Car Hire Advice for the California

kifi

Hi,

I will hire a car in the California for ten days in August. Does anybody have any recommendations on who to hire from?

I have been on the AVIS website, and they seem to offer a good deal of 309 euro for ten days for a Focus. This was by choosing their "Pay Later" option, which was strangely much cheaper that their "Buy now" option??

Thanks

Heroditas

Seems a bit expensive for a Focus for 10 days.
Previously I've got the likes of a Chevvy Impala or a Toyota Camry for less than that.
I went with Hertz both times.

carmad

Budget are very reasonable.

Berty

Do not enquire direct unless you want to pay over the odds.

I use the following:

http://www.arguscarhire.ie
http://www.autoeurope.ie
http://www.carhire3000.ie

We're hiring a big ass SUV next year for 13 days for €400

Lutecia

I went there a few months ago, and rented a Mustang Convertible. That's what you want to do to get the real American experience, not a boring focus They are bit more expensive but I don't regret it one second.
Also they are actually easy on petrol. I did 8 litres/100 average on a 10-day trip which is pretty good for a 300hp car.
It was at Hertz

dredg

Lutecia wrote: »

I went there a few months ago, and rented a Mustang Convertible. That's what you want to do to get the real American experience, not a boring focus They are bit more expensive but I don't regret it one second.
Also they are actually easy on petrol. I did 8 litres/100 average on a 10-day trip which is pretty good for a 300hp car.
It was at Hertz

Shame the transmission on the mustang feels like its made of porridge
I hired a corvette a couple of trips back and that was pure fun.
As an aside, I highly recommend doing the journey from San Francisco to LA on highway 1. You only need to do it once but it's amazing.

dudara

I've spent a lot of time in the US recently traveling for work and my car hire has come in about $250-$300 per week from Hertz for a Chevy Cruze / Nissan Sentra type saloon. That is a corporate rate including CDW but not including PAI. On my next trip I have a Ford Escape (or similar) booked for $310 per week at Avis.

Just make sure that you're looking at the full price, including all insurance charges etc.

Gone Drinking

Beer Baron wrote: »

Do not enquire direct unless you want to pay over the odds.

I use the following:

http://www.arguscarhire.ie
http://www.autoeurope.ie
http://www.carhire3000.ie

We're hiring a big ass SUV next year for 13 days for €400

Holy ****, I'm renting a car in Prague this month and was just about to pay €350 for a Polo from Herts. Can get a golf for €186 from that autoeurope site you mentioned.

Thanks dude!

ProudDUB

OP, do NOT book with the US car rental company directly. In the US, drivers can transfer their own personal car insurance over to their rental car. There is no need for them to purchase insurance from the car rental companies, so the car rental agencies prices do not normally include insurance.

Non resident tourists can not transfer their own insurance onto the car, so you will be hit hard with additional insurance fees when you show up to pick up the car. Book thru an Irish travel agency or website, as policies sold to them automatically come with basic coverage that a US bought policy will not. Check out the US Travel forum for more ideas an suggestions on who to book with.

ardmacha

OP, do NOT book with the US car rental company directly. In the US, drivers can transfer their own personal car insurance over to their rental car. There is no need for them to purchase insurance from the car rental companies, so the car rental agencies prices do not normally include insurance.

Exactly. When you add in the insurance the prices are quite different.
Autoeurope etc have all in prices, also Holidayautos.ie is a generally close to the lowest rate and is pretty clear on what is included and what is not.

lynchie

ProudDUB wrote: »

OP, do NOT book with the US car rental company directly. In the US, drivers can transfer their own personal car insurance over to their rental car. There is no need for them to purchase insurance from the car rental companies, so the car rental agencies prices do not normally include insurance.

Non resident tourists can not transfer their own insurance onto the car, so you will be hit hard with additional insurance fees when you show up to pick up the car. Book thru an Irish travel agency or website, as policies sold to them automatically come with basic coverage that a US bought policy will not. Check out the US Travel forum for more ideas an suggestions on who to book with.

When booking with Avis, National or Hertz they ask if you are a resident of the USA. When you select NO, and select Ireland, they all add the required insurances (LDW, SLI) to their quotes. I have never been hit with extras at the desk when I arrived.

Big Nasty

I used Fox rental when I was in the states last year. Not only can you specify the make and model you want, when you arrive they will let you pick the actual car, i.e - that red one over there or whatever. I got a convertible 'Stang and it worked out about $70 a day including insurance and sat nav. They also have Challengers and Camaros but they only do the V6 though. I would have prefered the V8 but seeing as I have two at home it didn't really bother me.

