Negotiating car rental prices-- success stories?

Are you talking about the whole world or just Italy ?

If Italy, you don't have cdw through your credits card and your American policy won't cover you out of the US and it's territories except for Canada.

Some companies charge for multiple drivers some don't, same as in the US except for states that prohibit the practice.

You're not going to negotiate anything. Sometimes you might get an upgrade, sometimes you might be given something. You're not going to negotiate squat. Look over your shoulder, there's people in line behind you.

Your best bet is to carefully shop around for the best rates. I prefer to use AutoEurope.com and Hertz.com, and have had good experience with them.

I'm a Hertz Gold Club member through my company's fleet discount program, and have received substantial discounts in the past. I'm sure there are other good rental companies, but I choose to stick with who I rented with in the past. Join a rental company's frequent renter program, and you might get some upgrades or lower rates.
All car rentals are not created equal in Europe. Some of the famous U.S. rental brands in Europe may be franchised in some countries, and not run like their brands in the U.S. I've read of some horror stories. Be careful on who you rent from.
I've found the CDW insurance rates charged in Italy to be more reasonably priced than the same coverage in the U.S. I wouldn't be surprised if the Italian Government makes rental companies hold down the prices. Where the rental companies try to get you is including a Theft Coverage Package that includes your personal belongs inside the car--a rip.
As far as negotiating rental car prices, you're probably not going to get very far. I'd just suggest you shop online carefully.

And always pickup your car in a city center location--not at an airport that has higher concession fees and ridiculous taxes.

Ok- thanks guys

As always, I recommend that you go to Gemut.com (http://www.gemut.com/), look over the website, read the brochure "What you should know about renting a car in Europe" thoroughly, then CALL Andy to help you. It has been our experience that he can always find cheaper options than I can online.

• You don't say where you are traveling, so that will affect everything, including what has already been mentioned. If you are doing a lot of driving, my advice is to be sure to get a translation of your local driver license called an "International Driving Permit" from AAA. Some countries require it, some don't, but it's cheap and well worth it if you have any problems.
  
• Please be aware that the rental companies we have used do charge extra for a 2nd driver, but nothing like the amount you mention. And, the primary renter of the car, i.e. the person whose credit card pays for it, must be the primary driver or you will be automatically charged for a 2nd driver, maybe not up front, but certainly when you turn the car in.
• As in the US, the size of the car will affect the price, but what is different in Europe is that the price will be much higher if you insist on an automatic.
  
• Depending on where you drive, you may need special stickers, often called vignettes, to use the freeways. You may also have to be careful to avoid driving in restricted areas or zones in cities, especially in Italy. All that and more is on the website and in the brochure.
  
• In the Transportation section here in the Travel Forum under Tips & Trip Reports you will find a financial horror story called "Toll roads" which outlines the fines the OP did have to pay and almost had to pay because they didn't know about the need for vignettes.

It all sounds complicated, but driving in Europe is a blast and well worth the hassle. We love it!

To follow up from Lo

In Italy EVERY DRIVER (not from the EU) is required to have an IDP. Failure to produce it when asked by an officer of the law will put you in big trouble. You present it with your own license. As said above by others, no other insurance will take the place of the mandatory Italian insurance when renting in Italy.

David must have different information about the airport vs non-airport costs since he makes his statement so regularly.

Checking Kayak for a random week in June for the cheapest car:

Rome FCO is two bucks a day cheaper than Termini.

Florence FLR is dead even with SMN.

Then you have to add in the cost of getting from where you are to where you aren't which would add something to the monetary cost as well as an even more precious time expenditure.

Joe:
One more thing you might want to look at is getting the car outside of Italy, using it in Italy, then returning it where you picked it up. That way the credit card covers the cdw.

What Ed just said. We have rented at the airport before, even though it cost more, because the first place we were going was too small to have any rental options and it wasn't worth the hassle of going to a larger town to get the car. We have also rented a car in Germany, driven it through Germany, Austria, Italy, Switzerland and France and returned it to Germany. We didn't have to get the special insurance in that case, although they would have loved to sell it to us.

Hi, and thanks much to all for the advice.

We were able to get a decent price working with Hertz directly. Our AAA knocked over $100 off the price. Still checking w credit card company and insurance provider to see how we're covered for CDW.

We are driving entirely in Italy, and do have our IDPs. (Could they print them any larger??) Re airport vs non-airport, Hertz wanted 4 euro more per day if we rented from PISA airport.

We elected to return full instead of paying for a full tank up front. Scam or not, filling the tank before we return car is a lot easier to remember than emptying it ;)

Thanks again

Ed: I worked for an auto manufacturer and managed administration of one of the largest rental fleets in the world. I also was a go between with all the major rental car companies. I am experienced in the rental car business and do know what I'm talking about.

David,

I don't doubt it, but I'm in a rental about six months out of the year all over the world and have never noticed a significant difference, if any at all. Certainly never enough to justify going any distance to save money - - it'd be a surface/faux savings. Just about every time you make the statement I check around and can't verify it. I'm cheap - - if there's something I'm missing I'd sure like to know what it is.