January 2018 Car Rental Watch

[jmasgat]

Just got an email advising Dollar & Budget have dropped rates 2nd week of January for midsize cars - might want to check.

Just re-checked my Dollar res. Went from $192 to $161 to $117 in the course of 2 days! I am now officially done checking.

 

[Klismania]

I have a question about the Dollar rentals because I typically go Enterprise. I noticed that a pop-up came up saying that if I didn't take their Florida Sun Pass offer then I'd be charged $19 per toll (or per use?) if I used the Sun Pass. I'm used to Enterprise charging me a nominal amount, plus the toll, only on the days I use Sun Pass. Typically on my way from the airport to the resort and then back. It appears that Dollar charges for Sun Pass even on the days I'm not using it so I'm paying for it while my rental is parked at my cabin or at the parks.

How does Dollar work their Sun Pass for toll roads?

Thanks!

 

[katallo]

I'm interested in this as well. Are you saying Dollar will charge a fee even if you register and use your SUNPASS? If that's correct, I'm cancelling my reservation. We used Budget last year and added the car to our Sunpass account and only paid Sunpass. Please let us know.

 

[eas423]

Thanks for the heads up, re-booked my rental. Still wish they'd go lower but I'll take this for now!

 

[Syndrome]

Sunpass .......

We use Dollar most of the time now, and from Sanford usually as well as MCO . Sanford has a lot more tolls to WDW as we usually cruise on 417 all the way to Disney .
We always use our own SunPass transponder and have NEVER been charged extra, or any toll charge by Dollar .
We just input the Dollar rental car plate # and the duration and stick up our transponder.
Never had a problem so far .........

Also , rates are FINALLY coming down for January !!!

 

[wings91]

I have a question about the Dollar rentals because I typically go Enterprise. I noticed that a pop-up came up saying that if I didn't take their Florida Sun Pass offer then I'd be charged $19 per toll (or per use?) if I used the Sun Pass. I'm used to Enterprise charging me a nominal amount, plus the toll, only on the days I use Sun Pass. Typically on my way from the airport to the resort and then back. It appears that Dollar charges for Sun Pass even on the days I'm not using it so I'm paying for it while my rental is parked at my cabin or at the parks.

How does Dollar work their Sun Pass for toll roads?

Thanks!

I believe what they mean is you'd be charged if you do not take their sunpass, yet use the sunpass lanes on the expressway. If just traveling from MCO to WDW it would not be a problem paying cash at the tolls, however, there are tolls at offramps in the FL system that are unmanned and are either sunpass or exact change. Should you not have change, you'd then be running the toll and Dollar would be notifed and you'd be charged accordingly.

If you pay cash for all your tolls, you do not have to take the Dollar sunpass. Like the PP, I also have a sunpass that I purchased years ago. Great investment for a frequent visitor!

 

[andigomeep]

Budget dropped to $50 cheaper than Alamo for my dates, do they offer any bypass the counter program? Allow you to swap cars if you don’t like the assigned one? I’m not convinced it’s worth saving $50 because we love Alamo so much.

 

[wings91]

Budget dropped to $50 cheaper than Alamo for my dates, do they offer any bypass the counter program? Allow you to swap cars if you don’t like the assigned one? I’m not convinced it’s worth saving $50 because we love Alamo so much.

Budget's express program is Fastbreak, which allows you to skip the terminal counter, but you still need to go the shack in the garage to receive your keys. No picking your own car. Alamo seems like the most friendly option to pick your vehicle.

 

[scottmel]

Dollar on the city special prepay just dropped my original booking by 90.00. I got 6 day for 122 but it is a wildcard car but with only 3 of us shouldn't be too bad. My DH is so personable he is the type that always gets upgrades, etc. unlike me who is the reserved type of person. Hoping he can get a midsize for us!

 

[momto4obkids]

We had to switch to a mini van since we are taking two more people than expected. I've been pricing them and they have been super high.

I just checked today and Budget had dropped their price. I got a minivan 1/26 to 1/30 for $251.00

BCD# D420002

Coupon for $25 MUWZ055

 

[friendoffigment]

We had to switch to a mini van since we are taking two more people than expected. I've been pricing them and they have been super high.

I just checked today and Budget had dropped their price. I got a minivan 1/26 to 1/30 for $251.00

BCD# D420002

Coupon for $25 MUWZ055

does budget have straight to car/skip counter

 

[magicwdw]

We had to switch to a mini van since we are taking two more people than expected. I've been pricing them and they have been super high.

