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Comments (6)
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Save/ShareEvery spring, car rental agencies need to move automobiles around the country to prepare for the summer season, and travelers willing to do the driving can score ultra-cheap rental rates, starting at a mere buck per day.
Besides the cheap rates, renters don't have to pay any of the typical one-way drop-off fees, which often add $65, even as much as $250, onto the tab. Seeing as you're basically doing the rental agencies a favor by helping them shift inventory, they're kind enough to waive the fees.
Combine an inexpensive one-way flight with one of these car rental specials, and you've got the makings of a great (and cheap!) springtime road trip. Here are the specifics:
Alamo and National
The agencies are owned by the same company, and basically have the same rules for one-way specials this spring. Rentals start at $10 per day, and $12 daily for full-size vehicles, when picked up at a major airport in Florida between April 5 and May 31, and dropped off at any participating agency location in the continental U.S. Renters are allowed to keep vehicles at these special rates for a maximum of 21 days. Check out National.com or Alamo.com for more details.
Avis and Budget
Similarly to above, Avis and Budget are owned by the same company and host essential the same offer. To get their special rates ($9.95 daily for smaller cars, $11.95 for full-size rentals, $26.95 for SUVs), you must pick the rental up at one of 11 Florida airports and drop the car off at an agency location in Arkansas, Georgia, Louisiana, Mississippi, North Carolina, South Carolina, or Tennessee. The promotion is valid on rentals completed by June 15, and, unfortunately, to get the special rate you've got to make it a quick road trip: The maximum rental period is just four days. Could be perfect for a long weekend though. Scope the options at Avis.com or Budget.com.
Hertz
If you're really quick about it, and you're OK with a really quick trip, you can still reserve a one-way car rental with Hertz for just $3 a day. To get that rate, you must reserve by March 31 and pick the car up sometime between April 5 and June 30. The other rules are that you must pick up the car in Florida and drop it off at a location in the Midwest, Mid-Atlantic, or Northeast in four days or less. It's not the easiest set of criteria to meet, but for $3 a day, maybe you can make it work. Go to Hertz.com for the lowdown, including the fact that you must use the code 1WAY when reserving.
Thrifty
Finally, Thrifty lives up to its name with the best deal of all, a $1-daily one-way rental offer. To qualify, you must pick up a car at the airport in either Seattle, or Portland, Oregon, and drop off the car at one of three airports in northern California: San Francisco (SFO), San Jose (SJC), or Oakland (OAK). The drop-off has to take place by April 30, and you can keep the car for a maximum seven days. For more details, or to check availability, visit Thrifty's website.
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Great stuff! I am going to share this at my blog, btw, never book on the spot at the airport if you can avoid it, save tons of money this way...
Posted By Traveler on March 31, 2010, 3:28 AM
I intend to travel to India this year and I want to know more information about the most visited destinations and prices for accommodation and transport. I read about these things this site www.goatraveltips.com, but I need more info, like which is the safest means of transport in India.
Posted By Cristian on March 31, 2010, 9:44 AM
Best way to travel in India is by train (2nd-class, AC) and watch the beautiful countryside roll by. Overnighters are a different story, as the trains can be freezing with fans going all night and windows un-closeable. Do not dismiss the option of hiring a driver when you get fed up with crowds and can even perhaps share with another traveler. Any hotel-person and their brother/cousin/bro-in-law can get you a driver, and you can usually go 300-400 miles for about $100. In short, don't worry about transport. I've had 3 trips to India now, and getting one place to another has never been a problem. Do not miss the caves at Ajanta and Ellora, about a 10-hr train trip from Mumbai. They will blow your mind! Namaste~Jerome
Posted By Jerome Szymczak on April 5, 2010, 5:16 PM
TO: Brad Tuttle
RE: Your recent article -- Last minute road trip on the cheap! Car rentals from just $1 a day
These are great savings if you live in or close to Florida, Seattle or Portland. But what about rental car end-of-winter season movements from the Phoenix and Tucson areas? Most years, the major rental agencies move cars from Arizona back to San Fran and Denver.
Posted By J Gorin on April 5, 2010, 6:59 PM
I feel rental agencies should let U drive cars to where U need to GO aside incentives for those long drives needed.
Make flexible for users aside agencies.
But exotics & muscle cars aren't listed.
Darn.
Posted By Stephen Russell on April 5, 2010, 8:08 PM
It would be wonderful if you could book early. Such as Florida one way north in November but book now, so you could also book a one way flight
Posted By Jim on April 27, 2010, 5:09 PM