Just like clockwork, every autumn, migrations to Florida and Arizona happen. Except it’s not snowbirds, or even real birds, that are migrating.
It’s rental cars.
While it’s cold in much of the rest of the country, it stays toasty warm in Florida and Arizona, so, of course, a lot of people flock to those states during the winter months. Lots of those tourists will want to rent cars, so instead of bringing them here by the truckload, the car rental companies make it financially lucrative for customers to drive their cars from up north to select cities in the Sunshine State and the Grand Canyon State.
And the time of the year that they do this is now.
Car Rentals to Florida
Hertz
If you rent a Hertz car in some specific northern locations through December 9, 2019 and drive it to Fort Lauderdale, Fort Myers, Jacksonville, Miami, Orlando, Sarasota, Tallahassee, Tampa, Palm Beach and Sanford, you may be able to get a rate of $14.99 per day!
The dates to get the $14.99 rate vary by location. Here are the details:
- Rent for $14.99 per day for a maximum of 10 days.
- Valid on Economy through Full-size vehicle rentals.
- Valid for pick-up from September 2, 2019 through December 9, 2019 at participating airport and neighborhood locations in Charleston, Albany, Buffalo, Rochester and Syracuse.
- Valid for pick-up from October 13, 2019 through December 9, 2019 at participating airport and neighborhood locations in New York, New Jersey, Islip, White Plains, Baltimore, Washington DC, Norfolk, Richmond, Boston, Burlington, Hartford, Philadelphia, Pittsburgh, Portland and Providence.
- Valid for pick-up from October 23, 2019 through December 9, 2019 at participating airport and neighborhood locations in Raleigh and Charlotte.
- Eligible for drop-off at participating airport and neighborhood locations in Fort Lauderdale, Fort Myers, Jacksonville, Miami, Orlando, Sarasota, Tallahassee, Tampa, Palm Beach and Sanford.
- Blackout periods may apply.
- Please read full terms and conditions below.
Terms & Conditions:
*Rate advertised is the base rate only. Additional mandatory charges may be imposed, including, but not limited to, airport fees, tourism fees, vehicle license recovery fees, and any other government-imposed taxes or fees. Additionally, charges may apply if optional goods or services such as damage waiver or refueling are purchased. See booking screen for estimated total rental cost. Age, driver, credit and qualifying rate restrictions for the renting location apply. Offer not valid and rate change or additional fees may apply in the event of reservation modification, early/late vehicle return or if not returning vehicle to the designated location. Offer has no cash value, and may not be used with other discounts, promotions or special rates. Terms apply.
Avis and Budget
Through October 31, 2019, Avis and Budget (they’re owned by the same company) are offering one-way rentals to Florida starting at $22.99 per day if you pick up your car from participating Northeast locations.
- Economy (group A): $22.99/day
- Compact (group B): $22.99/day
- Midsize (group C): $23.99/day
- Standard (group D): $24.99/day
- Full-Size (group E): $24.99/day
- Premium (group G): $49.99/day
- Luxury (group H): $74.99/day
- Intermediate SUV (group F): $39.99/day
- Standard SUV (group W): $49.99/day
- Standard Elite SUV (group S): $59.99/day
- Minivan (group V): $49.99/day
- Full Size SUV (group Z): $84.99/day
- Premium Full Size SUV (group L): $99.99/day
- Convertible (group K): $49.99/day
Terms & Conditions:
- Offer valid for checkout between 9/3/19 and 10/31/19 for one-way rentals only; vehicle must be picked up at a participating Northeast location and returned to a different participating Florida location.
- Rates require a minimum 1- to maximum 14-consecutive-day rental period.
- Offer valid on the following car groups: Economy (group A) through Standard (group D), Premium (group G), Intermediate SUV (group F), Minivan (group V), Standard SUV (group W), Standard Elite SUV (group S), Full Size SUV (group Z), Premium Full Size SUV (group L), and Convertible (group K).
- Offers may not be available during holiday and other blackout periods; rate surcharges during peak periods may apply.
- Offer subject to vehicle availability at the time of reservation and may not be available on some rates at some times.
- Renter must meet Avis age, driver and credit requirements. Minimum age may vary by location. An additional daily surcharge may apply for renters under 25 years old.
- Rates are non-discountable; they may not be combined with any other AWD number, coupon, promotion or offer.
- Taxes, concession recovery fees, vehicle license recovery fee, customer facility charges may apply and are extra. Optional products such as LDW and refueling are extra.
- Rates are based on U.S. currency.
