Orlando - Why are Car Rentals in Orlando so Expensive?

We are flying to Orlando next week Thursday.

The cheapest quotes for car rentals are on hotwire (over $60/d for economy - base rate), and perhaps through bidding on priceline (over $50/d for economy - base rate).

We rented a car in Las Vegas for four days from Jan 1. The hotwire rate was less than $10/d (base rate) for an intermediate size car.

I would have expected with the decreased demand of car rentals due to the poor economy, and with the relatively large number of available rental cars (relative to demand), the price of an rental car in Orlando would have rivalled the rate I was able to find for Las Vegas.

It's a holiday weekend and Disneyworld is completely sold out :)

Except for the busy periods, I find Orlando to have some of the cheapest car rentals in the country.

Often I get cars in the $12-14 daily range.

Possible explanations include:
1- Presidents Day Weekend
2- Beginning of Spring Break for some (and the beginning of high season)
3- Speed Weeks at Daytona with major events on Feb 13, 14 and culminating with the Daytona 500 on Feb 15th. Hint: Try to avoid I-4 in the Daytona Beach area before and after a race.

Generally, car rental prices in the Orlando area are very reasonable.

Agree with previous poster. Try hotwire or priceline as you get a day or two out. If there are cars, you will be able to get a better rate.

Although this is an old thread, the reason for the high rental car rates in every Florida Airport over Presidents day weekend is because of the Daytona 500.

Yeah, but I just checked for a week in August and the prices are almost like X-mas -- $300 week. Different dates in August, same prices.

Quite odd. MCO is usually one of the cheapest places in the world to rent cars. I'll hold something and check back periodically. Can't believe the demand is suddenly so strong.

Going to Orlando May 13 thru 17. Found a cheap flight and room but I sure need a cheap rental car. No luck so far.

Folks are going to be shocked at some of the rental car rates they run across at MCO these days. I'm seeing $400 week at many agencies for summer travel.

I figure it will get better -- and that priceline will probably save the day -- but in the meantime I've reserved a compact with rentalcarmomma.com for $164/week + taxes. In normal circumstances, this would be a terrible deal, but their 2009 negotiated rates are now a GREAT deal!

Does anyone know of any other pre-negotiated MCO rates? Given the skyrocketing costs, these will all likely be better.

Hotwire for a midsize car at MCO, mid-month, just came out for me at $18 a day plus fees.

Hard to complain.

Hotwire for a midsize car at MCO, mid-month, just came out for me at $18 a day plus fees.

Hard to complain.

Yeah, the prices seem to come down as your travel date approaches. That's why I'm holding the Dollar/Thrifty rate and just waiting for a better deal. It does not seem possible to me that it will cost $300 to rent a small car at MCO (X-mas, maybe, but not in late August).

Here's an NYTimes article explaining why car rental costs in some markets are skyrocketing.

http://www.nytimes.com/2009/06/28/travel/28prac.html

For my just-concluded 13-day (6/10/09-6/23/09) trip to MCO, I ended up with a midsize (Kia Rondo, not a bad car) from Alamo for $225 plus fees.

$17.30 a day plus fees during a pretty busy time, and I got 1.5 WN RR credits.

That strikes me as quite reasonable.

For my just-concluded 13-day (6/10/09-6/23/09) trip to MCO, I ended up with a midsize (Kia Rondo, not a bad car) from Alamo for $225 plus fees.

$17.30 a day plus fees during a pretty busy time, and I got 1.5 WN RR credits.

That strikes me as quite reasonable.

It sure was. For SEVEN DAYS in mid August, Alamo wants $456 for their smallest car on Orbitz at MCO, and they're the cheapest major car rental company! I'm sure you could shave 50 bucks from this rate with a code, but perhaps you can see the problem.

I assume rates go down as you get closer to arrival. Rates are certainly cheaper on Hotwire now. But this represents a sea-change in MCO car rental pricing.

It sure was. For SEVEN DAYS in mid August, Alamo wants $456 for their smallest car on Orbitz at MCO, and they're the cheapest major car rental company! I'm sure you could shave 50 bucks from this rate with a code, but perhaps you can see the problem.

I assume rates go down as you get closer to arrival. Rates are certainly cheaper on Hotwire now. But this represents a sea-change in MCO car rental pricing.

Have you tried booking through WN's website? I almost always get my best price there using one or more coupons or codes. You used to have to be a WN flyer within 24 hours or pickup or dropoff, but no longer.

