dollar car rental

[phins_jazy]

I've never used dollar car rental. Anyone had any problems with them? We're needing to rent a minivan for 7 days and they've got the best rate. Thanks!!!

 

[loveswdw]

We've rented from them twice and never had a problem. Quick lines and cars were fine, no insurance hassles. I have a reservation with them right now for a quick June trip.

 

[bicker]

Least expensive, consistently good service. The only warning I'd give -- and the same goes for Budget and Alamo, and probably some others -- is take a very comprehensive survey of the car before you start the engine, write it all down, and get it signed by the agent. Better yet, take your video camera and video the entire trek from picking up the keys to the car and then video every aspect of the car, zooming in on anything that anyone could possibly distort into a defect. All the second-tier rental car companies are cracking down on damage, trying to find some way of charging someone for every dent, ding, scratch or smudge. Since they're able to "catch" so few of the actual violators, they seem to have no concern about trying to get each bit of damage paid-for by every renter after the rental where the damage actually occurred.

 

[ncbyrne]

We always rent cars from Dollar or National, whichever has the best price. We have rented dozens of times and I have never had a problem.

 

[phins_jazy]

Thanks guys. Its good to hear good reviews. Ok, now I'm off to rent my minivan.

 

[salmoneous]

I rent from Dollar 90% of the time. Never had a problem. It's not as big a deal if you are just renting at MCO, but it's usually worth joining the free Dollar Express program. Gets rid of lines and paperwork filling out.

 

[Shannon G]

I just had a rental from Dollar last Tuesday - Sunday. It was part of atrip I won, so I wasn't paying for the basic rental cost, but I did find that they were really pushins hard sell on the insurance. I told the agent no thanks, my car insurance covers rentals, to which she replied "you do realize we don't go through your insurance, right?" I'm not quite sure what she meant by that, except maybe they would look to me for any payment for damage, and I would then have to work with my insurance company - but in the end, my insurance would still pay. I just find that their selling techiniques on the insurance are so deceptive - someone could take her statement to mean that my insurance won't provide the coverage. Besides which, I just found that particular agent to be rather rude and abrupt, but figured she was having a bad day, and tried to be pleasant anyway. On the upside, the return agent was very friendly.

As to documenting any damage when you pick up the car, what they do is give you a little slip of paper along with your keys, and it has a section ot note any scratches, damage, etc. that are already on the car. So, you make note of anything, take it back to the booth in the garage, and the agent their signs it, so you have documentation of the fact that you did not damage the car. Although, if you have the video camera, as another poster suggested, I think that's a great idea.