Last updated: September 6, 2024 at 04:35 PM
Summary of Reddit Comments on Cheap Car Rental
Costco Travel
- Many users highly recommend using Costco Travel for rental cars due to fantastic deals and lower prices compared to traditional rental companies.
- Users suggest that Costco Travel offers consistent savings but note that savings may vary depending on the time of year, length of rental, and destination.
- Some users share experiences of booking cheap rentals through Costco Travel for as low as $115 a week or $205 for five days.
- It is mentioned that Costco Travel often provides the best prices with a variety of available cars and rental companies to choose from.
- A Hertz car manager confirms that Costco consistently offers the lowest rates for rental cars and provides excellent customer service.
- One user points out a discrepancy in rental prices between direct reservation and Costco, where Costco was significantly cheaper.
- Another user highlights that Costco rental prices can vary significantly, mentioning a scenario where consistent checking led to a final payment of $381 for a rental in Hawaii.
Pros of Costco Travel:
- Offers fantastic deals and lower prices compared to other rental companies.
- Provides a wide selection of cars and companies.
- Consistently delivers savings for users.
- Excellent customer service and reliable bookings.
Cons of Costco Travel:
- Prices may vary depending on various factors.
- Discrepancies in pricing compared to direct reservations with traditional rental companies.
Alternatives to Costco Travel
- Autoslash.com is mentioned as a preferable alternative to Costco, offering better rates at times.
- Users also recommend Hotwire, Expedia, and Kayak for finding competitive rental rates.
- Mention of Turo as an alternative, where private owners rent out their cars like an Airbnb for vehicles.
Pros and Cons of Alternatives:
- Autoslash.com: Can provide better rates than Costco Travel, but variations in pricing.
- Hotwire, Expedia, Kayak: Offer competitive rates, but may not always beat Costco Travel.
- Turo: Provides private owner rentals, potentially offering unique vehicles but with some uncertainty in quality.
General Tips and Comments on Rental Cars
- Recommendations to avoid renting cars at airport locations to save on high fees and taxes, with suggestions to opt for off-airport rental locations.
- Users share experiences of possible rental car scams, such as swapping parts, tires, and batteries on rental cars.
- Mention of European countries commonly using LPG (liquefied petroleum gas) for cars, providing cleaner and cheaper fuel options in comparison to gasoline.
- Anecdotes of people facing discrimination or hostility based on out-of-state license plates, such as Californians experiencing negative reactions in Texas or other states.
- Tips for finding cheaper batteries and avoiding high prices for car repairs, including utilizing store services for charging or testing dead batteries.
Overall Insights and Recommendations:
- Costco Travel emerges as a popular choice for cheap car rentals, offering consistent savings and excellent deals.
- Alternatives such as Autoslash.com, Hotwire, Expedia, and Turo are suggested for competitive rates, but Costco Travel remains a preferred option for many.
- Users caution against rental scams and discrimination based on out-of-state plates, highlighting the importance of thorough research and awareness when renting cars.