Which Rental Car Companies Pick You Up

Do Make Sure You Have Enough Insurance

One common mistake when renting a car is ignoring insurance. Most people assume that theyre already covered by their own auto insurance policy. But in many cases, these policies only cover you when youre driving your own vehicle. You need to check the specifics of your auto insurance coverage to make sure youre actually covered in the event you get into an accident while behind the wheel of a rental car.

Not covered? You have options. You can purchase an insurance policy from the car rental company, which can be a smart investment. Or you can check with your credit cards. Some cards, particularly cards with travel-related perks, will actually cover you with insurance specifically for rental cars. Just make sure youre carrying the right insurance, and enough insurance, so youre protected if the unexpected happens.

Should I Join Rental Car Loyalty Programs

Most loyalty programs are free to join, and sometimes there are immediate benefits or offers, so, there’s really no downside to signing up. As with airline frequent flyer programs, the more you can build up by using the same company, the more benefits you will accrue, so frequent renters should look at their travel plans and the companies that will offer the most attractive benefits to members.

Joining a loyalty program is even more attractive right now since they often come with perks like getting to jump the line or getting priority. With longer-than-ever wait times and lines at many locations, those special lines might come in extra handy.

How To Cancel Your Prepaid Rental Car

If you prepaid for your rental car, you definitely need to cancel your reservation in advance. Fees for a car rental no-show typically depend on how far in advance of the pick-up time you cancel. While most rental car companies will impose a fee for no-shows, several major companies charge no-shows for the entire booking.

For prepaid reservations, Payless has by far the most egregiously strict no-show policy. The three companies owned by Enterprise HoldingsEnterprise, National and Alamoimpose the least onerous no-show penalties.

The best way to cancel a reservation is through the companys online portal.

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How Much Does It Cost To Rent A Car

Rental car prices can vary significantly. The prices youll find at different car rental companies depend on a few factors, including the location, the time of year, the type of car you book, and demand.

On average, renting a standard four-door sedan in the U.S. costs approximately $80 per day. That price doesnt include taxes, fees, and insurance. Renting a bigger or more specialized vehicle will drive the price up, adding anywhere from $20 to $30 more per day to your cost. And during the busiest seasons of the year, such as holiday weekends, prices can increase due to higher demand.

You may be able to find discounts and deals throughout the year. Prices can drop as low as $49 to $59 per day when rental companies are running special promotions or offering discounts. If youre a loyalty program member with certain companies, you can also take advantage of special offers and lower pricing, but it depends on your status within those loyalty programs.

Additionally, where you rent a car from can affect the price. For example, renting a car from a company thats located right at the airport will be more expensive than renting from the same company at a different location. For the wonderful convenience of being able to pick up your rental right at the airport, you could pay $100 or more extra for the full length of your trip. Choosing to pick up your rental a few miles away could give you a cheaper rate.

What If I Arrive For My Reservation And No Car Is Available

Unfortunately, this is turning into a real possibility amidst ongoing rental car shortages. Always try to call ahead to confirm you’re reservation and check to see if there are currently cars on-site at your rental location. However, if you show up and your car isn’t available you have a few options.

First, ask if there’s another car available in a different class than you originally booked. Ideally, you may be able to upgrade to a better car than you originally booked at no extra cost if the company is at fault for your car being unavailable. However, if they only have cars available in a downgraded class, this may still be a better option for you than no car at all. Just be sure to get a credit or, at the very least, a voucher for the difference in price.

You can also ask if the company has another nearby location where a car may be available. If you do have to go to an alternative location, ask if the company will cover your taxi or Uber. If it’s late in the day, you may also want to consider coming back earlier the next day to see if any cars have been returned.

If no car with your original company is available at all, unfortunately, your only option may be to hunt around yourself at other rental companies or on a peer-to-peer site. You should always ask for a refund if this becomes the case, but be prepared for the fact that if you had a pre-paid reservation, you may need to hound the company and wait several weeks to get your money back.

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Q: What Is Unlimited Mileage

Youre free to go where the road takes you, without worrying about the odometer. Unlimited mileage is ideal for leisure trips, where itll be nearly impossible to determine exactly where youre going for the whole trip. Part of a vacation is about being spontaneous and trying out a new area, and being chained to a mileage limit can be frustrating.This is more of a cost up-front, but if you can reasonably see yourself using over the number of miles included with your rental, its worth getting. If you want to head out for a late-night snack, check out a few local shops that werent on your agenda, etc, you shouldnt have restrictions impeding your vacation.

