Rental cars with GPS

[GirlDreamer]

I just have to ask as this is one of my biggest fears. Has anyone experienced that the rental company has been out of GPS's when you picket up your rental car? I'll probably rent through Alamo, and you can reserve the GPS in your car reservation, but I've also seen on some rental sites that the extras can't be guaranteed.

 

[jlewisinsyr]

I would probably be most afraid of not getting a GPS at Hertz because they are installed, not portable units and if they don't set aside a GPS equipped car, you are out of luck.

Most of the other agencies provide portable units, and although it is possible they will run out, I wouldn't be overly concerned. In the US most people would opt to just buy one because a 7 day rental of a GPS from an agency would cost as much as a basic GPS from a store.

 

[GirlDreamer]

Yeah I used to own a US GPS, but for some reason I decided to get rid of it

 

[DemoBri1]

Do you by chance own a smartphone? If so just download the Google maps app and you will be all set. If not, I agree with the last poster. You can get a good GPS device now for less than what it will cost you from the car rental agency.

 

[gmeh1]

I just have to ask as this is one of my biggest fears. Has anyone experienced that the rental company has been out of GPS's when you picket up your rental car? I'll probably rent through Alamo, and you can reserve the GPS in your car reservation, but I've also seen on some rental sites that the extras can't be guaranteed.

I would not worry about it, I have yet to see us run out of GPSs. We have a LOT of them.

 

[GirlDreamer]

I do have an iphone, but am a little sceptic about using it as a gps. But I found a reservation category where the GPS is included in the reservation price and that makes it a bit cheaper. And I used to have a US GPS but for some reason I decided to get rid of it... I would probably just buy one if I lived in the US but I don't.

 

[goofy4tink]

I do have an iphone, but am a little sceptic about using it as a gps. But I found a reservation category where the GPS is included in the reservation price and that makes it a bit cheaper. And I used to have a US GPS but for some reason I decided to get rid of it... I would probably just buy one if I lived in the US but I don't.

I used to travel with my Magellen. No more. I just use my phone. It has yet to steer (pardon the pun) me wrong. I just plug it in, so as to keep the charge up,and drive away!!!

 

[DVC-Don]

Careful with a portable GPS. My BiL had a rental car GPS stolen from his rental and they charged him $500 for the GPS! This was about 4 years ago and I believe it was Dollar.

 

[GirlDreamer]

Yeah I always make sure to hide it. I never leave any valuables visible in the car.

I had a friend that didn't know this and that cost me almost $400. What happened was she was returning a rental car for me as she helped me move. On the way home she and her friend that came along decided to go to the cinema and parked in a garage. She left her video camera fully visible in the back seat and of course the car was broken into and the camera stolen. I had insurance on the car, but there was still a fee I had to pay, almost $800. I told her that because it was her mistake that caused the break in, I felt it was only fair that she paid the whole fee. But she refused and would only pay half of it, so that was the end of that friendship. The worst thing was that she actually expected to get money back for her camera from the insurance company

 

[lost*in*cyberspace]

I do have an iphone, but am a little sceptic about using it as a gps.

Using an iPhone as a GPS works just fine. However, if your UK phone plan is anything like those in the US, you won't want to use your iPhone here, especially as a GPS. The charges will be outrageous. It would be cheaper to buy a new GPS.

 

[GirlDreamer]

I don't know how much internet costs for me in the US, but I'm not using it unless I'm on wifi somewhere It'll just cost more than it's worth.

 

[lost*in*cyberspace]

I have an iPhone and when I am traveling in Europe, I keep it in airplane mode and just use wi-fi as well. In the US, you can find many free wi-fi spots (hint - sign up for a Starbucks account and you can get free wi-fi in Starbucks). There are also free wi-fi finder apps for your phone. If you don't already have this, you should download one.

