Car Hire with expiring points

[Gemini Chica]

How does this work? How can you check availabilty for car hire before buying the cert? Can all points be used, for eg holding?

 

[dougp26364]

I looked at this a while back. If memory serves me correctly, They send you a certificate or an e-certificate for a specific amount to be used with their partner companies. It works out to a value of approx 35 US cents per point.
Only a good deal if you’re going to lose the points anyway. At least you might get some value from them. You also have to consider the certificate isn’t good through any company. So if the cost of the car is higher than another company, there’s additional loss in value

 

[Pamplemousse]

How does this work? How can you check availabilty for car hire before buying the cert? Can all points be used, for eg holding?

I was told Avis and Budget e-certificates can be purchased with holding points.
If you log into MVC, click use points then choose cruises, hotels and more.
The terms and conditions are there.
Not sure the price is any different than a regular rental with Avis or Budget so you might want to explore pricing and other options before you get the ecerts.

EDIT- I was told via chat in October that holding points could be used for car rental ecerts- it was included in a list that the advisor surely cites & pastes when asked.
But I see that the terms and conditions on MVC says hold points are not eligible.
I don’t know which is correct currently.

 

[dougp26364]

I was told Avis and Budget e-certificates can be purchased with holding points.
If you log into MVC, click use points then choose cruises, hotels and more.
The terms and conditions are there.
Not sure the price is any different than a regular rental with Avis or Budget so you might want to explore pricing and other portions before you get the ecerts.

You don’t actually rent through the site. You receive a certificate for a specific amount off for a specified number of points.

 

[Pamplemousse]

You don’t actually rent through the site. You receive a certificate for a specific amount off for a specified number of points.

Yes that’s my understanding too which is why I recommended Gemini check rental prices through Avis and Budget vs other options (Costco, any other discount options they can find) before ordering the ecerts- unless of course it’s a matter of using the points or letting them expire.

 

[dioxide45]

Also be careful, as utilizing these certificates may negate any CDW coverage that your credit card might offer.

 

[jmhpsu93]

We found the certificates to be a ripoff - the rates for the two companies MVC uses under their "special discounted rate" were nothing special, and in fact higher than what I could get just searching around. I get a corporate discount with National so I'd never use these but wound up wasting one last year when we had to cancel travel. They're only good for like 120 days or something like that.

 

[enma]

Can these certificates be used by anyone? Let's say my son who is not the points owner.

 

[dougp26364]

Can these certificates be used by anyone? Let's say my son who is not the points owner.

You’ll need to go to the MVC owners site for clarification. I doubt there’s very many who have used this option, let alone anyone who gave the certificates away.