Renting a Car

J

JJBoyd1001

25+ Posts
Hey everyone I am going on a weekend trip to Maryland and this is my first time renting a car. Is there any advice that I should know going into this process. like scams and extra charges (extra insurance) or any other things to look out for?

~~~~~~~ JJBoyd1001
 
Like Rocky said, you probably don't need any insurance from them, but call your carrier to confirm.

The rules about prepaid gas have changed, and it's becoming a bit of a scam. Some of the rental agencies will only sell you the discounted gas in half-tank increments before they hand you the keys. You don't use it, you lose it. Your best bet is probably to fill up the tank before you return it.
 
The basics have been covered. Don't purchase any of the options they offer you. Fill up your own tank before you return the car and DO NOT FORGET!!! They will charge you out the *** if you fail to bring it in on Full.

There may be some quirks if you are under 25 (maybe 21?). Some of the rental companies get real antsy about allowing young males to drive their vehicles, but since this issue does not affect me in any way I have not paid attention to it, and I cannot provide any meaningful advice.
 
Not so fast my friends.
Although your insurance company will usually cover if anything happens to the car you still need to ask some questions.
We have recently seen that although the insurance companies cover the repairs should you get in an accident, the rental car companies are attempting to charge for extra fees such as loss of use while he car is in the shop and not available for rental and administrative fees for having to handle the repair process.

make sure you address this with the rental car company and your insurance company.
 
The insurance didn't used to be that expensive. As someone who had a minor accident with a rental car after buying the extra insurance, and then dropping it off while saying "**** happens," and that being the end of it, I think it may be worth it.
 
I think the insurance is expensive at this time. If your rental is 30 per day, before taxes, the insurance may be 15 a day. Take that out x 7 and you are talking about 85 extra for that week. To some that is worth it, others not so much.

Read the contract or have the sales agent point out where in the contract it is so that you can read it, in front of them as to the conditions. If they want to try to charge you for downtime it is not rented, you make them give you a big reduction in rate for any time you wait for them to bring you the car or answer their phone hotline if you have questions.

The look they give you is classic. I have actually gotten 4 days of insurance free for purchasing 7 by using this. I was not even going to get any, just was being a butt.
 
A lot of the rental car agencies are offering half price specials for weekend rentals. I know Enterprise does this. Hertz and Avis as well , i believe if you book online. Anyway, it is worthwhile looking into to save some bucks.

Also, some credit cards comes with rental insurance coverage if you use their card to pay for the rental. So check to see if your card does.
 
One thing to consider if you turn down the damage protection is that little **** you might not bother your insurance company about with your own car (i.e. cracked window, door dent, etc.) will go straight to them if it happens with the rental.

Also, if you turn down the protection and go over the car with a white glove before leaving the rental company it's a bit of a catch 22. For one, you shouldn't have to worry about getting blamed for something that happened on the rental previous to yours but at the same time if something does happen while it's in your possession you're kind of screwed.

I rented a car recently for one day and took the protection because I didn't want to have to worry about the damn thing and when I turned it in (at a different location) they started to hassle me about some scratches and a dent that were there before I got the thing. It didn't matter to me because I had the protection but it shows how easily you can get screwed because I hadn't caused the damage, and to top it off I told the guy at the original location to write down that it had scratches and a dent but his chicken-scratch writing was so ****** that the people at the other location couldn't tell what it said.

Bottom line is that the protection might not be worth it financially but it may also be worth every damned cent because of the frustration/pain in the *** it could save you.
 
In addition to checking hotwire, you might also check Costco (if you have a Costco membership.) You can check their price online- link on top of home page to "travel" and link on left to "rental cars." They've beat hotwire recently for me, and there's not credit card committed to the rental until you show up to pick it up.
 
All I know is Enterprise ******* sucks. Especially out of DIA.

Avis is more expensive, but I've always had a great rental experience with them.
 
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