Renting a car - tips and tricks - READ FIRST POST FOR CUMULATIVE TIPS

[Zork1984]

Great thread! Just a couple of thoughts on my end.


3. When flying in to another city, I prefer to rent cars at the airport locations for a couple of reasons. One is there are more choices and availability, as mentioned by another poster and another is I don't want to return the car at a location far from the airport then get onto the local transit or pay a cab to get to the airport. There could be shuttle buses or courtesy rides but I want to minimize the costs and more importantly *surprises* by having more control over my scheduling.

I recently priced out a rental with Budget, and I realized that I get hit twice renting from an Airport location. Not only is the rental rate higher (which I expect, due to convenience and possibly higher operating cost), but there is also this concession recovery charge, or something to that effect. For a two-week rental (intermediate car), the concession recovery fee was around $100, making the total difference over $200, and that is with a corporate rate for the airport location, otherwise, I would see double the off-airport location. The difference would more than pay for pre-arranged taxi service.

I did some more looking around, then I realize that even if I pick up off-airport, I can still return the car to the airport, with no 1-way penalty (at least for the city I was going to), and the entire rental has the rate as off-airport location, so I only need to pay for a taxi to the hotel (which happens to have a rental counter 50 metres away), but saved a few hundreds. This may not work for many, but in my particular case, I arrive very late, taking a taxi makes more sense as it is almost closing time even for airport location, plus I don't have to drive to the hotel that late in the night.

So if this works for you, the difference may be worth it.

[mgdanderson]

Here's another tip: don't buy the prepaid gas. I didn't realize this, but it means you buy all the gas in the tank(for below pump price, lol) and then return it. If you don't use all the gas (and how can you?) then you give it back and don't get credit for the unused gas.

Big rip off!

Not a ripoff, just a unique revenue stream for the rental companies. You pay for a full tank at less then market value!!! Great for the consumer providing they will use a full tank of fuel. But therein lies the rub, most people will return the rental with approx 1/4 of fuel or just under, which gives the rental company a small profit after fuel is replenished.

I have witnessed many vehicles return with 1/4 tank of fuel or less, I have witnessed many vehicles return with the fuel light on, either way just like a casino, the house will always win!!!

Avoid the urge, decline the pre-paid fuel and top up close to where you are returning your rental...

[manmanny]

Not a ripoff, just a unique revenue stream for the rental companies. You pay for a full tank at less then market value!!! Great for the consumer providing they will use a full tank of fuel. But therein lies the rub, most people will return the rental with approx 1/4 of fuel or just under, which gives the rental company a small profit after fuel is replenished.

I have witnessed many vehicles return with 1/4 tank of fuel or less, I have witnessed many vehicles return with the fuel light on, either way just like a casino, the house will always win!!!

Avoid the urge, decline the pre-paid fuel and top up close to where you are returning your rental...

Make sure never use that/their system. If you calculate the rate charged per KM is almost double than what you fill yourself.

[shoppingsucks]

renting a car in spain :

1. i have made reservations but not paid yet, through avis, i will be picking it up next week, i have heard that the price i confirmed through my car reservation may not be the same when i pick up the car, and that in spain there are many other fees that you wouldn't normally have in north america. is that true ? even through avis ?

2. what insurance coverage should i get ?

3. any other tips in europe ?

thank you

[eshchan]

Hi,

I was wondering if anyone has tips for renting a mini van to drive from Toronto to NY. I have tried a few places and renting a mini van does not have unlimited mileage unlike a compact car.

[lexani]

Hi,

I was wondering if anyone has tips for renting a mini van to drive from Toronto to NY. I have tried a few places and renting a mini van does not have unlimited mileage unlike a compact car.

Most places if not all places don't offer it anymore. 200/km limit.

Your best best to get in touch with a franchise location. Corporate locations won't budge on this unless you have someone on the inside who rolls back the km on the contract.

Talk to a franchise location (Thrifty has a few around Toronto) and negotiate a km allowance. They usually willing to with minivans and large suv's.

[milhouse7]

Not a ripoff, just a unique revenue stream for the rental companies. You pay for a full tank at less then market value!!! Great for the consumer providing they will use a full tank of fuel. But therein lies the rub, most people will return the rental with approx 1/4 of fuel or just under, which gives the rental company a small profit after fuel is replenished.

I have witnessed many vehicles return with 1/4 tank of fuel or less, I have witnessed many vehicles return with the fuel light on, either way just like a casino, the house will always win!!!

Avoid the urge, decline the pre-paid fuel and top up close to where you are returning your rental...

If you have some left over just siphon it out of the tanks into a jerry can and you have some cheap fuel. It's your fuel!

[chube]

I did some more looking around, then I realize that even if I pick up off-airport, I can still return the car to the airport, with no 1-way penalty (at least for the city I was going to), and the entire rental has the rate as off-airport location, so I only need to pay for a taxi to the hotel (which happens to have a rental counter 50 metres away), but saved a few hundreds. This may not work for many, but in my particular case, I arrive very late, taking a taxi makes more sense as it is almost closing time even for airport location, plus I don't have to drive to the hotel that late in the night.

So if this works for you, the difference may be worth it.

This is very good advice. I used it a few years ago when I was in Halifax for over a week. I picked up the car downtown and returned it to the airport.




