A Lesson On Renting Cars

Converted · Site Admin Joined: 02 Nov 2003 Posts: 5602

Here is a quick lesson on how to rent a car for a given length of time. Please read through the following example.

INCORRECT:

Agent: ...and how long will you be needing the car?

You: Two days.

Agent: ...and at what approximate time will you be returning the car?

You: Around five o'clock.

CORRECT:

Agent: ...and how long will you be needing the car?

You: Two days.

Agent: ...and at what approximate time will you be returning the car?

You: Hey rat-dick, weren't you listening? I'll have the car for TWO DAYS. Look at a friggin' clock, and do the math.

The first dialog is incorrect because you told the agent that you'd have the car back by 5:00. They then enter on your profile that you will be returning it by 5:00, so when you finally <i>do</i> return it at 6:30, they hit you with a $25/hour*** late fee. Even if you return it well within the 48 hour period that you "paid for". Sounds shady? It is, but an explanation of that fine was hidden somewhere in all of that paperwork you signed, so it's legal.

However, if you demand to have the car for all of the time you've paid for, then you're safe. And if everyone starts demanding to keep their cars for the total time, this silly fine will be taken out of the contracts. Telling the rental agency that you're bringing the car back early is a courtesy to the agency, so they can predict how many cars they'll have. You shouldn't have to pay fines for being courteous.

***Hertz gives you a one hour 'grace period', then starts charging $25/hour. Some other rental agencies have similar policies.

Submitted By: Brovip@hotmail.com

Converted · Site Admin Joined: 02 Nov 2003 Posts: 5602

Car rental companies have a right to charge you for the extra hour fee. One person's idea of a day may be different from another person. That is why they impose the time constraints. Otherwise, their cars would never be returned, they would have screaming customers at the counter waiting for the last person to return the car, and then they would eventually go out of buisness. If we all ran our buisness like the first posted comment requested then we would all be on foot and unemployed. If you have ever the opportunity to open your own buisness your attitude would be totally different. Good luck borrowing a twenty thousand dollar car from your neighbor for an approximated time and less than the cost of a tank of gas.

Submitted By: Anonymous

Converted · Site Admin Joined: 02 Nov 2003 Posts: 5602

The have the right to charge you if you keep the car past the two day limit. Not if you say you're coming back early and don't make it. And a day on most of the planet earth is 24hr.

Submitted By: Anonymous

Converted · Site Admin Joined: 02 Nov 2003 Posts: 5602

Great tip. Thanks for passing it on. You are absolutely right. It's called Yield Management in the travel industry and it's their job, not the customers. I prefer to NOT help the Car Rental agencies forecast and oversell by providing my exact return time. If they are doing their job (and the math) correctly, they should be able to find the right balance of cars being returned and cars being picked up. They should be able to do that without my time committment, as long as I am within the "2 day" window. If they can't, that's their problem. Using basic analysis they should be able to forecast the percentage of customers that will return the cars 1 hour early, 2 hours early, 1 hour late, 2 hours late, etc. Instead, their trying to get away with not doing the analysis and just passing the costs on to the consumer.

Submitted By: Anonymous

Converted · Site Admin Joined: 02 Nov 2003 Posts: 5602

I'm sorry you are unable to read your contract. Each company some where on their contracts normally under the daily rate says oh let me think the extra hour rate and on the top it has your due date and time. You know the time they ask at booking and what the reps go over at time of rental to help idiots like you be charged correctly at return if you could tell time!!!!

Submitted By: Car Rental Employee

Converted · Site Admin Joined: 02 Nov 2003 Posts: 5602

it is well within the power of any car rental agency to predict when their customers will return 1 hour early, 2 hours early, 1 hour late, 2 hours late, etc., and plan accordingly.

Submitted By: Anonymous

Converted · Site Admin Joined: 02 Nov 2003 Posts: 5602

Fact: The writer of the original comment used poor taste with her use of the term "rat dick".

Fact: Auto rental is generally the most costly portion of a business trip.

Fact: The car rental business is the biggest rip off in the travel industry and should be regulated.

Fact: We're screwed here in the US because none of our cities have public transportation that could replace the private automobile.

Submitted By: Anonymous

Converted · Site Admin Joined: 02 Nov 2003 Posts: 5602

I used to work at Hertz while I was in college. If you rent a car at 5pm and want to return it at 9pm two days later that 3 days, idiot..that's why they ask..it's billed on a 24 hr clock. Most people make the assumption that 2 days means return ANY time two days later and then wonder, bitch, cry, moan and get all upset when total is added up. READ YOUR DAMN CONTRACTS, SHUT UP WHEN THE CSR EXPLAINS IT TO YOU AND LEARN HOW TO TELL TIME.

P.S. " I rent here all the time" is not a valid reason to take money off or make adjustments. If you "rent here all the time" you should know better andiif that comes out of your mouth, proves that you are indeed retarded.

Submitted By: Anonymous

Converted · Site Admin Joined: 02 Nov 2003 Posts: 5602

"I rent here all the time" is the irritation button for me, it makes me wanna reach across, slap the piss out of the idiot and scream "AND YOU SHOULD KNOW BETTER THEN!!!!" BUT, my love for food, clothing and shelter override such impulse reactions. When I train someone to rent cars, I tell them to tell the customer that they have until such time to get it back, if they go past that time, they will be charged an extra day ($68 or so) That usually clears up that problem. Fuel is another issue, I tell the customer that if they don't fill up, I charge $5 a gallon, fixed problem there too.

Submitted By: Avis Employee

Converted · Site Admin Joined: 02 Nov 2003 Posts: 5602

Yeah, car rental companies are a scam. That's why a division of Alamo just went under, and Budget declared Chapter 11 bankruptcy protection last year. They are just swimming in cash. Here's the deal when you rent a car: ask plenty of questions, and if you think of any more questions, call the office again. We don't want problems any more than you do, yet we can't predict every little problem you might encounter. And a lot of you need to chill out--no need to snap out about renting a car.

Submitted By: Rental CSR