Looking for a rental car in Texas?
When you need a rental car for vacation or business, it's a good idea to consider several factors while reserving to help make your trip more enjoyable. Rates are often a key consideration in the reservation of your car but, there are other factors that are important. For example, what are their hours of operation? Some smaller companies may close early on weekends. Besides your rate, you should also consider the service you will receive when you get off the airplane, how quickly you can obtain your rental car, the vehicle/model and its condition, the convenience of returning your car rental, the hours of operation and the availability of emergency road service. It is also important to be aware of the policies and restrictions of the different agencies. Some agencies allow cash rentals, debit cards and rentals to those 18-25 years of age. Consideration of all of these factors can help make a large difference in your overall rental car experience.
Thrifty
Orbitz s has car rentals with Alamo! Avis! Hertz! and Budget!
Rent a car at Orbitz. All pricing up front. No surprises!
EasyClick Travel Shop and compare deals on car rentals with Hertz. Find low prices on all car types.
Great Rental Car Deals, Click Here!
Budget Budget has rentals nationwide. They offer new cars, speciality vans or SUV's. They also offer special deals only available online. Click below!
Dollar Car Rental Dollar Rental Car offers a convenient nationwide online car reservation quote system so you can access car rental rates and manage your rental car reservations for all destinations.
My Total Bill It can be confusing, but be aware that when you are quoted a "base rental car rate" it does not include rental coverages, sales taxes, airport taxes, airport/concession, vehicle license fees and miscellaneous surcharges. A trend in some cities is to help finance new sports stadiums and other initiatives by tacking on a surcharge. All of these additional charges can increase the base rate by 10-40% depending upon the airport location. Drop-Off Charges An extra fee is usually charged if a car is returned to a different location than where it was picked up. This fee varies on location so there usually is no general policy regarding this. In some instances there is no charge, at others it can be as high a $1500 if you drop the car off a long distance from where you picked it up at. Reserve in Advance! To get the best rate when applicable, reserve your car at a weekly rate (a week is usually between 5-7 days) instead of at a daily rate if possible, and reserve in advance. Check back periodically to see if a better rate is available. Rates are based in part on how many cars the agency has available at your pick up location. Be responsible and cancel your reservation if you have a change of plans. Child Safety & Infant Seats are Usually Available.Most car companies offer child safety seats. Since there may be limited availability or these you should reserve these well in advance. Be aware that at some locations, the rental car company may not guarantee that a child seat will be waiting for you upon arrival. They are usually $5-$6 per day to rent but can be anywhere from $2-$10 per day. Some agencies cap the charge at a maximum per rental. Check the state laws for where you are traveling. For instance, a new law in Denver requires Booster Seats for all 4 and 5 year olds who are not 55 inches tall. Hertz's "Buckle-Up Baby" can take the worry out of installing an unfamiliar car seat! They have teamed with the National Safety Council and have trained car seat installers on hand. Online Internet Discounts are Available Many companies currently are offering online discounts on the internet. When reserving online, be sure to print out or take note of your confirmation information and take this with you to the counter. Do I Need to Buy their Coverages, Insurance or Damage Waivers at the Counter? Check to see if your personal or business car insurance covers you in a rental car. This will save you worry and money when they ask "Do you want coverage/insurance?". Some upper level credit cards have rental car coverage, too. Your personal or corporate auto insurance may cover Collision Damage Waiver (CDW), Loss Damage Waiver (LDW) or Physical Damage Waiver (PDW). It may also cover Personal Accident Insurance (PAI), Personal Effects Coverage (PEC) and Additional Liability Insurance (ALI). Most of the time these are optional coverages. Beware of the 24 Hour Clock When determining your car rental bill be aware of the "24 hour clock rate" most rental car companies use when charging you. This means if you rent your car on Wednesday and return it on Thursday, you are charged for one day only if you return it within 24 hrs. You are usually charged for 2 days if you return it more than 27-28 hrs after picking the car up. The policy for most companies is that an hourly rate is charged for the first 3-4 hrs after 24 hrs. Returning the car after the hourly rate period means a whole extra day is usually charged. Be aware that this procedure can vary from company to company and that some companies use a calendar day billing policy wherein you have until midnight to return your car before being billed for a full extra day. Rates Vary Greatly at a Location! Rental car rates can vary 50% or more across agencies at the same location. For example, in Tampa an economy car may rent for as low as $79/wk or as high as $149/wk on the same day. To get the best deal, reserve your car at least a WEEK in advance. The earlier the better! Rates can very greatly at busy locations. Company Rates Vary from Location to Location Also keep in mind that rental car companies may vary their rates a great deal from city to city due to market forces. Be aware that some rental car agencies at the airport require that you show your airline ticket in order to receive your "discounted" airport rate. So if you need a rental car for only part of your trip it may not benefit you to go back to the airport to rent a car for the brief period you may need it. Your airline ticket may be required to show your flight arrival to be within 24 hours of rental car pickup at the airport for the lower rate. You can't Reserve a Specific Type Car When you reserve, you are holding down a RATE, not necessarily a specific car. Write your CONFIRMATION number down where you will have it when you pick up your car. You Might be Able to Upgrade! If the rental car company is out of the class car you reserved you might be able to UPGRADE at no additional charge depending on what is available! Remember you reserved a rate in which the car company is obligated to. Gasoline Charges Be sure and fill your car up before you return your car. In most cases you will pay a high premium if you forget. See also FUEL-GAS OPTION PLANS below and Insurance and Gas. Taxes & Airport Surcharges Vary from state to state, airport to airport and are additional expenses that can increase your overall bill substantially. "Off airport" car rentals may mean lower surcharges for you. Minimum Age Policies will Differ Besides needing a valid drivers license and credit card in the same name, most large agencies require renters to be at least 25 years old. Many smaller local companies as well as Alamo have a minimum age of 21. See our Underage page for specific company listings. Do I Need a Major Credit Card? Yes, most rental car agencies accept only major credit cards and do NOT accept debit cards or cash. If the car agency accepts debit cards, there are additional requirements and/or location restrictions. Alamo accepts debit cards with the Visa or Mastercard logo and a Round trip travel ticket, but restricts certain locations. Dollar requires an acceptable credit check with debit cards. At a few limited locations, Thrifty and some local Enterprise offices may accept debit cards. These policies may change at any time. There are a few small independents that allow cash deposits. With the use of a debt card, the agency may require a credit check. Get an Extra Key! Many car companies will provide you with an EXTRA KEY if you ask for one. This can come in handy for some of us who are absent minded.Check Out the Condition of your Car It's a good idea to get out and inspect the vehicle with the attendant for scratches, dents or other damage before you take off. Any damage or unusual dents or scratches should be noted on the contract before you leave the lot. Go back to the rental office if need be to have this acknowledged in writing. Some companies may enforce a hard line policy regarding this.
Luggage Online provides extensive travel resources to help you prepare for both business and pleasure-based excursions - including packing tips, travel safety reports, airline baggage and guidelines. Luggage Online has the ability to offer prices lower than most of our competitors. To be sure you get the best deal, we provide a low price guarantee. We offer free shipping and free returns.
Luggage Online - The largest selection with the lowest prices, and FREE shipping*.
TravelTools Travel supplies including luggage, bags, wallets, photographic gear, binoculars, personal care items, and electronic adapters. Absolutely everything you need to plan your trip and stay in touch. Check out the products listed below.TravelTools |
