Car Rental in Port Canaveral

[KaystotheKingdom]

Hello!

Does anyone have experience renting a car in port canaveral post cruise? We are considering a stay off property near WDW. We need a minivan (they are pricey for school vacation week) so I’d like to avoid renting it at MCO pre-cruise and paying when it’s not being used.

Thanks in advance!

 

[auntlynne]

I have rented from both Hertz and Avis in the past. Good experiences.

With loyalty level, I was able to avoid the long line for car pick-up (this was more important with Hertz).

Shuttle pickup at the port was speedy.

This was all pre-Covid.

Check around for any discount codes. I have had ones from AAA, USAA, or Amazon.

 

[Ralph&Pam]

We have picked up rental cars post-cruise multiple times, using either Alamo or Budget. The shuttle service and pick-up counter experience was better with Alamo than with Budget. However, the one-way rental rates with port pick-up and MCO drop off was much better with Budget. That might be a cause of the long wait for a shuttle from the port and another long wait in line at the rental center for the Budget rentals (January 2023 and again in January 2024). Alamo rates were about twice as expensive at those times. We usually book through Costco and have both Alamo Insider and Budget Fastbreak memberships. Neither does much for Port Canaveral rental pick-ups, although we skip the counter and go directly to our car at MCO with either program.

 

[rab1974]

That might be a cause of the long wait for a shuttle from the port and another long wait in line at the rental center for the Budget rentals (January 2023 and again in January 2024).

Before Covid, I remember waiting through at least four Budget shuttles trips to pick up people at the port before we got picked up. The lines at the port were long and people were getting impatient. The line at the counter was also long. This was pretty consistent for each of the four cruises we had there. If you don't mind the wait at both the port terminal and again at the rental counter, it is cost-effective.

We were a family of four then. Our plan when we arrived at the Budget location was to have one parent deal with the kids and luggage while the other ran inside to get to the counter as soon as possible. Most people went to the back of the shuttle to collect luggage, then go inside. We still had to wait but we were closer to the front of the line and the wait was a little shorter than the others.

 

[RedHead0186]

Yes, I've done one-way rentals to and from Port Canaveral through National/Enterprise. Super easy at port; the shuttle line is clearly marked, we never waited long for the shuttle, and pickup at the rental car office was great. National has an office right at port so it's close by.

 

[ladyofthetramp]

Many times we pick up a car and if our adult kids are with us-a van. National/Enterprise is the best in our opinion. We did Budget when the kids were little, but we weren't crazy about them. Just keep in mind that these car rental places are small-not like the airport. You will need a reservation.

 

[Calantha]

We like National/Enterprise the best and then Avis. Budget is terrible and always has a million people in line at the port and at the building.

 

[ngtod]

We have picked up rental cars post-cruise multiple times, using either Alamo or Budget. The shuttle service and pick-up counter experience was better with Alamo than with Budget. However, the one-way rental rates with port pick-up and MCO drop off was much better with Budget. That might be a cause of the long wait for a shuttle from the port and another long wait in line at the rental center for the Budget rentals (January 2023 and again in January 2024). Alamo rates were about twice as expensive at those times. We usually book through Costco and have both Alamo Insider and Budget Fastbreak memberships. Neither does much for Port Canaveral rental pick-ups, although we skip the counter and go directly to our car at MCO with either program.

if renting from Costco what is the name of the city you use for pickup at Port Canaveral. I'm trying to rent through them from the Disney car care place but can't find a dropoff location at the port on Costco's page. TIA

 

[ngtod]

Before Covid, I remember waiting through at least four Budget shuttles trips to pick up people at the port before we got picked up. The lines at the port were long and people were getting impatient. The line at the counter was also long. This was pretty consistent for each of the four cruises we had there. If you don't mind the wait at both the port terminal and again at the rental counter, it is cost-effective.

