Renting Booster/Car Seats

[1stNoel]

I just read over on the transportation board that car rental companies have run out of boosters for their renters. I've often received a different car than I reserved because someone didn't return on time, so I guess this could happen with the boosters too. I'm wondering how often it happens. Has anyone here ever experienced this?

 

[BevS97]

I wouldn't rely on a rental car having a carseat or booster for you, in fact, i don't think they hold many boosters at all. We always take our own (we just check it, as my dd is 5) and its never been a problem, it's not a big hassle, it's much cheaper than paying the rental charge which is way too high, especially for 14 days, I could buy 3 car seats for that price! and the condition of the rental carseats is very bad - apart from not knowing if they have been in an accident, they are filthy and I wouldn't want my child to sit in one.

Bev

 

[jel0511]

I agree with Bev on this one. It is a posibility that they could run out of booster seats, and they do charge a hefty fee I believe almost $10 per day to rent one. I also have seen first hand one of these, since my sister rented one in Feb. They are DISGUSTING!! They are never cleaned, so if something gets spilled, soiled, etc, it just stays there. They are also usually pretty old and just don't look good. After seeing that, I'm glad that I always bring our seats. My DS 2 uses his on the plane, so no brainer there, and for DD 5, I check her booster seat. I purchased a car seat bag from Babies R Us for $20. It protects the seat wonderfully, and I just check it with all our other luggage. It's really a breeze to bring.

 

[crisi]

Our last trip they ran out and had to go get new ones. So we got new ones, but we stood around in the airport for two hours waiting for them to arrive.

I think its a real pain to lug boosters around. I simply run out of hands! This year we are skipping the rental and taking a towncar because handling kids, luggage, car rental, etc, was too much hassle.

But if you do rent, I'd highly recommend bringing your own car seats.

 

[BevS97]

I have to say that checking the carseat really isn't a hassle at all - we use a luggage trolley anyway, since we have so many bags, and the carseat just gets chucked on teh top of the luggage trolley. The one time that we used it on board the plane, we put it in the stroller to wheel it to the plane, and my dd walked (but she was 3 so quite capable of walking.)

I don't have a special bag, and we have just checked ours through as is, but next time I may put it in a large garbage bag.

We need our carseat to get to the airport anyway, so it's really only the distance from the car to the checkin desk that we have to deal with it. (About 10 yards)

bev

 

[NotUrsula]

Until DS got too big, we always used his seat on the plane, so we bought the satchel so that we could schlep the carseat to the gate more easily. (We fly to Denver a lot, where carts are not allowed past security. The satchel has backpack straps.)

Now that we check the carseat, the satchel is a wonderful spare space for bulky items, as they can ride in the seat of the carseat inside the satchel. Also, you can nest multiple seats inside the satchel as well; mine will hold up to 3 of them. (Last trip, DH went nuts at a shoe sale. I put all the shoes in a plastic bag and stuck them in with the carseat. Problem solved.)

 

[disneysteve]

Here's another vote for bringing your own. We've done it several times - just put it in a box and pack some of our clothes along with it. Seal it up and check it at the airport. I wouldn't want to depend on what the rental car company has to offer.

Steve

 

[thumperjr9]

I vote for bringing your own too! I hate to say this but years ago I worked for a major car rental co. and I used to be embarassed giving customers the car seats, they were so filthy and worn. I complained to my manager several times but he had no young children, so I think he just "didn't get it". We took my son's booster last time we went and it was no problem.

 

[nicholas 25]

Car rental booster seats are quite neglected in the cleaning department. We were going to buy one when we arrived and ship it back but upon renting our dodge caravan mini van from dollar found that our new van had the built in type. Nice suprise/money saver

 

[disneysteve]

Originally posted by nicholas 25
Car rental booster seats are quite neglected in the cleaning department. We were going to buy one when we arrived and ship it back but upon renting our dodge caravan mini van from dollar found that our new van had the built in type. Nice suprise/money saver

Two potential problems here:
1. How were you going to get from the airport to the store without a carseat?

2. I'm aware of at least one recall affecting the Chrysler van built-in seats. There is no way of knowing if the rental companies had the recall repair done. My wife had to use a pocket knife to cut our daughter out of our Caravan built-in a few years ago.

Steve

 

[FreshTressa]

Yah, I think lugging a carseat/booster around is less inconvenient than waiting two hours for them to get one or risking it not being there or having to wash one!