whats the cheapest way to Rent a car to drive from one place and drop off at another

[modelageek]

I am planning a College visiting trip this summer. I have 2 questions
I want to fly into the Baltimre/Richmond area and leave from Hilton Head/Savanah GA area.

1) Any ideas on how to get a cheap rental car for the drive........A quck look and they seem to want at least $800.........

2).also does any one know of a good Travel Forum that I could join

 

[4x4mike2004]

u haul truck?

 

[badmts]

consider doing sc to va/md and contact some "DRIVE AWAY " services on the east coast as snowbirds go north in summer and you might get an old coulpes caddy or lincoln for free but you take it to NYC

 

[shane96ranger]

I am planning a College visiting trip this summer. I have 2 questions
I want to fly into the Baltimre/Richmond area and leave from Hilton Head/Savanah GA area.

1) Any ideas on how to get a cheap rental car for the drive........A quck look and they seem to want at least $800.........

2).also does any one know of a good Travel Forum that I could join

I would think you're going to have to use a large chain like Hertz or Enterprise, or you're not going to be able to drop it off. Does that 800 include insurance? I'd call your insurance company and see if they cover you in a rental. Mine does, so I don't need to get insurance through the rental company. This always saves some unnecessary spending for me.

 

[backroad101]

I have generally found it is cheaper to rent a car from the airport than a offsite location, and they give you unlimited miles. Have done this many times for road trips. I am of the mentality that I will always rent a car if I am driving for a trip. I keep both of my cars in great shape, but things happen and I would rather have a short delay while the retal co. gets me a different car than having to deal with my own car and ruining the trip

Hard to say if $800 is a good deal. What size car do you want and how long do you need it for? Sometimes they are willing to work a deal with you on a less rented car to keep popular cars available.

Google coupons or deals for rental cars then go to the websites and see what you can find at the most applicible airport.

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[Original_Ranger84]

What about Public transportation? get on a bus and take em around the places you are going?

 

[Mac]

I was going to rent from Enterprise a couple weeks ago just for a 200 mile trip to pick up "another" truck down near Chicago but they didn't allow out of state drop-offs, never heard of that. Their hours on the week-end really kind of limited my schedule also. Good luck with the search and checking the colleges out.
Dave of the Nord

 

[naford]

Call your insurance company but if you don't have full coverage on your current vehicle they won't insure the rental car. Also if somebody is driving the vehicle with the full coverage your insurance company won't cover the rental. it was just in the paper on Sunday or Saturday.

I thought that if you rent offsite away from the airport you save on the airport fee/tax that all major cities charge.

 

[modelageek]

thanks for all the feedback.........the $800 was just for the car not the insurance they try to get you to buy.......My insurance will cover me in the rental and my credit card will cover the deductible if I was in an accident.......I was hoping to find something cheaper than $800.........I wll let you know what happens

ps........that idea of renting a uhaul was great out of the box thinking......I actually called Uhaul for a laugh and it would be about $800 to rent a 17 footer and drive from Baltimore to Hilton head over 7 days........

 

[adsm08]

Try this:

figure out what it will cost to drive your truck the whole way. I don't know the route from Boston, but I live right off one of the major highways that runs from PA into Baltimore. If you can deal with the dogs I can put you up for a night each way if you pass close enough.

Then if that comes out lower (keep in mind you have to pay for gas in the rental as well) just drive your own vehicle. That's what it's there for.

 

[shane96ranger]

ps........that idea of renting a uhaul was great out of the box thinking......I actually called Uhaul for a laugh and it would be about $800 to rent a 17 footer and drive from Baltimore to Hilton head over 7 days........

I drove the 26 footer 160 miles a couple of summers ago and it wasn't fun. The A/C didn't work, and the seats really sucked.

I like adsm's idea though.

 

[backroad101]

I was going to rent from Enterprise a couple weeks ago just for a 200 mile trip to pick up "another" truck down near Chicago but they didn't allow out of state drop-offs, never heard of that. Their hours on the week-end really kind of limited my schedule also. Good luck with the search and checking the colleges out.
Dave of the Nord

Also, airport rental locations are open later and on weekends

 

[bilzy7]

it all depends tha distance and if they do alot of drives between the two locations. i paid 350 once to drive from Fayetteville NC, to GA and drop off car to drive home. I had missed my flight in nc, but wanted to be home asap. next flight out was from ga.

 

[backroad101]

Then if that comes out lower (keep in mind you have to pay for gas in the rental as well) just drive your own vehicle. That's what it's there for.

True, but if something were to happen (and something can still happen even if you keep awseme care of your truck), it ruins the trip and you are stuck trying to find a place to fix your truck. At least with a rental, it is new, and is less likely to have an issue. And if there is an issue, the rental company gets you another car. Just me but I would spring for the rental. To each their own. Everyone has their own way of doing things

Again, though, how is it $800?? What are the details? Car type, duration of rental? You should be able to get a car from an airport rental locatin for $19-$24 a day before taxes and insurance (if you want insurance) Plus they always have week long rates under $200

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