Flat tire on a rental car

[bcla]

Any experiences with this? I declined all insurance or damage waivers and didn't pay for roadside service figuring that I already had a AAA membership.

I picked up the rental and I wasn't sure what the issue was with a low pressure warning. I've borrowed my parents' car and that thing seemed to have perpetual TPMS issues. When I got home to load it I just tried to pump air with a hand pump and it wasn't changing anything so I just gave up and drove it to Southern California near Magic Mountain. Then in the morning I was just driving it a few blocks for breakfast near our motel when I realized that it really was out of air. I even pulled up to a gas station and it wouldn't pump to more than 3 PSI according to the monitoring system.

Long story short - I eventually brought it to a Firestone shop near Disneyland and left the wheel there to be fixed. They had to get a purchase order from the rental agency, and even called me later because they had looked at my rental agreement but didn't have the number. I didn't have it but they said they would just give them a bit more info. The tire had been trashed so they mounted a new tire. It was a Firestone when the factory tires were Goodyears, but I'm guess that doesn't matter with most cars.

I'm looking at my info and I'm not quite sure if I'm considered responsible. I got the receipt via email but no notice that I'm being charged for the tire. I'm pretty sure that the nail was in there when I received the car. When I mentioned this on return I was told that they appreciate being informed when a customer handles an urgent maintenance issue. I'm not sure whether I'm being charged.

Anyone else had a similar situation? Maybe getting a flat on a rental? My case is different because it was some sort of slow leak that was there when I got it.

 

[low-key]

LOL, you sound like me, I never get any type of insurance or warranty (thtas how they get ya) lol. Sometimes you get the bear and sometimes the bear gets you

 

[barkley]

you might have coverage if they try to charge you-allot of credit cards include it as a benefit when you use them to rent the car, and i was surprised recently to learn that rental car coverage is now standard with my auto carrier's policies (used to be an extra charge to add on).

hopefully they won't charge you though.

 

[Pea-n-Me]

I think most of the major rental companies will work with you. We did have some trouble with one of the lesser companies with an issue we had with one rental, but ultimately it worked out ok, communication just wasn't great because in the moment, we were talking to someone in the Phillipines. Sometimes if you booked it through a third party, they might help you. I would work with your credit card company on it, too, but I think you have to wait until the billing cycle is over.

 

[jalapeno_pretzel]

I always decline insurance too ... except when I'm driving in a foreign country.

We had one tire issue in all of our rental history. Oddly, this was also the only time I've ever been informed (at the counter, before we took the car) that the renter is responsible for any tire issues, regardless of any insurance purchase. Sure enough, we seemed to have a slow leak in one of the tires. It was able to be patched, so we were only out a small amount of $. I'm pretty sure this was Alamo. New England area.

 

[Breezy_Carol]

We had a slow leak in a tire in Florida one trip. (Fort Myers area) Called the rental agency at the airport and they told us to bring it in to switch cars. Luckily it was the kind of trip where we had time so at 10 pm we went to the airport and they gave us an upgraded car and a tank of gas.

 

[clutter]

Warning light like that, depends on my plans for the car. Road trip? Turn around and tell them to try again with a different car. Visiting locally out of town? I just call to have them note it and that I'll use it unless something goes wrong. We had a car that always had the low tire light on, so I get it. But I'm not guessing with a rental.

 

[sam_gordon]

Any experiences with this? I declined all insurance or damage waivers and didn't pay for roadside service figuring that I already had a AAA membership.

I picked up the rental and I wasn't sure what the issue was with a low pressure warning. I've borrowed my parents' car and that thing seemed to have perpetual TPMS issues. When I got home to load it I just tried to pump air with a hand pump and it wasn't changing anything so I just gave up and drove it to Southern California near Magic Mountain. Then in the morning I was just driving it a few blocks for breakfast near our motel when I realized that it really was out of air. I even pulled up to a gas station and it wouldn't pump to more than 3 PSI according to the monitoring system.

Long story short - I eventually brought it to a Firestone shop near Disneyland and left the wheel there to be fixed. They had to get a purchase order from the rental agency, and even called me later because they had looked at my rental agreement but didn't have the number. I didn't have it but they said they would just give them a bit more info. The tire had been trashed so they mounted a new tire. It was a Firestone when the factory tires were Goodyears, but I'm guess that doesn't matter with most cars.

I'm looking at my info and I'm not quite sure if I'm considered responsible. I got the receipt via email but no notice that I'm being charged for the tire. I'm pretty sure that the nail was in there when I received the car. When I mentioned this on return I was told that they appreciate being informed when a customer handles an urgent maintenance issue. I'm not sure whether I'm being charged.

Anyone else had a similar situation? Maybe getting a flat on a rental? My case is different because it was some sort of slow leak that was there when I got it.

I think you're on the hook for the flat because you "trashed" the tire by driving on it when it was low on air.

As soon as a warning light comes on with a rental, I'm calling the 24 hour number for the company. If the low pressure light was on before you left the rental lot, you should have pointed it out and asked for another car.

Also, it would not surprise me if the rental company makes you purchase a Goodyear tire (in addition to being on the hook for the Firestone).

The best thing to do is talk to the rental company (major ones have 24 hour numbers). Without specifying what rental company you used, asking for advice/experiences here is really worthless. If I say I've had 10 flats on my rental cars and every one was paid for by the rental agency, that's great. But if you didn't rent from the same company, or have the same status with the company, the knowledge is really worth nothing.

