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Topic: How to rent a car out of state?

Bill Enos
Film God

Posts: 2081
From: Richmond, Virginia, USA
Registered: Apr 2000

posted 04-10-2006 09:26 PM

Many rental companies prohibit taking their vehicles to certain areas or even passing thru them, NYC for instance. The companies that don't allow travel to or thru New York will usually provide a route acceptable to them around.

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Aaron Mehocic
Jedi Master Film Handler

Posts: 804
From: New Castle, PA, USA
Registered: Jun 99

posted 04-10-2006 09:34 PM

quote: Mike Blakesley
Be sure to return the car with a full tank of gas, or they might give you the "courtesy service" of filling the tank for you at about double the going price of gas.

And by full, Mike means FULL. Alamo charged me $25 just to top off the tank back when gas was only $1.15 a gallon. Now I make a point to fill up at the closest station to the return depot irregardless of the price.

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Mike Heenan
Phenomenal Film Handler

Posts: 1896
From: Scottsdale, AZ, USA
Registered: Mar 2000

posted 04-10-2006 10:46 PM

That's odd... usually when I rent a car, they always have a certain level that the tank is at, and you must return it at that level. So if its at the 3/4 mark, then you return it at that, or if it's full then return it full. Never had a problem otherwise.

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Shane Cooper
Expert Film Handler

Posts: 232
From: Little Rock, Arkansas
Registered: Jun 2004

posted 04-11-2006 12:24 AM

I am somewhat biased on the issue because my brother is a branch manager, but I suggest Enterprise. They are cheap, take a debit card (with Visa/MC logo if you need it), and have never given me crap about taking my car across state lines.

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Allison Parsons
Jedi Master Film Handler

Posts: 630
From: East Peoria, IL
Registered: Oct 2004

posted 04-11-2006 12:39 AM

I too am leaning toward Enterprise. Ok, thanks for all the info. From what I can gather from what everyone says, I need to do this:

1) No need to buy their insurance. I have a Visa card.
2) ask about going over state lines, but 99% of the time it's OK
3) check out the car throughly for dings, etc. (can I REFUSE to take a car if I think it's going to be a problem??)
4) I don't plan on renting thru Expedia or Priceline. Not a fan of those 'name your own price' sites, my luck I would totally get screwed over.
5)Do not Prepay for gas and bring back the car full, or mostly full, of gas.

Anything else I'm forgeting? Oh yes, do I need to bring my car insurance info on the trip or just leave it at home?

For some reason I'm more stressed out about renting a car than anything else about this trip! Oh, and If any of you are planing to attend the Book Expo America in Washington, DC in May, let me know!!!

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Joshua Waaland
Jedi Master Film Handler

Posts: 800
From: Cleveland, Ohio
Registered: Dec 1999

posted 04-11-2006 03:54 PM

quote: Frank Dubrois
Make sure you DO walk around the car and note EVERY irregularity aka scratches, paint chips, dents, window cracks, and go over the interior VERY closely as well for any kind of cigarrete burns or rips and tears. Those companys will try to pin everything on you.

I rent a car with Hertz almost weekly and I have yet to have any problems. Charging people for scratches and such is kind of a thing of the past. They used to be nit-picky but not so much anymore. When you turn in the cars now, you drive in, they check the fuel gauge and ask if you had any problems, then the attendant prints off your receipt right there in the parking lot and you are on your way.

Hell, the other two guys I work with (one is my boss) make it their hobby abusing rental cars. My first week in sales I went out with the other guy and he beat the living piss out of that car! He would be doing 65 on the freeway and then slam the stick (automatic transmission) through all the gears and put on the parking brake to make the tires squeal. He spilled pop in it and even gouged the dash with a piece of steel and he didn't get charged for anything. They have even broken the transmissions in brand new rental cars and taken them back barely moving and not gotten charged. [Eek!]

By the way, I do not condone this behavior and I kept insisting that he stop especially since I felt unsafe riding with him. I merely mention it to prove my point.

quote: Frank Dubrois
You do have to disclose if you go out of state in case you get into an accident.

I usually rent and drive into several states and they have never asked me where I am going. For instance, I usually fly up into Dallas and rent a car then drive to Houston, Texarkana, New Orleans and back.

Make sure you remember to fill up before returning though. I forget every time then have to leave again to go get gas. This can be a real pain when the rental place is in an airport. If they fill it up it costs about $6.50 a gallon! [Eek!]

As far as insurance goes, if you call your agent they will tell you if you are covered by your own. My employer buys me a million dollar umbrella policy that covers me in all rental cars so I don't know a lot about any other types of policies. You will need proof of insurance and your license.

