[cruisernurse]

I will start traveling soon and wanted to know how you rent your cars for long periods without having to go back to the place you picked your car up?

I have called several and it seems they all tell me I have to come back to the airport to sign another contract after 1 month. What do the rest of you do? Is there a company that seems to have better prices and easier to work with than the rest? I have AAA membership and it seems to save some money too.

Also, do any of you ever meet another nurse that you would end up sharing an apartment with? Has it worked out for you or does it end up making the experience difficult for the both of you?

I would prefer to do my own housing and car rental. I know that it basically almost adds up to the same, I would still rather try to keep as much as I can in my pocket and do some of the work myself!

Thanks for any advice!

[Medic15251]

Where are you going that you can't just drive your car to? I know a lot of times they pay for rental cars in Alaska, because it is so difficult to get there by car. Most car rental companies have a short term leasing department. Some require you to check in every month. If you are going to do this I would call the manager at the particular location you will be renting from and speak to him directly. You should be able to get a corporate discount with your travel company as well. I would caution you though, because leasing is the most expensive way to drive a vehicle!

[cruisernurse]

I live in Alabama and will be working in California, so driving isn't really an option since it would take several days to get there. I figure the cost of gas plus the wear on my car isn't worth it. If I get something closer then I most definately would drive. thanks for the heads up on leasing.

[Medic15251]

"I figure the cost of gas plus the wear on my car isn't worth it.

Then let your company pay for it! You should be getting a travel reimbursement. Most companies offer $300-650 for travel. You get half on your first check and half towards the end of your assignment. There is a lot of room for negotiation on this too. My wife got $1200 for travel from CA to FL. Leave a few days early and make a trip out of it, stopping and seeing new places. Our trip out west was beautiful.

It's a matter of preference I guess. If you've shopped car rental rates for 13 weeks though you know how ridiculously expensive it is. I would much rather have a longer drive time in my own car than take the hit on "fleecing" I mean leasing a car!

[OkieICU_RN]

On the car question....

I think you said you were going to CA so I can't speak about your location specifically.

I am in WA right now. I did some research and there is a used car dealership I found that rents cars. They have daily rates, weekly and monthly rates. I got my economy for $395/mo. Now, that was A LOT cheaper than any national chain rental agency. We worked it ahead of time where I would just call a month later and they would run my credit card through again. (I did check with the BBB before I rented)

With this monthly rate not being at the airport and being more long term, it was just regular taxes as opposed to the high airport pick-up location taxes, etc.

Also you could try rent-a-wreck. Their cars aren't wrecked....like they sound. They could be new or used or with just some minor scratches and scrapes. They are cheaper than national companies I have found too.

Do some research to the specific place you are going and within 30 miles or so. Check online, with the yellow pages and you might also post something on the specific state page on the allnurses forum. Someone might know something in the state your are going to.

Hope that helps and good luck!

[NurseguyFL]

Okies suggestion is a good one, if you can find an arrangement like that. My first preference is to fly and rent because its much more convenient than driving on the highways for two or three days, but it also eats up a good portion of your paycheck. I am also contemplating whether I should drive my own car to my next assignment because renting from one of the national chains is outrageously EXPENSIVE! No matter what type of travel reimbursement you are getting it is hardly likely to cover the entire cost because you are looking at $700+ a month to rent an economy car. Remember that you have to consider the taxes, and that adds quite a bit to the cost of leasing a car.

[ertravelrn]

I will be going from Oklahoma to California, and plan on driving. I also plan on sightseeing on my way.......probably not much, but some. My husband will be going out with me, and then fly home. I want someone with me to start.

[LadyNASDAQ]

Renting a car is not making sense whatsoever. You only get back the miles you drove so it's expensive without getting back your dollars paid. Instead, see what a corporate rate would be with a shuttle or cab service. Make sure you charge it so you can show proof. That money is all a business expense and will come back to you in full. As time goes on, you'll understand that there are many things that will make life easier for you and are expenses that you can report on your taxes. Another one is have a nearby laundry clean your clothes for you. Most Travelers don't know that again, this is a business expense and trust me, your clothes will look better than you could possibly do for yourself.

[OkieICU_RN]

Originally Posted by LadyNASDAQ

Renting a car is not making sense whatsoever. You only get back the miles you drove so it's expensive without getting back your dollars paid. Instead, see what a corporate rate would be with a shuttle or cab service. Make sure you charge it so you can show proof. That money is all a business expense and will come back to you in full. As time goes on, you'll understand that there are many things that will make life easier for you and are expenses that you can report on your taxes. Another one is have a nearby laundry clean your clothes for you. Most Travelers don't know that again, this is a business expense and trust me, your clothes will look better than you could possibly do for yourself.

LadyNASDAQ,
I'm not sure if you were responding to the last post or the original one. If it's the original post, renting a car makes smart sense. The rental price paid for the car is fully reimburseable as a travel expense by many travel companies.

The company I am with allotted so much for travel reimbursement. I have used that money for my plane ticket, a hotel room for the first night when I arrived too late to drive to my assigned housing, and my rental car that I found for a bargain price. I have received tax-free reimbursement for all of them.

[LadyNASDAQ]

First of all, why would you do your own car rental when you can't take the whole amount off as a business expense except for mileage? Better to work for a company that gives you the rental car and pays the insurance for you.

Housing I can understand but NEVER pay for a rental car. You would do much better shipping your own car, hands down if you wanted to fly in. I did and was able to use the shipping to and from the assignment as a business expense without any problems.
The other alternative is to work for an agency that supplies the car.