Anyone have experience with long-term car rentals?

adylan76 · March 12th, 2008, 07:08 PM

I'm planning a cross-country trip this summer, and I intended to make the drive in a rental car. When I've searched for rates, all of the major rental co's seem to want over $1000 for a monthly rental, not including insurance. And that's with their various "deals."

It seems like there has to be a better way to do this. Anyone ever rented a car long term? Anyone ever find a way to do it for less than $1000/mo? Anyone ever work for a car rental co?

Thanks,
Andrew

CharlieO · March 12th, 2008, 10:05 PM

$1000 a month for a one-way rental for a month actually doesn't seem unreasonable to me. As you probably know, it usually costs more money for a one-way rental than if you drop the car off at the place where you picked it up. I think I can understand that- why would a rental car company want a car that is titled and licensed in New York to be dropped off in San Francisco or Los Angeles? I'm sure that it creates extra hassle and costs for them. In some cases, it could mess with their inventory. For example, what if I rented a Mustang convertible in Florida in January and dropped it off in Bangor, Maine? There probably wouldn't be any demand for that Mustang in Maine, so they would lose rental income on that vehicle.

I don't know if Stencil is still around, but I know that he rented a Mustang convertible for a cross-country trip last summer. He had some kind of deal through his employer, but he still might have some useful tips.
http://www.tdpri.com/forum/bad-dog-c...nvertible.html

If you want to save money, buy the best $500 car you can find and drive it as far as it goes. If it dies, sell it to a scrapyard and use the cash for a bus ticket.

adylan76 · March 12th, 2008, 10:08 PM

I should have clarified - I plan on returning it to the same place I'm picking it up.

And I'm picking it up outside the NYC area, so that extra cost isn't a factor either.

Thanks, though.

gibsonjunkie · March 12th, 2008, 10:12 PM

Rented a car for two weeks for a cross country trip. Put 6,000 miles on it in that time period. Freaked them out when I brought it back - Hooray for Free miles!!!

CharlieO · March 12th, 2008, 10:41 PM

Quote:

Originally Posted by gibsonjunkie

Rented a car for two weeks for a cross country trip. Put 6,000 miles on it in that time period. Freaked them out when I brought it back - Hooray for Free miles!!!

That's definitely one reason why I don't think $1000 for a month rental is such a bad deal.

When I rent cars and get a decent rate, the rental agreement sometimes says that the car must not be driven out of state. I know that was the case at the Minneapolis airport, but they never caught me in North Dakota.

gibsonjunkie · March 12th, 2008, 11:12 PM

Quote:

Originally Posted by CharlieO

That's definitely one reason why I don't think $1000 for a month rental is such a bad deal.

When I rent cars and get a decent rate, the rental agreement sometimes says that the car must not be driven out of state. I know that was the case at the Minneapolis airport, but they never caught me in North Dakota.

We went from Hartford to Denver, Denver across into Utah, down to Moab and then 4 Corners, back through Colorado into Telluride, back up to 70 and through Vail, South Park, and way too many more to mention. Then it was back from Colo. Springs to Hartford in 34 1/2 hours... That car needed an oil change by the time we got through with it. The other fun part was that it was a black Crown Victoria and everybody thought we were an unmarked cruiser. We had a clear shot all the way!

March 12th, 2008, 07:08 PM	#1 (permalink)
adylan76 TDPRI Member Join Date: Jul 2005 Location: Brooklyn Posts: 88	Anyone have experience with long-term car rentals? I'm planning a cross-country trip this summer, and I intended to make the drive in a rental car. When I've searched for rates, all of the major rental co's seem to want over $1000 for a monthly rental, not including insurance. And that's with their various "deals." It seems like there has to be a better way to do this. Anyone ever rented a car long term? Anyone ever find a way to do it for less than $1000/mo? Anyone ever work for a car rental co? Thanks, Andrew

March 12th, 2008, 10:05 PM	#2 (permalink)
CharlieO Tele-Afflicted Join Date: Mar 2003 Location: Sarasota, FL Age: 56 Posts: 1,363 10 Photos	$1000 a month for a one-way rental for a month actually doesn't seem unreasonable to me. As you probably know, it usually costs more money for a one-way rental than if you drop the car off at the place where you picked it up. I think I can understand that- why would a rental car company want a car that is titled and licensed in New York to be dropped off in San Francisco or Los Angeles? I'm sure that it creates extra hassle and costs for them. In some cases, it could mess with their inventory. For example, what if I rented a Mustang convertible in Florida in January and dropped it off in Bangor, Maine? There probably wouldn't be any demand for that Mustang in Maine, so they would lose rental income on that vehicle. I don't know if Stencil is still around, but I know that he rented a Mustang convertible for a cross-country trip last summer. He had some kind of deal through his employer, but he still might have some useful tips. http://www.tdpri.com/forum/bad-dog-c...nvertible.html If you want to save money, buy the best $500 car you can find and drive it as far as it goes. If it dies, sell it to a scrapyard and use the cash for a bus ticket. __________________ http://www.CharlesOffer.com

March 12th, 2008, 10:12 PM	#4 (permalink)
gibsonjunkie Tele-Holic Join Date: Jan 2006 Location: Bloomfield, Connecticut Age: 55 Posts: 644	Rented a car for two weeks for a cross country trip. Put 6,000 miles on it in that time period. Freaked them out when I brought it back - Hooray for Free miles!!! __________________ The early bird gets the worm, but the second mouse gets the cheese...

March 12th, 2008, 10:08 PM	#3 (permalink)
adylan76 TDPRI Member Join Date: Jul 2005 Location: Brooklyn Posts: 88	I should have clarified - I plan on returning it to the same place I'm picking it up. And I'm picking it up outside the NYC area, so that extra cost isn't a factor either. Thanks, though.