Rental car drop fees

[jmq]

Hello all - in a few moths will be renting a car in one state and dropping it off in another. Seems everybody has one way drop fees of at least $150. Anyway to avoid this i.e. certain companies waive the fee if you are a "member" or book thru AAA, etc.?
Thanks!

[mbw1024]

where ya going? where ya going?

[jmq]

Visiting family in PHX, but since we've done just about everything we wanted to do in AZ on other trips out there, gonna fly into San Diego for a few days (we get an affiliate rate at the Loews Coronado Bay) then go up a little and drive across on I-10 thru Joshua Tree National Park.
Last time we went out there in March me and BIL went to a Cactus League game which was fun – will look to do that again when the girls go shopping in Scottsdale!

Back to the rent a car...even the regional company Fox Rent a Car wants $150 drop off fee. Thats pure profit - car rental companies shift cars around all the time, and pay employees to do it.

[California Girl]

Can't help with the rental car, but how about some lunch reservations where we can meet up?

[mbw1024]

fyi I read horror stories about Fox when looking to rent in Az. so just FYI.

are you seeing the fees even when booking direct with a Hertz, etc? I know I have done it before but it escapes me as to when/what the circumstances were. i don't recall paying a fee but it was years ago.

[pipanale]

I wonder...but doubt this will work because rental companies (if you ask me) are evil...what would happen is you called a few and cam right out and asked if they'd waive the fee.

Or...maybe call and ask if they have a dead head that needs to go from point A to B. May just end up working.

This, of course is of no use, but I know that you can rent (from National at least) in FLA and pick up at one airport and drop at another with no penalty.

[Lulu76]

Several years ago, I got in a pinch and had to rent a car to drive from Detroit to Ohio for one day. The only rental company that would do it was Avis. It was more than $150 for one day, so I'm guessing that is the fee they charge for not returning the car to where you got it.

I am just thinking that's the way it's going to be, although I don't know how many times I've gone to rent a car (from any rental place) and it has Oklahoma plates in Miami or whatever, and you wonder how exactly the car ended up there. So they have to be doing it. I guess they can just charge whatever they want to do it.