'Free' hire car advice please..

[Guest]

We have booked a Virgin package through TCD. We have a hire car in the deal which we don't really need. The only reason I booked it was that if we switched to the 'make your own way' option it added £100 to the package price. Strange but true. My questions are:-

Can I just not collect the hire car at the desk?

Collect the hire car keys and just leave it at the airport, then hand the keys back on departure?

Collect the hire car, leave it at the airport, and should I want it collect it later in the holiday?

Or should I have to collect a hire car, arrange collection at a more suitable location, nearer our accommodation, on the next day? Then should I not need it I can just park it up for the fortnight, and it is there if I want it, (free parking)?

Thanks.

[danisleigh]

We booked a package through virgin last year and we just didn't collect the car. A lot of people do this as the insurance is more expensive than hiring a car yourself.

[chrisxal]

If you don't think you will drive it then don't even pick up the keys, you might get charged for parking it for 2 weeks at the airport and they probably won't give you the keys if you don't have the appropriate insurances.

Driving is much easier in Florida than UK and of course you can visit so many other places but renting a car separately is so much cheaper, you could get a basic car with all insurances for c£240

[Snowball24]

Im the same, booked with TCD and got the 'free' car, on advice have now cancelled my free car and they didnt charge me for it, in fact I logged in to check my balance and its reduced by £70! Will hire seperatly from Alamo Brits probably.

[Michelle74]

Originally Posted by Snowball24

Im the same, booked with TCD and got the 'free' car, on advice have now cancelled my free car and they didnt charge me for it, in fact I logged in to check my balance and its reduced by £70! Will hire seperatly from Alamo Brits probably.

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Can I ask, did you have to phone them to cancel the car or is there somewhere online that gives you that option? We booked fly drive with TCD flying with Virgin but don't want the car we are planning on booking our own for cheaper.

[floridasarah]

LOL I think some travel companies have got wise to us Dibbers cancelling or not taking the car and going to Alamo Brits, as funnily enough when I have done dummy bookings it is 'cheaper' to take the car than make your own way. Obviously they give you the very basic insurance and it cost you a lot to upgrade to the required cover, which is then cheaper to not take their car and hire elsewhere.

[coggie]

Originally Posted by cheshire

We have booked a Virgin package through TCD. We have a hire car in the deal which we don't really need. The only reason I booked it was that if we switched to the 'make your own way' option it added £100 to the package price. Strange but true. My questions are:-

Can I just not collect the hire car at the desk?

Collect the hire car keys and just leave it at the airport, then hand the keys back on departure?

Collect the hire car, leave it at the airport, and should I want it collect it later in the holiday?

Or should I have to collect a hire car, arrange collection at a more suitable location, nearer our accommodation, on the next day? Then should I not need it I can just park it up for the fortnight, and it is there if I want it, (free parking)?

Thanks.

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My understanding from the "free car" is that you still have to pay insurance... so if you don't intend to use the car then cancel it.

However are you sure you won't be using it... where are you staying and how do you intend to get around... driving in Orlando is fairly straight forward

[Snowball24]

I emailed TCD and they removed the car off the booking x

[BriarRose]

Originally Posted by Snowball24

I emailed TCD and they removed the car off the booking x

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I am a bit reluctant to do that for our booking as when I booked our trip I am sure that when I removed the car the cost went up. I was just planning on not collecting the car, I assume it is OK for me to do that as they can't charge me any more can they?

[floridasarah]

Originally Posted by BriarRose

I am a bit reluctant to do that for our booking as when I booked our trip I am sure that when I removed the car the cost went up. I was just planning on not collecting the car, I assume it is OK for me to do that as they can't charge me any more can they?

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You could ring and find out, it may go up you may also get charged an administration fee, but worth a ring, otherwise just don't go and pick the car up. Will be fine to leave it, I have heard lots of people on here say they have done just that.