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posted: Jan. 9, 2010 @ 4:50p
IggyWH
Member
posted: Jan. 9, 2010 @ 7:21p
LexLuthor said: Anyone have any advice on doing a one way rental in California.
Right now, I'm thinking of coming into San Jose on 8/27 and leaving out of LAX on 9/5.
I almost feel over when I saw the rates on Avis. They wanted like $1000 for this rental.
Thrifty charged a standard daily rate, plus like a $150 drop off charge, so a full sized car came to $527 after taxes. That was much more reasonable.
Any suggestions on how to get the best deal for this itinerary?
To be honest, a 2 week 1-way rental for $527 out the door sounds pretty darn good.
I'd suggest visiting Flyer Talk and looking for discount codes and coupons trying them all out for the different companies to find the best that you can get.
You haven't given much detail about your situation, but you know a one-way airline ticket SJC-LAX is $69, right? You can save $10-20 by flying from SFO.
Well, it's 4 of us and I think part of the trip is the drive down. Plus we'd need a car in both cities anyhow.
swapnilsagarwal
New Member
posted: Jan. 9, 2010 @ 10:19p
try hertz looks very cheap
googunk
Thrifty Member
posted: Jan. 10, 2010 @ 12:22a
This request comes up frequently, and not to be a downer, but usually the only advice you can really get for this is:
1. One-way prices are set depending on the demand. If San Jose has TONS of cars and LA can't meet their current reservations, then a one-way is going to be cheap. Conversely, if San Jose has no cars and LA is parking them around the block because the parking lot is full, you'll be pay $1000.
2. One way prices change with the weather so reserve the cheapest no cancellation fee rental you can find now, and keep checking around, if you find a better deal later, then cancel the original reservation and make a new one. You'll find most places are much better prepared to send out a one-way on short notice, but if the price goes up, you'll kick yourself for not reserving early.
3. Keep a good look @ Hotwire, Priceline, travelzoo, etc. It's a longshot on something this specific but not out of the question.
For the record I used to work for U-Haul, I know it's not apples to apples on a passenger car rental but most of the principles are the same.
Your only sure bet would be to be find a way to get a R/T rental. Can I ask if it's possible for one person to go return the car and then fly home separately? Or possibly, one person on the first day go GET the car in LA and meet the rest in San Jose? It would be a pain in the ass but sometimes that's what it take to travel cheap.
1. Hertz/Avis pricing was very similar in both directions. Maybe just way too far in advance to know demand. 2. Great idea, hopefully, Thrifty or Fox (I guess they are a CA based rental company) who had the $5XX OTD pricing has no cancellation fee. I'll check shortly. 3. Ok.
Not really possible to turn this into a round trip unless we decide not to drive down the coast. $5XX is about what I figured so I can live with that anyhow. It's just that $1000 price really scared me.
It's more trouble, but break down the rental apart so you're not charged the one way rate for all the days. If the drive will only take you one day, then only pay the one way rate for that day. The weekly rate for SJO-SJO or LAX-LAX is only $200-$250. The daily rate one way for SJO-LAX is about $125-150. Thrifty surcharge sounds pretty reasonable and avoids the trips to exchange cars (though I've done this in the past and sometimes only needed to exchange paperwork, keeping the same car, but still involved going into the rental location to do it). Also, these are pretty much list rates without any codes/programs that I've looked up, and I'm sure you can find discounts on top of them giving you more savings.
Example from Hertz:
Your Requested Itinerary Pick-up: Fri, Aug 27, 2010 at 10:00 AM San Jose International Airport Return: Sun, Sep 05, 2010 at 10:00 AM San Jose International Airport
Hyundai Accent or similar Economy Vehicle Details 240.49 USD Per Week
Ford Focus or similar Compact 2 or 4 dr. Vehicle Details 243.49 USD Per Week
Your Requested Itinerary Pick-up: Fri, Aug 27, 2010 at 10:00 AM Los Angeles International Airport Return: Sun, Sep 05, 2010 at 10:00 AM Los Angeles International Airport
Hyundai Accent or similar Economy Vehicle Details 204.49 USD Per Week
Mazda 6 or similar Intermediate 2 or 4 dr. Vehicle Details 229.49 USD Per Week
Chevrolet Impala or similar Full Size 4 Dr. Vehicle Details 231.49 USD Per Week
Your Requested Itinerary Pick-up: Sun, Aug 29, 2010 at 10:00 AM San Jose International Airport Return: Mon, Aug 30, 2010 at 10:00 AM Los Angeles International Airport
Hyundai Accent or similar Economy Vehicle Details 127.49 USD Weekend Day
Mazda 6 or similar Intermediate 2 or 4 dr. Vehicle Details 140.49 USD Weekend Day
Ford Focus or similar Compact 2 or 4 dr. Vehicle Details 128.49 USD Weekend Day
These specials may apply:
Take $25 off a Weekly Rental at the Airport Save $25 off a Weekly Rental at the Airport when PC#139543 is included in your reservation of an Economy or higher class car. Offer valid for pickup through March 31, 2010. https://www.hertz.com/rentacar/specialoffers/index.jsp?targetPage=25offwkly.jsp&Category=W&TabLink=tlink1
AAA Save Up to $35 Off a Weekly or Weekend Rental Save $5 per day, up to $35 off a weekly or weekend rental of an Economy or higher class vehicle, when PC# 135892 is included in your reservation. Valid for pick-up at participating Hertz locations in the U.S., Canada and Puerto Rico from 10/15/09 - 1/31/10. https://www.hertz.com/rentacar/specialoffers/index.jsp?targetPage=aaa35wkndwkly.jsp&Category=Y&TabLink=tlink2
AAA $30 Off a Weekly Rental Save $30 on your next weekly rental of any car class when PC# 137826 is included in your reservation. Valid for pickup at participating Hertz locations in the U.S., Canada and Puerto Rico from 12/21/09 - 3/31/10. https://www.hertz.com/rentacar/specialoffers/index.jsp?targetPage=aaa30ofwkly.jsp&Category=Y&TabLink=tlink2
And of course, check out the sticky thread:
Updated Rental Car Discount/Coupon thread with sample price matrix http://www.fatwallet.com/forums/travel-discussion/790643
RebateBanker
Thrifty Member
posted: Jan. 10, 2010 @ 5:17p
You might try FoxRentACar. I just did a ten day trip up the coast starting in San Diego and ending in San Francisco that ran about $350 all in. They were the cheapest rental company I was able to find through a few different search engines. Check them out.
