Assistance required: Booking car rental for the USA using UK websites. Possible?

[Kerrodt]

Hi There,

I am currently planning a USA holiday that will include a component of driving. I have looked around at various websites and I have seen significant discrepancies in pricing between the different country websites of the same company.

For example, if you use the following data in the Avis booking engines for Australia, UK and USA you get varying outputs:

Pickup details: 8/8/12 9:00am at 3600 Wilshire Blvd Beverly Hills
Return details: 17/8/12 6:00pm at San Francisco International Airport
Car type: Intermediate (eg: Chevy Cruze)
Loss Damage Waiver (CDW): Selected/Included
Additional Liability Insurance (ALI): Selected/Included
Avis Worldwide Discount: QFF number entered and discount applied.

Now, the outputs from the booking engines are as follows:

Australia: Quoted at USD645.31 converted to AUD630.92 @ 1.0228
UK: Quoted at GBP234.72 converted to AUD359.53 @ 0.6529
US: Quoted at USD645.31 converted to AUD630.92 @ 1.0228 (note, the same amount is quoted as from the Australian booking engine).

Is there a reason why there is a significant different between the UK quote and the AUS/US quote? They seem to be both the same. Or, have I missed something obvious here? On the US website I was asked for my country of residence and I selected Australia. I was not asked a similar question on the UK site - that appears to be the only difference.

Can any member see a reason for the pricing difference??

Can anyone tell me if I would encounter a problem if I booked the car on the Avis UK website (from sitting in Australia) and then collecting it in the USA (with my Australian ID papers like passport, drivers license etc)?

Any thoughts or assistance here would be appreciated.

Thanks,

KerrodT

 

[jgm]

I did this earlier this year. Booked a car through National UK for over 25% saving on the US price. Had no problems at all.

 

[Kerrodt]

Thanks jgm. I can't see how there would be a problem. For example, if I was an Aussie living in London and about to travel to the USA to do the same travel then I could rightfully book the car rental on the UK website. Who would know?? And what is the problem? I can't see one at all.

it's a massive saving and one that I will have to take up I think.

 

[lovestotravel]

Read the T&C's for any wording about selecting your "Country of Residence" etc etc...

Of course there is no problem, until you crash the car and they say you insurance was not valid and you are then SCREWED