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Joel N. Weber II
Expert Film Handler

Posts: 115
From: Somerville, MA, USA
Registered: Dec 2005

posted 04-11-2006 07:35 PM

Regarding AAA discounts: I once stayed at a Best Western hotel, calling their reservation 800 number to make a reservation about five minutes before I showed up at the hotel. The best rate I got the central Best Western reservation number to quote me turned out to be a better rate than the guy who checked in just before me who got the AAA discount.

(I don't know how common this is elsewhere in the industry, but it is certainly the case with Best Western that after you ask them for the rate, you need to ask them if that's actually the best price they can offer, and get them to search for the better rates, because often one will find that there is, in fact, a better rate available to people who are persistent in asking this.)

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Michael Schaffer
"Where is the
Boardwalk Hotel?"

Posts: 4143
From: Boston, MA
Registered: Apr 2002

posted 04-12-2006 02:55 AM

quote: Joshua Waaland
Hell, the other two guys I work with (one is my boss) make it their hobby abusing rental cars. My first week in sales I went out with the other guy and he beat the living piss out of that car! He would be doing 65 on the freeway and then slam the stick (automatic transmission) through all the gears and put on the parking brake to make the tires squeal. He spilled pop in it and even gouged the dash with a piece of steel and he didn't get charged for anything. They have even broken the transmissions in brand new rental cars and taken them back barely moving and not gotten charged.

Looks like your boss is really mature. He must be a great role model for you.

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Joshua Waaland
Jedi Master Film Handler

Posts: 800
From: Cleveland, Ohio
Registered: Dec 1999

posted 04-13-2006 07:29 PM

quote: Michael Schaffer
Looks like your boss is really mature. He must be a great role model for you.

Agreed. Can you believe that he is 63 years old too? I went to the home office in Toronto yesterday and today and it was nice to actually be around some normal mature people for a change. When you only have 5 employees at a location that is not where the owner is, people can get away with a lot more.

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Mike Heenan
Phenomenal Film Handler

Posts: 1896
From: Scottsdale, AZ, USA
Registered: Mar 2000

posted 04-13-2006 08:16 PM

Sounds like he saw Jackass and got inspired when he rented the car! Lol.

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Allison Parsons
Jedi Master Film Handler

Posts: 630
From: East Peoria, IL
Registered: Oct 2004

posted 05-24-2006 12:13 AM

Quick update:
Just got back from vacation, and my rent a car experience was so insanely EASY that it was ridiculous! I rented from Hertz and got a Mazda 3 that didn't even have 1000 miles on it (though it does now, thanks to me!)
HOWEVER
One day after I got the car, I noticed I had a nail in the back tire. Lets just say I pretended it wasn't there and hopefully Hertz won't notice it either [Big Grin]

Well, for the sake of the next person renting it, I hope they do....but just don't charge me for it being in there. The Airport had a whole buttload of construction going on, so I'm assuming I may have picked it up there. The nail is quite noticble, but I don't think it truely punctured the tire. I went over 350 miles with it in there and nothing bad happened (thank goodness).

Thanks again for all your help on the subject!

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Mike Blakesley
Film God

Posts: 12767
From: Forsyth, Montana
Registered: Jun 99

posted 05-24-2006 02:48 AM

An aside here....a thing to remember for the future - if you find a nail in a tire, LEAVE it there and drive to a service station to get it fixed. Most people will try to pull it out and presto...flat tire.

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Louis Bornwasser
Film God

Posts: 4441
From: prospect ky usa
Registered: Mar 2005

posted 05-24-2006 09:36 AM

I prefer to use Enterprise as well. They are almost NEVER on the airport which is good! Walk straight out to a waiting bus; they drive you away from the heavy traffic and into a quiet office. On the way back, YOU avoid the busy airport and they drop you at the door. They should charge extra, but they are cheaper. Louis

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Chris Hipp
Phenomenal Film Handler

Posts: 1462
From: Mesquite, Tx (east of Dallas)
Registered: Jul 2003

posted 05-24-2006 03:26 PM

quote: Mike Blakesley
An aside here....a thing to remember for the future - if you find a nail in a tire, LEAVE it there and drive to a service station to get it fixed. Most people will try to pull it out and presto...flat tire.

I carry a tire plug kit with me in a little tool box in my truck. On more than one occasion I've heard a hissing sound after I park and find a nail in one of my tires. I just pull it out, plug the hole and I am good until I can get it patched at the tire shop.

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