What if they don't have the car I reserved?

[Darcy03231]

I'm going the end of August for a 10 day trip and have a minivan reserved through Alamo. As of last night there are no more minivans showing for my dates. Our flight doesn't get in until late. What happens if all the minivans are gone? We're a party of six and I'm the only driver over 25 (other than my mother who doesn't drive anymore).

 

[3DisneyFanz]

We've always gotten what they see to be an equivalent replacement. It's usually a large SUV if they don't have minivans which gave their own pros and cons. I'm really not sure in all the times we've rented cars we've gotten exactly what we wanted probably twice. It's usually an "upgrade" from their perspective but not always convenient.

 

[seashoreCM]

There is no sure fire guarantee that a suitable car will be available. Bruce Williams (talk show host, Disneyphile, Florida retiree, and airplane crash survivor from long ago) said "... other renters don't return the cars on time and the rental agency then doesn't have cars for new renters ... "

Sometimes you may be offered something larger that turns out not to qualify for your credit card rental collision coverage (check the fine print in the latter).

 

[wdwrich]

Remember that Alamo and National are actually the same company, so if Alamo is out of the vehicle type you reserved, they can easily get one from National.

 

[lost*in*cyberspace]

They will try to find an equivalent vehicle if they can. If they can't, you're out of luck.

 

[Yellowjj]

That's why every reservation has "Or Similar" on the side of the car. Your only guarantee is that the car will seat 7 as per your original reservation. Alamo and National are not the same company but rather separate companies that are under the same parent umbrella. Think Avis and Budget. With that said, they will call Enterprise and/or National to track down a suitable vehicle if need be.

Btw not seeing a minivan for rental doesn't mean that they wont have any. It's just means they are by reservation only. A walk-in customer or a customer who booked something smaller but now needs a minivan won't be able to upgrade into one.

 

[ParrotBill]

It does happen. If they have nothing, and can't get anything equivalent, ask them to pay for your taxi and get you a car the next day.

 

[ccudmore]

I once had a minivan reserved. Got to the counter and was told they didn't have any minivans available but that they'd upgrade me to a luxury SUV for free (it was definitely a nice upgrade). I did mention that the SUV, even at the same rental price, would cost me more in gas, so they ended up giving me the SUV for $100 less than the minivan I'd reserved.

"You know how to take a reservation but you just don't know how to hold the reservation. And that's really the most important part of the reservation - the HOLDING. Anybody can just take 'em" - Jerry Seinfeld

 

[Julylady]

I have found that when the counter agent tries to get you to "upgrade," its usually because they don't have a car in your class available and are hoping that you will pay more. I had rented a midsize car and at the counter the agent told me that as a special, I could upgrade to a small SUV for only $20 more per day. I declined and said the midsize car would be fine. He punch numbers into his computer for a few more minutes and then handed me the keys. When I got to the lot, the keys were to a Jeep Liberty. I was pretty mad, because that Jeep was a rough ride. I know always try to do what ever I need to do ahead of time to bypass the counter agent.

 

[Ranger111]

The companies have enought heretofores, in the event of and other legal language, that basically you have no real recourse if they do not have the car you reserved.

Having said that, they do try to accomodate, but there idea of accomodate and yours are not always the same -- witness the time Enterprise told me I could have the Suzuki Samurai or nothing when I had a full-size reservation.

I chose nothing, but then had to pay full rack rate at Avis for a car....do not usually happen....you will have no problem (most likely), but know that you really have no recourse if they do not have a car that meets your criteria.

 

[DCbride]

When arrived after a late flight a minivan was not available. They tried to give us an Escalade. But my MIL couldn't step up into it. So they simply went to another dealer and got one. Not sure if it was a company that are owned by the same place or not. But we got a minivan.

 

[DVC California]

As others mentioned, not being able to make new reservation for a minivan is different from already having a reservation.

That being said, they will accommodate passenger size as much as possible, moving you up to an appropriate SUV. It's too bad you are the only driver. This happened to me once at Port Canaveral. I reserved a minivan and they were waiting for a return that was late. However, they did offer me two full size cars for the same rate, that worked out even better for us.