Enjoy The Freedom Of A Rental Car

Picking up your rental car

At this moment, the car rental desks in the arrivals hall aren’t all open yet. Please check with your company whether you should first visit their office in the Arrivals hall, or whether you can directly go to the Rental Car Parking within the parking.

The Rental Car Park is just a short walk from the Arrivals Hall. Simply take the elevator or escalator to level 0 and follow the ‘Car Rental Parking’ signage.

Returning your rental carThe Car Rental garage is readily accessible from the motorway. Simply follow the Car Rental signage to locate the garage entrance.

Refuelling your rental car Brussels Airport makes returning your rental car an absolute breeze. Our on-site petrol station enables you to refuel your rental car immediately prior to handing it in.

To access the petrol station:

• Follow the Drop-off signage upon arriving at the airport.
• Take the exit.
• Keep right to access the petrol station.

Leaving the petrol station:

• Keep left upon leaving the petrol station.
• To drive to the Car Rental garage, turn around prior to reaching the roundabout.

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How We Chose The Best Car Rental Companies

There are a lot of car rental companies to choose from, and making a decision about who youll rent from isnt easy. What features or benefits are the best and most important? Is price a factor? Should you worry about extras like insurance and fuel? Below we help you weed through the various car rental companies available to find the best of the bunch.

Every car rental company has a different focus as well as different advantages and disadvantages. If youre hoping to find one thats worth your money and your business, youll want to look for certain features. The following features are what make a car rental company strong in both quality and capability.

Are Some Days Cheaper Than Others For Picking Up A Vehicle

Weekend pick-ups tend to be slightly cheaper, with Monday and Tuesday pick-ups usually slightly more expensive. Compare airport pick-ups versus locations in the city, even factoring a taxi to these locations. Some cities will always be cheaper at the airport, while others will see the complete opposite.

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Confessions From A Former Enterprise Rental Salesman

A former manager in the Enterprise fleet sales division has a guilty conscience to unload at your feet. 9 tips, 5 pages of insider info about how the car rental game really works. Car rental insurance is a scam, but you can flip the script and use if to your advantage. Prices are liquid, and depending on the day of the week and how you butter your agent in certain ways, you can get a good deal. Despite the commercial with the brown-paper-wrapped car, Enterprise employees hate picking you up and dropping you off.

Dont use the tips that require lying. Theyre just there so you know how the game works.

The flagellation begins, inside

BEN POPKEN

Editor’s Note: This article originally appeared on Consumerist.

Whats The First Thing I Should Do When Looking For A House

The first thing you should do before searching for rental homes is decide on an ideal budget. Consider how much of your income goes towards bills and what you have left over at the end of each month. Also, remember that when first moving in, you will need to account for at least a deposit and first months rent.

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Q: Car Someone Else Drive My Rental Car

Yes, but this has to be in writing. While it may sound ridiculous, there are some customers over the age of twenty-five who would rent a car for their son or daughter, who would be under twenty-five, and not inform the rental company. One accident later and the renter was not the one behind the car, but a driver who isnt covered by the insurance is. Its a stretch, but so long as you let the rental company know whats going on and get it in writing, there should be no problem.Thats why we recommend getting the insurance that you need while youre renting out the vehicle. It protects you, it can protect your passenger or spouse who will also be using the car, but it might also come with a slight price hike. You want your car rental company to be transparent with you, so do the same to them, and youll run into far fewer issues.

What To Think About When Booking Your Car Rental Pick Up

How to return a rental car after hours?

There are a few key points to remember when returning your car hire after hours. Firstly, arrange for an after hours drop off well ahead of time with your rental supplier. It pays to take photos of the vehicle, to document its state at time of drop off, just in case something happens to it afterward. Then return your keys to the designated drop box. If in doubt, call your rental supplier.

How to return a Hertz rental car after hours?

After hours drop off is available for all Hertz vehicle groups. Park your car in the designated Hertz parking area, then note the drop off time on your rental agreement and leave both the rental agreement and the vehicle keys in the designated drop box.

How to pick up a rental car after hours?

Its important to speak to your rental supplier about your plans to pick up the vehicle after hours. You should note that most of the time there will be an additional fee for after hours pick up.

What rental car company allows pick up after hours?

