Incidentally, I also tried going through the easycar rental process. Upon getting to the final stage

Car rental rates are up in the US. Despite the decline in traveler numbers and the general decline in tourism due to the recession, car rental rates are up across the board. In some regions, there are even vehicle shortages. It s all because of aggressive fleet management practices by the car rental companies. Supply is down sharper than demand, which translates to higher rates. And I m seeing those rates.
A few days ago, I started looking for car rental rates out of San Francisco, and even though I knew that rates were going up, I was still taken aback by the prices. $68 a day (plus taxes) for an economy car?! Ouch.
I just ran the search again right now. None of the majors are showing any availability car rentals in atlanta georgia at all in San Francisco. A smaller vendor, Fox Rent-a-Car , wants $169.20 a day . Budget has cars at Oakland Airport, for over $189. Low supply, meet high prices.
car rentals in atlanta georgia Companies like AutoEurope and EasyCar don t tell you the name of the company you re renting with up front, much like Hotwire or Priceline. The amount of information you receive varies, until you finalize your purchase. In the case of AutoEurope, I don t see why they really bother keeping it opaque. They give you the precise pickup address, but not the name of the provider. That s nothing a little Googling won t narrow down
One caveat with booking an domestic vehicle on a site based in another country: Your credit card can be hit with foreign currency fees, even if you re booking in US dollars. This varies by bank, so be forewarned. AutoEurope has offices in the US, and my card was charged in USD from the Portland, Maine office. So no foreign transaction or currency exchange fees.
But still, I m a tad nervous about this working out. After all, with supply car rentals in atlanta georgia this tight, and my rate this comparatively car rentals in atlanta georgia low, I wouldn t put it past the rental company to lose my reservation. The fact that it s prepaid may help, but until I m behind the wheel, car rentals in atlanta georgia I m not taking anything for granted. Pickup is Wednesday. Wish me luck.
I cannot recommend AE high enough. I use their UK site four or five times a year, and have had excellent service every time. I don t know if this applies in the US, but in Europe they allow free cancellations up to 48 hours in advance. So if you don t like the actual rental company, just cancel the reservation, and try the next line down.
Hey Mark: Love your blog! Always helpful. This post caught my eye and I might have some bad news for you. Last Weds at about 11 am I was driving down Bush St here in downtown SF and at the Alamo/National facility there was a line of at least 150 (no exaggeration) sweaty, angry looking Euro tourists waiting to get their rental cars. A gruesome scene as many had large bags and looked like they d just gotten off the plane from Frankfurt. Ready for their day by the bay, but waylayed at the car rental counter. Bon chance!
* New York resident surcharge $55 -$77 per day for rentals commencing in New York, Newark NJ and Philadelphia. This is supplemental to any prepaid voucher charges and will be collected locally car rentals in atlanta georgia at time of rental.
Belated thanks for the comments here. Apologies car rentals in atlanta georgia for the delay I was in a no-internet no-cellphone zone for a few days, and I admit it was great. (Until I was able to surf from the plane , of course )
theothersimon yes, AutoEurope s cancellation policy is solid. That s a big benefit over Priceline and Hotwire, and easycar for that matter, which all withhold the name of the agency car rentals in atlanta georgia until the very end.
JeffB you nailed it, too. Prepaid tank of fuel is required for all AutoEurope rentals. It worked out for me, given the duration of the rental and the distance traveled, but for a short rental, it might not. It s important to do the math.
nobugs Those New York surcharges are not an AutoEurope issue, they re a NYC car rental issue. Major rental agencies sock it to New Yorkers. Check out these two posts from 2006. The numbers are only slightly different today:
Yes of course NYC residents pay more for rentals. However, usually when you search for a rental rate, it is built in the rate offered should be the NYC rate. I had to go quite far in the process to find the rate was inaccurate and that the surcharge car rentals in atlanta georgia would be of an amount not stated specifically until I arrived to get the car.
Incidentally, I also tried going through the easycar rental process. Upon getting to the final stage, I finally got the information car rentals in atlanta georgia that the rates given were NOT for residents of the US (it may have said North America). car rentals in atlanta georgia This was not in the FAQs easycar provided, car rentals in atlanta georgia as I recall. You actually had to go through the process and right before the final commitment, you found out it was a no-go.
@nobugs car rentals in atlanta georgia of course NYC residents car rentals in atlanta georgia pay more for rentals I m no New Yorker, but I m not sure I d be so nonchalant about that. Seems rather car rentals in atlanta georgia discriminatory. I just followed the links in Mark s comment above and I was appalled. How can they justify charging $77 more PER DAY because car rentals in atlanta georgia of borough you live in???
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