Who is the best Car Rental company

[alexmst]

I always take the CDW at Enterprise because I rent for short periods of time and can't be bothered worrying about somebody dinging a door in a parking lot and then having to deal with the rental company. If it is dinged, bumped, etc I just return it and never hear anything. I agree that the rep by the car will try to upsell the CDW, but since I take it anyway that isn't an unpleasant experience.

For expense account types who rent cars a lot, I agree that Hertz Gold is great - at some busy U.S. airports one can wait 40 minutes in line at the counter to do the paperwork to pick up a car. I waited almost an hour in line at LAX once with Avis. With Hertz Gold club you just get dropped right by the car and off you go. I've travelled with someone who is a Hertz Gold club member and this program saves a lot of time at the busier airports.

 

[scrooge]

It is hard to say which car rental company is best.

Enterprise is not even close to the top of the list because they are often not open on Sundays and the car cannot be taken into the US. There is also no frequent renter's program, AFAIK. At Pearson, the premises are not even at the terminal.

The price of a car rental is like the price of gas - it fluctuates with demand and supply. Usually, AVIS has higher than average rates but it also fluctuates less. The Emerald Club with National and #1 Gold with Hertz are worth getting.

BTW, National and Enterprise are now both part of Vanguard. The business model is that National would cater to business people while Enterprise caters to leisure rentals.

 

[skypilot]

I used to travel a lot and found that except for price they are all pretty much the same. I always go for the cheapest, but give some consideration to whether they are on airport property or not. If they shuttle you figure on adding at least an hour to your times.
Best rental company I ever had was "Rent a Wreck," got an Olds Cutlass for a month for what a few days would cost at one of the standard companies.

 

[5andman]

My vote's for Enterprise.
Cars are current, and they offer domestics and imports (Nissans, Toyota's etc).
Rates are often better than the bigger companies and the service is great - every single location! I must have rented from a dozen different locations and often am surprised at the consistency of the level of service.
Geesh...almost sounds like a shill

Agree, best service out of all of them.

 

[FOOTSNIFFER]

My vote's for Enterprise.
Cars are current, and they offer domestics and imports (Nissans, Toyota's etc).
Rates are often better than the bigger companies and the service is great - every single location! I must have rented from a dozen different locations and often am surprised at the consistency of the level of service.
Geesh...almost sounds like a shill

Ditto. And once when I had an issue with a fee, they immediately waived it without fuss. The also have alot of Hyundai product. Great company.

 

[jerbear]

I've always used Avis because of the unlimited mileage. Mind you the manager is an idiot but it works for me.
Does Enterprise offer unlimited mileage ?

 

[rodya]

hertz has been my choice over the last 3 years.
always get the car i want and at a good rate.
plus no mileage charges .... i usually rack up a ton
of kms.

 

[ig-88]

Every major car rental company will give you unlimited mileage.

The only time I have seen charges for mileage is if you rent a moving truck (with certain companies), or if you rent from a mom-and-pop place for dirt cheap rates.

However, it has been my experience that Enterprise is the nosiest, asking about your employer and warning you about driving outside the local immediate area (possibly charging extra if you do).

And yes, I have also experienced up-sell from Enterprise on the additional insurance. I suspect that's why they don't have a "fast-lane" for frequent renters, so they can hit you with the sales pitch every time.

I have experienced none of these encounters with the other companies, even less of a hassle when you join their loyalty program.

 

[einar]

BTW, National and Enterprise are now both part of Vanguard. The business model is that National would cater to business people while Enterprise caters to leisure rentals.

I think you mean National and Alamo: they are paired, at least south of the border.

 

[obelix]

Enterprise has bought Vanguard ( National and Alamo) recently. There are huge changes coming at National, because Enterprise and National have vastly different cultures. All of the major car rental companies have rapid rental programs (Herz-Gold, Avis-preferred, Budget-Fastbreak, National- Emerald, etc).

Enterprise is the biggest car rental company in the US, and Budget is the biggest in Canada.

 

[C Dick]

That is another advantage of #1 Club Gold, they have your insurance and gas tank preferences on file. So they never try and sell me any insurance, and I can pick the car up full, and return it empty, and I get charged a fair price, not a gouge price, for the gas I used.

 

[Twister]

Dosen't a gold visa cover car rental insurance?

 

[impala77]

BTW, National and Enterprise are now both part of Vanguard. The business model is that National would cater to business people while Enterprise caters to leisure rentals.

Budget and avis are also together at least in toronto. Both are a part of cendant group.

 

[scrooge]

Dosen't a gold visa cover car rental insurance?

Only the collision part, in most cases.

 

[Meister]

Does anybody have any experience with Payless? I've seen them around, but the prices seem too good to be true, What's the catch?

http://www.paylesscarrental.com/locations-international.asp

9 dollars a day before taxes

RESERVATION DETAILS
Rate Type AMT Mi/Km Extra Mi/Km Extended Amount Total Mi/Km CURR
Daily 9.00 UNL 0.00 9.00 UNL CAD
Vehicle License Fee 4.95 PER DAY 4.95
Fuel Conservation Charge .8 PER DAY 0.80
SUB-TOTAL 14.75
Premium Location Surcharge 11 PCT 1.62
Goods and Service Tax 5 PCT 0.74
Provincial Sales Tax 8 PCT 1.18
ESTIMATED TOTAL 18.29 CAD

 

[PussyHunter]

Check with your insurance company. I know mine covers off the insurance as if it was my own car. Was advised by my rep that if I rent then I am covered and not to waste my money on the rental insurance. Their reasoning is that if I am renting then I'm not home driving my own car.

 

[raydeon]

If you are going to need a car for a period of 3 weeks or more, do not rent.
Instead buy a car and resell it at the end of your stay. It amounts to about half of the cost of renting.

Several car companies offer that method. It is safe as they guarantie to buy back your car on a prorated rate which is established at the time of purchase.

I have been using that method since the early 60's when travelling in Europe.