topic Re: Favorite rental car company? in SmorgasBoard

Favorite rental car company?

Blodreina — Sat, 28 Mar 2015 13:52:29 GMT

I've been traveling a lot lately and been able to try different companies. Beforehand, I didn't think it mattered a great deal, but I have definitely developed preferences that take priority over cost, to some extent.

Do you have a favorite rental car company? If so, why?

Re: Favorite rental car company?

youdontkillmoney — Sat, 28 Mar 2015 14:32:23 GMT

My fav. at the time is any one that is the least expensive with unlimited mileage. If equal in these respects, I go with Hertz since you can select form a line of cars and the car is ready for you with keys in it with their #1 club membership.

To tie back to credit cards, Amex plat gives you free membership to all car co's member clubs, plus Amex offers for $17.95 per car rental (not per day and no annual fees) for CA residents (slightly higher for non CA residents), premium car insurance which does not offer liability but covers the car up to $100K so in case of mishaps or it gets stolen Amex is the primary insurer, so I decline all optional insurance, besides I use my own Farmers insurance as a backup, I have full coverage, liability plus primary.

Re: Favorite rental car company?

Anonymous — Sat, 28 Mar 2015 16:13:54 GMT

Budget definitely. Great customer service, flexible and excellent cars. Worse is AVIS, a bunch of crooks. (I know Budget and Avis are partners now but this has been my experience).

Re: Favorite rental car company?

Anonymous — Sat, 28 Mar 2015 20:21:35 GMT

I have no luv for any of them...But curious see replies..

Re: Favorite rental car company?

lg8302ch — Sat, 28 Mar 2015 20:27:55 GMT

Avis because of great corporate rates

Re: Favorite rental car company?

lg8302ch — Sat, 28 Mar 2015 20:30:30 GMT

@Anonymous wrote:
Budget definitely. Great customer service, flexible and excellent cars. Worse is AVIS, a bunch of crooks. (I know Budget and Avis are partners now but this has been my experience).

aren't they now together ? just last week got a car from Budget and rented Avis ..lol

Re: Favorite rental car company?

elim — Sat, 28 Mar 2015 20:42:56 GMT

@lg8302ch wrote:
@Anonymous wrote:
Budget definitely. Great customer service, flexible and excellent cars. Worse is AVIS, a bunch of crooks. (I know Budget and Avis are partners now but this has been my experience).
aren't they now together ? just last week got a car from Budget and rented Avis ..lol

I'm about to book 7 days with Avis... i sure hope they're ok, lol

Re: Favorite rental car company?

lg8302ch — Sat, 28 Mar 2015 21:16:13 GMT

@elim wrote:
@lg8302ch wrote:
@Anonymous wrote:
Budget definitely. Great customer service, flexible and excellent cars. Worse is AVIS, a bunch of crooks. (I know Budget and Avis are partners now but this has been my experience).
aren't they now together ? just last week got a car from Budget and rented Avis ..lol
I'm about to book 7 days with Avis... i sure hope they're ok, lol

where do you rent? I am perfectly happy with their service but I am mainly renting in the US (Miami airport) I am renting 2-3 months per year (4-6 rentals) as it is not worth for me to have my own car in the US so it comes slightly cheaper to rent for the period I am in the US rather to have my own car.

Re: Favorite rental car company?

macuserftw — Sat, 28 Mar 2015 22:06:56 GMT

I've had good experiences with Enterprise in the past, but I rarely need to rent cars. The boyfriend and I are planning a trip out to California towards the end of the year though. We're flying into LAX so, I'm going to try out that new SilverCar rental company and see how that goes. Their lineup consists of silver Audi A4's featuring standard Navigation, Satellite Radio, Unlimited Mileage, etc. and they charge they same rates most companies charge for Full-Size sedans.

Re: Favorite rental car company?

pipeguy — Sat, 28 Mar 2015 23:00:40 GMT

I use Enterprise and Hertz, won't use Thrifty (are they still around?) although I don't rent many cars anymore - probably still have my Hertz #1 club gold card which is good for free upgrades.

Re: Favorite rental car company?

padme — Sun, 29 Mar 2015 04:31:14 GMT

Enterprise charged my $13 for one missed toll (only 0.75) even though i had i pass... dont wanna rent no car no more from them

Re: Favorite rental car company?

sillykitty1 — Mon, 30 Mar 2015 06:25:15 GMT

National, hands down.

I travel for work and rent cars over 100 days/year. National consistently has the newest, nicest, lowest mileage cars of any of the major companies. The Emerald Aisle is a great benefit. It's consistently stocked with cars in a higher rental class. Some times even though i can choose from the Executive Platinum aisle, I still pick a car from the Emerald Aisle, because it is the most appealing. (BTW, Hertz Gold Choice is a joke, always stocked with economy cars IME)

Re: Favorite rental car company?

TURNERHOOVER — Tue, 31 Mar 2015 20:40:11 GMT

Alamo, customer service is excellent IMO.

Re: Favorite rental car company?

RaiseMyScoreASAP — Tue, 31 Mar 2015 20:47:48 GMT

I love National's TV commericals especially the one that it's your choice on whether to deal with people. With National you only have to deal with people if you want to and I don't.

Re: Favorite rental car company?

TrueGeminiNC — Sat, 04 Apr 2015 12:12:22 GMT

I have mixed feelings. I will say that I have President's Circle with Hertz. But, I do book with competitors often albeit price or product.

For example - when I travel to some areas, Hertz has a terrible product offering; high mileage cars, cars that smell like smoke, dents/dings etc. Also, their upgrade prices are sometimes unbelievable, particullarly on a weekend when it seems like they should be giving cars away just to move them off their lots.

With Alamo and National - I have been able to upgrade into some nice vehicles at reasonable rates (a fraction of the cost of Hertz).

So overall - it just depends on where I am traveling to and what type of vehicle I am interested in.

Re: Favorite rental car company?

Anonymous — Sun, 05 Apr 2015 02:25:25 GMT

@lg8302ch wrote:
@Anonymous wrote:
Budget definitely. Great customer service, flexible and excellent cars. Worse is AVIS, a bunch of crooks. (I know Budget and Avis are partners now but this has been my experience).
aren't they now together ? just last week got a car from Budget and rented Avis ..lol

Well, it's important to know that AVIS franchises many of their rental sites now. The woman who owns the AVIS site where I live try to scam me twice once on gas and once on the rental described below) before I started using Budget at an airport (which is further away than the above AVIS site but much better). Even AVIS 1-800 and website has had the Impala in their Full Size category. When you rented it, and went to pick it up, they said it had "just moved" into the premium category and would charge you accordingly (because the 2015s are more upscale!!!???). Total scam. Did I use the word "scam" enough times in this post?

Re: Favorite rental car company?

Open123 — Sun, 05 Apr 2015 21:20:25 GMT

They're all owned by either Avis, Hertz or Enterprise.

Having said that, like everyone else, I just search for the best value for a given rental period and duration. I find the value really fluctuates. All things being equal, I find the Hertz rewards program to have the most value, where you can earn rewards that can actually be redeemed for free rentals. For car selection and quality, I prefer Avis. The one near me has a wide selection of premium cars often offered to Avis First members as a free upgrade from Standard.