SMF Sacramento Compact Hertz

[MrMom62]

I've been trying to get a rental car in Sacramento (Airport) (SMF) for Sep 30-Oct 4. Rates are absolutely horrible for all car classes - even PRICELINE advises that I bid $43/day, which is insane. My flights are already locked in, and they're too good to rebook to say Oakland to get better car rates, so I was stuck until I decided to see what the weekly rate was. I've obviously got to pick up the car at the time I arrive, but who says I can't bring it back and return it early? I check the rates for returning on Monday, which triggers the weekly rate, and BINGO - return to normalcy! I then bid for Sep 30-Oct 5, compact car, and Priceline took a $19+$3 bonus bid. So I had to burn my $15 bonus money to buy an extra day I didn't need, but even if I had to buy the extra day on my own, paying for 5 days still saved money over only 4 days.

Short version: If you get a location that is charging a fortune for a daily rate, bid for more time, even if you don't need it, it may trigger a better pricing scheme. There are no penalties for returning a car early.

[MrMom62]

Managed to swing this deal at Hertz after getting jammed on trying to book 9/30-10/4. Returning on Sunday makes PRICELINE jump to a suggested bid of $43/day, so by booking to Monday, I trigger the weekly rate, which took it down to $22/day. That includes a $3/day bonus from Priceline, so I'm really paying $19. I'll just return the car early and leave when I originally wanted to.

[thereuare]

Congratulations on your success!

Glad to see you found a way to make this rental work for your needs.

Thank you for sharing your results with the board.

Please use these PRICELINE and HOTWIRE links to begin your travel purchases.

Have a great trip.