Atlantic Dawn

As was said make sure you get a quote including collision waiver insurance, otherwise you are fully liable for damage to the car and also loss of earnings for hire company. The couple of times I rented the cost normally doubles from the initial base quote when you add full insurance.

Evil_Clown

I have used Dollar in the past renting from LAX, worked out the cheapest for a decent sized car (charger etc)

delta1980

does anyone know how to specify a particular car with one oof the car hire websites, going on holiday to california in sept and really want a camero or dodge charger

galwaytt

kifi wrote: »

Hi,

I will hire a car in the California for ten days in August. Does anybody have any recommendations on who to hire from?

I have been on the AVIS website, and they seem to offer a good deal of 309 euro for ten days for a Focus. This was by choosing their "Pay Later" option, which was strangely much cheaper that their "Buy now" option??

Thanks

...well my sister is coming ot Ireland for about 10 days, at Christmas. Over here, for a Focus, she's been quoted €630. On that comparison, you're getting it for nothing!

galwaytt

Beer Baron wrote: »

Do not enquire direct unless you want to pay over the odds.

I use the following:

http://www.arguscarhire.ie
http://www.autoeurope.ie
http://www.carhire3000.ie

We're hiring a big ass SUV next year for 13 days for €400

+1 on autoeurope...

dudara wrote: »

I've spent a lot of time in the US recently traveling for work and my car hire has come in about $250-$300 per week from Hertz for a Chevy Cruze / Nissan Sentra type saloon. That is a corporate rate including CDW but not including PAI. On my next trip I have a Ford Escape (or similar) booked for $310 per week at Avis.

Just make sure that you're looking at the full price, including all insurance charges etc.

..yeah, the car is the cheap part: it's the insurance that's the killer.

Pkiernan

delta1980 wrote: »

does anyone know how to specify a particular car with one oof the car hire websites, going on holiday to california in sept and really want a camero or dodge charger

Do you mean Dodge Challenger?



Most likely you will have to contact Hertz directly to reserve one of there "Adrenalin Edition" rentals.

You can request the V8. If you don't you will end up with a V6.

flanzer

I found that the cheapest on carhire3000 was from Dollar. So this year, I rented directly from the Dollar website and saved a bit.

I got a Focus for Florida, for the week, for €180, including a tank of petrol.

I recommend though, not to get the full tank of petrol option, as a full tank of petrol for a Focus is only about $30

In saying that, if you're going to California and have no children, do it right and rent a convertible muscle car.... California Dreamin'!

keithclancy

galwaytt wrote: »

+1 on autoeurope...



..yeah, the car is the cheap part: it's the insurance that's the killer.

Also +1 on Auto Europe, used them 13 times and so far no problems and always the cheapest out of going directly or with Carhire3000

rebel.ranter

Also try Hotwire.com for car rental in US

kupus

Just be careful as well, some companies charge extra insurance if you travel out of state, eg if you want to go to Las Vegas in Nevada, or Portland in Oregan you may not have insurance once you past state lines, This of course only applies if you are planning further travels outside of Ca.
also check out enterprise as I havent seen it mentioned here yet. and then when you get the cheapest quote, tell the cheapest company you've got a better discount from Company X, and if can go with this then you'll take them as Company X has not got back to you.
every penny in your pocket is better than somebody else's pocket.

A-Trak

delta1980 wrote: »

does anyone know how to specify a particular car with one oof the car hire websites, going on holiday to california in sept and really want a camero or dodge charger

I just got back from California and had a convertable Camero 3 weeks.
I used AutoEurope who came in by far the cheapest and included CDW, unlimited milage and GPS. (If I'd had to pay for these direct to the rental company it would have been insanely expensive, €12 per day for GPS!!)

Picking up the car was painless, just presented the AutoEurope voucher, picked out the Camaro after they offered something I didn't want and off I went.

I'd book as far in advance as you can as the cost goes up closer to the rental date and choose whatever airport you're flying into as they usually have a larger selection of cars so more likely to have one you want.

Nissan doctor

I've always used carhire3000.ie. Never had any issue or headache.

Their site doesn't allow you to book premium or unusual cars but I always ask about upgrades etc at the desk and they almost always have special offers.

I've ended up with various Cadillac's, Hummers etc.