How to get three months of car for the cheapest price? (Minneapolis: car rental, coupon)

[rivervaley]

I am a student and I do not have a car at the U. I got an internship at Eagan, which is a 30-minutes drive from where I live now. Public transport would take about two hours so I've given up this option already. So I'm looking for a car rental for three months in the summer and the rate I found was on average $600-900/mon plus numerous taxes and charges. One of the companies even ask me for $900 just because I'm under 25!

Could anyone give me some suggestions on finding monthly car rentals? Someone suggested on another thread to rent cars for 2-week blocks and get a cheaper overall rate. But I need to go to work every day so am I guaranteed a car in this way?

Another guy suggested name your own price on Priceline but can I rent for three whole months?

And last of all, my friend suggested that I buy a used car and sell it at the end of the summer. Is this feasible?

Thanks everyone!

[xandrex]

Since you're under 25, I'm guessing it will be quite expensive. I think below 25 you're required to carry insurance on the car or something along those lines?

There are a couple of car-sharing services that you could look into, though I'm guessing they'd be even more expensive. I'd say your best bet is to buy a clunker and at the end of the summer, just sell it.

Or have you considered subletting your place near the U for the summer and getting a place in Eagan for those three months? You might even be able to walk or bike if you were close enough!

[golfgal]

I would look for a cheep car to buy and then sell it again when you are done. At a MINIMUM if you can find a great rate for an under 25 year old you are looking at $1800. You can easily buy a car for that (check Craigslist, Car Soup, etc.) and then sell it again for close to that when you are done.

You can try National. Sign up for their Emerald Club and sometimes they offer a coupon for savings for under 25 if you can find something like that but even with that you are looking at a minimum of $20/day.

[1stpontiac]

Here ya go:

Buy Used | Used | Cars Trucks Autos | 4-Door Sedan | 1990 Cadillac Seville | Morrie's Cadillac Saab | Golden Valley, MN | Twin Cities Metro (http://www.carsoup.com/myfox9/used-vehicles/detail/Car-Truck/Twin-Cities-Minnesota/Cadillac/Seville/1990/16112523 - broken link)

Buy Used | Used | Cars Trucks Autos | Coupe | 1994 Buick Regal Custom | Private Party | Minneapolis - St. Paul, MN | Twin Cities Metro (http://www.carsoup.com/myfox9/used-vehicles/detail/Car-Truck/Twin-Cities-Minnesota/Buick/Regal-Custom/1994/15986244/ - broken link)

Buy Used | Used | Cars Trucks Autos | Sport Van | 1997 Dodge Grand Caravan ES | Private Party | Mankato, MN | Twin Cities Metro (http://www.carsoup.com/myfox9/used-vehicles/detail/Car-Truck/SouthCentral-Minnesota/Dodge/Grand-Caravan-ES/1997/13770184/ - broken link)

^^ Buy one of these, and the amount of miles you put on in one summer won't make any difference in the value of the car, so you can sell it for the same price when you are done.

[uptown_urbanist]

Another idea: do you have friends on campus who wont' be using their car for the summer? Maybe you could work out some kind of rental deal with them?

Buying a car is probably your best bet (as long-term rentals get expensive and you can't really shop around for the best deals because of your age), but when working out your final budget remember to add in the cost of insurance. You'll be paying more as a commuting car owner than you do as a casual non-owner driver.

[Kebinminn]

Originally Posted by uptown_urbanist

Another idea: do you have friends on campus who wont' be using their car for the summer? Maybe you could work out some kind of rental deal with them?
\

I like that idea.

You also may want to see if you can find someone to ride with and just pay them a couple hundred a month to get you there.

[golfgal]

One thing about borrowing cars from other people, if you do something to their car or hurt someone in an accident it is THEIR insurance that pays out. Now, if you find a friend that is ok with this, great, but, NEVER, EVER, NEVER allow someone else to drive your car unless you are ok with taking the liability hit if they hurt someone or damage someone's property (car, house, light pole, etc.). You get to pay the extra in premium each month and expose yourself to law suits and the fees/payouts that could happen from those.

[Civic]

Get yourself a moped? but you are limmited to the types of roads you can ride them on. They are cheap to buy new, cheap on gas, cheap on insurance, don't need special motorcyle licence... when you are done with you work and goback to school you have something to ride around dinky town and might even be chic magnet lol
what about short term rent in Eagan near where you will be working and sublet your appartment? You might be able to do both and save a lot of money and end up with a moped than renting at the rate you mentioned.