Rental Car Discounts - any tips?

Any tips on how to nab a coupon code or something?

No

Retail Me Not

Costco

Whichever company you choose, definitely rent a car that runs.

Car rentals are pretty cheap... you poor bro?

Hotwire might have some deals, but no refunds.

7 day rental at MCO in peak season. Was hoping I might find a coupon code to keep me around 3 hundy for a fullsize/small SUV/minivan out the door. Looking to be around $400.

Under $50 a day for a SUV during peak? Unrealistic expectation.

Hop on public Disney bus transport with the poors bro.

Once you get to the airport instead of going to the car rental desk you're going to want to go to the parking lot. Find a relatively nondescript car, smash the window and hot wire it. Now, here's the tricky part, don't panic, just drive naturally. If you go all nuts you're going to have problems. Anyway, you're gonna want to repeat steps 1-4 every other day or so on your trip. If you're worried about cameras, it's no biggie because you're not from the area so they won't recognize you. Best of luck!

Yeah, I  know of some

WhiteBoyHatcher wrote:7 day rental at MCO in peak season. Was hoping I might find a coupon code to keep me around 3 hundy for a fullsize/small SUV/minivan out the door. Looking to be around $400.

https://www.autoslash.com/

How to Save Money on Car Rentals

DON’T BOOK A PREPAID RENTAL. Some car rental companies offer a small discount if you prepay, but Mr. Leff advises not going that route because you’ll lose the opportunity to save money if rental prices drop before your trip starts, which they usually do. Upon making your reservation, he suggests going to AutoSlash.com, a site that tracks car rental prices, and adding your reservation details. The site will keep track of price changes on your rental and also scout competitors’ prices. Users will get an email when a lower price for the same rental becomes available and will have an option to rebook their reservation.

NigelUno wrote:

WhiteBoyHatcher wrote:7 day rental at MCO in peak season. Was hoping I might find a coupon code to keep me around 3 hundy for a fullsize/small SUV/minivan out the door. Looking to be around $400.

https://www.autoslash.com/

White boy sanctimonious jerk, you should rent from there. I am sure those cars are all safe.

tanfan! wrote:

NigelUno wrote:

https://www.autoslash.com/

White boy sanctimonious jerk, you should rent from there. I am sure those cars are all safe.  

wow.

Like pot meets kettle.

GRR Spartan wrote:Costco

This. Costco has negotiated excellent rental rates, Plus there's no charge for an extra authorized driver.

Vlad wrote:

GRR Spartan wrote:Costco

This. Costco has negotiated excellent rental rates, Plus there's no charge for an extra authorized driver.

A rare moment that I agree with Vlad, so you know this must be good advice.

Also, your MSU Alumni Association membership gives you discounts on rental cars. I don't know for sure if this new free Alumni membership does or not (I'm a life member, so I don't know if there are limits to the new free membership). Anyway, I think the Alumni discounts would be about 10% off, but Costco is better, around 25% off, sometimes additional discounts, and as Vlad mentioned a free second driver.

Costco.com all day long

Do like everyone else around here, sign up for AARP and use their discount.

Jake from State Farm wrote:Do like everyone else around here, sign up for AARP and use their discount.

Costco rates usually beat AARP rate. Depending on the airport and dates Costco offers more vendors to choose from. For example the same type of vehicle might be cheaper with Enterprise than Alamo and that can vary depending on where /when you rent.

The second driver free is great and Costco gives you added help if there is a problem.

I once refused the intermediate car initially sign because it was a Mitsubishi that had been smoked in. The Avis agent said my only option was an upgrade with a discount or down to an Chevy subcompact. The discount wasn't close to Costco pricing.. Contacted Costco customer service and got a refund of what I was charged and what my original charges for the reservation should have been.

NigelUno wrote:

WhiteBoyHatcher wrote:7 day rental at MCO in peak season. Was hoping I might find a coupon code to keep me around 3 hundy for a fullsize/small SUV/minivan out the door. Looking to be around $400.

https://www.autoslash.com/

How to Save Money on Car Rentals

DON’T BOOK A PREPAID RENTAL. Some car rental companies offer a small discount if you prepay, but Mr. Leff advises not going that route because you’ll lose the opportunity to save money if rental prices drop before your trip starts, which they usually do. Upon making your reservation, he suggests going to AutoSlash.com, a site that tracks car rental prices, and adding your reservation details. The site will keep track of price changes on your rental and also scout competitors’ prices. Users will get an email when a lower price for the same rental becomes available and will have an option to rebook their reservation.

This. and if anything changes, you fucked.

the best route I've consistently seen is AAA discount with hertz. for a midsized car, no deal is ever better.

Jake from State Farm wrote:Do like everyone else around here, sign up for AARP and use their discount.

Thanks for the tips. I checked Costco. Not currently a member. I don't have the patience for it. Checked out BJ's on another tip. I booked via hotwire, which was mentioned in Nigel's article. Was cheaper than either of those options. Got Hertz in terminal.

Minivans are, by far, the best rental vehicle.

Yep, they are also double what a full size sedan costs and pricier than even intermediate SUVs (Ford Explorer). Don't really need a minivan for this trip though we have gotten one in the past. Not worth it.