You are in the midst of making all the arrangements for your next great adventure and it’s time to finalize your transportation and arrange for a rental car. Although people have been using Priceline’s Name Your Own Price function for years to find great deals on flights, many of us don’t think to do the same for our car rental reservations or don’t feel confident that we can name our own price without missing something and ending up with a non-refundable reservation that isn’t what we needed.
Because the discounts Priceline offers through this program can result in a significant cost savings, it is an excellent way to get more for your travel budget. To help make sure you do, here are ten tips for using Priceline for your next car rental.
1. Priceline offers solid discounts as part of their standard reservation process without the restrictions and limitations associated with naming your own price. Start out by checking Priceline’s regular price and work out your optimal car rental scenario including what locations you are willing to accept for pick-up/drop-off, times, the number of days you need the car, and the type of car you want. You might find a price that meets your budget without having to worry about restrictions.
2. Do your research. Make sure you understand what the different categories of cars offer in terms of amenities and capacity, both for passengers and luggage. Some brands “economy” category cars don’t have radios and the passenger seating availability in one company’s mid-size might be different than that of another company.
3. Check the prices offered at the national brands websites and other consolidated travel websites like Travelocity. This will give you a good idea of the average price for the exact rental you need, ensure you are comparing apples to apples to apples, and help you pick the right bid amount when you are ready to bid.
4. While researching standard pricing, make sure you are accounting for differences in weekend rates versus weekday rates versus full week rental rates. Picking the right rental period may result in additional cost savings and is a key piece of information you will need to name your own price.
5. If you are flying into a major airport, it may be worth it to check into the rates available if you pick-up and drop-off at a city location rather than the airport. Although you will have to arrange for transportation from the airport to the pickup location and it may not be as convenient, it might save you enough money to make the extra hassle and the cost of a cab more than worthwhile.
6. As you get ready to make your bid, write out all the details of what you need to ensure you are getting the exact reservation your vacation plans require. Remember that Priceline’s name your own price program has severe restrictions around changes, cancellations, and refunds. Taking a minute to plan out your bid before you commit to anything will help ensure you don’t inadvertently pick the wrong vehicle type or arrival date and end up paying more than you bargained for.
7. Set your initial bid for 20-30% lower than the best price you found during your standard rate research. You can also check on Priceline to see the most recent winning bids for reservations similar to the ones you are trying to make. Use this information to validate your bid price and adjust up or down if needed.
8. The cost of taxes and fees will be shown as part of your total bid before you finalize and lock yourself into purchasing. Make sure you review this confirmation carefully and understand the full cost you will incur if your bid is accepted.
9. In order to get the most benefit out of the discounts Priceline can offer on car rentals while also averting any unintended costs or consequences, it is important to remember that the discounts are available because of the strict rules Priceline imposes on name your own price reservations. According to Priceline policies, once the name your own price bid is accepted, you cannot change the reservation in any way, you cannot extend the reservation at the same discounted price, and you will not get any refund for cancellations or if you return the car early.
10. Lastly, be sure to read Priceline’s policy on delayed/cancelled/rescheduled flights so you know what you need to do in the event you find yourself in one of these situations. If your flight is delayed or cancelled and then rescheduled, your reservations will be held for 24 hours and extended by one day. If your flight is cancelled and you will not be taking a rescheduled flight, you will need to contact Priceline’s customer support team to determine what options you have based on your specific circumstances.
When it comes to car rentals, using Priceline to find the right reservation at the right price can save you a significant amount of money but you need to be prepared and informed in order to get the rental car you need at the best price available. The extra time and effort you put in may help you save enough money to splurge on sampling the local cuisine or taking a once-in-a-lifetime adventure while you are away from home.
Here’s another of our favorite posts with Priceline Bidding Tips.
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I always wonder how to save money on Priceline. I will give it a try. Thanks for the post
I’ve always been afraid to try Priceline, but this helps me sort it out. Obviously it can work! Looks like the only major trouble would be if you need to change plans. Thanks!