National - Penalty if you don't cancel?

[DisneyKidds]

Does anyone know if National charges anything if you don't show for a rental and don't cancel. Avis doesn't, I'm not sure about National.

We are headed to Orlando tomorrow night. I have a ressie with National and Avis. Avis would be $50 cheaper. However, I want to check the Emerald Aisle first. If they have a minivan or SUV I'd take it for $50 more and skip Avis. If not, I'll take the full size from Avis and save the $50. Just want to make sure I'm not surprised by a no show fee of any sort. Thanks for the help.

 

[sgtdisney]

According to National's website they may charge a fee if you do not cancel your reservation 24 hours in advance.

This from National's website...

No-show
National Car Rental may charge a fee for vehicles that are reserved but not rented, if the reservation is not canceled within 24 hours of anticipated arrival.
No-show fees will be billed to the credit card given at the time of reservation.

You may want to call National directly and ask what the policies are at that location. It sounds like it may be a gamble......

 

[CaliforniaDreaming]

I think my confirmation said a $75 no-show fee would apply.

 

[corvair]

I have a ressie with budget I am not going to use. I made my ressies over the phone and never gave a credit card number. Do you still have to cancel? thankss,,,corvair

 

[sgtdisney]

Originally posted by corvair
I have a ressie with budget I am not going to use. I made my ressies over the phone and never gave a credit card number. Do you still have to cancel? thankss,,,corvair

If you didn't hold the reservation with a credit card, they cannot charge you for a no-show. It is only when you give them your credit card information that you may be hit with a no-show fee. I tend to make 2 reservations for rental cars when I travel to have a back up as I have been stuck a rental car counter once too often with nothing to fall back on. I know some people disagree with this line of thinking, but to each his own.... If you know for sure you won't use the rental at Budget and aren't holding it so you have something to fall back on, cancel it, however if you don't, you won't be penalized.