Car hire with oneway drop off in USA

jjkaine

Planning a Retirement trip next year of Route 66 ourselves as it seems much cheaper than Fly Drive and want to pick up car in Chicago then drop off LA airport. Any tips on car hire?

National charge $250 drop off fee, far less than others at $500 but does anyone have any other advice?

ferf1223

It's something that has been discussed before and National's $250 has been highlighted before as potentially one to check, which you have already found.

https://forums.moneysavingexpert.com/discussion/4367015

We normally use carhire3000 or whatever they are called now...we like them because

a) if there is a one-way fee they will advise you (after booking) and you can cancel if you do not accept it...since the rental agency the booking is with isn't confirmed until you have booked the one-way fee can't be confirmed until booked.

b) they will look for the next cheapest option inclusive of one-way fee if you ask (they did this for us a few years ago and got us a much better deal than we had).

c) if you pay in full in advance you can cancel at anytime and lose nothing.

d) if the price drops on your rental and you contact them they will adjust/refund the difference.

e) in our experience their customer service has been very good.

You can book by phone as well - so you could call them and see what options may be available with one-way fee priced in as it's hard to compare like for like when sometimes the one-way fee is in the small print.

Murphy_The_Cat

Hello OP

Have a quick look at Try http://www.alamo.co.uk/brits ***

This is a fully inclusive + package and includes:
Collision Damage Waiver Full
Extended Protection
Airport Concession Fee
Customer Facility Charge
Tourism Fee
Sales Tax
Unlimited Mileage
3 Additional drivers
+ 10% discount

Alamo charge $300 for the one way hire, but the 10% discount and free drivers may offset this for you.

On my upcoming trip, Alamo came up trumps for me, using the link above (even with the additional $50 one way charge) -- if it helps at all, National and Alamo are the same dog, with a different haircut

*** credit to ematthew for the original link.

malid

We're going Route 66 in two weeks time. Out to Chicago and back from LA. Booked here http://www.drive-usa.de/.

Car will be National. It was the best deal we found.

Enjoy.

Murphy_The_Cat

malid wrote: »

We're going Route 66 in two weeks time. Out to Chicago and back from LA. Booked here http://www.drive-usa.de/.

Car will be National. It was the best deal we found.

Enjoy.

Isn't is refreshing to find a website that shows the one way excess on it -- it makes getting a comparison so much easier.
Especially when you are doing a long trip, it makes the $250 charge that National apply look very reasonable !!

have a great trip

bogof1

contrary to what has been written earlier about Alamo charging for a one way drop off I can tell you that they do not make such such a charge.
Over the past few years I have spent extended periods in Florida and California in USA and have used rental cars many times. I have never been quoted or charged a one way drop off fee and have done this about 20 times. It is the reason I use Alamo.

Murphy_The_Cat

bogof1 wrote: »

contrary to what has been written earlier about Alamo charging for a one way drop off I can tell you that they do not make such such a charge.
Over the past few years I have spent extended periods in Florida and California in USA and have used rental cars many times. I have never been quoted or charged a one way drop off fee and have done this about 20 times. It is the reason I use Alamo.

hello bogof

If you're in Florida or California, you're correct, Alamo don't charge one way drop off charge - this link will make things clearer as to what does and what doesn't attract a one way hire charge

malid

Murphy_The_Cat is spot on. Alamo will charge if you pick up in Chicago and drop off in California. I think it's $750.