I just checked today and Budget had dropped their price. I got a minivan 1/26 to 1/30 for $251.00

BCD# D420002

Coupon for $25 MUWZ055

Thanks for this. I got a minivan 1/22 to 1/31 for $369 all in using the code and coupon.
I usually use Dollar or Alamo so I am assuming Budget is also in the terminal near those other two? Thanks

 

[rookie2]

WOWWEEE!!! Thanks Dis family for the heads up I saved over $100 from my original rental for 1/22-1/28 from Dollar

 

[momto4obkids]

Thanks for this. I got a minivan 1/22 to 1/31 for $369 all in using the code and coupon.
I usually use Dollar or Alamo so I am assuming Budget is also in the terminal near those other two? Thanks

Yes, you can skip the counter if you sign up for their fastbreak program. You go across to the parking garage just like Alamo and go to Budget's shack in the garage to get your keys to your car.

 

[keishashadow]

Just re-checked my Dollar res. Went from $192 to $161 to $117 in the course of 2 days! I am now officially done checking.

Naw, don't stop. Mine just dropped to $136 via citispecial

I'm interested in this as well. Are you saying Dollar will charge a fee even if you register and use your SUNPASS? If that's correct, I'm cancelling my reservation. We used Budget last year and added the car to our Sunpass account and only paid Sunpass. Please let us know.

No, As long as you add the vehicle, there is no charge. Well, generally that is...

Earlier this month when i removed the rental from sunpass account, I didn't leave my usual buffer time of a half hour.

Yesterday, got letter from Dollar indicating i owed them for the 2 last tolls on 417 pre MCO plus administrative fees in area of $24. Had to call sunpass and open an investigation. Told to call back next Friday. The rep said that happens now & again depending on how quickly the tolls post to one's account "...no big deal..."

Dollar's toll/violation dept not open till tuesday with the holiday, will alert them with my case # that sunpass gave me. Worst case Dollar will charge my CC on file for the reservation, then reimburse me via a check.

It's not the rental car company's fault by any means. Just the way the sunpass is set up. Sunpass told me it can take up to 24 hours for charges to post, but that is rare. Never had that issue with Ezpass!

Regardless, will make sure to add on a solid half hour to next rental to avoid this mess. No way will they flip car that fast.

 

[ashleyrm]

Still hadn't booked for January so I did a National Emerald Aisle today using my work account. Ridiculous prices.

1 Week(s) @162.50
Taxes and Fees
Customer Facility Charge 3.50/day$ 21.00
Priv Fee Recov Chg 10 Pct (10.0%)$ 16.65
Florida Surcharge 2.00/day$ 12.00
Tire Battery Fee .02 Day$ 0.12
Vehicle License Fee .66/day$ 3.96
Sales Tax (6.5%)$ 14.05
Estimated Total (includes taxes and fees)
$ 230.28

Finally found something cheaper.

Dollar City Special

Car Class:
Full-size Chrysler 200 (or similar)
Rental Time:
1 Week at $132.11 per week. Unlimited mileage.
Approx. Total
$186.75

Payless is $143 but I've never used them before.

 

[Savesanything]

Not to completely hijack this thread, but to anyone renting Alamo. Would you mind taking note, and even snap some pics/video of the “premium” car options? Trying I determine my reservation.

 

[MIChessGuy]

I was surprised to see that a 7-day minivan rental from Alamo via Costco was down to $250, including everything, for Jan 20-27. That is pretty darn good for a minivan. If I needed one, I would jump on this.

 

[momto4obkids]

I was surprised to see that a 7-day minivan rental from Alamo via Costco was down to $250, including everything, for Jan 20-27. That is pretty darn good for a minivan. If I needed one, I would jump on this.

Thank you! I don't have a costco membership, but your tip prompted me to check prices for our trip 1/26 to 1/30! I got a minivan for $239.60 If I had the costco membership it would be $234.00.

I used Contract ID 7014926 and coupon code AD2834JFA for $25 off.

 

[Gretchen]

Checked my rental for next week, trying to get it down as far as I can-
Budget was 20$ cheaper than my res on Alamo for a higher class of car. Alamo-midsize, Budget-mid SUV-Escape, which is what I drive at home.
But...reading the fine print re tolls...Budget says they will automatically charge a convenience fee of $3.95 per day up to 19$ and change max per month plus any toll if you will be traveling on a toll road even on days that you do not drive on the toll road Alamo’s policy is only if you actually drive through the SunPass lane. You can avoid all toll fees if you pay cash.
I’m keeping my Alamo res.