Other Car Rental Programs/Partners (ie. Alamo, Enterprise, Sixt) - In Orlando, Advantage or Payless?

For an upcoming trip, I have a choice between Advantage and Payless, to save 50% over Budget, Avis, etc.

Which is preferable?

Thanks.

For an upcoming trip, I have a choice between Advantage and Payless, to save 50% over Budget, Avis, etc.

Which is preferable?

Thanks.

Neither. Advantage has filed for Chapter 11 (Enterprise is currently trying to acquire the assets of the company out of bankruptcy court, and Payless is as bottom end as you get. Comes down to you get what you pay for. I think your best bet is to stick with the major players but if price is that much of a concern and you like to gamble, go with Payless. I would make a reservation as a back up with a real company.

Neither. Advantage has filed for Chapter 11 (Enterprise is currently trying to acquire the assets of the company out of bankruptcy court, and Payless is as bottom end as you get. Comes down to you get what you pay for. I think your best bet is to stick with the major players but if price is that much of a concern and you like to gamble, go with Payless. I would make a reservation as a back up with a real company.

Agree. Try one of regular rental company, Hertz / Avis or National.

Hertz just outbid Enterprise on the Bid...not sure if they will keep Advantage open. But I agree with the other posters...you might want to stay with booking something higher on the food chain.

Winning bid was 30+ million for Advantage. Hertz is hurting on their own according to AutoRental News...not sure where that money is coming from.

I checked into this online. Apparently many Advantage branches have closed, but the ones in popular destinations will remain open. Those will be operated by Hertz as Advantage locations. Hertz realizes those competitive vacation markets will allow them to cater to the budget travelers who recognize the Advantage name and normally would not rent from Hertz.

I checked into this online. Apparently many Advantage branches have closed, but the ones in popular destinations will remain open. Those will be operated by Hertz as Advantage locations. Hertz realizes those competitive vacation markets will allow them to cater to the budget travelers who recognize the Advantage name and normally would not rent from Hertz.

And then presumably Hertz will have somewhere to dump all their junk cars so as to not lose any more loyal Hertz PC'ers and the like.

And Pam, it can be assumed that Hertz got the money but firing 4,000 employees, keeping cars until the wheels fall off and then putting new wheels on them, and gutting their loyalty programs, all while still keeping rates well above the competition.

I agree that Hertz now has a convenient dumping ground for their older tired cars. Advantage, like the other independent outfits, is designed to compete with the used car mom-and-pops, which is presumably why Enterprise originally wanted it. Even the Advantage website states their cars are "no more than 2 years old." Advantage is unique in that it allows one-ways between certain locations. Payless does not. Then again, some other local outfits own several offices within the same tourist spot and do likewise.

What is annoying and strange, though, is that the Advantage reservations page offers, besides the usual CDW insurance extras, the additional option to purchase roadside assistance coverage. Excuse me? Purchase? When I rent a car, I expect it to be in good working order for the task at hand. It's not my fault if their car breaks down unexpectedly. If it were my car, on the other hand, then it rightfully would be my problem, which is why I pay AAA for towing insurance. (And note that AAA only allows the purchase of AAA Plus for members with relatively new cars and few service calls. Talk about insurance....)

I have heard of a similar problem with Enterprise cars, in the rare event of a breakdown. When it does happen is typically after the renter has driven to a different zone. Some people complained that Enterprise made them take time out to bring the car to the closest dealer for warranty work, which might take a few days. Now they had a problem continuing their trip and returning home.

What is annoying and strange, though, is that the Advantage reservations page offers, besides the usual CDW insurance extras, the additional option to purchase roadside assistance coverage. Excuse me? Purchase? When I rent a car, I expect it to be in good working order for the task at hand. It's not my fault if their car breaks down unexpectedly. If it were my car, on the other hand, then it rightfully would be my problem, which is why I pay AAA for towing insurance. (And note that AAA only allows the purchase of AAA Plus for members with relatively new cars and few service calls. Talk about insurance....)

