SlowBoy

iTrader: (1)

I'm thinking about taking a holiday in California so I checked out the price of car rental. The Avis website quoted the following figures (based on almost a months rental):

Oldsmobile Alero....988 USD
Chevy Monte Carlo....1060 USD
Buick Century....1092 USD
Buick LeSabre....960 UKP

Then, out of curiosity, I tried the same quote but listed the US as my country of residence. And I got these figures:

Oldsmobile Alero....627.96 USD
Chevy Monte Carlo....755.96 USD
Buick Century....767.96 USD
Buick LeSabre....983.96 USD NOT UKP

Is this a rip off or am I missing something?

midget1500

HMMM wonder if those prices for rental include insurance, that might explain the difference of locals v. foreigners?

stuckhere

Try Alamo first or rentawreck.
Those prices aren't that bad for a months rental. When are you going if its the summer then its going to be higher?

[Edited by stuckhere - 5/15/2003 2:20:18 PM]

Ian E

iTrader: (1)

Try Cars4Less which is a division of www.LastMinute.com Last time we booked this was the cheapest way - Avis and Alamo direct prices look cheap until you add up all the extra insurance options. Last Minute price is all inclusive.

clarence

Price discrimination is always used in the travel industry, be it car rentals or plane tickets, to hotel rooms etc.
I found that being a UK resident, one will usually come up with rip-off car rental rates when getting a quote. The prices will lower dramatically if I put my residency to be elsewhere.
Last October, I rented a Holden Commodore in Oz, with satnav etc., the rental comes to less than £160 per week. That cheapest rate came about after I claim to reside in Oz.

workshy_fopp

Rent when you get there. Its not like there's a shortage of cars.
I paid $400 for 2 weeks in a Ford Taurus 3.0 and $580 for 12 days in a Camero 3.8 soft top. You can haggle too

Markus

I'd would say it's the insurance, as with everywhere, they screw you with insurance. I'm paying a fortune here in Canada, but have no option but to rent as can't get proper insurance as i've not got a full Ontario drivers licence yet. grrr

SlowBoy

iTrader: (1)

Thanks for the replies, guys. Some useful info there.

I'm not complaining about the cost - even the first lot of prices are much cheaper than we'd pay over here. What surprised me is the different rates for tourists vs locals. I guess it's a case of charge what you can get away with, even if that allows you to charge different prices for the same product/service because some people don't know any better.

Luke

Insurance............their fully comp is not like ours. Make sure your fully covered

Makalu

Book the cheapest over here then haggle when you got there. I booked the equivalent to a Ford Escort over here then upgraded 'at no cost' to a huge 5 Ltr SUV with all the toys when I got there!

Mak.

stuckhere

You need insurance for sure they all drive like mental patients out here braking distances bwahhh what is that, give'em an inch and they'll take a car length!