What are your rental car options in Orlando, Florida? I have not rented a car in years. If you have read a post or two, I often suggest using public transportation to get around instead of Uber or Lyft. However, in Orlando, I like to shop and make unscheduled stops.

In Terminal or Off-Airport Rental Car Options

After the plane landed, I received a text from Priceless Rental reminding me I had two hours to pick up my vehicle. I am getting used to the layout at MCO. I headed to the lower level below baggage claim for the shuttle. If you have rented cars before, you may already know you should not book the first time you check rates. If you start your search early enough, you will eventually book your rental and check again and again. The first time I checked, the rates were high. I refuse to pay $367 for a 4-day rental in Orlando. When the rate went down to $167, I booked. The rate went down to $98. I booked and then canceled the other reservation. I use Hotwire to monitor car rental rates but book through Amex Travel to earn points (5X).

Priceless Rental Car

I was the only passenger on the shuttle to the off-site location for Priceless. When I entered, I noticed people sitting around waiting. Even though I booked on the Amex Travel Portal, Priceless does not accept American Express. I immediately called Amex customer service. Although I made the reservation on the portal, I should have read the fine print about forms of payment. The representative found another rental car place at a higher rate, but I had to go back to the airport. I did not rent at the airport because of the higher fees. I thanked the representative for her help and continued the rental car process. However, Priceless wants full coverage and asked if I had loss of use coverage. I know what you are thinking.

Loss of Use Coverage

Are you covered for collision and liability? I am. Do you purchase insurance from the car rental company? I do not. I showed my proof of coverage: collision and liability. The agent then asked about additional coverage. I called my insurance agent. He spoke to the rental agent. She said, “loss of use are days the insurance company covers a vehicle when it is inoperable. We lose money when we cannot rent the car.” I am not covered. Are you? I paid $45 for the coverage. Because I am aware Amex is not accepted everywhere, I always have another card on hand. Then came the pitch to pay $29.99 for the toll pass. I set Google Maps for no tolls and kept it moving. I paid for the rental with my Southwest credit card. Secondary insurance is also a benefit of the card.

The Rental Car Inspection

I always video my rental car inspection. When I opened the passenger side door, the rubber trim popped out. I went back into the office, and it appears Priceless is aware of the issue with this car. Yet, they continue to rent the vehicle. The agent marked the inspection sheet. I was there for two hours. Once I drove away, I noticed something extra in the car. I found $19 in the center console. I will use the money to offset the cost of the loss of use coverage. It took a few rides to get accustomed to driving the Nissan Sentra. Did I expect it to ride like an Audi?

Why Rent a Car in Orlando?

Why did I rent a car? I always rent a car in Florida. Yes, I probably could have taken public transportation, but the Lynx seemed more complex than other transportation systems I used. A ride from the airport ranged from 55 minutes to an hour and 43 minutes. I checked airport transportation companies, but fares started at $70 each way. I probably could have saved $25 by using ride-share after tips. Uber and Lift were reasonable options, but I feared price surges. Besides, I wanted flexibility. I drove to the timeshare presentation, stopped at Publix, and shopped at Vineyard Premium Outlets and the Mall at Millennia. I also dined at Bone Fish Grill and Ford’s Garage.

Rental Car Options

The rental car return was easy. Even though the shuttle driver was about to leave, he waited for me as I videotaped my inspection and returned the key. Will I rent from Priceless again? Probably not. I have had three issues with car rentals. I booked through the Amex portal. You would think I would try a different approach. When I called my insurance agent, he reminded me to take advantage of my Cook County Farm Bureau membership to rent cars. I will also check my Rapid Rewards card benefits. I could have earned additional Rapid Reward points by adding a car rental with my flight. It is nice to learn from my mistakes. Check all your rental car options before you book.

The Budget

I put aside $175 based on my initial reservation for $167. I also budgeted for the cost of gas. The initial cost of the rental should have been $98.29. If you add a mystery charge ($8.77) and the cost of gas ($7.17), the subtotal is $114.23. Let’s add $44.97 for loss of use, and the subtotal is now $159.20. However, I found $19. The final cost of the rental was $140.20. Although the Amex representative found a car at the airport for $147, I still saved a few dollars. By the way, another customer also made a reservation through the Amex Travel Portal. He was just as confused that Priceless did not accept Amex. If you are looking for additional tips and tricks about travel, please visit my website.