I have heard of a similar problem with Enterprise cars, in the rare event of a breakdown. When it does happen is typically after the renter has driven to a different zone. Some people complained that Enterprise made them take time out to bring the car to the closest dealer for warranty work, which might take a few days. Now they had a problem continuing their trip and returning home.

National has that option too, for $4.99 a day. I've always just phoned AAA when I've had a lockout, but you can also phone the manufacturer's hotline as well, hoping that a) The car is still under warranty (generally less than 37,000 mi) and b) All the service calls for the year haven't been used by other renters. I agree though, if the car breaks down then it's the rental company's responsibility to take care of it, unless it's a flat tire or something.

I do, however, recommend taking the $4.99/day option on moving trucks. I got hung to dry with U-Haul once as my AAA doesn't cover rental trucks over a certain GVW, and U-Haul wanted to charge me $150 for a service call. I was planning to drive a National 16' Truck earlier in the year, and I included Roadside Plus in my quote for that reason.

Only in Canada does National rent moving trucks to compete with U-Haul. And it's an open secret that U-Haul has a bad reputation for many good reasons. Just Google "U-Haul sucks" and you'll see what I mean. Everybody recommends Budget or Penske, or maybe Ryder for local moves. (Ryder stopped doing one-way rentals when their trucks were used for terrorism in WTC I bombing and Oklahoma City.)

I've rented from Alamo numerous times in NY, and never saw any additional charge for roadside assistance, just a 1-800 number emblazoned in red ink on the key chain. Maybe this is something that happens in Canada. Either way, I personally think charging the customer for something like that shows a lack of confidence in the product.

FYI, my MA-originated Hyundai from Avis broke down in the South Jersey hinterlands on the NJ Turnpike coming home from Philadelphia. Avis apologized profusely, directed the turnpike authority tow truck driver to their Newark Airport service lot, paid the (large) towing fee, gave me a brand new Kia Amanti to get back home, and a discount for wasting my whole afternoon. That's how things should be done. Not be "hung out to dry" like some outfits (cough, cough, U-Haul) apparently see fit.

Thanks to all for the advice to avoid Payless/Advantage.

I kept checking back and finally (last couple days before the flight) Budget dropped its price by about 30%, so I went with them.

Strangely, in the last few days before the trip, additional rental agencies started showing up on WN's rental screen. "Simply Wheelz," "Ace," etc.

I just tried a dummy ressie for 3 days, June 6-9, and Payless comes back with a rate of $1499.97 for a compact!

Only in Canada does National rent moving trucks to compete with U-Haul. And it's an open secret that U-Haul has a bad reputation for many good reasons. Just Google "U-Haul sucks" and you'll see what I mean. Everybody recommends Budget or Penske, or maybe Ryder for local moves. (Ryder stopped doing one-way rentals when their trucks were used for terrorism in WTC I bombing and Oklahoma City.)

I've rented from Alamo numerous times in NY, and never saw any additional charge for roadside assistance, just a 1-800 number emblazoned in red ink on the key chain. Maybe this is something that happens in Canada. Either way, I personally think charging the customer for something like that shows a lack of confidence in the product.

FYI, my MA-originated Hyundai from Avis broke down in the South Jersey hinterlands on the NJ Turnpike coming home from Philadelphia. Avis apologized profusely, directed the turnpike authority tow truck driver to their Newark Airport service lot, paid the (large) towing fee, gave me a brand new Kia Amanti to get back home, and a discount for wasting my whole afternoon. That's how things should be done. Not be "hung out to dry" like some outfits (cough, cough, U-Haul) apparently see fit.

What Tuneman is referring to is a product called Roadside plus. Essentially its an additional option that covers the renter for "at fault" roadside issues (i.e locking keys in the car, running out of fuel, replacing the spare tire, battery boost due to leaving the lights on etc). If this isnt purchased our roadside service will charge a $48 service call fee if it is related to one of the above items. National roadside assistance will cover ALL mechanical issues (ie car breakdown etc) regardless of whether the roadisde plus option was purchased. We just eliminated the free service calls for things the renter had control over (such as locking keys in the car etc).