Whats the best Rental Car Company?

[dumbidea]

The best thing to do is pull up the parking brake when going 70+ kts. If you do it all the way to a stop, it makes a funny thumping sound when you start rolling again. Im a bad person.

 

[My name is EARL]

Try carrentals.com for good prices. I have found that the airline (if you are employed by one) discounts are not as good as they used to be. You are better off looking for an internet special. The only exception is if you pickup and drop off at a different location. There our airline has a agreement for no charge for different pickup and drop off. As one post had priceline works well. I have always paid less and it was a Hertz or Avis car. I have also just walked up to a counter and asked for the best price and got a Dodge Magnum for 27.00 per day.
No clear cut answer, it is best to shop around if you have the time.

 

[Narco-leftseat]

I always search through Orbitz.com for my car rentals.....even if you are only a few minutes away from the rental line at the airport !!!
Book it through Orbitz and save $$ every time !!

 

[sleepy]

Hertz Gold (my company pays), it's great.

 

[Alcatraz]

I've rented a bunch of cars in the last year, and I've found each company can vary from city to city. I've also found that the cheapest is NOT necessarily the best idea, but it MIGHT actually be better than the more premium brands.

LAS: Love Enterprise. Thrifty is good. Hate Alamo/National, Fox.
TPA: Thrifty is okay.
MDW: Thrifty and Enterprise are okay.
ORD: Thrifty isn't that good.
MKE: Love Thrifty and Enterprise. Hate Avis.
MCO: Love Thrifty.

Also, FYI, to those less experienced: there is no charge for one way rentals in Florida... could be useful for those misconnecting on a two leg commute.

Airline rates are usually more than internet rates. When booking online, I use Orbitz (especially if booking online via unsecured wireless) or SWA's website (SWA makes money from bookings, and the rates are the same).

This could probably be just a thread, or a sticky or something...

 

[PreContact]

Useful info

No one says you have to read this board. I like it in fact.

You have to be kidding me, "rental cars" deserves it own area on FI? I can understand a thread under general but its own area?

 

[torchred]

Enterprize at ILG terminal is like watching paint dry and always hosing up my bill with charges I didn't agree to i.e. damage waiver. Avis is good there.

 

[Hootie9750]

Perfect thread for me to vent. I HATE HERTZ. Just got done with them out of MCI. I saw every other companies shuttle 5 times before hertz came by. Dirty car with lipstick tubes and half an apple rolling out under the seat.
I waited 15 minutes in the heat to get checked back in at which point I was charged 33 dollars for returning the car 44 minutes late.

Never any problems with Avis or Enterprise.

 

[b757driver]

Can't Beat That!

If your paying for it....the cheapest

Talking about cheapest, I had occasion to rent a vehicle at LAX for 1 day. I found one of the independents, Midway Car Rental which is located at the Raddisson, LAX.
Believe it or not, the actual rental was CHEAPER than the gas refill on return: 1 day rental (with 10% internet discount) = $23; Gas @ $3.32 a gallon refill = $26!!
Very courteous and knowledgable staff and upgraded my vehicle without even asking for it.
Beats all the Hertz and Avis guys who would have cost at least TWICE as much. They even picked me up from my hotel!!!

 

[kingairyahoo]

hertz gold...hands down.

its free as per the above link.

no extra charges for one-way rentals.

no holds on cards.

and every rental is reimbursed by the company

 

[Snakum]

Twice I've had Enterprise confirm a rental only to be told when I got to the airport "No cars". Also had them hose my bill. I'd hitchhike before giving Enterprise any of my money.

 

[AeroDork]

Enterprise: $167 for 2 days for a compact in Midland freakin' Texas. What a rip.

 

[Wankel7]

AVIS in GSP did a great job this weekend.

Rented a Sebring Convertiable for $26 with taxes for Sunday return Monday out of GSP. My plans changed and I had to return it to Ashville...grand total $45 with taxes.

And they were very understanding...considering how my plans changed about four times over.

Wankel

 

[w17cfii]

Not really related to the topic, but just a fyi if you have this situation. Rented a car from Thrifty in PVD. Overall very happy, got a nice convertable on my economy rental. Never actually get the economy...do they even own any "economy" vehicles? Noticed a screw in the tire the next day. Thinking I was doing the right thing, I went back to the rental office to report I had a screw in my tire and they might want to repair it before the tire went flat.

I was told to go get it fixed, otherwise I would be charged the cost of a replacement tire since I hadn't signed up for the damage waiver. I played with the idea of getting the tire fixed, buying a $9 can of fix a flat, but ended up doing nothing and returning the car with the screw. I never heard a word on this.

So, my moral of the story is, if you break it, don't tell 'em you broke it, no matter how minor....

 

[pgcfii2002]

I've always used Dollar.

 

[psysicx]

Went to Sea this week and everyone except Enterprise wanted a $250 deposit. Then they would send a check back in 2-3 weeks. What a rip. So we used Enterprise and it was only $36 a day.

 

[psysicx]

Do most require a deposit if you make a reservation early?

 

[Thedude]

Do most require a deposit if you make a reservation early?

Umm...no.
And if they do, run.

 

[psysicx]

Well I guess its only for walk ins. Everyone except Enterprise had some crazy rule about how long it would take for the deposit to be returned. Waiting 2 weeks for a check sucks. Why can't they return it to your bank account on the spot.