All Questions
Tagged with car-hire or car-rentals
593 questions
47
votes
7
answers
18k
views
In US rental car terms and conditions, what exactly is a "regularly maintained road?"
Many rental car companies have terms and conditions such as Hertz:
Generally, Hertz vehicles, including 4-wheel drives, are to be operated only on regularly maintained roads. Off-road use is a ...
- 60.1k
46
votes
9
answers
60k
views
Car rental vs. buying a car for 1 month, when visiting the USA?
I would like to visit a few places in the states sometime next year, and I was thinking of doing a road trip while I'm at it. I could start in either Los Angeles or Montreal, and then I would like to ...
- 9,688
46
votes
6
answers
21k
views
Should I just not bother to "reserve" rental cars anymore?
In the last few years I have rented from every major rental car agency: Hertz, Avis, Enterprise, National/Alamo, etc.
I notice that in every single case when I get there it is a scramble to "find" me ...
- 5,936
41
votes
5
answers
9k
views
If I visit Los Angeles, am I better off renting a car or not?
California has a pretty notorious reputation for having bad traffic, so I am wondering if it would be worth my time to rent a car when I visit there. If I stay within the LA area, is public ...
- 1,363
41
votes
6
answers
76k
views
Is it dangerous to drive through Death Valley?
I planned to drive through Death Valley with a rental car during end of May or beginning of June. Now a friend of mine told me that this is a little bit dangerous, and that a lot of rental companies ...
- 51.6k
37
votes
3
answers
35k
views
Renting a Manual Car in the US
Neither specific websites of Hertz, Budget, Alamo, Enterprise, Thirftly or FOX allow you to specify that you want to rent a manual car. Neither do Kayak, Hotwire and Priceline.
Is there a way to ...
- 393
31
votes
5
answers
18k
views
Why are round-trip car rentals much cheaper than one-way car rentals?
Why is it much cheaper to have rental cars returned to the same place as opposed to elsewhere?
Never understood this when booking car rentals.
If I want to rent a car, and rent it from Location A, ...
- 4,434
29
votes
3
answers
4k
views
Should I purchase rental car insurance? What protection does my credit card provide?
We just arrived in Hawaii this afternoon, and when I went to pick up the rental car, I discovered I hadn't done my homework with regard to the insurance options.
I recall that my credit card will ...
user82
28
votes
2
answers
5k
views
Massive price difference between broker and rental car company
This may be a duplicate of Why is renting a car through a broker cheaper than directly through a car rental company? but I don't think the answer addresses a really large price difference.
I rented a ...
- 112k
27
votes
2
answers
11k
views
Why does the car rental company ask me for my flight information?
Today I received an email from the company where I rented a car asking me for my flight information.
Why do they need it? I'm being a little paranoid but I think that they will charge me more (hidden ...
- 1,281
27
votes
4
answers
6k
views
Is it reasonable / expected that French 'driving accessories' are provided with a rental car?
I'm hiring a car in France soon, for approximately a week.
It's my understanding that in France yellow hi-viz jackets are required for each occupant, in addition to a warning triangle (is there ...
- 12.4k
23
votes
5
answers
6k
views
Is 4 days enough to discover Iceland's Ring Road and Golden Circle by rental car in late March?
We plan to rent a car from 22nd to 26th of March 2019. Our plan is to explore the Ring Road, including the Golden Circle.
Do we have enough time to explore these places in 4 days? Is it safe to ...
- 247
23
votes
1
answer
14k
views
Can I use my probationary Australian driver's license to rent a car in the United States?
I got into this driving thing kinda late, which means I have a probationary driver's license from Victoria, Australia that looks kinda like this:
(courtesy Angie Sommer's blog)
This basically means ...
- 99.2k
21
votes
5
answers
26k
views
Driving in Iceland: a good idea?
For this summer I am thinking about going to Iceland. I would like to fly to Reykjavik, spend some days there, then rent a car, travel around the island and then fly back home. Now I have a few ...
- 51.6k
21
votes
5
answers
23k
views
How can I visit areas with unpaved roads in a rental car?
In the southwestern United States, many interesting spots are only reachable via off road trails.
Rental car contracts seem always to include a clause that disallows driving on such roads (even when ...
- 681
21
votes
2
answers
24k
views
What are the practical differences between Avis and Budget?
Avis and Budget are both subsidiaries of Avis Budget Group. When I travel they often share one rental desk at the airport. Running quotes through their respective websites they typically offer the ...
- 343
20
votes
7
answers
11k
views
In the USA, how are electronic tolls handled for a rental car?
I will be driving in the US with a rental car, and going through some toll roads.
