AAA Survey: Car Rental Prices Vary On Average by 77%; Travelers Urged To Shop Around Before Renting A Car.

Business Editors/Travel Writers

Surprising results from a recent survey show consumers could be paying two or three times more to rent a car than another traveler renting the same vehicle in the same city on the same day, AAA of Northern California announced today.

"What we found in our research could end up saving people a lot of money," said AAA spokesman Atle Erlingsson.

AAA found the difference between the most expensive and cheapest rates in a city can vary anywhere between 18 and 190 percent -- with an overall average of 77 percent. The message to travelers: shop around.

AAA of Northern California surveyed the nation's top eight rental car companies by calling the toll-free numbers and requesting reservations at 10 major travel destinations. The quotes were for a weekend rental from July 26 to July 28, with a compact car, similar in size to the Dodge Neon, Ford Focus or Chevrolet Cavalier, and included the standard unlimited mileage, plus all mandatory taxes, surcharges and fees. No special discount, such as AAA or a frequent flier membership, was applied.

The largest price discrepancy in the survey was found in Las Vegas, where Avis quoted the highest rate of $125.83, compared to the lowest rate from Thrifty for $43.37. That is a difference of 190 percent, or $82.46. The next largest gap was in Orlando, with a 95 percent difference from the highest to lowest quote, followed by Los Angeles and San Francisco, both at 85 percent.

"This proves the importance of doing your homework, calling around, and making sure you have several estimates before booking a rental car," said Erlingsson. "Fifteen minutes of research could easily save you upwards of $75."

Chicago's O'Hare Airport stood out in the survey for having the most consistent pricing among the major rental companies. The variation from high to low was only 18 percent. But according to the survey, no single company stood out as having consistently high or low rates.

"One company may be the cheapest in one city and the most expensive in another," said Erlingsson.

Alamo was the most expensive in San Francisco and the cheapest in Maui, while Budget had the highest rate in Phoenix but the lowest in San Diego.

Rental companies included in the survey were: Alamo, Avis, Budget, Dollar, Enterprise, Hertz, National, and Thrifty.

Chicago (O'Hare)
Most Expensive: $66.45 National
Cheapest: $56.50 Enterprise
Variance From High Price To Low Price: 18%

Las Vegas
Most Expensive: $125.83 Avis
Cheapest: $43.37 Thrifty
Variance from High Price to Low Price: 190%

Los Angeles (LAX)
Most Expensive: $100.00 Hertz
Cheapest: $54.10 Thrifty
Variance from High Price to Low Price: 85%

Maui
Most Expensive: $131.98 Dollar
Cheapest: $73.98 Alamo
Variance from High Price to Low Price: 78%

New York (JKF)
Most Expensive: $233.97 National
Cheapest: $147.11 Enterprise
Variance from High Price to Low Price: 59%

Orlando
Most Expensive: $135.52 Avis
Cheapest: $69.39 Enterprise
Variance from High Price to Low Price: 95%

Phoenix
Most Expensive: $115.25 Budget
Cheapest: $81.26 Thrifty
Variance from High Price to Low Price: 42%

San Diego
Most Expensive: $83.21 Avis
Cheapest: $63.82 Budget
Variance from High Price to Low Price: 30%

San Francisco (SFO)
Most Expensive: $110.39 Alamo
Cheapest: $59.52 Enterprise
Variance from High Price to Low Price: 85%

Washington DC (Dulles)
Most Expensive: $105.68 Thrifty
Cheapest: $57.57 National
Variance from High Price to Low Price: 84%

AAA has some useful tips to keep in mind before you hit the road in a rental car this summer:

-- Book with a travel agent - Travel agencies often receive better rates from rental companies than you can find on your own.

-- Insurance - Check with your current auto insurer, you may already be covered. If not, most credit card companies will usually cover you if you rent the car with their card.

-- Discounts - Don't forget to utilize yours. Most rental car companies will give discounts to members of AAA, AARP, Costco, Sam's Club, frequent flier clubs, and the military.

-- Refueling options - Rental companies offer several options. AAA recommends returning the car with a full tank to avoid the normally expensive refueling charge.

-- Check the car - Before leaving the parking lot, check the car and note any damage. If you forget to do this, the company could charge you for damage sustained by a previous renter.

-- Minimum age - You must be 25 years of age to rent from most companies. If a younger driver is accepted, an additional fee is often imposed.

Established 100 years ago, AAA of Northern California offers a wide array of automotive, travel, insurance and financial services to more than 3.6 million members.