 

[aprilchem]

They may charge you for it because you drove on it. We had an oil change light come on in one of the rentals we had on vacation last year, we called Enterprise and they told us to go to the nearest airport and switch the car out. We ended up getting a nicer vehicle, so it wasn't a big deal to spend the time doing that.

 

[aprilgail]

They may charge you for it because you drove on it. We had an oil change light come on in one of the rentals we had on vacation last year, we called Enterprise and they told us to go to the nearest airport and switch the car out. We ended up getting a nicer vehicle, so it wasn't a big deal to spend the time doing that.

We rented a van for a 2 month road trip- drove first day NY to Ohio- Got to Ohio and oil light comes on- we drove to a jiffy lube place and had oil change done- did another oil change in California then another in Texas. I kept the receipts and when I turned the van in I gave them the receipts and they credited me the money back on my credit card and thanked me for taking care of it.

 

[suemom2kay]

I don't think you should have bought a new tire. You should have had AAA tow you to the nearest rental facility and swapped out the car. I think you will have a fight on your hands to not pay that bill. Did the rental car company authorize the new non-matching tire?

 

[bcla]

I don't think you should have bought a new tire. You should have had AAA tow you to the nearest rental facility and swapped out the car. I think you will have a fight on your hands to not pay that bill. Did the rental car company authorize the new non-matching tire?

I should clarify. After I put on the compact spare I called the rental car agency and asked what I should do. They told me that I could take it to any Wheel Works (none in Southern California) or Firestone tire center. They both worked with the rental car agency (Alamo). I showed them the Alamo rental agreement when I brought it in, but I got a call later that day asking if I had access to the rental agreement number. I was in Disneyland and the car was in the garage, so no. The manager said she'd just do it with the information she had and they would direct bill Alamo. I think the license plate noted down was enough. She called Alamo while I was in the shop, and was told that it would be repaired (they kept the wheel) once the purchase order was approved.

I wouldn't have needed a tow since there was a compact spare.

And yes - the rental car agency apparently authorized a purchase order with a non-matching tire. I get that they could have ordered a tire from a Goodyear retailer but they must have had this comparable tire in stock. I also was waiting for a response but then called in on New Years Day and was told it had already been done and sorry about not being contacted.

 

[DisneyHardin]

I would think if Alamo sent a purchase order to the Firestone Tire Center, then that would mean that they were paying for the tire.

 

[bcla]

I would think if Alamo sent a purchase order to the Firestone Tire Center, then that would mean that they were paying for the tire.

They could do that and then bill me. I'm kind of waiting to see what happens.

 

[NotUrsula]

Go back and read the fine print on your contract. In many cases, tire damage is a specific exclusion.

I have a nasty history with this: I clipped a granite curb on a roundabout in Dublin once, then looked out of my Aunt's kitchen window the next morning to find both passenger-side tires flat; the sidewall was slashed on both of them. I had every form of insurance the hire company sold, but tires were specifically excluded. That curb clip cost me nearly $800 ($300 per tire, plus installation and a monster disposal fee. Tires are crazy expensive in Ireland.)

On a recent Florida trip I picked up a nail. I didn't elect the insurance on that trip, but it wouldn't have mattered; it was a specific exclusion on the coverage that was offered by Budget. I had the tire repaired at a Firestone and didn't report it; just turned it in without that telltale warning light.

When it comes to tire damage, I just get it fixed, pay it and don't mention it, because IME rental agencies massively surcharge ANY repair work that they have to do, and often charge a nasty loss-of-use fee while they take their time doing it. If whatever it is wasn't caused by a wreck, I just deal with it on my own and get the best price that I'm able to.

In your case, because the warning light was on when you picked it up, I would have refused to take the car. Since you didn't (did you have it documented at the gate that it was illuminated?), I suspect that you are on the hook for the replacement. I would also warn you not to be surprised to hear that they consider that off-brand tire "temporary" and decide to also bill you to put a new Goodyear on. (Or if you were REALLY unlucky and the vehicle was 4WD, even an entire new set of 4.)

Best of luck on it; I hope they don't try to soak you on this.

 

[sam_gordon]

After I put on the compact spare I called the rental car agency and asked what I should do.

I'm sorry, this is a key piece of information and changes the advice. Sort of like your "I want a live chicken", "oh, I didn't mean live" thread.

 

[suemom2kay]

I should clarify. After I put on the compact spare I called the rental car agency and asked what I should do. They told me that I could take it to any Wheel Works (none in Southern California) or Firestone tire center. They both worked with the rental car agency (Alamo). I showed them the Alamo rental agreement when I brought it in, but I got a call later that day asking if I had access to the rental agreement number. I was in Disneyland and the car was in the garage, so no. The manager said she'd just do it with the information she had and they would direct bill Alamo. I think the license plate noted down was enough. She called Alamo while I was in the shop, and was told that it would be repaired (they kept the wheel) once the purchase order was approved.

I wouldn't have needed a tow since there was a compact spare.

And yes - the rental car agency apparently authorized a purchase order with a non-matching tire. I get that they could have ordered a tire from a Goodyear retailer but they must have had this comparable tire in stock. I also was waiting for a response but then called in on New Years Day and was told it had already been done and sorry about not being contacted.

Oh thank goodness! Glad it all worked out!

 

[bcla]

Oh thank goodness! Glad it all worked out!

I still don’t know how this will end. Many requests for repair reimbursement are by mail. However, the rental car agency specifically authorized a non matching tire replacement, so I better not be on the hook for another replacement of a matching tire.