Almost every car rental supplier will allow you to pick up your vehicle after hours. The best course of action is to contact your rental supplier and find out the procedure for after hours pick ups. They will also be able to tell you about any additional fees associated with this option.

How to pick up a rental car after hours National?

How to pick up a Payless rental car after hours?

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Will My Regular Car Insurance Cover A Rental

If you have comprehensive and liability insurance on your personal car, your existing policy will likely provide the same for a rental car within the United States. You should check with your insurance provider first, though, and you may want to purchase extra cover for personal effects coverage or if your rental car is of a significantly higher value than your own car.

What Should I Look For In A Car Rental Company

When choosing a car rental company, consider its reputation and recent customer reviews. You should check what is included in the price: extra mileage or additional drivers are likely to include a surcharge. Its also very important to know what kind of insurance is offered and what you will be liable for in case of an accident.

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Join A Loyalty Program

Capitalizing on that last point, if you find yourself renting a car more than once per year, it could benefit you to join a loyalty program. Points for free rentals, expedited service, and some programs also offer up to a half-hour of free late time. No more getting clocked for being four minutes late off the lot.

What Is The Current Car Rental Process

To help protect both customers and employees, we have modified our car rental process. This includes the addition of curbside rentals at our locations to help promote social distancing by getting you quickly on your way while avoiding foot traffic in our locations.Delivery is also offered at select car rental locations throughout the country. Please contact your rental branch for availability.Whether you are picking your vehicle up curbside, or if we deliver it to you, were committed to maintaining proper distance throughout the process.

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How To Cancel Your Pay Later Rental Car

If youve opted to pay later for your rental car, but you did not book with your credit card number, you are in the clear for no-show fees. If you booked with your credit card or have your credit card on filesay, with the loyalty programits a good idea to cancel your reservation in advance, even if its at the last minute..

Q: What Are The Benefits Of Looking Online

Looking online removes an entire element of the traditional car rental experience: sales pitches. Some of us are good at resisting the tactics of salesmen, but theyre trained in this sort of thing, have years of experience under their belt. Their job is to upsell you on additional features, and youre effectively taking that out of the equation. Here are a few other excellent reasons to book online instead of in-store.

• Wider Selection

• Quicker Process

• Take Advantage of Deals

• No Rush

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Hertz Rental Car Pick Up Service Is Available In Your Neighborhood

Did you know Hertz offers free pick up rental car service and return service at Hertz off airport neighborhood locations? If you are renting a vehicle at a Hertz neighborhood car rental location, Hertz can pick you up and drive you! No hassle, no car exchange, just pick up and return – free and easy.

To request pick up and return service, book your reservation on hertz.com for one of our off airport car rental locations. These locations will have “HLE” included in the location name and are listed in the “Locations” section of hertz.com. Simply choose “United States,” and the state and city in which you wish to rent.

The pick up and return service option is in Step 3 of the reservation process. You will either be provided a phone number to call to confirm pick up service with the location or be able to select the location and the location will contact you directly to discuss the pick up details .

Example #1

Example #2

Please Read the following for the best experience:

Pick Up and Return Service is available for Hertz car rental pick up destinations within a 15-minute drive. Due to seating capacity limitations, the number of passengers per reservation that can be picked up and brought to the HLE location is four, and your pickup time must be at least one hour after the locations opens and one hour prior to closing. You will need to provide your location address and cell phone number to the Hertz location to ensure fulfillment of your request.

Tips For Renting A Car Online

Weve been over some dos and donts, but those mostly pertained to rental items, late fees and such, and very little to do with the actual online rental process. Although renting a car online is a much simpler way to do it, you still run into a few snags here and there. There are our top tips for renting a car online, and avoiding all the hassle that comes with entering the fray without knowledge by your side.

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Locations And Business Hours

Theres nothing more frustrating than renting a car and discovering the company is closed when you arrive at your destination. Many rental car companies operate during normal business hours, but what are you supposed to do if your flight lands outside of these hours? You need a car rental company thats either open 24/7 or one that allows you to pick up your rental even after the business is closed for the day. Some companies allow for after-hours pickups, while some greet customers all day and night.

You also want to consider where a rental car company is located. Companies that allow you to pick up your rental car right at the airport are convenient and ideal. Others are a short distance away, but they offer shuttles so you can easily pick up your vehicle. Make sure to look at rental locations before choosing a company to make picking up and dropping off your rental car easy.