In my understanding there are some roads which accept only electronic payment, so in that case how will it work for us ...
- 3,588
20
votes
4
answers
9k
views
How can I rent a high clearance vehicle in the US?
For a vacation in the southwest USA, we're considering renting a high-clearance vehicle to visit locations such as the Toroweap overlook (also known as Tuweep overlook). Regular car rental ...
- 60.1k
20
votes
2
answers
10k
views
Why is car rental in the US so much cheaper when booking from outside the US?
I'm going on a road trip from San Francisco to New York in a month and I was checking several car rental companies. The big bang brands (Hertz, Europcar, Avis...) were all very expensive, about $2000 ...
- 351
19
votes
9
answers
13k
views
Is it necessary to pay extra for navigation when renting a car in the US?
This is a relatively straightforward question. I'm scheduled to visit the US in a couple of weeks. It's been around 15 years since I've been there, and I don't remember much as my parents had taken ...
- 713
19
votes
7
answers
8k
views
Do you need a Vignette to travel the roads of Switzerland, and how can I obtain one?
To drive on Swiss motorways if I recall correctly one needs a Vignette based on what I have been reading I should be able to buy it at various places in the country.
I am renting a car in Frankfurt ...
- 45.2k
19
votes
5
answers
3k
views
German couple (60,55) want to rent a car in Florida - Is an IDP required and are there maximum age restrictions?
My wife and I are German citizens. I am 60 and my wife is 55. We will be staying in Florida for 1 month and we would like to know if our German driving licence would be good enough to rent a car for 1 ...
- 193
19
votes
2
answers
4k
views
Last fuel stop before airport
This morning I returned a rental car to LHR T5. I'm approaching along the M25 and am looking for petrol stations along the way and, as usual, I don't find one. I look on my iphone for fuel and it ...
- 29k
19
votes
2
answers
12k
views
Do I need Gravel, Sand and Ash insurance when renting a car in Iceland?
We are planning our trip to Iceland and want to rent a car for a few days. A few trips (i. e. to Svartifoss) might go a bit off road. Does it make sense to buy a Gravel protection insurance, or is ...
- 363
18
votes
3
answers
995
views
Where can I rent a car in French Guiana to cross to Suriname/Brazil?
Flying to Suriname can be very expensive since the transatlantic connection is tightly controlled by the GOS. A less expensive solution is to travel to the neighboring French Guiana which is ...
user141
17
votes
7
answers
7k
views
Where in France can I rent a Citroen 2CV car?
I have never driven a Citroen 2CV and I fancy trying one but not to the extent of buying one. So, renting seems to be the solution. However, if I am going to rent one then rural France would seem to ...
- 7,633
17
votes
3
answers
16k
views
Is it possible to rent a car in the US and return it in Canada?
I plan a trip from NY City - Upstate NY - Buffalo - Niagara Falls - Toronto.
When leaving the City I want to rent a car to get to the different locations, and since I will fly back home from Toronto, ...
- 289
17
votes
3
answers
11k
views
Renting a car in Ireland & Great Britain: 1 rental or 2?
My wife, two kids and I will be traveling in Ireland and the UK Nov. 1st through 21st. We're flying into and out of Dublin. Our plan is to do a clockwise tour: Fly into Dublin -> Belfast -> Scotland ->...
- 293
17
votes
1
answer
8k
views
European traveler driving a rental car across Canada/US border and back
I'm a citizen of an EU member state traveling to a small city in Vermont. Looking at flight data, it seems that it would be quite a bit quicker to fly into Montreal (Canada) and then drive a rental ...
- 273
17
votes
1
answer
4k
views
Is it necessary to rent a car in Lapland?
I'm planning a trip for mid-February to fly into Helsinki-Vantaa, then catching the Santa Claus Express Night Train to Rovaniemi (Lapland). Staying in Lapland to see the Northern Lights for a week, ...
- 171
17
votes
1
answer
70k
views
Can I rent a car in the UK with a new driving license less than one year old?
I'm a UK citizen visiting the UK over the Christmas period. If possible, I'd like to rent a car - but I've only had a full UK driver's license for less than a year. I gather that there is no longer a ...
- 12.7k
16
votes
6
answers
6k
views
Can I rent a car at the airport without a flight in Lisbon?
I'm flying to Lisbon and staying for a few nights, then I want to rent a car and drive to other parts of the country. I don't want to rent a car as soon as I land since I won't need it in the city. ...
- 179
16
votes
6
answers
15k
views
Can a car rental company shut off my car when I cross state lines? (USA)
I am renting a car and am told that if I take it out of the state that they will know and shut off the car. Is this possible?
