Car hire help!

[Guest]

We have booked with Virgin to fly to Florida in October. A "free" car is included in the package but to upgrade to an intermediate SUV they are quoting nearly £500 which includes fuel and an extra driver. Alamo Brits are quoting £330 but this doesn't include fuel.
Does anyone know how much fuel will cost and can I still use the "save time" and go straight to the garage at the airport as Brits doesn't let me pay for fuel until we arrive. I would like to pre pay fuel and bring the car back empty.
Any advice is really appreciated thanks.

[Jollymon]

I always bring the car back full, usually stop around the florida mall and fill up, still shows full by the time I get to the airport.

It's difficult to bring the car back empty and the rental companies charge through the nose for fuel

Sorry can't answer about Brits, always use Dollar.co.uk

[Guest]

get the Alamo brits car, you need the higher insurance package on Virgin to be covered and so this will add extra costs. Alamo has it included

[Jollymon]

Sorry to hijack thread

Is Alamo Brits that much cheaper? I got a quote yesterday for 28 day rental on an 8 seater minivan and it was £1200... Dollar coming in at £880

[Guest]

If you fill up before heading back to the airport it will still show full when car is returned, You can book a car fully inclusive cheaper than Virgins add ons cost

[wanye]

Originally Posted by Jollymon

Sorry to hijack thread

Is Alamo Brits that much cheaper? I got a quote yesterday for 28 day rental on an 8 seater minivan and it was £1200... Dollar coming in at £880

See more...

ive found that alamo.co.uk/brits usually comes in within a few quid of the cheapest results each time im looking for hire, so go check!

as for the price of fuel, the SUV we had last time cost just under $40 to fill from empty. not sure how much alamo wanted to charge, as we didnt prepay and returned it full instead

[Guest]

Thanks for all the replays guys. Looks like we might go with Alamo/Brits then. Does it have a full tank when I collect it then and I just make sure I bring it back full too?

[wanye]

yeah. all the cars come with a full tank at pickup...

prepaying just means you can return it empty

you have the option of not paying and returning it full, which is what i usually do - i fill it up before we set off for the airport, and then top it back up with around $5 at a gas station near the airport (just in case i ever ended up at one of those garages that charges silly money!)

[Guest]

Originally Posted by wanye

yeah. all the cars come with a full tank at pickup...

prepaying just means you can return it empty

you have the option of not paying and returning it full, which is what i usually do - i fill it up before we set off for the airport, and then top it back up with around $5 at a gas station near the airport (just in case i ever ended up at one of those garages that charges silly money!)

See more...

Great stuff, that settled it and Alamo/Brits it is then. Thanks for all your help everyone:-)

[Guest]

I have now booked SUV for 2 weeks £273 which I'm really happy with, and whew will bring it back full. Thanks for the advice.