Hotwire Car Rental

New Jersey
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85 posts
Hotwire Car Rental
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Hello,

I've been searching for hte best rental price and hotwire has the best deal, about 150 USD less than other companies i.e. Avis, Hertz. I've never used them before and was wondering if anyone has had a past experience they could share. It looks like you dont find out what company you rent thry until after the transaction is complete/final and I'm not sure if there are any hidden costs.

Thanks!

New Jersey
Level Contributor
3,015 posts
18 reviews
27 helpful votes
1. Re: Hotwire Car Rental
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i have always used priceline to bid on a rental. there are no hidden fees and Ive always have gotten a super deal. 2yrs in a row , i won a car at $13.00 per day . One year I got an SUV for $16.00 per day. You wont know who you'll be renting from until the bid is excepted. I highly reccomend this site.

New Jersey
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85 posts
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Thanks! I will give it a try today. Another question...is a 4 wheel drive vehicle needed on the island? A friend of mine who has been recommended it.

Olathe, Kansas
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311 posts
143 reviews
163 helpful votes
3. Re: Hotwire Car Rental
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I would second using Priceline instead of Hotwire. Priceline will give you better rates because you can use Hotwire as a base price and then bid slightly below that and you will usually win.

California
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45,303 posts
133 reviews
129 helpful votes
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Soontobebride:

Remember when using Hotwire or Priceline name your own bid, once you hit the button you are tied in. So my advice is go on another car rental site and reserve a car, then closer to the time of arrival check out Priceline and bid. That way if you have last minute plans you aren't locked into that deal. Costco is a good place for car rental deals and there are old threads with good car rental codes.

You do not need 4 wheel drive on the island.

Lincoln, California
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24,531 posts
1 review
2 helpful votes
5. Re: Hotwire Car Rental
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No, you do NOT need a 4-wheel drive. You can save yourself some money right there.

CA
3 posts
1 review
6. Re: Hotwire Car Rental
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I just used Priceline yesterday and got a medium sized car on my first bid , for $15 for use in Feb.

South Dakota
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54,802 posts
45 reviews
35 helpful votes
7. Re: Hotwire Car Rental
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I have used hotwire quite a lot - for hotels and airfare as well as car rentals. The car rentals are always a major chain type car rental and that has always worked out smoothly. However, I recently rented a car via hotwire and it was with Alamo, which I didn't find out until we were picking up the car that they charge a daily fee for an additional driver - man, did that tick me off, as that was not disclosed by hotwire. Thankfully, the car rental person deleted that charge. There are times that doesn't matter, but on this trip it did as we were doing lots of driving and needed to both be listed as drivers. That would be about my only caution with hotwire. :)

New Jersey
Level Contributor
3,015 posts
18 reviews
27 helpful votes
8. Re: Hotwire Car Rental
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no 4 wheel drive needed unless you plan to go to kekaha / polihale on the west coast

St. Louis, MO
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87 posts
1 review
2 helpful votes
9. Re: Hotwire Car Rental
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I just got $10/day on a compact at end of January on my first priceline bid!!

Olathe, Kansas
Level Contributor
311 posts
143 reviews
163 helpful votes
10. Re: Hotwire Car Rental
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I knew I should have bid on a car through Priceline instead of going through Hotwire. I paid $34.95 through Hotwire for 3 days in mid January. Oh well...

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