AUSTIN CAR RENTAL
Mansfield Dam Park is 10-15 minutes west of downtown. Photo/Arnob1 1998 The Austin car rental scene is abundant. However, cars can become real scarce when a major event like SXSW is in Austin. I urge you to make reservations early for best selection and lowest rates. Always confirm your rental before you depart when flying to Austin. If a problem arises you will have time to make alternate plans before you arrive. Car rental rates can vary as much as 300% depending on the deal you select. If you plan on traveling an unlimited mileage deal combined with a multiple day discount, add to that the free air miles you get when you use your credit card for the bill – you will greatly reduce the cost of a walk-up daily rental for the same vehicle. For instance, here's a few of the deals Avis offers online; “Low as $4.95 per day – 50% Off Weekend – Rent 5 Days, Get One Free – Special offer for American Express card members” Most car rental companies offer similar deals. A good rule of thumb for selecting an Austin car rental company is, the bigger the fleet, the less problems you will encounter. Larger fleets usually have newer cars with less mileage. Better maintenance, cleaner. Because the fleet requires larger lot space, the company pays more rent than the companies requiring less lot space. So location is generally more convenient for pick-up and drop-off. Hertz, Avis and National are the most highly regarded by professional travelers. Dependable and reliable. Most expensive of Austin car rental companies. That said, you can get a like new car from most Austin car rental companies by asking about the miles on the auto when you reserve it. Ask for a car with 10,000 to 15,000 miles in the size category you desire. Refuse higher mileage vehicles until they offer a low mileage car that fits your request. Rather than lose your business many will offer a free upgrade if a low mileage model is available. Also, check your American Express card or other travel card and find out about car rental insurance. Many cards offer their members coverages that in some cases may negate the need to buy any insurance from an Austin car rental company. Find out. Don't pay twice. For money saving car rental and gas saving strategies, go to Travel Tips And Hints here. The following Austin car rental companies are available at Austin Bergstrom International Airport (ABIA) with many other locations scattered throughout Austin. Avis Avis has 8 Austin car rental locations and offers a large, diverse fleet of vehicles like Chevy, Cadillac, Buick, Mitsubishi. Compacts, convertibles, Corvettes, vans, Suburbans and SUVs. WEB SITE: www.avis.com
Alamo Alamo has one Austin car rental location at the airport. Their selection of autos includes economy, compact, mid size, standard, full size, premium, luxury, convertible, minivan and a full line of SUVs ranging from compact to premium. WEB SITE: www.alamo.com
Advantage Rent A Car Advantage has two Austin car rental locations. Austin airport and downtown. Offering a complete line of Jeeps for folks looking for some off road adventure. They also offer Escalade, Suburban, PT Cruiser, Dodge Ram Quad, down to the modest Chevy Aveo. WEB SITE: www.advantage.com
Budget Budget has four Austin car rental locations. Including the location at the airport. They offer small, medium, large size cars, SUVs, cargo vans and moving trucks. As well as unlimited miles, ask about any restrictions. WEB STIE: www.budget.com
Dollar “Home of the lowest rates guaranteed” Well that's what the headline on their web site says. You may want to hold 'em to it. One Austin car rental location at the airport and a heavy emphasis on Chrysler vehicles. WEB SITE: www.dollar.com
Enterprise Enterprise has 24 Austin car rental locations including the airport. GMC, Nissan and Chrysler vehicles in a wide variety of categories including economy, compact, intermediate, T-bird, full size, premium, luxury and mini van. Some trucks and SUVs. WEB SITE: www.enterprise.com
National One Austin airport location. GMC and Chrysler vehicles. National is known for its service, clean cars and a smart selection of vehicles. WEB SITE: www.nationalcar.com
Hertz I use Hertz whenever I can. My first choice of Austin car rental companies for my money, and Hertz does cost more. Service, vehicle selection and convenient locations make Hertz the slam dunk. I've been disappointed by all car rental companies at one time or another, just like you. It seems to happen less often at Hertz. When there is a screw up, Hertz has always made a prompt effort to correct the problem. Your experience may be different. Hertz has airport locations in the main terminal and the south terminal. Two FBO (Fixed Base of Operations for general aviation) locations at Atlantic Aviation and Signature Flight Support on ABIA grounds. Eight addition locations throughout Austin. Chevy, Ford, Chrysler, Toyota, Hyundai, Mazda, Lincoln, Cadillac, all categories. WEB SITE: www.hertz.com
Thrifty Thrifty has one location at the Austin airport and offers a heavy dose of Chrysler vehicles. WEB SITE: www.thrifty.com
Classe Rental for Exotics Classe offers limo service and exotic car rental in Austin. While you're at it, try the yacht charter or vacation rental homes. You can really splurge with these folks. If you can imagine toddling around town in a Corvette, Porsche or Ferrari. Staying in a million dollar vacation home and soaking up sun on Lake Travis cruising on your yacht. Classe is not a common Austin car rental company. Not by a long shot. High-end celebrity level stuff. WEB SITE: www.classerental.com Texas Travel Information Observe all speed limits closely. There is no tolerance in Texas. State Troopers use unmarked “grill light” cars as well as the marked black and whites. And what ever you do, do not get behind the wheel of a car after drinking. The price is too steep to pay. You're legally drunk at .08 in Texas. It will cost a first time offender $5,000-20,000. Community service, driver re-education and one or two years of supplying urine for testing, which you have to pay for. Not to mention the monthly meeting with your parole officer, which you also have to pay for. And then there's the criminal felony conviction. If you're going to party like I do. Or get blind, falling down drunk like my husband, do yourself a favor – don't drive. It costs too much. Plan ahead, there are plenty of other ways to get around without driving drunk. Leave AUSTIN CAR RENTAL and go to AUSTIN TRAVEL. Click here to go to Austin, Texas HOME.
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