Which car rental company best at MCO?

[kandb]

We need a 5 day rental in mid-January, 2025. We will be picking up car around 9am. Which car rental company will have the shortest lines? Easiest pickup?

 

[GADisneyDad14]

Loyal Alamo user at MCO here, always great experiences. I make sure to do the Accelerated Check-In and Skip the Counter options after booking (I assume these features are available to new customers but not really sure?). Haven't waited in a line (other than an occasional vehicle line at the exit gate) in years.

 

[katallo]

We use Alamo or Hertz with pre check in. Both always have a nice selection of cars.

 

[LadybugsMum]

I use Alamo, Avis, Hertz or National depending on who gives me the best deal. I'm not ready to do Budget yet even though the super long lines seem to be a thing of the recent past.

 

[PalmettoPath]

We usually go with whoever is least expensive at the time. We've found that the line is always longest at the one we choose, lol, no matter which on it is. Sort of depends and varies. It's always nice when you pick one with a counter closest to the escalators to save a longer walk down to the end. (I keep meaning to make a note of that, but always forget to do it onsite).

 

[EACarlson]

In my experience the best check out experiences have been with Hertz, National and Enterprise. With any of the three I can walk into the garage, choose my vehicle from the aisle and be on my way. Less than 10 minutes from walking out of the terminal to driving out of the parking garage.

 

[MICKIMINI]

Alamo is our favorite, but we switched out to Hertz this year as we added a night and Hertz was the same for 7 nights as Alamo for 5. Keep checking as prices change all the time as you can book a new reservation and then cancel the old reservation. Rinse and repeat!

 

[StAugustine]

Alamo hands down. They cost more than Budget or Dollar, but less than Avis or Hertz. The day before you leave do the Skip the Counter thing on line. Complete and print out your paperwork and bring it with you. Bypass the counter, go to the garage and choose your car. Drive to the checkout, show them the paperwork, you license and credit card and you're on your way. I've done it in 10 minutes (no baggage claim) in Terminal A. 25 minutes in Terminal C because of the distance to rental car area.

 

[thanxfornoticin]

Agree with other posters - go with the least expensive and one where you can skip the line and go right to your car. Always the best approach.

 

[DVCjj]

We have had very good luck past 3 times, believe it or not, with BUDGET at MCO.
Skip the Lines.
Very quick and no problems whatsoever.

 

[kydisneyfans]

I'm consistent with using Thrifty/Dollar at MCO. Prices have been sub $200 for the week via the Citi portal(179 out the door next week for a midsize SUV). They also let me pick out my own car, they don't assign one. I won't touch Alamo with a 10 foot pole in Orlando-they don't recognize Kentucky Drivers Licenses as valid in Florida.

 

[hilltopper152]

I'm consistent with using Thrifty/Dollar at MCO. Prices have been sub $200 for the week via the Citi portal(179 out the door next week for a midsize SUV). They also let me pick out my own car, they don't assign one. I won't touch Alamo with a 10 foot pole in Orlando-they don't recognize Kentucky Drivers Licenses as valid in Florida.

Renting from KY and never heard this. We are looking for passenger van or two smaller cars for 5 adults and 2 kids. What is the best rental company if not Alamo as I want no issues over price since planning for others.

 

[Lewisc]

. I won't touch Alamo with a 10 foot pole in Orlando-they don't recognize Kentucky Drivers Licenses as valid in Florida.

Any details to support this outrageous claim?

Renting from KY and never heard this

Anonymous posters on the internet never post wrong information?
PP probably comfused upcoming Real ID requirements for.flying.

 

[hilltopper152]

Any details to support this outrageous claim?

Anonymous posters on the internet never post wrong information?
PP probably comfused upcoming Real ID requirements for.flying.

That's a issue with Real ID for sure so maybe it was that. With Enterprise I understand they had a desk skip option like Alamo but not sure how it works if I book with Costco. Guess I am going to learn but hoping I can skip line still since many highly recommend that it seems.

 

[EACarlson]

Any details to support this outrageous claim?

Anonymous posters on the internet never post wrong information?
PP probably comfused upcoming Real ID requirements for.flying.

I'm going to go with it was a one off with an employee that didn't understand which state's DL are not recognized as legal in FL. CT and DE licenses with certain markers showing that no proof of being legally in the country was shown are not recognized as legal identification in FL.

 

[Ralph&Pam]

I'm going to go with it was a one off with an employee that didn't understand which state's DL are not recognized as legal in FL. CT and DE licenses with certain markers showing that no proof of being legally in the country was shown are not recognized as legal identification in FL.

To add to this, the specific markers for CT (DO = Drive Only) and DE (Driving Privilege Only - Not Valid for Identification) are summarized here. Kentucky is not one of the affected states, and drivers from CT and DE whose licenses do NOT have the indicated notations are also not impacted by this law.

 

[kydisneyfans]

Any details to support this outrageous claim?

Anonymous posters on the internet never post wrong information?
PP probably comfused upcoming Real ID requirements for.flying.

Flew in from Louisville in April 2024 and Alamo stated Ky Drivers Licenses were not valid due to a change in Florida law that morning. There were 15 or so different parties at the counter stuck without cars-whether paid for or not. Alamo management was no help at all and had no idea what to do. Someone in the group had a relative that was a rep with Enterprise in Louisville and was contacted. They reported the issue to corporate and about 90 minutes later we were provisionally allowed to rent but had to give an extra deposit. When I went to leave the garage the same issue was happening outside with folks who had direct access without visiting the counter. When they scanned the license the gate wouldn't open as the licenses were claimed invalid.

 

[markpenske]

A couple questions from a new air traveler.
- How does one skip the lines and go straight to your car? I would think you would need to pick up keys?
- We did a preliminary look at prices for May. $500 per week seem high to me. No?

 

[EACarlson]

A couple questions from a new air traveler.
- How does one skip the lines and go straight to your car? I would think you would need to pick up keys?
- We did a preliminary look at prices for May. $500 per week seem high to me. No?

You create a loyalty account with whatever company you are using. Once they have your vital information and it has been confirmed, you generally don't need to stop at the counter.
Keys are inside the vehicle.
I generally see $300 to $350 for a week with one of the major rental companies with cars on site at MCO. Request a quote from www.autoslash.com and see what they come up with for you. If you have AAA, it can be quite a bit less and Autoslash has issues with AAA rates.

 

[Ralph&Pam]

A couple questions from a new air traveler.
- How does one skip the lines and go straight to your car? I would think you would need to pick up keys?
- We did a preliminary look at prices for May. $500 per week seem high to me. No?

Yes, $500 per week might be high depending on the vehicle class, but there’s still quite a while before May for you to rebook as rates drop. The week-long rental I booked back in September for a January trip (next week, actually) has since dropped multiple times. What started out at $480 is now just under $300, Alamo full-size with their skip-the-counter service. I rebooked three times as rates fell. I never book a pre-paid rental, since rates can fluctuate so much between booking and traveling.