- 271
16
votes
4
answers
3k
views
Where can I stash a rental car while visiting London?
I hear you don't want to drive a car around London; that you should take public transportation. If I've got a car I've been driving for another portion of the trip, what should I do with it while ...
- 263
16
votes
3
answers
8k
views
Do rental cars in France come with the two legally required breathalyzers?
As of June 2012 France requires all cars / drivers to carry two self-test breathalyzers.
Do all rental car companies supply them and if I use one what is the charge associated with it?
- 7,409
16
votes
2
answers
20k
views
Are there any techniques, tricks, or tactics to avoid a one-way fee when renting a car?
Very often, when renting a car and dropping it off at a different location than where you picked it up, you have to pay a huge one-way fee.
Have you successfully used any technique, trick, or tactic ...
- 51.6k
16
votes
2
answers
1k
views
How to organise a fully flexible one-way car rental in Europe?
Our travel plans are very flexible, so we'd like to rent a car in Geneva, then return it to an unspecified location at an unspecified date.
That is, we won't know the return city or end date at the ...
- 583
16
votes
1
answer
2k
views
Hiring a Ferrari in Italy
I am planning a trip to Italy, and would like to hire a Ferrari for a day. I am aware that this will be expensive.
What should I watch out for? When the deductible is 80,000 Euros, I'd assume it's ...
- 2,634
16
votes
2
answers
34k
views
With car rental should I pay now or pay later?
I'm just checking some car rental options for May and June in California. Avis for example offers the pay now and the pay later option. When you chose pay now, you have to pay the full amount while ...
- 51.6k
16
votes
1
answer
7k
views
Why is renting a car through a broker cheaper than directly through a car rental company?
I have noticed that renting a car in some countries through a broker is ridiculously cheaper than directly through an agency.
For instance, I am travelling to Macedonia for a road trip and would like ...
- 1,073
15
votes
5
answers
5k
views
What's an "un-made up road" in terms of car hire insurance?
I'm checking the terms and conditions for various car hire insurance/excess coverage policies and I see a lot of lines like this one (this one from http://www.insurance4carhire.com):
We will not ...
- 12.7k
15
votes
5
answers
36k
views
Is it possible to rent a car in one US state and drop it off in another?
I'm from the UK and I'm looking at planning a road trip around the US with some friends. I wondered if it was possible to rent a car in one state but drop it off in another.
If it's possible do they ...
- 1,179
15
votes
1
answer
20k
views
Rent a rental car while your driving license is suspended in your home country?
A friend plans to go to USA in June. There he wants to rent a car to travel through the country. Unfortunately, he got a speeding ticket during the last weeks now his driving license is suspended for ...
- 51.6k
15
votes
3
answers
42k
views
How to rent a car where the second driver cannot be present at rental pickup time?
I'm living in Vancouver and would like to rent a car and go on a road trip with a friend from Seattle. Local car rentals usually allow at least one extra driver for free, but the standard requirement ...
- 81.6k
15
votes
2
answers
2k
views
Is it safe to drive in Morocco if you don't understand Arabic?
Because of the risk of malaria in Thailand we are now considering going to Morocco. I have read some interesting journeys by car in this country. When I searched on Google image for "traffic signs ...
user141
15
votes
1
answer
2k
views
What car rental insurance should I get if my credit card provides some coverage?
I don't own a car and want to rent one in the US (California). I will be renting for 3 days. I am enrolled in the American Express Premium Car Rental program (the card is also issued in the United ...
- 203
15
votes
2
answers
2k
views
Manual or Automatic transmission: Do rental companies let you choose which type of car you want to rent?
Say I'm a foreigner renting a car in Brazil.
What kind of car transmissions are popular in Brazil rental car agencies?
Do they let you choose if you ask?
I know standard (aka manual) transmission is, ...
- 1,827
15
votes
1
answer
40k
views
How do carpool lanes in the US work?
I'm doing some research for our roadtrip through SW USA (+Calif.) and ran into "carpool lanes" and this came to my attention:
Hopefully if you're not travelling alone, you will be allowed to
...
- 713
15
votes
1
answer
4k
views
Can I return an Alamo rental car to an Enterprise location?
I have a car that I rented through Alamo rental but the nearest Alamo location is over an hour from me, not to mention traffic.
Can I return the Alamo car to the Enterprise (a parent company of Alamo)...
- 171
14
votes
5
answers
15k
views
What are the reasons to add an additional authorized driver for rental cars in the USA?
In the past, when my friends have rented cars, they have allowed me to drive. I, on the other hand, have always added additional drivers with the rental company, and paid like $15 per day extra.
I ...
- 2,953