Consumer Guides

Government  Guides

Consumer News

Consumer Guides
Index

Consumer Guides
Home



Submit Government Guide

Submit Article

Copywriting Services 
 
Adoption
Adoption Record Access
Single Parent Adoption
Alternative Energy
Autos - Cars
Automobiles - Buying
Auto Finance
Auto Insurance
Auto Leasing
Auto Auctions
Auto Hybrids (HEV)
Rental Cars
Biology - Human Genome Project
 
Business- Franchises
Business Investment Capital
 
 
Consumer News Articles
Cosmetic Surgery and Financing
CD Manufacturing Services
Clean Energy Systems
Costopedia
Forklift Batteries
LASIK Procedures and Costs
Organic Baby Furniture
 
Disaster Help
Guide to help Rebuild Your Home
Earthquakes -Preparation, Survival
 
Drugs
Drug and Alcohol Rehabs
 
Employment and Interviewing
 
Education
 
Fishing Guide
Financial
Currency & Coins
Currency: Buying, Selling and Redeeming
FDIC Insurance
Forex Brokerages Directory
Merchant Accounts
Merchant Account Comparisons
Credit Card Guide
Payment Processing Options
Stock Market Basics
Auctions
 
 
Government Grant Info
Government Links - Federal, State, Local
Global Warming Facts
 
Homeland Security
Preparing America
U.S. Immigration and Visas   
 
Health
Hospital Comparison
Health Insurance
What is Influenza? (Flu)
Life Insurance
Long Term Care
Healthcare Debate
 
Jewelry
 
Marriage
Marriage and Health
Marriage and Teen Attitudes
Happy vs. Unhappy
Marriage and Health
Recipe for Happy Marriage
Sleep and Marriage Study
 
Patents, Trademarks, Copyrights
 
News
Legal News
World News
 
Private Jets
Business Aircraft
Cessna
Eclipse 500
Lear
 
Real Estate
Mortgage Modification
100 Q & A's of Home Buying
Fair Housing Quiz (HUD)
Financing Energy Efficient Homes
Home Buying
Home Buying FAQ
Home Buying Glossary
Home Buying Loans
Home Mortgage Insurance
Manufactured Homes
Mortgage Refinance
Selling Your Home
Ten Tips For Home Buyers
Energy Efficient Homes
 
Tax Tips
Tax Hike - Expiring Bush Tax Cuts
 
Technology
Data Centers
Correct Time
Digital Photography
 
Travel
Traveling by Train Tips
Tips For Women Traveling Alone
State Department Travel Tips
 
Other Online Guides
e-Commerce
Shopping
Inpatient Substance Abuse Rehab Treatment


________
Disclaimer

Contact

 

 

Rental Car Advice
Rent-a-Car Advice and Tips

This advice can save you money and a lot of hassle.  We learned point 5 and 6 below the hard way!

1. Check with your insurance or credit card company in advance to see if they will cover any damage done to the car. You will be offered insurance from the rental agency which adds quite a bit to your daily rental fee.

2. Check off-airport rates. When traveling to an airport, realize that the airport branch of the rental car agency charges more than a local branch, sometimes significantly more.

We recently traveled to Austin, TX and found out that airport rental agency charged almost double the rate when compared to non-airport rental car agency – same company! So we took the hotel shuttle to our hotel and called a local branch to come pick us up. We saved $90.00 over a two days!

 

 

3. Understand all the taxes and fees that you will pay. The final rate is much more than the advertised daily rate for the car. Every city is different, airports are more expensive, some agencies have expensive one-way drop-off charges. (Enterprise had no drop-off charges at the time of this article but their policies were not uniformly accepted by all local dealers in the U.S.  Call ahead and check with your drop-off location.)  If you rent in NY your price is going to have some HUGE taxes added on, compared to renting across the river in NJ.

4. Check for weekly and monthly rates. You might get a lower rate by keeping the car a full week than six days. Negotiate.

5. Inspect the car thoroughly! Sometimes they move the cars out fast to accommodate a busy line of people, but on the way in they may look the car over very carefully. This is especially true if you’re doing a one way rental between cities.  Don't feel pressured when you inspect the car going out.

We rented a car in Orlando, Fl airport. The site was busy and we pointed out a few scratches which they noted on the contract but we were under pressure to move quickly. We drove up the coast and turned the car in 1 month later in New Jersey. We had no bumps or accidents at all. But… the rules were a little different in the new location. The management was very particular and we got the idea that they didn’t really want to take the car in, although they said everything would be “no problem”.

The branch manager noted a quarter-sized scratch on the bumper (which had been there) and pointed out that the bumper was slightly tweaked. I could barely notice this, but after he pointed it out, I could see that the bumper line was slightly altered. Well, he wanted to report it and it was going to cost us plenty, including our insurance deductible and a host of charges not covered by our insurance, just because we hadn’t noticed it when we took the car out. So we decided to not turn in the car at that dealer and instead went to the airport, where they received the car without any problem. This burned an entire day but we were grateful we didn't have to pay for the damage we didn't cause. We now check our rental cars over thoroughly.

6. One Way Rentals:  We rented one way from Enterprise in Orlando.  We thought we could turn the car in during our time with family in Ohio where we didn't need a car for a week and then re-rent a car to go one way back to California.  Sounds easy but franchise owners have different rules and rates then the corporate stores.  They wanted a dollar a mile in addition to our rate!!!   We took the train home.  Once you get a one-way rental, I recommend keeping it the entire time, or call in advance to make sure you drop off and pick back up.

7. Negotiate. Rental car agencies will negotiate, especially if you have a better price elsewhere. Get your best price and then go the agency you prefer and ask for a price match.  You would be surprised at the 'wiggle' room their is.

8. If you have a portable navigator, bring it! If you don’t, get a rental with one installed. It helps tremendously.  BUT... don't trust it completely.  Their maps are not always updated and they can lead you down a dead end, or to a gas station that burnt down off a dark turnpike at night near a graveyard. (happen to us!).  You've still got think your route through.   Have a paper map with you to refer to.  Also realize that a navigator can find you the shortest route, or quickest, but not necessarily the 'safest'.   For example:  On a highway in a city, if you need to use a bathroom, you can have the navigator take you to the nearest restaurant or gas station... which might be in a dangerous neighborhood, or you may have to drive through a dangerous route.   Don't take the navigator voice as the gospel truth!


 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

© 2001-2013 Consumer-Guides.Info ~ Contact