Car Rentals to Arizona
Hertz
Through December 8, 2019, if you pick up a rental from Hertz in San Diego, Los Angeles, Orange County, Burbank, Long Beach, Ontario or Palm Springs and drop it off at eligible airport drop-off at Phoenix, AZ, you an get rates as low as $9.99 per day.
Here are the details:
- Rent for $9.99 per day for a maximum 10 days.
- Valid on Economy through Full-size vehicle rentals for pick-up from August 25, 2019 to December 8, 2019.
- Valid for pick-up at participating airport locations in San Diego, Los Angeles, Orange County, Burbank, Long Beach, Ontario, Palm Springs.
- Eligible airport drop-off at Phoenix, Arizona.
- Blackout periods may apply.
- Please read full terms and conditions below.
Terms & Conditions:
*Rate advertised is the base rate only. Additional mandatory charges may be imposed, including, but not limited to, airport fees, tourism fees, vehicle license recovery fees, and any other government-imposed taxes or fees. Additionally, charges may apply if optional goods or services such as damage waiver or refueling are purchased. See booking screen for estimated total rental cost. Age, driver, credit and qualifying rate restrictions for the renting location apply. Offer not valid and rate change or additional fees may apply in the event of reservation modification, early/late vehicle return or if not returning vehicle to the designated location. Offer has no cash value, and may not be used with other discounts, promotions or special rates. Terms apply.
Avis and Budget
Through September 30, 2019, if you pick up a rental from Avis (in California or Salt Lake City) or Budget (in California, Montana or Idaho) and drive it one way to Arizona, you can get rates as low at $24.99 per day (Use AWD #Q350300 for Avis and BCD # R888800 for Budget).
- Economy (group A): $24.99/day
- Compact (group B): $24.99/day
- Midsize (group C): $26.99/day
- Standard (groups D): $28.99/day
- Full-Size (groups E): $30.99/day
- Premium (group G): $59.99/day
- Luxury (group H): $74.99/day
- Minivan (group V): $43.99/day
- Intermediate SUV (group F): $59.99/day
- 5-Passenger Standard SUV (group W): $64.99/day
- 7-Passenger Standard SUV (group S): $69.99/day
- Full-Size SUV (group Z): $78.99/day
- Premium Full-Size SUV (group L): $82.99/day
- 12-Passenger Van (group P): $119.99/day
- Convertible (group K): $59.99/day
Terms & Conditions:
- Offer valid now for pick up 8/25/19-9/30/19 for one-way rentals only; vehicle must be picked up at a participating California, Southern California, or Salt Lake City (for Avis) or California, Southern California, Montana, or Idaho location (for Budget) and dropped-off at a different, participating location in Arizona
- Rates require a minimum 1- to maximum 7-consecutive-day rental period.
- Offer valid on all car classes, excluding Signature Series (Group X)
- Offers may not be available during holiday and other blackout periods; rate surcharges during peak periods may apply.
- Offer subject to vehicle availability at the time of reservation and may not be available on some rates at some times.
- Renter must meet Budget age, driver and credit requirements. Minimum age may vary by location. An additional daily surcharge may apply for renters under 25 years old.
- Rates are non-discountable; they may not be combined with any other BCD number, coupon, promotion or offer.
- Taxes, concession recovery fees, vehicle license recovery fee, customer facility charges ($10/contract in CA) may apply and are extra. Optional products such as LDW and refueling are extra.
Differences From Past Years
We’ve been watching these sales every year for a few years now. Dates and locations for pickups and drop-offs tend to fluctuate slightly from year to year but wow, have prices gone up since we started paying attention in 2017! I don’t have long term info from “rent a car and bring it back to AZ for us,” but here are how the “…and bring it to FL” prices have changed…
| FLORIDA | Avis | Budget | Dollar | Hertz | Thrifty |
| Fall 2017 | N/A | N/A | 4.99 | 4.99 | 4.99 |
| Fall 2018 | 10.99 | 10.99 | N/A | 7.99 | N/A |
| Fall 2019 | 22.99 | 22.99 | N/A | 14.99 | N/A |
One Last Thing
Should you decide to take any of these car rental companies up on their offers, these posts might be helpful:
- Should you get the three types of rental car insurance?
- Should you prepay for gas with your rental car?
- This website helps you learn what interesting things are on/near your route while on a road trip.
- There are plenty of websites, apps, and even a book that can tell you what’s coming up at the next exit during your drive, so you’ll know about hotels, restaurants, bathrooms, campground, etc. They’re all listed in this article.
Safe travels!
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This post first appeared on Your Mileage May Vary