One-way rentals in FL often incur no drop charge, so sometimes it's worth it to fly into and or out of an alternative airport.

Good luck.

It sure was. For SEVEN DAYS in mid August, Alamo wants $456 for their smallest car on Orbitz at MCO

I too can't believe how expensive MCO rental cars are.......don't really want to try off site smaller companies. Somewhere (maybe Slickdeals) I found a discount code for Dollar. You might want to give this a try.

Full size, 1 week, $455 AI down to $357 AI using code "ooag" on Dollar's website for mid Aug. I actually got my for $233 AI, full size for end of Aug, but I booked mine a few months ago. Good luck!

People might try using Entertainment Book coupons (I've had good luck with them). Robyn

I prefer to use Alamo at MCO. If you go on Mousesavers.com they have discount codes that can be used by anyone. I book it when I find the cheapest rate even though it might not be perfect and keep checking back. I have rebooked at a cheaper rate several times and then cancelled the original with no problem all online. I like that they have the kiosk check-in and they do not hold a deposit on your credit card in addition to the charge, like when I used Hertz the one and only time cause we had vouchers. It was an added expense I was not accounting for.

High MCO car rental rates are continuing, but if you put some effort into it, you can definitely find something decent. This week, even though "published" rates are in the $300s (+ a nasty tax), I've found a bunch of midsize cars for under $200 + tax in the usual places (priceline, last minute and coupons on the individual car rental websites, etc.). But, ironically, the best deal I found was on the thrifty/dollar websites WITHOUT a code. They will often pop up a lower "city special" if you DON't put in a code. I got a midsize at the airport for $129+ tax/week this way. Much lower than priceline! Note that these "specials" don't pop up on kayak.com, so you have to individually search the websites.

BTW, it's also worth (of all things) going to autoeurope.com to get a quote. Dollar/Thrifty beat them for me, but they were competitive with priceline. Also note that picking up at an off-airport site saves on taxes, but the rates are generally higher. Still a decent option if you don't need a car for your entire visit.

Also note that if you're just going for a weekend in the next month or so, Alamo has a great $10/day compact special on their website (a few dollars more for larger cars). There's nothing particularly special about their weekly rates, however.

Also note that if you're just going for a weekend in the next month or so, Alamo has a great $10/day compact special on their website (a few dollars more for larger cars). There's nothing particularly special about their weekly rates, however.


Southwest.com often has some good rates, especially combined with a Costco or Sam's Club coupon. You don't have to be flying with Southwest to get the deal.

I have a weekend with Alamo coming up, and with a different code (7014730, the weekly rate code is 7015025), I pay an extra few dollars over the $10 daily rate for a compact ($4 extra total), but I get a bonus RR credit, worth far more than $4.

This http://www.carrentalsavers.com/ is a great source of discount codes for Orlando (and other areas). The Orlando Magicard, which is downloadable free, has a very good Thrifty discount http://www.orlandoinfo.com/index.cfm

This http://www.carrentalsavers.com/ is a great source of discount codes for Orlando (and other areas). The Orlando Magicard, which is downloadable free, has a very good Thrifty discount http://www.orlandoinfo.com/index.cfm

But is is better than NO discount? :) Seriously, Thrifty/Dollar is the only car rental company that sometimes offers its best rates (under the "city special") when you enter no discount code in your search.

BTW, when I rented from Thrifty last week at MCO, the counter agent was DESPERATE to upsell me something -- anything. It's been years since I've seen such brazen tactics at a rental car counter. In fact, I think she went over the line and tried to "trick" me into agreeing to some sort of personal injury insurance (after I declined all coverages). Still, as long as you pay careful attention at the counter, they can sometimes offer the best rates at MCO, and their cars are comparable to the bigger names (and they're in terminal, unlike Hertz).

I know a guy who is a rental guru, he got a 7 person van for $262 for a week at budget. Originally I was going through enterprise and they had me quoted at almost $600 for the week.

When are you renting? $600 sounds incredibly high. I usually find Orlando to be some of the cheapest rentals anywhere. They have such a high turnover, and such low costs, and such competition that they have to keep prices low.

Be careful that you are renting from an airport rental company. Some of the off sites are located downtown and are much more expensive. Check web sites such as mousesavers and disboards, they have the discount codes that can really bring the prices down.

It was through enterprise right over at the airport. But I was able to get the same deal that the other guy told me about.

