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Reliable Car Hauler to take car from Sarasota to Wilmington, NC

Discussion in 'Marinas & Waypoints' started by motoryachtlover, Jun 16, 2020.

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  1. motoryachtlover, Jun 16, 2020
    #1
    motoryachtlover

    motoryachtlover Senior Member

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    Getting ready to leave on a 3 week boat cruise. Boat is heading back to Wilmington, NC. Having a hard time renting a car to get from Wilmington to Sarasota. So now thinking drive my own car down and have a car hauler deliver it to Wilmington. Does the forum have any recommendations on a good outfit to get this done. Thanks for your time.
  2. Kapn, Jun 16, 2020
    #2
    Kapn

    Kapn Member

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    Have you tried renting from a major airport to another major airport? Maybe drive to Raleigh or Charlotte and then rent?
  3. Pascal, Jun 16, 2020
    #3
    Pascal

    Pascal Senior Member

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    Most one way rentals need to start at a major airport. Much cheaper than shipping
  4. DOCKMASTER, Jun 16, 2020
    #4
    DOCKMASTER

    DOCKMASTER Senior Member

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    I have shipped several cars. Most of what you find online are 3rd party brokers. A lot depends on what kind of car you are shipping. If it's a basic car, you are not risking a lot and can get reasonable insurance coverage. If your shipping something higher dollar that you want good care I would use Reliable (yes that's the name). This is one of the better haulers that are used for Mecum and Barrett Jackson type auctions and are pretty reputable. You might pay a couple hundred more but likely worth it.
  5. Capt J, Jun 16, 2020
    #5
    Capt J

    Capt J Senior Member

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    You can find a one way rental if you search hard enough and book from an airport, that would be my recommendation. It's going to be just as hard to find a car hauler to go North this time of year as it's past the season for that. I'd be willing to rent the smallest U-haul truck if i had to.
  6. motoryachtlover, Jun 16, 2020
    #6
    motoryachtlover

    motoryachtlover Senior Member

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    I thank you all for your responses. We are not novice car renters and knew to go from airport to airport but this time was much more difficult. I don’t know if Covid and Hertz bankruptcy played a role in this. We finally got a small car (don’t know if will handle all of our stuff going to the to boat so am getting prices on the transport. I am sure the admiral will kill the transport but I will try anyway. Avg price for transport so far is about $700. Car rental for 2 days is 350. Thanks again.
  7. bobhorn, Jun 16, 2020
    #7
    bobhorn

    bobhorn Member

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    We have done one way rentals with Enterprise and have never gone near an airport for it.
  8. YachtForums, Jun 16, 2020
    #8
    YachtForums

    YachtForums Administrator

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    A friend who works for Sikorsky up in Connecticut rented a car to drive down to Florida 3 months ago. He developed Covid 19 symptoms 2-3 days later. Presumably the rental car wasn't properly sanitized. Something to keep in mind...
  9. motoryachtlover, Jun 16, 2020
    #9
    motoryachtlover

    motoryachtlover Senior Member

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    Thank you for the heads up. Very good thought I had not considered
  10. Pascal, Jun 16, 2020
    #10
    Pascal

    Pascal Senior Member

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    2 to 3 days later is very rare... chances are he caught it before renting the car
  11. MBevins, Jun 16, 2020
    #11
    MBevins

    MBevins Senior Member

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    3 day incubation period is not typical of this bug. I agree, coincidence
  12. olderboater, Jun 16, 2020
    #12
    olderboater

    olderboater Senior Member

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    Not the likely place of getting it, but still a reminder to follow their sanitizing by doing some of your own sanitizing.
  13. Danvilletim, Jun 16, 2020
    #13
    Danvilletim

    Danvilletim Senior Member

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    Car haulers are also on an estimated schedule. They are pulling 6-7 cars around so a delay of a day or two is likely. Which could be a problem for you.
  14. ranger58sb, Jun 17, 2020
    #14
    ranger58sb

    ranger58sb Senior member

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    We've never had to get a one-way rental from airports.

    Weekly rates are usually better than daily rates, even if you don't need the extra days. We used extra days for local provisioning, etc.

    OTOH, the one-way drop-off fee tends to be significant. That's with Enterprise; have heard Alamo doesn't have such huge drop-off fees, but haven't researched.

    -Chris
  15. Capt J, Jun 17, 2020
    #15
    Capt J

    Capt J Senior Member

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    Some rental companies will only allow you to drop off a one-way at an airport location. I believe most will allow you to pick up from most local places, but it depends. I've had instances where the only place you could pick up was airports.
  16. bobhorn, Jun 17, 2020
    #16
    bobhorn

    bobhorn Member

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    Rent a small U-Haul truck. No drop off charges on a one way.
  17. olderboater, Jun 17, 2020
    #17
    olderboater

    olderboater Senior Member

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    Not always true. That's the problem, drop off fees vary based on company and time of year and demand. They can be very seasonal. And not just U-Haul but the other truck rentals and all the car rentals. Only way to find out is to contact each.

    Florida is often a problem with truck rentals because so many more people moving here than moving away.
  18. rtrafford, Jun 17, 2020
    #18
    rtrafford

    rtrafford Senior Member

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    lol, soon someone will suggest a truck from Home Depot at $20 per day.
  19. DOCKMASTER, Jun 17, 2020
    #19
    DOCKMASTER

    DOCKMASTER Senior Member

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    Or better yet, surprised someone hasn't mentioned how this thread is about saving a few bucks on finding a rental car while you go on a 3 week cruise that likely uses that much per hour in fuel alone. I'm all for saving where possible but really?
  20. rtrafford, Jun 17, 2020
    #20
    rtrafford

    rtrafford Senior Member

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    There's always Amtrak to Sanford and a one way day trip from Sanford to Sarasota...or Uber...
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