which car rental company do you use? Budget or Avis?

[Anonymous]

picking up in Orlando.

[Anonymous]

I use the cheapest one since they are all, really, the same unless you have loyalty points. Orlando requires a shuttle to some rental car lots, so I'd also consider that.

[Anonymous]

We usually end up using Hertz because they have good rates for AAA and USAA. AAA/Hertz will also include a free carseat rental which can come in handy.

[Anonymous]

I typically use Budget, although they are owned by the same company and share a desk at most airports so the only difference is price (Avis is usually more expensive). I do look at pick up convenience. In places like Boston it's totally centralized so there's no difference in convenience so then I go with price. I tend to stay away from Dollar and Thrifty unless its a really good deal, because I find them a little more down market and sleazy, and very focused on the upsell. I also have Budget fast break, which is convenient.

[Anonymous]

We just had a horrible experience with Budget. We booked an SUV through Budget and it was paid for with our credit card points. When we got to the counter the clerk asked if an minivan was ok instead of an SUV and my husband said no, we are going to the mountains and we need an SUV. The woman gave us an upgraded SUV without telling us that she was charging us $25 per day. We told her that the Explorer she offered was fine, we did not say that an extra $25 per day was fine. We specifically declined insurance, said we would fill it up and initialed all those options. When we got our contract at the end the box was checked that we agreed to the upgrade but it was never mentioned. The ended up refunding half of the charge for the upgrade. I wanted the whole thing refunded but in the end I was spending more time on the phone with them than the extra charge was worth. It is a $160 lesson.

[Anonymous]

We always do Priceline. They only work with the major car companies, so don't worry about getting stuck with an off-brand. I've personally not found one company to be all that different than another.

[Anonymous]

I use Enterprise, because (a) it's close to my house; (b) their loyalty program allows your spouse to drive the car for no extra cost. Not sure what the rules are if you have not signed up for the loyalty program, though.

[Anonymous]

Enterprise always seems to have the best deals

[Anonymous]

Budget (on their own website only) let's you pre-pay for your car and get a much lower rate. That's what I do all the time.

[Anonymous]

Anonymous wrote:We just had a horrible experience with Budget. We booked an SUV through Budget and it was paid for with our credit card points. When we got to the counter the clerk asked if an minivan was ok instead of an SUV and my husband said no, we are going to the mountains and we need an SUV. The woman gave us an upgraded SUV without telling us that she was charging us $25 per day. We told her that the Explorer she offered was fine, we did not say that an extra $25 per day was fine. We specifically declined insurance, said we would fill it up and initialed all those options. When we got our contract at the end the box was checked that we agreed to the upgrade but it was never mentioned. The ended up refunding half of the charge for the upgrade. I wanted the whole thing refunded but in the end I was spending more time on the phone with them than the extra charge was worth. It is a $160 lesson.

I had the same thing happen with Budget (although I still prefer Budget but learned a lesson). They asked me if a XX car was okay. I said fine, and it turned out that XX car was an updgrade. It was still a crappy midsize car so how was I to know that wasn't the crappy midsize car I reserved. I also argued and think I got the same deal as you. So now I always confirm that whatever they are offering is what I reserved. Using Budget Fast Break helps avoid the upselling.

I like the companies that let you pick the car from the row of cars. I've had that with Alamo (at least in Denver, where I prefer Alamo) and a couple of others.

[Anonymous]

Hertz with AAA and they don't charge for 2 drivers (married).