 

[GirlDreamer]

Thanks for the tips but I hate Starbucks >.<

 

[jseuss]

just a note for you gps users out there, do not mount your gps to windshield with suction cup as this is a dead giveaway of a gps in the car. You remove suction cup and rings stay on windshield, these are easier to see from outside of car and first sign that thieves use for picking cars to break into

 

[ruadisneyfan2]

just a note for you gps users out there, do not mount your gps to windshield with suction cup as this is a dead giveaway of a gps in the car. You remove suction cup and rings stay on windshield, these are easier to see from outside of car and first sign that thieves use for picking cars to break into

I agree. It's also a PITA to keep taking down and put back up. We got one of these and it works great. Even making sharp turns it doesn't slide around. Also good if I want it closer or further from me without the GPS ever blocking my view of the road.
http://www.amazon.com/Garmin-Portable-Friction-Mount-Frustration/dp/B002OL2MU4/ref=pd_bxgy_e_img_c

OP, for what you pay to rent for a few days, you could buy one.
http://www.amazon.com/Garmin-nüvi-4-3-inch-Portable-Navigator/dp/B0057ODOCA/ref=dp_ob_title_ce

We shop at Amazon waaay too often. They've always been very reliable & there's no sales tax which you would pay if you bought at a store after arriving in the US. I'm not sure about shipping internationally.
hth!

 

[bumbershoot]

A nice map is also a lovely thing to have.

If you have a good idea of the trips and side trips you'll be taking, get some appropriate maps and perhaps play around with whatever mapping website you like online at home, print off some maps with those trips (to and from, and from one place to another, for instance) and take those with you.

Those and a good navigator next to you (if you are traveling with another adult or map-smart younger person) will serve you well, in my experience!

 

[GirlDreamer]

I agree. It's also a PITA to keep taking down and put back up. We got one of these and it works great. Even making sharp turns it doesn't slide around. Also good if I want it closer or further from me without the GPS ever blocking my view of the road.
http://www.amazon.com/Garmin-Portable-Friction-Mount-Frustration/dp/B002OL2MU4/ref=pd_bxgy_e_img_c

OP, for what you pay to rent for a few days, you could buy one.
http://www.amazon.com/Garmin-nüvi-4-3-inch-Portable-Navigator/dp/B0057ODOCA/ref=dp_ob_title_ce

We shop at Amazon waaay too often. They've always been very reliable & there's no sales tax which you would pay if you bought at a store after arriving in the US. I'm not sure about shipping internationally.
hth!

Trouble is it's harder to get US GPS from UK as a lot of companies don't ship across the borders. And some have a UK version of their store so won't sell you from the US store.

A nice map is also a lovely thing to have.

If you have a good idea of the trips and side trips you'll be taking, get some appropriate maps and perhaps play around with whatever mapping website you like online at home, print off some maps with those trips (to and from, and from one place to another, for instance) and take those with you.

Those and a good navigator next to you (if you are traveling with another adult or map-smart younger person) will serve you well, in my experience!

I don't like maps to be honest. What I like about a GPS is it'll show you how long the trip will take, if I suddenly need to fill up gas the gps will show me where the gas station is, and if we want to eat it'll show me what kind of restaurants is in the area.

 

[goofy4tink]

I think you need to stop worrying and just plan on one being available when you get your car. The alternatives don't seem to work for you...so, you're going to just have to assume that there will be a gps waiting for you. I doubt you'll have any issues.

 

[lost*in*cyberspace]

I agree. It's also a PITA to keep taking down and put back up. We got one of these and it works great. Even making sharp turns it doesn't slide around. Also good if I want it closer or further from me without the GPS ever blocking my view of the road.

This type of GPS holder is fine, but you must have a car with a flat dashboard or it flies off the dashboard at every turn. I have never had a car where one of these would stay put.

 

[gmeh1]

A nice map is also a lovely thing to have.

If you have a good idea of the trips and side trips you'll be taking, get some appropriate maps and perhaps play around with whatever mapping website you like online at home, print off some maps with those trips (to and from, and from one place to another, for instance) and take those with you.

Those and a good navigator next to you (if you are traveling with another adult or map-smart younger person) will serve you well, in my experience!

EXCELLENT advice. I find it very very difficult to believe that people come to the exit booth and expect the agents to know the EXACT address or resort.
Or, say, I am going to the Holiday in in Kissimmee, like there is only one.
Maybe it is just me, but, it would not occur to me not to go on a trip without a map or instructions on how to get from the airport to my destination.
We rent cars, we are not travel directors and we don't have GPSs imbedded in our brains. We are more than happy to give general directions and supply a map, but unfortunately, we cannot help with specific locations.