We kind of lucked out with a week's rental under $150 taxes and fees included using priceline. I forget exact cost but it was $10/day. The rental was from Alamo and we were able to pick out a Ford Focus which we've driven as a rental in the past & liked. We were also able to rent from MCO and drop out at MIA with no additional fees.

Per some of the original replies, time of year/holidays probably plays a factor. We picked up the car the Saturday after US Thanksgiving which, apart from the Saturday, is probably pretty dead. I think the week leading up to it is pretty crazy. The Alamo rental counter wasn't too bad but we were able to avoid it by using a kiosk.

We will be going to Orlando Feb 12th and the rentals are so expensive. Valentines day? I guess I will wait until closer to the date to see if there are any price drops. Any special codes you used? Thanks

Any help from the rental guru on fec 12-17th for car rental in orlando would be greatly appreciated!

It's not just Valentine's Day, it's also President's Day. It's not likely you will get a good code for that weekend.

Your best bet might be Priceline.

It's not just Valentine's Day, it's also President's Day. It's not likely you will get a good code for that weekend.
Not only Presidents Day national holiday, it's also the weekend that the Daytona 500 is being held (many race fans fly in and out of MCO, and drive up to Daytona Beach)).

Not only Presidents Day national holiday, it's also the weekend that the Daytona 500 is being held (many race fans fly in and out of MCO, and drive up to Daytona Beach)).

Absolutely correct! Please refer to my previous post (#4) from last year. It is a trifecta of Presidents' Day, Speed Weeks at Daytona and the beginning of Spring Break/high season for some. My suggestion would be to make the best deal you can, now!

I just rented a midsize at MCO for 1/12/10 to 1/17/10 through Hotwire and got Hertz.

Car daily rate: $15.95
Rental days: 5
Subtotal: $79.75
Tax recovery charges and fees: $42.31
Total price: $122.06

Immediately went to WN's website and entered all the same info, under the Hertz link for "special offers"(includes 1.5 RR credits).

Got this:

Base Rate $204.74
Drop Charge $0.00
Mileage Charge Unlimited
Tax (6.50%) $15.61
PRIVILEGE FEE IF PICKUP IS WITHIN 48 HOURS OF FLIG $19.55
Rental Surcharge $12.45
Facility Fee $2.30
ENERGY SURCHARGE $1.03
Approximate Total $255.68

By the way, what on earth is a "privilege fee if pickup is within 48 hours of flight"?

And if I'd booked yesterday, it would have been $2 a day less on Hotwire, but I got distracted and forgot.

You will note that 1/18 is a holiday Monday, which I imagine should be affecting rentals that weekend.

So MCO car rentals are not that expensive, it seems to me. Not sure why I bother any more with anything but Hotwire/Priceline.

So MCO car rentals are not that expensive, it seems to me. Not sure why I bother any more with anything but Hotwire/Priceline.

Because I might get Alamo.. and considering how cold it is in Atlanta I am certain that "Hexx" has NOT frozen over and I swore that until it did I would NEVER rent from them after a horrid experience several years ago. (the ONLY travel related company I have EVER said that about)

I just got a National car for $98 all inclusive for five days starting tomorrow. Using a combo of the Last Minute Specials and $20 off a weekend rental. Full Size.

It's easy to find cheap cars...I rented for USD 18 a day, but depends of the season...if it's christmas/new year holliday, the prices go up!

Because I might get Alamo.. and considering how cold it is in Atlanta I am certain that "Hexx" has NOT frozen over and I swore that until it did I would NEVER rent from them after a horrid experience several years ago. (the ONLY travel related company I have EVER said that about)

I just got a National car for $98 all inclusive for five days starting tomorrow. Using a combo of the Last Minute Specials and $20 off a weekend rental. Full Size.

I see this old thread has been revived. I found this post funny because Alamo and National are really the same company. Same cars, same back office systems and I assume many of their employees change shirts depending on which counter they're working that day.

As far as Florida car rentals go, it's still a strange game. I rented from FLL this week, and the rates have actually been pretty expensive. Well over $30/day for a compact, before all the crazy taxes. But Alamo had a sale a couple a couple days out (the sale vanished quickly) reducing the compact price to $19/day, and then I used a coupon. But I did have to settle for a worse car than I would have wanted. Heck, this compact doesn't even have power door looks -- every pax needs to lock their own door. I feel like I'm back in the '70s! A midsize was like $15/day more, so I passed. No cheapo rates available on priceline this week for my rental.