Rental Car Company, Which One?

[JimKiler]

I need to rent a car in Colorado next month and have no idea who to go with, Any advice or websites that compare/rate the different companies? Are all the companies the same?

 

[mattpegher]

Just be sure to go over the contract well before you sign the non disclosed fees really add up.

I rented from Dollar and when I asked for an upgrade to the same vehicle with a DVD player, the clerk told me 35 bucks. I thought that was for the week but she charged me an extra $35 per day. For $245 I could have bought a DVD player and kept it.

 

[CallMeJoe]

Google "rental car", then click your various links and compare prices. Almost every rental company will show you your actual charges online. Avoid airport pickup if possible, because most airports add an additional "convenience" fee that can really add up in just a few days. Also avoid the rental company's insurance add-on, if your regular insurance policy covers you for rentals (most comprehensive policies do).

 

[mundane]

I've found decent rates for Hertz through AAA.

 

[syee]

Seeing you're in Colorado (I'm assuming you're flying into Denver), there aren't much "offsite" choices since the airport is literally out in the middle of nowhere.

I'd just go online (like Orbitz, Hotwire, Expedia, etc) and just find the cheapest you can get off those sites. They'll usually do a side by side comparison of all the different companies and car sizes.

We use National/Alamo for work. A little pricier but we have Emerald Aisle membership with them (it's great if your company pays for it). There's basically rows of cars you can pick from (at least in Denver) ranging from your standard Grand Am's to a 4 Runner to a convertible Beetle (at least that's what I saw last time I was there).

 

[OulOat]

Hertz has the best selection and best service, but cost a premium. Caters mostly to business folks. Avis has a decent selection, but their prices and policies makes them mediocre, unless you are a First. Enterprise consistently gives the lowest prices and I have found their cars aren't half bad. I think someone here rented a Lotus Exige from them.

 

[RossMAN]

Are you 25 or older?

 

[The Stigenator]

i just rented a car for a week in albany, 190 bucks unlimited miles..

what did i end up with, a minivan.. but still happy. I pay 190 for the week including the 17 bucks airport fee. Not bad i must say.

 

[Narse]

Hertz is the best, a bit more expensive but the service makes up for it by far.

 

[Captante]

Enterprise is the best bet by a wide margin in every city I've rented for the last couple years ... most of the time they are very close to the cheapest in price & offer the same to better service as the top-dollar companies like Avis & Hertz.

Its no coincidence that they (not Hertz anymore) are now the largest car rental company in America.

Originally posted by: Narse
Hertz is the best, a bit more expensive but the service makes up for it by far.

I used to swear by Hertz, but the last several times I priced them out, they were nearly TWICE the price of Enterprise for a class smaller car ... also after a dozen times renting from Enterprise I've yet to have a single problem.

 

[JimKiler]

Thanks everyone, seems like Hertz or Avis are the best bets after Enterprise. My Wife and I wanted Enterprise but they are sold out. My wife always used Enterprise with her old job.

Yes I am over 25 and we have rental coverage on our regular car insurance so I definitely will not pay for that at the counter.

 

[Captante]

Originally posted by: JimKiler
Thanks everyone, seems like Hertz or Avis are the best bets after Enterprise. My Wife and I wanted Enterprise but they are sold out. My wife always used Enterprise with her old job.

Yes I am over 25 and we have rental coverage on our regular car insurance so I definitely will not pay for that at the counter.

Too bad about Enterprise because they would have saved you substantial cash ... second choice in my opinion is still Hertz despite their inflated prices, if you are a AAA memebr it will help.

 

[vi edit]

I used Hertz exclusively for 5 years and since switching employers have used Enterprise for the last year.

Price wise Enterprise is leaps and bounds cheaper. From a customer service, professional, and organizational standpoint, Hertz is leagues ahead. Enterprise feels like a fly by night operation with a bunch of little chickens running around with their heads cut off for representatives. Nearly every time I rent from them they are hard up for cars and/or never have the class that I reserved.

They really seem to cater to the "I busted up my ride and I need a loaner" market where Hertz is more of the "I just rolled off a plane and need to get to my business meeting" crowd.

 

[SoulAssassin]

I travel for work all the time and I can say it really varies. I've never had one chain stick out better. Sometimes you go to one airport and the rates are lower for company x, the next airport it's company y. Sometimes company x has a huge line and you have to wait for your car, sometimes you're in and out in 1 minute. Go with whoever has the lowest rates where you're going.

 

[JulesMaximus]

Originally posted by: OulOat
Hertz has the best selection and best service, but cost a premium. Caters mostly to business folks. Avis has a decent selection, but their prices and policies makes them mediocre, unless you are a First. Enterprise consistently gives the lowest prices and I have found their cars aren't half bad. I think someone here rented a Lotus Exige from them.

That was me, and it was a Lotus Elise.

Text

 

[Narse]

Originally posted by: Captante
Enterprise is the best bet by a wide margin in every city I've rented for the last couple years ... most of the time they are very close to the cheapest in price & offer the same to better service as the top-dollar companies like Avis & Hertz.

Its no coincidence that they (not Hertz anymore) are now the largest car rental company in America.

Originally posted by: Narse
Hertz is the best, a bit more expensive but the service makes up for it by far.

I used to swear by Hertz, but the last several times I priced them out, they were nearly TWICE the price of Enterprise for a class smaller car ... also after a dozen times renting from Enterprise I've yet to have a single problem.

Enterprise is larger due to the insurance replacement type of business they do. They have a strangle hold on most of the large insurance companies. They are still behind Hertz in Airport rental market share and Hertz is getting more business with the Local Edition brand in the Insurance Replacement business. If price is a concern for a rental goto a Hertz Local Edition, they have prices more on par with Enterprise and you do not have to pay the Airport fees and taxes.

 

[Narse]

Originally posted by: JulesMaximus

Originally posted by: OulOat
Hertz has the best selection and best service, but cost a premium. Caters mostly to business folks. Avis has a decent selection, but their prices and policies makes them mediocre, unless you are a First. Enterprise consistently gives the lowest prices and I have found their cars aren't half bad. I think someone here rented a Lotus Exige from them.

That was me, and it was a Lotus Elise.

Text

I would guess they had an account with a local Lotus dealer and had to keep some cars in fleet for the dealerships needs. I would not think that is a typical fleet car for the majority of Enterprise locations.