Rental Cars

[rivieraranch]

I have been going on line looking for rental cars and when you get a decent price for a rental then they show you what the junk charges are.

For example I pulled up a weekly rental on a full size car at $163.00 at the airport in Ft. Lauderdale, and lo and behold, there are about $75.00 worth of absolute bogus junk charges that they try adding on top of that. This is nonsense.

Where can you look for a rental at an honest price without all the crap fees?

I wil be looking to rent again on August 12-19th.

[trinacriabob]

Hey, Riv, it is mandated by the states/counties/municipalities. No kidding. One usually encounters the following in some jurisdictions: (1) sales tax, (2) vehicle license fee, (3) concession recovery fee, (4) frequent flyer surcharge, and 1 or 2 more so that the aggregate amounts to the tune of 25 to 40 % of the base rental charge.

Only in California, for some reason, is there just the sales tax, which blows my mind because the state has a host of other taxes. Obviously, the lawmakers felt that apportioning the airport concession to the renters was not cool.

There's no getting around it depending on where you rent. In the Seattle area, rental cars were heaped with a stadium levy! I couldn't believe it! How the hell does a casual renter from the other side of the country benefit from the Seahawks and/or Mariner's new stadium?

Therefore, in those locations that have these taxes, the best protection is to go for the low base rate since most of these surcharges will function as a percentage of that rate.

And don't forget to mention AAA or Costco memberships if you have those.

[CARBIZ]

Trina, because tourists can't vote! Vancouver does the same thing, slapping on silly taxes at the airport. Cowardly city government can hit the tourists because they are hostage.

[trinacriabob]

Trina, because tourists can't vote!  Vancouver does the same thing, slapping on silly taxes at the airport.  Cowardly city government can hit the tourists because they are hostage.

174339[/snapback]

Canadians are EXPERTS at levying taxes, but car rental surcharges are nuts everywhere. Europe/Italy is FAR WORSE. BTW, it's Robert or Bob.

[cmattson]

Rental car companies SCREW you. I've had plenty of scenarios like this:

Flew into Orange County & landed at around 11pm. Had a reservation @ Avis for a mid-size sedan (being GM-stocked, I'm expecting a Grand Am or Chevy Classic). Get to the rental counter & hear "I'm sorry sir, all we have left are minivans and compacts". At this point I politely tell the lady that I have a RESERVATION. She then says that "she understands, but.." (I cut her off at this point -> cause I'm in NO mood for this crap): "No maam, I don't think you do. If you folks understood what a RESERVERATION is, then YOU'D RESERVE, YOU KNOW, SET ASIDE, MY MID-SIZED CAR". She offered to knock some $$$ off the price (like all of $12, b!tch) -- like I could give a crap about that -> I was out there are on business purposes -> why should I be conserved about saving my work all of $12 on a weeks worth of rental car use? I mean if $12 is gonna sink my work, then it's probably gonna go under anyhow. And WTF is $12 over a $300 rental car bill? 3%? For screwing up? That's the best you can do? Screw that. You basically are left with choosing either the minivan or the compact (I chose the compact & got a Cavalier) 'cause you aint gonna find a decent rental car in LA at 11pm. They know it -- that's why they rented out your "reserved" mid-size hours earlier. Bastards.

[Robert Hall]

Canadians are EXPERTS at levying taxes, but car rental surcharges are nuts everywhere.  Europe/Italy is FAR WORSE.  BTW, it's Robert or Bob.

174470[/snapback]

Yeah..IIRC when I rented a Vectra at the Rome airport from Avis a few years ago, there were a bunch of surcharges..I think I paid something like 100 euros a day for it total...but I didn't have a reservation, it was a walk-up....

[trinacriabob]

Rental car companies SCREW you.  I've had plenty of scenarios like this:

Flew into Orange County & landed at around 11pm.  Had a reservation @ Avis for a mid-size sedan (being GM-stocked, I'm expecting a Grand Am or Chevy Classic).  Get to the rental counter & hear "I'm sorry sir, all we have left are minivans and compacts".  At this point I politely tell the lady that I have a RESERVATION.  She then says that "she understands, but.." (I cut her off at this point -> cause I'm in NO mood for this crap): "No maam, I don't think you do.  If you folks understood what a RESERVERATION is, then YOU'D RESERVE, YOU KNOW, SET ASIDE, MY MID-SIZED CAR".  She offered to knock some $$$ off the price (like all of $12, b!tch) -- like I could give a crap about that -> I was out there are on business purposes -> why should I be conserved about saving my work all of $12 on a weeks worth of rental car use?  I mean if $12 is gonna sink my work, then it's probably gonna go under anyhow.  And WTF is $12 over a $300 rental car bill?  3%?  For screwing up?  That's the best you can do?  Screw that.  You basically are left with choosing either the minivan or the compact (I chose the compact & got a Cavalier) 'cause you aint gonna find a decent rental car in LA at 11pm.  They know it -- that's why they rented out your "reserved" mid-size hours earlier.  Bastards.

