US car rental help

[Nycle]

I'm going to the States again in 10 weeks, and after my failed attempt at renting a car last year (for being too young), I will try it again this year to save myself some money. In the past I've usually flown straight to my final destinations which are usually served by local crappy airports and therefore require a transfer at a major airport, but this brings added costs. Hence the idea came up to terminate my flight at a major (cheaper) airport and continue the rest of my journey by a rented car.

So I booked a cheap ticket from Amsterdam to Chicago (yay for open skies) but my final destination will be Indianapolis. For the trip between Chicago and Indianapolis, I'll need an 8-hour one-way car rental. I've checked Budget's and Hertz' website and they gave me these (both are a Ford Focus) prices:

Budget: € 84
Hertz: € 89

Now a few questions for the locals:
1. Are these prices for real? On its own website, Budget says "it doesn't require a credit card to confirm the reservation" and Hertz gave this to me as a "pay this now and save later" price, which does require a credit card. I checked orbitz.com and it gave me a total of $210 and $221 for Budget and Hertz respectively. Why are these prices so different from the ones displayed on the companies' own website?

2. Since I'll only be 21 at the time of the rental I'm planning on booking/reserving the car on someone else's creditcard to avoid having to pay a under 25 surcharge. This person is over 25 and will be travelling with me. This wouldn't be a problem if she didn't drive like shit and didn't fear highways, so I'll have to drive the car. But... what happens if we walk up to the desk, present her creditcard and driver's license, and a few moments later it'll be me who's driving? Will they check to see if the 'legal' renter is actually behind the steering wheel when we leave the parking lot or anything?

3. Any other tips to save money? :P

Any input from you guys is very much appreciated, I really want to get it right this time so I don't get stranded like last year.

[Displaced]

#1 I assume the prices on budgets and hertz own websites are correct.

#2 will be a problem if something happens, i.e. you are involved in an accident or whatnot and the person who the car is "leased" to, isn't driving it.

[TagMor]

Remember: you can turn right at red lights.

[HateTheFake]

u can try a few other rental companies, like enterprise, avis, alamo

[Galleleo]

I used nationalcar.com for my rental, they never charged me for the under 25 thing, but it is only 10 dollars a day.

And if you are scared about them checking who drives off, have her drive off the lot and switch seats 100 metres further.

[Exalt]

For the trip between Chicago and Indianapolis, I'll need an 8-hour one-way car rental. I

just for the record, chicago to indianapolis should only take you about 4 hours...

just hope on 80-94 to I-65 South... takes you straight there... 4 hours max... maybe only 3

its not that far

[Money]

hertz or enterprise are the cheapest

[Lizard Fuel]

1. Are these prices for real? On its own website, Budget says "it doesn't require a credit card to confirm the reservation" and Hertz gave this to me as a "pay this now and save later" price, which does require a credit card. I checked orbitz.com and it gave me a total of $210 and $221 for Budget and Hertz respectively. Why are these prices so different from the ones displayed on the companies' own website?

2. Since I'll only be 21 at the time of the rental I'm planning on booking/reserving the car on someone else's creditcard to avoid having to pay a under 25 surcharge. This person is over 25 and will be travelling with me. This wouldn't be a problem if she didn't drive like shit and didn't fear highways, so I'll have to drive the car. But... what happens if we walk up to the desk, present her creditcard and driver's license, and a few moments later it'll be me who's driving? Will they check to see if the 'legal' renter is actually behind the steering wheel when we leave the parking lot or anything?

3. Any other tips to save money? :P

Any input from you guys is very much appreciated, I really want to get it right this time so I don't get stranded like last year.

If your "friend" is the one the car is leased to, and anything at ALL goes wrong while anybody BUT her is driving, you will not be covered under insurance, and will be held responsible for any/all damages. If you bring the car back and they find an undocumented scratch, you better believe they will charge you for a brand new paint job (but wont actually get it painted).
If you only need the car for one day, just pay the stupid under 25 fee, its not that much, and it covers your ass from liability.

And I have 2 tips for you to save money...at the counter when you get your car say something like "Really? <Insert Random Company Here> said I can have this same car for $20 cheaper. Those airport rentals will do anything to earn business. And #2....Dont forget to fill up before you turn it back in, cuz even if you have half a tank left, they will charge you for a FULL tank if its not full when they get it back.

[Nycle]

just for the record, chicago to indianapolis should only take you about 4 hours...

True, I just want to be safe though. A 4-hour rent is gonna cost me the same as an 8-hour one. Unless they're gonna charge me if I bring it back a few hours early... do they?

@ displaced, lizard: You make a good point about the liability issues... That was already obvious to me but I thought that maybe the benefit of an additional cut in costs could outweigh the setback of a small risk in damaging the car. The surcharge is $27 for both Budget and Hertz, so I'll just go with that.

Oh and I think I found out what explains the difference in prices. Apparently when you select that you reside outside of the US you pay less for the same car... which is weird but hopefully true.

[kthx]

Maybe they figure you won't be stopping at burger king and spilling angry whopper sauce all over the seats like Izor would.

[Bioture]

www.retailmenot.com

Hertz I know for sure has codes that'll take some $ off your trip... if you decide to use the damage waiver, then my old company code 40000 to get that in a package.

[soup]

I call GAY, they will have GAY SEX in the car which is DISGUSTING.

I'm mailing hertz and other companies to not rent any car to a Mr. Nycle from Almere.