DwarfPlanet
01-14-2010, 03:11 PM
In one of our threads (a rather lengthy one) we discussed towards the end that some folks had to pre-pay for their Hotwire car reservation/rental and others did not have to pre-pay for their reservation and you could cancel it with no penalty. Here is the differences to look for if you plan to use Hotwire.
From Hotwire Support:
We have two types of car reservations possible to select from: Hotwire Hot Rates and Hotwire Regular Rates.
For Hotwire Hot Rates, the estimated total we show is the final cost including all tax recovery charges, booking fees and unlimited mileage. When booking a Hotwire Hot Rate, your account will be charged for the full rental amount shown on the billing page when you complete your booking. To identify these rentals on our site, simply look for the rates outlined in a red box during your search.
For non-discounted Retail Rate rentals, Hotwire calculates estimated charges based on the agency's published rates, taxes and fees. When you reserve a non-discounted Retail Rate through Hotwire your account will not be charged at the time of booking. You will be billed by the agency when you return the car. As a benefit, regular reservations may be canceled at any time without penalty. Unless otherwise indicated, all Retail Rate rentals include unlimited mileage. Please note any additional items such as, insurance, fuel pre-purchase, or optional equipment can be added by the car partner when you pick-up your rental car. These reservations will are identified by the gray-colored box that surrounds the rate shown during your search.
From Hotwire Support:
We have two types of car reservations possible to select from: Hotwire Hot Rates and Hotwire Regular Rates.
For Hotwire Hot Rates, the estimated total we show is the final cost including all tax recovery charges, booking fees and unlimited mileage. When booking a Hotwire Hot Rate, your account will be charged for the full rental amount shown on the billing page when you complete your booking. To identify these rentals on our site, simply look for the rates outlined in a red box during your search.
For non-discounted Retail Rate rentals, Hotwire calculates estimated charges based on the agency's published rates, taxes and fees. When you reserve a non-discounted Retail Rate through Hotwire your account will not be charged at the time of booking. You will be billed by the agency when you return the car. As a benefit, regular reservations may be canceled at any time without penalty. Unless otherwise indicated, all Retail Rate rentals include unlimited mileage. Please note any additional items such as, insurance, fuel pre-purchase, or optional equipment can be added by the car partner when you pick-up your rental car. These reservations will are identified by the gray-colored box that surrounds the rate shown during your search.