Help with Finding a Rental Car Company to Use - SFO in ~Three Weeks (NSR)

[Lane Meyer]

Okay, random quick advice solicitation - the Karrot and I are heading to the Tahoe area via SFO on the 25th for roughly nine days, and we need to rent a minivan or similarly sized vehicle for the duration, with unlimited mileage, as we need to haul some stuff around Nor Cal....long story.

Anyway - having not lived in the US for a few years, I'm out of the loop - who's the cheapest (best as well) rental car company drop off and pick up at SFO? Sure, I can do comparisons with Travelocity, and I think someone told me about this thing called Google.....but I wonder if one of the maggotry knows of a smaller, lesser-known company that might be cheaper??? Or has any advice / avoidance suggestions perhaps?

This thread will self-destruct once I get some answers.

[splat]

Check out rent a wreck. Most major cities. I've used them. Cheaper than most.
Check whatever insurance policy you have to see if any vehicle you drive is covered, including rentals. Call your credit card company to see if they insure any car you rent with their card. Cars are cheap. The rental agency's insurance doubles the rate.

[Lane Meyer]

Thanks splat. I need insurance, not for accidents, but in case the car gets very very dirty and scratched. Probably gonna have to tie some shit nto the roof too.

[midget]

what are you going to drive up mt. shasta and prod it to see if it's going to blow up and end the world?

[rungsp]

www.holidayautos.co.uk

Yes I know it is a UK based firm but it is the biggest car rental booking company in the world. Basically it contracts huge volume from all the majors (Hertz/Avis/Whoever) and you get a better rate. Their price includes full insurance and CDW waiver. IE damage costs you nothing....no deductable.

[DaveTV]

http://www.cheaptickets.com/

[Meadow Skipper]

www.priceline.com

First visit a few of the majors' web sites (Budget, National, Alamo, etc) to see their cheapest price for SFO, then offer ~20-30% less via priceline.

[Obstruction]

If you are firmly committed to your travel dates alamo has a pre pay option on thier web site which knocks off 10%. Their pricing is usually pretty aggressive.

[DJSapp]

Lane, with how much your travel between Tahoe and NZ, you might be better off hooking up with your airline's frequent flyer program, as most of them have good deals/bonus miles for using a paticular rental agency. The extra couple of bucks now could majorly help on the big ticket across the Pacific.

[Monique]

Don't use advantage, they suuuuuuuuck for a variety of reasons. While I was sorting out my very bad experience (borderline fraudulent practices on their part) I watched them turn away a guy from Sweden, who was probably an hour into his transfer from aiport + wait in line time, for not having a valid international driver's license. He had his Swedish license with him.

[Arty50]

Thanks splat. I need insurance, not for accidents, but in case the car gets very very dirty and scratched. Probably gonna have to tie some shit nto the roof too.

Nobody's gonna look at the roof when you return it.

Also, if I recall correctly weren't you living here a mere year ago? Or does Squaw's status as an International Mountain Resort exempt it from being classified on US soil?

[Lane Meyer]

thanks everyone. I've checcked into all the options suggested here and a few others, and Alamo with PrePay is the cheapest, by far, for a minivan ($313-10% = $290 before tax). Turns out I get insurance as a NZ-AA (like us AAA) member....

This time last year I was in NZ, two years ago i was in Tahoe - you guys don't miss anything do ya? Will delete this thread sometime this morning.