Saving a (small) fortune on one way US hire charges

Murphy_The_Cat

Obviously_the_best wrote: »

You can price compare one-way trips at skyscanner.net/car-hire to see who'll give you the best deal.

ouch, that was one hugely expensive quote that I rec'd, unforunately from only one supplier, so unable to do any comparison.

johnmcga

I've rented one-way three times in the US:

- From Seattle to San Francisco
- From San Francisco to Vegas
- From Kona to Hilo (Hawaii)

And always managed to find deals without a one-way fee. Have I just been lucky, or are they less likely to impost one-way fees on these touristy routes?

Amba_Gambla

Murphy_The_Cat wrote: »

Can you give any further details of the hire, as the car hire companies all seem to do one way hire charges by default (except for some deals in the above mentioned States.

Murphy_The_Cat

Amba_Gambla wrote: »

cheers Amba:beer:

I've not come across 'fuel & service' charge before - what is it ?
Should we add MN to the list of no one way rental locations !

p.s. 392 miles in a Yaris in a day, you deserve a medal

Amba_Gambla

Murphy_The_Cat wrote: »

cheers Amba:beer:

I've not come across 'fuel & service' charge before - what is it ?
Should we add MN to the list of no one way rental locations !

p.s. 392 miles in a Yaris in a day, you deserve a medal

Fuel and service was if you returned it un-fuelled.

(Long story short, we didn't but counter was closed when we dropped off - was later refunded)

bagand96

johnmcga wrote: »

I've rented one-way three times in the US:

- From Seattle to San Francisco
- From San Francisco to Vegas
- From Kona to Hilo (Hawaii)

And always managed to find deals without a one-way fee. Have I just been lucky, or are they less likely to impost one-way fees on these touristy routes?

Most companies charge no one way fee within California and Nevada (sometimes Arizona too). I guess this is due to so many tourists moving around those areas.

No idea on Hawaii but being small distances its easy to see why it wouldn't be charged there either.

Vauban

I rented a car with Avis a couple of years back to drive the family from Seattle to Vancouver. Though it was a reasonably expensive hire, there was no extra charged for the one-way drop off. (And way cheaper and more convenient) than taking the train or the plane.)

Murphy_The_Cat

Vauban wrote: »

I rented a car with Avis a couple of years back to drive the family from Seattle to Vancouver. Though it was a reasonably expensive hire, there was no extra charged for the one-way drop off. (And way cheaper and more convenient) than taking the train or the plane.)

This is all good and interesting stuff for me.

When I was searching, I really struggled to find companies that weren't going to 'stiff me' for a hefty one way hire charge -- although some were preapred to offer no one way hire charge, the daily rate was considerably more(IIRC, upto double).

I've just done a dummy booking for a one day rental with avis for a SUV from Seatttle to Vancouver and they wanted an eyewatering $267 compared to $124 if I returned it to Seattle.

Vauban

Murphy_The_Cat wrote: »

I've just done a dummy booking for a one day rental with avis for a SUV from Seatttle to Vancouver and they wanted an eyewatering $267 compared to $124 if I returned it to Seattle.

Yes, i recall it was just over $200 for a decent SUV. Which is obviously a lot for a day's rental.

I don't think anyone should be surprised that it's more expensive than returning the car to it's point of origin. There are costs for the company in returning the vehicle (in my case, to another country). But wasn't your point, Mr. Cat, that you wanted some transparency and didn't want to be stiffed with an unelected or uncertain charge when it came to returning the car? At least with Avis I knew what I was paying, and there were no nasty surprises.

Murphy_The_Cat

Vauban wrote: »

. But wasn't your point, Mr. Cat, that you wanted some transparency and didn't want to be stiffed with an unelected or uncertain charge when it came to returning the car? At least with Avis I knew what I was paying, and there were no nasty surprises.

Transparency is always very welcome. But for anyone who uses a car hire broker, its not easy to find.
Plan B is going through the hire companies one by one, which can be quite consuming, especially when the one way charge can be buried kow down in the small print and can have such an unpleasant effect of the final bill.