Car rental recommendations

[misa 2]

We're having a hell of a time finding a decent car rental place to rent a car (preferably a large car or SUV) to drive from here to the U.S., one-way.

Any recommendations that doesn't charge a $1,000 "drop off charge"?

[riblet 0]

From U-Haul you can get a 10-foot truck... I'm not sure if that's something bigger than you feel comfortable driving.

I got a quote for $581 CDN - I just put in April 23, from Toronto to Columbus as a guess. I think the dates make a big difference, it was like twice as much on the Friday before. They also rent cargo vans, so that might be worth a call We used U-Haul when I moved down.

[CutienPurg 0]

Seems I read somewhere that it's more expensive near the 1st of the month when most people move

[Flames9_RN 358]

Also more $$ on popular routes for Uhaul!! For a normal car rental company I would thuink it would be pricey as I wouldn't think that would be a common occurance .

[misa 2]

Thanks for the suggestions!

We'd need something like an SUV rather than a truck or van (mini-van would work though) since we're not moving my stuff down (hiring movers for that), just me and my 3 cats and my dog. Any ideas? To avoid ridiculous $1,000 drop of charge that is...

[CutienPurg 0]

I dont think I even know where you both live

[misa 2]

Oh, heh. I'm in Toronto and he's in Virginia.

[CutienPurg 0]

He's flying up to meet you?

[Flames9_RN 358]

About your only option driving is with Uhaul if u rent from Canada. Uhaul doesnt charge a drop off fee. I drove from Halifax to DC and it wasnt too bad. Check out Uhauls website for rates

[Jersey Girl 2]

I had no luck trying to rent a car in Toronto and drop it off in northern New Jersey. Hertz and Avis said they wouldn't rent anything to go that far (!)

[misa 2]

He's flying up to meet you?

He's meeting me in Vancouver for the interview and then we're flying back to Toronto after that. And then getting a vehicle, somewhere and loading me and the animals in there.

Looks like what we might have to do (to avoid the stupid drop off charge) is book a vehicle in Buffalo. I don't drive and don't have a car so we'd have to take the bus and I guess that would be my POE. I don't want him to go alone in case he runs into any problems with Canadian border officials on his way back up.

[misa 2]

About your only option driving is with Uhaul if u rent from Canada. Uhaul doesnt charge a drop off fee. I drove from Halifax to DC and it wasnt too bad. Check out Uhauls website for rates

Would the front of the Uhaul truck hold 2 people, 3 cat carriers and a medium-sized dog? I have no idea how small/large the driving cabin is.

[misa 2]

Now my next question... has anyone activated a visa when taking a bus?

I'm sure there are people who do it all the time. I just wonder if other passengers scowl if you take longer. I mean, the bus can't leave without you can it?

[riblet 0]

I'm guessing they won't love you or anything, but the bus should wait

Are you going across just to activate and file for an EAD? If so you might want to look into renting a car for a day, you can get one for as little as $30. Just a thought

Now my next question... has anyone activated a visa when taking a bus?

I'm sure there are people who do it all the time. I just wonder if other passengers scowl if you take longer. I mean, the bus can't leave without you can it?

[misa 2]

Hope I'm not confusing everyone!

Here's the scenario:

1. We're both flying out to Vancouver separately for the interview (me from Toronto and him from VA).

2. We're both flying to Toronto after that. I looked into him flying from Vancouver to Buffalo but there's crazy layover times in Chicago. Plus our flights are already booked.

3. SUV is rented in Buffalo that needs to be driven back to Toronto. Then the day after, pack up the animals and then drive back down in SUV from Toronto to VA (drop off in VA with no "drop off charge"). My belongings will be moved with a moving service.

We need to get from Toronto to Buffalo to pick up that SUV. The problem lies in that I don't drive, no license. So we would have had to take a bus there or get a friend to drive (it'll be on a weekday so hard to find someone). I was going to activate it crossing over because from what I understand, we have to, right?

But I think I found a solution to our problem. Apparently there is no "drop off charge" if you rent in Toronto and drop off in Buffalo (costs just over $100 Cdn for that, would have cost the same for us to take a bus then a cab to the Hertz location). So to avoid the whole "taking a bus" routine, we'll now be renting a car in Toronto, dropping it off in Buffalo. And then picking up the SUV and driving back to Toronto.

See, now I wish I had just got my license before and had my own vehicle. That would have made things a lot easier. Because of the animals, we can't really do Uhaul. There just isn't room for them.

Edited February 19, 2007 by misa