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Experience with renting a carseat from car rental place?

marleycmarleyc member
in Toddlers: 24 Months+

I'm wondering if anyone has had any good or bad experiences renting a car seat from a car rental agency.  We're heading to San Diego this weekend (a 4 day trip), and are contemplating not bringing our 2 convertible car seats for our DDs.  This would be our first time traveling with 2 convertible car seats, and it seems like such a pain.  Traveling with one is already a hassle, so we can't imagine having to drag 2 huge car seats through the airport, plus 2 kids, and a double stroller.  I'm not sure if we could manage.  I would prefer to not check them with our luggage because I'm worried about damage, but I've also heard horror stories about renting.  Anyone have any experiences or tips? (We're renting from Alamo, btw.)

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Re: Experience with renting a carseat from car rental place?

  • wedseptwedsept member
    We rented in Hawaii.  We had no bad experience. 
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  • valeivegasvaleivegas member

    We rented in Europe last summer (Munich Germany) & it was fine.  They had a bunch of car seats all piled up & we got to pick the one we wanted - it was kind of worn, but it did the job.  The biggest hassle was with installing it - they wanted us to do it on our own but it was so tricky, Dh finally found the rental guy who helped us out.  I'm sure you'd be fine using one from the rental agency - maybe just wipe it off first...

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  • steverstever member
    We rented one in the UK and it was fine.

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  • flhokieflhokie
    I've rented in DC & Pittsburgh (Avis). Both were decent seats. The only challenge was installing them in the dark parking garage, but we managed. We are thinking about a west coast trip this summer and would rent again.
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  • twirlyjack73twirlyjack73 member

    Since car seats usually fly for free wouldn't you just skycap it & then you don't have to worry about it?

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  • heath06heath06 member

    That's what we did the one time we had to fly with our carseat, pack-n-play, etc. It just got checked outside with our luggage. We got dropped off so it was very easy, took it right out of the car and handed it right to the guy.

    I don't have any experience renting car seats, but I wouldn't be against it. We just did it this way the one time we needed it.

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  • izziebeeizziebee member
    we've rented in Orlando with no issues. so much easier than bringing your own.
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  • marleycmarleyc member
    imagetwirlyjack73:

    Since car seats usually fly for free wouldn't you just skycap it & then you don't have to worry about it?

    If we give it to the skycap, it will get checked with the rest of the luggage. I would prefer to not do that. I've heard too many horror stories about checking carseats (they don't arrive with the rest of the luggage or they arrive broken). If we don't rent, then we'd check my 11 month old's at the gate and bring my 3 year old's on to the plane.
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  • orangecurlsorangecurls member
    I would buy some light weight and small convertibles for the trip. Cosco scerena if your 3 year old still fits, or maestro for a harnessed booster, and the infant carrier for your baby. Bungee cord them to your carry on.
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