Long term car hire in USA (12 weeks)

rockitup

I have started planning a 12 week road trip in SouthWest and Western US States, hoping to fly on 2nd September.

I need a Lincoln or Caddy for the 12 weeks duration but as I am touring, I cannot drop the car back to rental location every 30 days which is the usual limit with most companies when booking from the UK.

Checking rates for the 12 weeks duration of trip on Kayak and Expedia returns prices around £2200 region but when I get to the Airport Car Rental desk they would quote the 30 days limit for UK sold rental contracts. I had this problem in 2008 in Las Vegas for a 5 month trip but an employee from Enterprise Rent a Car took a little gratuity from me and got me fixed up with a crappy Hyundai Tucson which was way past it's rental life. Need something better this time...

On the US sites like Budget and others they do offer rentals up to 11 months so that is fine except the price including insurances comes to about £4,814 or $7,800

Have any of you folk managed to get a long term rental for touring (no returns within the rental period)?

With the Hyundai I rented I offered to get oil & filter changes done every 2 months and I was responsible for tyres. I don't mind that to save on the expensive US based rental rates.

Thanks

richardw

How much of a pain is it to do 3 separate one-way rentals?

rockitup

richardw wrote: »

How much of a pain is it to do 3 separate one-way rentals?

Doing it that way would cost a load Richard, Pick up in California - drop in Colorado, Next drop at Washington State, last drop at California....
Loadsa wonga in drop fees!

I am going to see if I can get a firm offer whereby I keep the same car and drop by any rental location of same rental company to renew the rental contract and keep the same car. Even if I wait for a couple of hours while they carry out checks and change oil etc, maybe they agree to that?

If anyone else has any solutions please reply

Cheers

sabretoothtigger

Surely its cheaper to buy a car and sell it when leaving

rockitup

I tried that before when renting for 5 months but insurance is astronomical for Drivers from outside of US and they need a local residential address, some states also require the Social Security number for which you have to be resident.

Looking a bit tough to get this sorted out, I can renew rental at locations en route but have to pay the local charges at time (not discounted pre-pay rates from UK)

sabretoothtigger

Does sound difficult. It was a business trip I would really expect to sort it out through the company as they can often get an easier deal on corporate insurance

rockitup

No such luck I'm afraid, packed up work a few years ago and never travelled much in my Teens and 20's so making up for it now.

A thought has just entered my head (rare occurrence these days)....
If the rental car company cannot make me a decent deal and are not happy with £2200 I will rough it out on a Greyhound Bus 3 month pass or summat like that and just rent a car local when really need it... long as I get some good photos on my trip

marky_p

Go by train - Amtrak is brilliant!

rockitup

marky_p wrote: »

Go by train - Amtrak is brilliant!

Even better idea, I used them in 1990 really enjoyed the short trip from Oceanside CA to Anaheim Stadium. I will check out their site now and see what deal is going for monthly passes or longer.

Better take less luggage though if I ain't driving a Cadillac

antenna

Take a tip from Borat.......buy an old camper from the back of the lot,but watch out for that grizzly.

rockitup

antenna wrote: »

Take a tip from Borat.......buy an old camper from the back of the lot,but watch out for that grizzly.

:rotfl::rotfl:

When I was in New Mexico in 1993 I stopped off at a Rest Area on the Interstate that goes from Las Cruces to Albuquerque. They had barbecues available for public to use there so muggins here cooked a tray of marinated chicken pieces and took some back to the car.

A "dog" came up to me and I started feeding him because the poor mutt looked hungry. He was taking it out of my hand after a while, then some American guys said "Hey, don't feed them damn coyotes"