Dollar? What do you think?

[keishashadow]

I just found this via a search, will be reposting here in another thread for information purposes.

http://millionmilesecrets.com/2013/04/02/car-rental-additional-driver/

Update: Alamo no longer waives the additional driver fee for Alamo Insiders Members who enrolled after May 11, 2014. But if you enrolled May 11, 2014 or earlier can still add another driver for free.

would assume the additional driver must be added at the counter to escape the surcharge for those who were enrolled by May 11, 2014. I'd print out a copy of the agreement from the link below to have as ammunition.

here's the direct link to Alamo's updated terms & conditions for those who enrolled in Insiders before May 12, 2014. It clearly states that the additional driver is free in Section C-2, see below.

C. Alamo Insider Program Benefits

As a benefit of enrollment in the Program

1. Access to exclusive membership deals.

2. Members will not incur an additional fee if the rental vehicle is driven by an "Additional Authorized Driver" as defined in the rental agreement

https://www.alamo.com/en_US/car-rental/insider/AIModalTermsAndConditions.modal.html#PRIOR

 

[SamSam]

We have never been charged for tolls through Dollar and we've rented many times through them. We used to pay as we went through but for the last 3 years we've had our own transponder that we use when we're in Florida.

 

[disneysmyhappyplace]

reviews are subjective, other than a glaring issue, often negative car rental ones come from those who aren't frequent renters of vehicles. not to say their complaints aren't accurate, but moreso it's the nature of dealing with rental companies in general As to aggressive sales tactics at the counter, easy way to avoid is to approach it and state up front that you are declining all extra charges. No need to repeat yourself or go thru each option as an line item. rental car companies are in business to make money. If they can upsell an uninformed consumer they will, same as any other industry. Rarely, do people pay the same rate for most travel components of a trip (air, car, hotel, even food via coupons/groupons). That said, is Dollar the company requesting the gas receipt upon return? Found my lowest price thru them recently for upcoming trip. I received an email in May that Alamo would start to charge for extra driver/spouse early June. No idea if National is following suit. Last I looked Budget still offered the extra driver 'free' but rates I've found negated eany savings. It was my understanding that that the FL toll proviso didn't apply to Orlando as stated below\/ we had issue with finding a reasonably priced minivan rental for past January. booked via hotwire (got hertz) and saved hundreds of $s. Received a new mini van, only issue was waiting in long line in the terminal.

I took your advice and checked out Hotwire and took a chance and got a minivan through hertz for $32.99 a day!!! I am beyond excited for this rate! I have not been able to come anywhere near that price since I started looking! So needless to say I have since cancelled my reservation through dollar. Thank you so much for all your responses I have really appreciated everyone's help

 

[rdevine10]

We just did a 12 day rental with dollar earlier this month. This is the 2nd time in a row we have used Dollar (due to pricing much lower than any other rate). We are express members and headed straight to the garage.

Funny enough our experience over the Easter holiday was a bit better, but this time (4th of July) was not too bad.

The electronic screen (tv) to tell us where the car was this time was not functioning. So, we had to wait in a small line to get our paperwork (no upselling and we did not sign up to use the toll service OR 2nd driver) and we were told to pick any car in the full sized area (we had rented a full size). Biggest issue was there was not much to choose from. There were 2 cars there- one missing keys and another that just didnt look great. But as we were standing there, they brought over another car- still wet from the car wash and we grabbed it. It was not bad- a mazda 6- but it had close to 40K miles on it, and a slight smoke smell (in the trunk). Given we wanted to get on the road we just took it. Another family was very upset (at Dollar) as they were just waiting there and sine they came after us, they had nothing to choose from.

Return was nice and easy. Yes, there is a sign dollar requires a receipt from a gas station within 10 miles of the airport. We were not asked either time. I would still use Dollar again, although my favorite is still Alamo. HTH

 

[rackerlee92]

We just did a 12 day rental with dollar earlier this month. This is the 2nd time in a row we have used Dollar (due to pricing much lower than any other rate). We are express members and headed straight to the garage.

Funny enough our experience over the Easter holiday was a bit better, but this time (4th of July) was not too bad.

The electronic screen (tv) to tell us where the car was this time was not functioning. So, we had to wait in a small line to get our paperwork (no upselling and we did not sign up to use the toll service OR 2nd driver) and we were told to pick any car in the full sized area (we had rented a full size). Biggest issue was there was not much to choose from. There were 2 cars there- one missing keys and another that just didnt look great. But as we were standing there, they brought over another car- still wet from the car wash and we grabbed it. It was not bad- a mazda 6- but it had close to 40K miles on it, and a slight smoke smell (in the trunk). Given we wanted to get on the road we just took it. Another family was very upset (at Dollar) as they were just waiting there and sine they came after us, they had nothing to choose from.

Return was nice and easy. Yes, there is a sign dollar requires a receipt from a gas station within 10 miles of the airport. We were not asked either time. I would still use Dollar again, although my favorite is still Alamo. HTH

So we can pick the car we want from what is in the garage? Similar to Alamo and National?

Right now we are reserved through Dollar for a luxury class (was only a few dollars more total from the full size) Dec 24 through January 5. We have never used them before, but the cost is SO much less than Alamo or National.

Thanks!

 

[rdevine10]

So we can pick the car we want from what is in the garage? Similar to Alamo and National?

Right now we are reserved through Dollar for a luxury class (was only a few dollars more total from the full size) Dec 24 through January 5. We have never used them before, but the cost is SO much less than Alamo or National.

Thanks!

Only if you are an express member and the reservation indicates you are. If you search through this board there are a couple threads on dollar express. How to join and how to add it to your existing reservation.

 

[keishashadow]

I took your advice and checked out Hotwire and took a chance and got a minivan through hertz for $32.99 a day!!! I am beyond excited for this rate! I have not been able to come anywhere near that price since I started looking! So needless to say I have since cancelled my reservation through dollar. Thank you so much for all your responses I have really appreciated everyone's help

nice to hear it worked out for you. I booked ours a month or so out. Couldn't help to keep checking the rates afterwards to see if I made a mistakebut they never dropped anywhere near the price I locked in. We did send one member of our party to retrieve the luggage while one waited to check-in at the hertz counter.