We were a family of four then. Our plan when we arrived at the Budget location was to have one parent deal with the kids and luggage while the other ran inside to get to the counter as soon as possible. Most people went to the back of the shuttle to collect luggage, then go inside. We still had to wait but we were closer to the front of the line and the wait was a little shorter than the others.

even when you get to the Budget office they usually have no cars. Once the people from the following cruise start dropping them off then you get a car. They don't clean them or anything. Just check them in and hand you the keys. Don't expect to get the kind of car you reserved.

 

[Flcruising]

Have always had a great experience with Enterprise. It's about 2 Miles from the cruise terminal.
Enterprise
710 Mullet Rd, Cape Canaveral, FL 32920

 

[jcarwash]

I used to rent from Hertz but the Cape Canaveral location closed for a while. Looks like it's back open though.

Most recently I've been renting from National for all my trips, including for pre and post cruise one-way rentals at Port Canaveral. They have been doing a really nice job at the National/Enterprise/Alamo facility (all Enterprise brands), which is within the port grounds itself on Mullet Road.

 

[Ralph&Pam]

if renting from Costco what is the name of the city you use for pickup at Port Canaveral. I'm trying to rent through them from the Disney car care place but can't find a dropoff location at the port on Costco's page. TIA

Cape Canaveral. It is should show the same location for Alamo and Enterprise, plus locations for Budget and for Avis. Budget and Avis show both counter and shuttle “locations”. I use the counter location for drop off and the shuttle location for pick up. Doesn’t seem to make any difference.

You may not be able to book a one-way Alamo or Enterprise rental using Costco from the Disney Car Care Center to the port. I think the Costco booking engine requires at least one airport location (either pick up or drop off).

 

[iivye]

We used Avis for a one way rental from the port a couple weeks ago. We didn't have any issues but we also reserved the car in advance. There was a sign on the counter that said no cars available if you didn't already have one reserved.

 

[Carohs]

We did National when we went. I like how the shuttle driver at the rental counter asked families what ship they were on and boarded families from the same ship as much as possible. It was very efficient. On the way back we found a nearly empty line for the shuttle (we must've just missed it) and waited maybe 15 min for the next one. When we got to the counter we did have to wait 5 min for a car but also it was because they were washing it.

 

[Dreams&wishes]

Just going back here to say what a terrible experience we had with Avis Port Canaveral. When we arrived to pick up the car there were no cars of our category available and we weren't the only affected others were there in the same situation.We were told we had to wait a few hours untill one would arrive.

 

[ngtod]

Just going back here to say what a terrible experience we had with Avis Port Canaveral. When we arrived to pick up the car there were no cars of our category available and we weren't the only affected others were there in the same situation.We were told we had to wait a few hours untill one would arrive.

had the same problem with Budget before. They have to wait until people on the next cruise return their cars to resent them to people going back to the airport

 

[Dreams&wishes]

had the same problem with Budget before. They have to wait until people on the next cruise return their cars to resent them to people going back to the airport

I mean I never heard of this happening they should make sure that if they take a reservation they have a car to honour the booking. We had a plane to catch and this was a huuuuuuge inconvenience

 

[Goofy1932]

Just going back here to say what a terrible experience we had with Avis Port Canaveral. When we arrived to pick up the car there were no cars of our category available and we weren't the only affected others were there in the same situation.We were told we had to wait a few hours untill one would arrive.

This is why I opted to have a transfer from the port back to MCO to pick up a rental from that much larger selection to complete our trip in Clearwater.

 

[lilsonicfan]

I mean I never heard of this happening they should make sure that if they take a reservation they have a car to honour the booking. We had a plane to catch and this was a huuuuuuge inconvenience

Seinfeld: "See, you know how to take a reservation....you just don't know how to HOLD a reservation..."

 

[Dreams&wishes]

This is why I opted to have a transfer from the port back to MCO to pick up a rental from that much larger selection to complete our trip in Clearwater.

Most certainly lesson's learnt!