Help Understanding Sold Out
 

I am renting from Avis SJC airport

Checking some dates as a placeholder, for example March 25-27 shows as sold out and not bookable, but March 24-27 is not sold out and bookable.

How does this make sense? Is there a workaround? Can I book March 24-27 then call in and cut off the first day?

They likely have an LOR (length of rental) restriction in for the day you arrive. We used to do that often (especially mid-week). Inventory was tight and we would rather rent one car for 3 days versus have it come back the next day, then have to move/clean it to rent it for another day. You may try March 25-28 (3 day) and see if that works. If you are on a corporate rate, it's likely you won't have any penalties for returning it early, but I would double check (or just casually ask when you pick it up, if you need to return it a day early, will that be an issue)? Good Luck!

Good idea. I didn't even think of renting for longer then returning early. Will give that a try.

Be careful. I've returned early with Avis/Budget and had a lot of trouble getting the vehicle returned.

Avoid using any coupon on your rental (even the ones for bonus airline miles or whatever). Their system freaks out if you early return a rental with a coupon. The system will throw an error that prevents the vehicle from being checked in (usually something like coupon terms not met) then the employees have a very difficult time removing the coupon from the contract to force the return to process (it is a difficult process that requires multiple manager overrides and often nobody who is working there knows how to do this or has that level of override permission).

Also do not do a prepaid rate- you won't get any refund for returning early with a prepay.

There are also minimum/maximum rental periods attached to each rate. So don't be surprised to see them re-rate if you try this.

I would suggest, at the time you do the vehicle check out, telling them you intend to return a day early. Just check ....very....carefully.... that the rate you are being charged matches your quote....