardless of what you see on TV. Some will send a person to pick you up.
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Joined: Jun 2007
Posts: 4,499
From: L.A. and the mountains
Car Info: WRX
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