A question for CAR HIRE gurus !!!

[mickeyforpresident]

With 4 days to go, panic has started to set in (anyone else get that?!)

I've been reading through all my documentation. I am terrified of being scammed at the car hire desk... so please may I ask you guys: what else could I be asked to pay for and should I pay for it (in your experiences, does one need the extras they sell you).

According to our paperwork the following things are included:

• airport fee
• breakdown assistance
• collision damage waiver
• environmental tax
• local taxes
• supplementary liability insurance
• theft waiver
• third party liability insurance
• unlimited mileage and
  loss damage waiver

I know i have to pay for a tank of fuel.

I wont need a SATNAV

I'll pay TOLLS rather than use the SUNPASS thing...

so, what else might I be asked to pay for!

Thanks!

 

[DisFanJen]

Sounds like you're covered.

The only thing I'd check is whether the SUNPASS is on as default and if you can turn it off.

Last thing you want is to pay the toll twice.

 

[wayneg]

Did you go for Holiday Autos in the end with Alamo?

I collected 6 days ago (taking it back this evening) first thing was "would you like something nicer?" I ordered a 7 seater SUV so no I wouldn't. This time was an easy no thank you but he could have easily tried hard sell saying they have a poor selection available. If you are happy with te car you booked just keep saying no.

He then tried to get me to buy a tank of gas, "but its at a lower rate than any local garage sir" they don't tell you you pay for a tank at manufacturers spec incl reserve that you will never use plus after 6 days I am now returning I have a 1/4 tank left I would have lost out big time. Instead I take it back full.

Next was Roadside cover. All rentals come with breakdown cover, this is additional for accidental things like losing keys, leaving lights on, some buy it at $5/day, I don't, would have cost me over $2,000 over the years.

He didn't try get me to take toll pass or sat nav he realised he was wasting his time.

 

[juliebro]

Just checked with DH whether he's ever been asked to pay extra for anything when we've picked up the hire car, as I didn't think we had.

He says we haven't - ever.

Maybe we look too mean!

 

[mickeyforpresident]

Thanks.

Wayne - yes, I went with Holiday Autos in the end. I am happy with the chosen car; it really is just to get us from park to park.

OK - so I reckon I don't need the road side thing. Fuel - tricky one - what does everyone else do?

Wayne - thanks for taking to time to answer even when you are on holiday!

 

[wayneg]

For convenience its easier to just pay for a tank and return empty as poss. You might pay a few cents less per gallon but as I say you are paying for a little more than you can actually use plus whatever is left in the tank at the end of your trip, if you prepay say $50 you are probably losing out by about $10-15, for most its not worth worring about plus it saves re-fuelling on the way back to the airport as I have to do now.

 

[paulh]

3 times i have taken back with the sound of pinging to say its empty.drove from Disney to Sanford once with it pinging as soon as we got on the toll road back to the airport
DW thought it was on the radio
Paul

 

[cliveywolves]

Hi guys...

We booked also with holiday autos via Alamo
Considering we are picking up car in Miami and driving to Orlando and back via Clearwater going to clock a fair few miles in our trip was thinking I'd be better paying for the full tank of fuel , what u think ??

 

[bazzanoid]

Hi guys...

We booked also with holiday autos via Alamo
Considering we are picking up car in Miami and driving to Orlando and back via Clearwater going to clock a fair few miles in our trip was thinking I'd be better paying for the full tank of fuel , what u think ??

The car will come with a full tank regardless; it's just a question of

a) not pre-pay and make sure the car comes back with a full tank, so fill up to the top as close to the return depot as possible

or

b) pre-pay for the gas and make damn sure it comes back as close to running on fresh air as possible.

As you are doing a decent amount of miles you will be filling up once or twice anyway, so depends if you want to worry about having to top the tank off near the return depot at the end of the trip.

 

[chmurf]

He then tried to get me to buy a tank of gas, "but its at a lower rate than any local garage sir" they don't tell you you pay for a tank at manufacturers spec incl reserve that you will never use plus after 6 days I am now returning I have a 1/4 tank left I would have lost out big time. Instead I take it back full.

The next thing they don't tell you (if you get the car at the airport) is that any purchase made at the airport is subject to a 10% tax surcharge.

So, in the end, the price of gas at the airport is quite expensive.
Looking at my receipt from last february, the price Alamo charged for gas was no cheaper than the price I paid at Hess (Boardwalk entrance & DHS).
Fact is that there are a few gas stations between the airport and WDW which are almost a full dollar more expensive to the gallon than any other.
It's easy for the rep at the desk to point these prices and show he offers a better deal, when in the end, he doesn't, and adds a 10% tax on top of that.

So to answer PP's question :
full tank : if you want convinience and don't want to bother topping off the car at the end of your stay, and don't mind paying $10 or $20 more than what you actually use (as far as gas goes)
deny tank of gas : if you want to save a bit of money and don't mind a trip to the gas station just before returning the car.

You can see that as the DDP. It may not save you money in the end, but you get peace of mind and convinience of it being prepaid for.

 

[GirlDreamer]

I've never prepaid any gas when I've rented a car in Orlando. I usually stop by the Hess close to the Boardwalk and fill it up and it still shows as full at the airport

I think I've asked this before, but as my trip is coming closer, I'm starting to worry about stuff again With my rental I've got this included:

* Appropriate local sales taxes at the appropriate rate(s) in force.

* Unlimited mileage

* LDW (Loss Damage Waiver)

*ALI (Additional Liability Insurance)

* Taxes, fees and surcharges

Do I need any additional insurance, or is this okay?

 

[bazzanoid]

I've never prepaid any gas when I've rented a car in Orlando. I usually stop by the Hess close to the Boardwalk and fill it up and it still shows as full at the airport

I think I've asked this before, but as my trip is coming closer, I'm starting to worry about stuff again With my rental I've got this included:

* Appropriate local sales taxes at the appropriate rate(s) in force.

* Unlimited mileage

* LDW (Loss Damage Waiver)

*ALI (Additional Liability Insurance)

* Taxes, fees and surcharges

Do I need any additional insurance, or is this okay?

Check to see if Collison Damage Waiver (CDW) and Uninsured Motorist Protection (UMP) are included as well.

EDIT: Just check for UMP - CDW is included as part of LDW

 

[cliveywolves]

We booked with holiday autos using Alamo this time when they were very cheap a few months ago... Anybody know if we need or can pre register still with Alamo as we didnt book direct with them also will this speed up or help the process when we collect car in Miami ???

 

[GirlDreamer]

Check to see if Collison Damage Waiver (CDW) and Uninsured Motorist Protection (UMP) are included as well.

EDIT: Just check for UMP - CDW is included as part of LDW

Is this something that is very important? Does it mean I won't be covered at all if an uninsured driver cause an accident? I've tried to look for any information on the website, but can't find any at all! I've booked with Auto Europe if that makes a difference...

 

[bazzanoid]

I think you'd need to email Auto Europe on that one - their terms don't mention it as included or not included.

 

[wayneg]

The rental car I picked up yesterday is with Auto Europe, they are fully inclusive. I just logged into my voucher and it says this but this is with Dollar, others might vary slightly, whatever it says you are fully covered with Auto Europe, they only sell all inclusive rentals.

Appropriate local sales taxes at the appropriate rate(s) in
force.
* UMP (Uninsured / Underinsured Motorist Protection).
* Unlimited mileage. * SLI (Supplemental Liability
Insurance).
* Rental includes Loss Damage Waiver (LDW) with a ZERO
excess.
* All additional drivers age 25 and over. * Initial tank of fuel.

 

[GirlDreamer]

Thank you Wayneg