I'm also now looking more to come into SFO rather than SJC. I don't think I want to get off an 8 hour flight and then drive another hour right away.
But, it looks like drop off fees when originating in SFO are significantly more than when originating in SJC. Is that typical or will I probably still see that change over time?
Also, I've read some not so great reviews of Fox. What's this about extra fees for additional drivers and other extra fees?
Edit: According to the page, there are no additional driver fee in California (they do have for other states though).
Fox is, by far, cheapest for SFO to SNA, but I am a little worried about potentially using them.
BBQSauce
New Member
posted: Jan. 12, 2010 @ 12:05p
They have a coupon on Car Rental :- From $8.98 A Day 7 Major Car Vendors. Save Up To 40% - http://www.travelkini.com/ad149.htm
I've seen mentioned SFO, SJC, LAX and SNA. The last one made me think about Southwest airlines specials that often run $29-49 per person, though right now it's around $59-75. If you can nab 4x29, you're in the same ballpark as the one way drop off fees. You're also looking at a 1-2 hr flight versus 6+ hours drive. It all depends on whether you want to spend a day or two on a road trip or spend more time at the two city destinations. Also, OAK, BUR and ONT (and even SAC and SAN) are additional choices that may be beneficial or trade-off on cost/convenience.
Well, I think we WANT to take the drive. Either way, we want to see both cities. It's not something I need to decide today anyhow. I can always have the flights set up and multiple rental car reservations and then decide if we really want to take the drive.
We'll have 10 days (2 being travel days) and 8 full days. I think we can do SF, drive down and LA in that timeframe, no?
I think I even checked and there was a Jetblue flight down the day we'd want to go for $59pp (after taxes).
How about autoeurope? Anyone have experience with them? They have SFO, SJC and SNA locations, which are the airports I'm looking for. They are about $500 OTD for a mid-size. Any coupons for AutoEurope? I didn't even see a place to enter a code.
Also, do you think I'd have any success calling Avis, Hertz, etc and just asking them to waive the one way charge? I assume the online system just automatically puts that in there, but maybe the local offices can deal? Do you think they would this far in advance though?
machop
Member
posted: Jan. 13, 2010 @ 11:01a
I rented two weeks full size from Budget for $548 during Christmas. One way rental from LAX to SJC.
If it's not too much difference bigger size is better, we had Impala kids can sleep on back seat.
Wow, I just looked and getting a car at an Avis non-airport location in SF there's no one way surcharge. It's a huge difference.
Someone on another forum noted that I don't even need the car in SF. I can take a taxi from the airport, save on the parking and then pick up the car in SF when I'm ready to leave.
Years ago (I wasn't papa yet, moreover SINGLE) I got HERTZ free rental from LA to bring their car to SFO (I even got upgraded to station-wagon at pick-up, as lot happened to be out of compacts). I've assumed ever since, that they can't sell North-bound direction (I doubt it was a seasonal opportunity, I later saw it advertized for a long time). Also, pardon me, but driving South-bound "for Highway 1 sightseeing" is the silliest idea - as you're blinded by sun all the way, and at-fault accident is a distinct risk, given all'em bikers flying around you
I actually scrapped the idea of having a car in San Francisco. I wound up getting a Hertz one way rental on Sunday or Monday from downtown SF to Orange County airport on the the Sunday after for $230 (after taxes). Very happy.
David55
New Member
posted: Jan. 28, 2010 @ 5:31p
I have the same issue. My family and I are planning on flying into San Jose on March 13, renting a car, driving down the coast and flying back out of Burbank airport on March 19 a week later. I got on Expedia and was shocked to find the best price to be $725.00 (for a Camry or equivalent). This was enough to cause us to change our plans. However, after reading about the Avis experience LexLuther mentioned I decided to call Enterprise Rental to see what they could do. The lady ended up quoting me a price of $378.00 for an airport pickup in San Jose and drop off in Burbank. That's a huge difference!! I made a reservation immediately. We can now keep our original plans!!
PitPirate
Senior Member
posted: Feb. 9, 2010 @ 11:33a
key is to not pick up at an airport. picking up at downtown san francisco o'farrell street, for example, rather than SFO airport often will save you the $150+ drop charges.
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