Party of 2, travelling to the USA next year May-June travelling from New Orleans to San Fran via vehicle and looking for any recommendations or advice about where/what to book. We're looking at a $500 USD one way fee but I've heard they commonly wave that for tourists, although I wouldn't bank on that.
Appreciate your time and experience, thank you!
Edit: Also, when looking at cars, the listing states the name of the car but also adds "or similar" is this something to be wary about? Thanks!
Thank you, I've been using comparison sites such as Rentalcars.com and the prices don't seem to change much based on day of week. Have you had much experience with this?
I've not noticed big changes apart from special events. (eg. a car in denver during the recent eclipse was like 3 times the normal price about 6 weeks out).
I've also just rocked up various times and been pretty happy with the rates. They may charge more for an Aus driver but this usually includes the extra excess indemnity fee and can work out cheaper than adding it separately if you want that.
Commonly prices won’t change much; often increase the closer you get to your required day, given that if the vehicle is unavailable at that location they would need to bring it in. It’s not necessarily like a flight where they want to fill up spare seats.
Depending on how many states you cross will affect the one way fee, commonly stopping around that price. My trip from NY to CA was approx that much for the one way.
Like already mentioned just have a look between providers and then pull the trigger. Some of the bigger companies like hertz sometimes have weekends free in the hire etc. so just make sure you checking out what the discounts currently are that may help / rather than just a base price comparison.
Last item you may want to think about it the insurance coverage that you will have from your travel insurance. Be wary what you get bundled in (if any) as that can add up quickly. Insurance is expensive there. Commonly there is a base level that should suffice for an international traveller with travel insurance (I.e do not need to opt for further insurance).
As for the query on the similar vehicle - don’t pay to much attention. You guaranteed a car in that class, but some cars may be better than others by opinion… If you not overly happy with what you get on the day, just see if they have something else available in the class you can look at.
Thank you very much :)
Check out one of the numerous (private) car relocation services that operate in the the States as you will have better luck than one of the rental car companies looking to relocate cars.
The range of vehicles is huge, including high end cars, and you should get around 7-10 days to deliver the car in SF and get an allowance towards the petrol costs
Also, when looking at cars, the listing states the name of the car but also adds "or similar" is this something to be wary about?
Australian rental companies say this as well - you are renting a class of vehicle, not a specific one. Regardless, every time I have rented in the US (maybe 5 times) they just tell you where the class of vehicles you have rented is located and you get to walk out and pick your own car from about 5-8 options.
Could always look at renting two cars for half trip each and see if that reduces things
I did this using vroom web site and the fees disappeared
Hopefully that'll work!
This is a great tip if you can afford the hour to change over.
I did it in missssippi airport, was the most pointless transaction as pretty much same car and both with Alamo, think saved few hundred bucks I just played around with random mid points.
Was a couple of hours of wastage like you say
Did you save on oneway fees or was it just making the most out of the base rates? I'm gonna be in the states for 3 weeks, so a few hours isn't much of an issue.
@Sir Flabo: one way fee was eliminated on bpoking or severely reduced when split into two. I wasn't doing a true east to west like you, I did an L shape but you could just try. There must be one way zones etc. you could do it multiple times.
FYI
From a car rental site i was looking at (that compares US rental prices) as we are looking to hire a car in June/July:
From 01/01/18 U.S Law requires all non residents to provide an International Drivers Permit along with a drivers license issued by a government authority from the renters country of residence.
Just thought i would share in case you were not already aware.
Was not aware, thank you so much!
Just came back from California and was fine just using an Australian driver's license whilst renting a car.
Can you quote where you got this from? Having lived there and been over for holidays this was always the case if you have a issued licence from a non-English country (effectively at minimum, it’s required to be issued in English, limiting application of the rule). Also it may be specific to the rental co, but major chains don’t require this unless as noted above you don’t have an English based licence.
https://www.usa.gov/visitors-driving
The po po never requested anything from me in any of the stops other than some general banter around the way our licence looked (QLD).
Upon hire just check the rental co policies and then go get one. IDPs whilst not overly expensive, might as well save the odd $50 if you can.
I have rented cars a few times in the USA without a international permit, they are just an unofficial thing from the local motor club.
Probably should’ve made it clear - for Australians, it’s very unlikely that you would need an IDP - check with whoever you rent with though. I have never had this as a required when I have been there with major rental companies. I also managed to get out of not taking my Cali driving test… just kept saying my stay for work wasn’t long… they were chill about it.
Also from memory, you can only get them from a motor club if you are member. Otherwise most folks have to go through your local states motor body (racq/raa), commonly costing $40-$50 from memory when I have taken one for some European driving. Also they pretty official… but still require your to carry your actual valid/current licence with you… if they were unofficial no one would accept them…
"or similar" is this something to be wary about? Thanks!
Yes, I once rented a white corolla or similar and ended up with a yellow hyundai. Similar.
And I have routinely been upgraded, and I’m not a fancy gold member or anything. They just send what they have. I never book more than the base model I need for space.
Insurance is the killer for US car rental. As others have said check what is covered in your travel insurance and make sure you photograph the condition of the car when you get it, particularly any existing scrapes etc.
The other thing to find out about is how roadside assist would work across the states you are travelling.
The secret to driving is to make sure the line is next to the driver, roundabouts are confusing and coming out of one way streets are when you can lose track of the side of the road. Check the road rules as you can get 4 way stop signs and right on red rules.
You are going to love New Orleans. We have been there about 4 times. Love the music and the food. If you want to go to Cafe Du Monde for the beignets then consider getting up really early: it is a tourist trap but it is pretty cheap. We were wondering around NO at 6 am and it was wonderful and cool; it was hot and humid when we were there in October. I suggest going to NOLA and having the turtle dessert. Enjoy.
Awesome, thank you!
Always ask If there is any chance of getting a free upgrade to something better - they seem to be easy to get in the US! I normally rent a standard family style vehicle eg Impala - I use various rental companies and have usually managed to get a free upgrade to these, amongst others :- Cadillac SUV, Mustang, Chrysler 300’s (3 times) Lincoln Town Car, Mitsubishi Eclipse, Mazda mx8!
Haha I wonder how that Vegas $20 note trick works for this!
I recently recently had to do a one way rental from Los Angeles area (not the LA airport) to Coarsegold, California which is near Yosemite Natl Park. In the past I have used Enterprise and they were always the cheapest but this time they weren't. The one way fee was well over $100.00. I did more checkin and found that Hertz was the better deal, believe it or not. No drop off fee and the rental price for a small car was much the same.
Usually one way fee's happen when your drop off point is not in a well known area.
I have also used Trip Cover for car insurance and found them to be cheaper than the insurance from the rental companies themselves.
And hiring from airports always seems to have some sort of Airport fee attached…..
Hope you have a great trip!!!
Thank you for the advice!
If we get insurance here how do you know you have enough? Ie if they offer a suplimentary liability insurance in case you are sued, does standard travel insurance rental car coverage cover this?
I’m finding good deals until I add in all of the insurances and basically double the price.
I've done plenty of one wayers with no fee, most often with Alamo. But yours is quite a long trip so that might shake things up.
I find looking for deals varies over time - sometimes it's better to book direct, other times through third parties like Vroom. Just have a good look around.