Not only did I save the $115 "concession fee recovery", but the weekly (and daily) rates were way cheaper. The only difference between the two rentals was that picking up at the airport provided unlimited km's, while picking up downtown only afforded me 200km per day. I had the car for 9 days, so 1800km was more than enough. Even if it wasn't, it was only 11 cents/km for the amount I was over which means I would've had to be over by more than 5700km to make the airport rental worth the while. Also, had I picked up the car at the airport I would've actually had to rent it one more day as I arrived the night before. However, the taxi ride from the airport negates that savings in Halifax because it is fairly far from the airport to downtown. As someone mentioned earlier, when you arrive in a strange city after 7 or 8pm, it's nice to just take a taxi and not have to worry about driving/finding hotel/parking/etc.

(Sorry the images are so large. I had uploaded them to show a friend a while ago.)

[Ahzuz]

Should I book a week before departure or 2 months for a car rental ?
I heard it's better to wait until last minute.

Thanks

[lexani]

Should I book a week before departure or 2 months for a car rental ?
I heard it's better to wait until last minute.

Thanks

Book one two months before. Then browse around and cancel the other if you find something cheaper.

If you buy last minute, you might get some pretty ridiculous rates. Try booking for Canada Day long weekend now. Corolla size rentals are going for $79.99 a day when they were less than $25/day before.

[JWL]

I recently priced out a rental with Budget, and I realized that I get hit twice renting from an Airport location. Not only is the rental rate higher (which I expect, due to convenience and possibly higher operating cost), but there is also this concession recovery charge, or something to that effect.

I did some more looking around, then I realize that even if I pick up off-airport, I can still return the car to the airport, with no 1-way penalty.

Previously noted in first post that renting off-terminal is usually cheaper, but added the return to terminal idea.

Should I book a week before departure or 2 months for a car rental ?
I heard it's better to wait until last minute.

Check out autoslash.com as noted in the first post.

[GTT1]

Maybe someone with the knowledge can tell me exactly what insurance gets offered and covered by your credit card.

I notice that Budget when you book a car offers LDW but no other car insurance besides personal stuff. I haven't rented for some time and as I recall CDW was one of the items you paid for or declined.

for instance here is an example of what is offered above the rental cost

----------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------
Easy to use GPS navigation
Garmin where2TM gives clear, easy directions.
only 119.50 CAD/this rental more info
Highly recommended for your rental!
add
Safety seats
Keep your kids safe.
105.00 CAD /rental ea. more info
toddler child booster
Loss Damage Waiver (LDW)
Protects you if car is damaged or stolen.
26.99 CAD/day more info
Highly recommended for your rental!
add
Personal Accident Insurance (PAI)
Additional protection for you and your passengers.
5.95 CAD/day more info
add
Fuel service option
We refuel your car at reduced per gallon prices.
Price is not included in your reservation total. Get prevailing market fuel rate and pay at rental time. more info
add
100% smoke-free fleet in the U.S. and Canada. No-smoking In the U.S. & Canada, our fleet is 100% smoke-free.
information for a driver with disabilities
next
--------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------

So does that mean that the collision insurance is already priced in and you have to take it?

I was told by BMO rep by phone that rental coverage with their cards covers collision damage but not LDW but the rep seems to be wrong. I have located a copy of the agreement for my coverage on line and it states
-----------------------------------------------------------------
Coverage Benefits
Subject to the terms and conditions, You are covered
for Rental Cars with a Manufacturer’s Suggested Retail
Price (MSRP), in its model year, up to a maximum of
$65,000 for:
1. damage to the Rental Car; and
2. theft of the Rental Car or any of its respective parts
or accessories; and

--------------------------------------------------------------
The above that I have marked in red would seem to cover fully the LDW of Budget

Confused by all this and wonder if someone can clarify.

I have coverage with my car insurance and it would be a backup but prefer to rely on my credit card.

[JWL]

As per this website LDW (LOSS Damage Waiver) and CDW (COLLISION Damage Waiver) are the same thing. They cover damage to the car. I think this is the source of most of your confusion.

More car rental insurance jargon here.

Maybe someone with the knowledge can tell me exactly what insurance gets offered and covered by your credit card.

I notice that Budget when you book a car offers LDW but no other car insurance besides personal stuff. I haven't rented for some time and as I recall CDW was one of the items you paid for or declined.

for instance here is an example of what is offered above the rental cost
Loss Damage Waiver (LDW)
Protects you if car is damaged or stolen.
26.99 CAD/day more info
Highly recommended for your rental!
add
Personal Accident Insurance (PAI)
Additional protection for you and your passengers.
5.95 CAD/day more info

So does that mean that the collision insurance is already priced in and you have to take it?

The Budget terms you listed include LDW as an OPTION you can purchase. So it is not already included in the price.

I was told by BMO rep by phone that rental coverage with their cards covers collision damage but not LDW but the rep seems to be wrong. I have located a copy of the agreement for my coverage on line and it states
-----------------------------------------------------------------
Coverage Benefits
Subject to the terms and conditions, You are covered
for Rental Cars with a Manufacturer’s Suggested Retail
Price (MSRP), in its model year, up to a maximum of
$65,000 for:
1. damage to the Rental Car; and
2. theft of the Rental Car or any of its respective parts
or accessories; and

--------------------------------------------------------------
The above that I have marked in red would seem to cover fully the LDW of Budget

I have coverage with my car insurance and it would be a backup but prefer to rely on my credit card.

The insurance coverage of every credit card is different so everyone has to check the terms of THEIR card. It does look like your BMO card covers damage to the car (as the rep said) but not liability (as the rep said).

As noted in the OP, your own car insurance may cover liability but probably not damage (so do cover damage as well). Make sure you know exactly what your own car insurance covers.

[Pavel]

In Canada, you'll be very very hard pressed to find any CC policy that offers liability protection. OTOH, if you can get a US Credit card with car rental insurance provisions, it usually includes liability insurance in addition to collision.

[StartHere]

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