Dollar Rental- How much is deposit?

[Ted and Holly]

Can someone help clear this up for us. The Dollar site says it reserves an extra 15% over the estimated charge of the rental or
$200 whichever is more. Is that the rental charge PLUS $200 reserved on your card, or is it if the rental is less than $200, they do it plus 15% or bring it up to 200?

Say our estimated price for 9 days is $272. How much will they charge our CC?

Holly

 

[GAIL HAYDEN]

Holly,
It will be the greater of 15% over the rental cost or 200.00.
In your case, 272. x .15 = 40.08, so they will charge you 200.00 over the rental cost, which will be 472.00 on your charge card.
You would have to rent a pretty pricey car to have it stop at the 15% mark.
This is one of the reasons I will not rent from Dollar. Alamo and National do not do this, neither does Avis. They charge the exact amount of your rental.

 

[mom_rules]

Do they actually charge this amount- or simply "hold"this amount secure?

I thought nothing was charged to your card until after the rental was returned.

 

[Ted and Holly]

Thanks Gail! That's what I thought! We just cancelled our Dollar rental and rebooked with National and actually saved even MORE money. Its only going to be $236 (with ALL fees) for 9 days as opposed to $274 through Dollar.

 

[GAIL HAYDEN]

Do they actually charge this amount- or simply "hold"this amount secure?

It is a hold. However, for those people with a low limit, this can impede a vacation.

I thought nothing was charged to your card until after the rental was returned.

this depends on the rental company. Alamo charges immediately, National when you return it, also the same for Avis.

 

[mom_rules]

Thanks for the info. Does Dollar charge on return?
I was thinking so.