174593[/snapback]

TIME OUT! If your reserved category is gone, you are to be upgraded for free...even if it means the most expensive Cadillac DTS or Escalade sitting around.

I've never had that happen. I've been upgraded rather frequently as a result of out of stock. One time in Vegas, my would-be Stratus became a Grand Cherokee with all the bells and whistles.

In fact, they once HAD the category I needed - midsize. It was a Malibu Maxx. It also was missing the canvas cover over the rear. I complained, saying I had luggage that would be visible. I complained enough that they upgraded me to the next category with a legitimate trunk.

You needed to complain to the headquarters. Should get you some kind of reprieve/rebate on your next rental.

[Sixty8panther]

I've had a Stratus twice now in Vegas myself... I'd have LOVED a

Grand Cherokee instead, esp. since we took the Stratus redneck

rally racing in the rocky, dusty desert just outside of Toombstone

Arizona after I drove out to visit my buddy Duffy. I ended up

almost rolling the damn car when I got it so sideways I punctured

both passanger tires on jagged gravel at about 50mph.

I got a bit messy plugging both tires with one of those tire-plug

kits and I spent a lot of time rubbing out scratches before driving it

back to Vegas but it was well worth it, even after I got pulled over

for doing 93mph in a 55 in East Bumfuqe Arizona.

That's the way to get the company back: buy full insurance & have a

blast driving the car like you stole it.

Edited August 3, 2006 by Sixty8panther

[trinacriabob]

I've had a Stratus twice now in Vegas myself... I'd have LOVED a

Grand Cherokee instead, esp. since we took the Stratus redneck

rally racing in the rocky, dusty desert just outside of Toombstone

Arizona after I drove out to visit my buddy Duffy. I ended up

almost rolling the damn car when I got it so sideways I punctured

both passanger tires on jagged gravel at about 50mph.

I got a bit messy plugging both tires with one of those tire-plug

kits and I spent a lot of time rubbing out scratches before driving it

back to Vegas but it was well worth it, even after I got pulled over

for doing 93mph in a 55 in East Bumfuqe Arizona.

That's the way to get the company back: buy full insurance & have a

blast driving the car like you stole it.

175313[/snapback]

This is why I would NOT buy a lightly used car from a rental fleet.

[Drew Dowdell]

This is why I would NOT buy a lightly used car from a rental fleet. 

175348[/snapback]

this is why I wouldn't let 68 within 68 feet of any of my vehicles...

[CARBIZ]

Obvious abuse aside, former daily rentals can be a good deal for someone who is looking to save a bit of money. Having 2-2 1/2 years left on the factory warranty is a definite benefit.

Most dealers (including Toyota) rely on former daily rentals as the bulk of their monthly used car sales. Trust in the law of averages. If a dealer sells 40 daily rentals in a month and 2 of those actually turn out to be problems in the first couple months (and those problems are taken care of by the warranty anyway), then I would say that is a pretty safe bet.

Although it is possible to get a car that was abused, it is more likely that you are getting a car that has been "broken in" and the initial factory mistakes (if any) have been attended to.

A former daily rental is a safer bet than a 4 year old lease return with no warranty, IMO.

[trinacriabob]

it is more likely that you are getting a car that has been "broken in" and the initial factory mistakes (if any) have been attended to.

175447[/snapback]

Are you sure? I don't think they are even broken in correctly. Someone drives it off the lot (someone like 68) when it's brand spanking new and puts it through the paces. Also, I rarely report any malfunctions to the agency upon return unless it impacts the safe operation of the vehicle. For someone on a budget, yes. For someone else who plans to keep it a long time, I'd say no.

[CARBIZ]

Y'know, at first glance I would've agreed with you. I've seen my fair share of rental vehicles get used, but then has your personal vehicle never been parked by valet in a hotel or airport? Occasional abuse is not the same as constant abuse.

But like I said: we and our Toyota stores sell more than 40+ daily rentals a month and I would say they are, overall, less problems than a 3 or 4 year old lease return.

People I've talked to at other dealers agree. Having a couple years left on a factory warranty is good insurance, plus any reputable dealer is going to steer away from any vehicles that show sign of abuse at the auctions.