What is your favorite car rental company?

[Kasmir]

Who have you used and why did you like/not like them?

We normally use Enterprise when we travel, but I hate that they're off-site at MCO!

Alamo seems really expensive and I've read on these boards about people being less-than-thrilled with National...

Help!

Thanks, Sheila

 

[gw_lit]

Who have you used and why did you like/not like them?

We normally use Enterprise when we travel, but I hate that they're off-site at MCO!

Alamo seems really expensive and I've read on these boards about people being less-than-thrilled with National...

Help!

Thanks, Sheila

I generally use either National, Avis or Hertz, with price being the deciding factor. I'm in the frequent renter club of each (Emerald Club, Avis Preferred, Hertz #1 Gold), so with all I get to skip the line and go straight to the car (or booth to pick up keys). I've had good experiences with all of them, there's been a few hiccups with each a time or two, but nothing major... I'd have to say National is my favorite overall. I've had more problems with Budget or Dollar when I doing a short leisure trip and I'm looking for absolutely the lowest price.

 

[beccasmom]

I’ve used Alamo, National and Hertz. I prefer Hertz because I’ve just had (mostly) positive experiences with them. (Someone else taking my bag off their airport shuttle in Dallas wasn’t their fault!). We rented from National once on Disney property. It is just ok, nothing awful, but nothing that stands out as being fabulous. I used Alamo a few times in Los Angeles, but again it was mostly an ordinary experience. When using Alamo in Hawaii, our rental developed engine problems after one day, but we were fortunately able to switch cars fairly easily since our hotel was across the street from their office.

I have often been upgraded with Hertz and the cars have always been exceptionally clean and well-serviced. Perhaps that is just luck, as I am by no means a regular customer; I rent mostly on sporadic business trips.

 

[safetymom]

Hertz is my favorite. National was my least favorite. The shuttle is always there for Hertz. The car was clean and in good condition. The cars that I have gotten at National had mechanical problems and weren't clean.

 

[javaj]

National, because of Emerald Club. Being able to pick a car from ER or EA right away is so convenient. At MCO, we've used Alamo, Hertz, and National. We found the Alamo employees to be very inefficient and rude. We didn't have any problems at Hertz, but we didn't like the offsite thing.

 

[Kasmir]

Thank you for your input! Anyone else?

We'll be needing the car for 22 days, and OMG, what an expense! I think that I'm going to cash in my lot of American Express rewards, but want to make sure that we make a good decision...

We've never rented from anyone but Enterprise and don't want to deal with off-site problems at MCO. So thanks so much for taking the time to share your experience!

Sheila

 

[Hippychickali]

Please refer to:

Where do you usually rent automobiles from?

Ali

 

[TammiMcMan]

DH is a member of Nationals Emerald service through work, so we usually go through them. Their prices are not bad and we really like being able to get our luggage, go down one level, out the door, across the street and pick a car in the Emerald aisle. I'm sure we could shop around and find a better rate, but the convenience and earning free rental points make National worth it for us.

Tammi

 

[DVC-Don]

I use mostly Budget at MCO. I have used all the onsite (except Avis for some reason) and Hertz over the years though, but Budget seems to get most of my business.

 

[Kasmir]

Thank you!

 

[manning]

Thank you for your input! Anyone else?

We'll be needing the car for 22 days, and OMG, what an expense! I think that I'm going to cash in my lot of American Express rewards, but want to make sure that we make a good decision...

We've never rented from anyone but Enterprise and don't want to deal with off-site problems at MCO. So thanks so much for taking the time to share your experience!

Sheila

What off-site problems?? I find off-site to be better. It is only a very short distance away.

 

[DebbieB]

For vacation, I always use National Emerald Club and have always been happy. For business, I have to use Avis. The 2 times I used Avis in Orlando I was assigned a crappy Chevy Classic.

 

[Mickey527]

I always book the cheapest rate I can get. My upcoming trip in May for 2 weeks I have gotten a quote of $220 for the two weeks from National.
In the past I have gotten quotes as low as $79 for one week from Enterprise.
When I arrive at the airport I always go to the L&M rental place first. I show them my quote and ask if they can beat the rate. They have historically taken $20 off the quoted price plus given me an upgrade. I have done this at least 6 times already and have never gotten turned down.
I then go to the rental place that I have the quote from and cancel the hold on the car so it doesn't mess them up. Since no rental car companies ask for down payment I have never lost any money.
L&M cars are nice and clean, and most have very low milage so you are not losing there. L&M also has let us list two drivers without charging any extra.
I will continue doing this until the time L&M stops giving the lower rates.
Peggie

 

[Idahomom]

We like National.

 

[DisneyAunt]

I used to travel on business mostly to Atlanta, but ocassionaly other places. When in Atlanta I always used Dollar and never had a problem. In Florida I have used Hertz because of the Navigational System. I just used Hertz on my last trip to WDW in February....what a problem I had with them.

First off they gave me such a hard time about using my AMerican Express certificates..I tried to resolve that on the phone before we left for vacation..fortunately it was resolved the day before we left. Next when we arrive I had to go into the gold club office to get another driver listed with me...when the woman handed me the contract it had a different price than what was quoted to me. (I'm so anal when it comes to reservations that I write down everyone's name and Id#: that I spoke with on the phone). With that in hand she still refused to give me the price that I was quoted. After 30 minutes...I told her I would handle it with customer relations and that I didn't want to waste anymore of my vacation time arguing with her.

I get to the SUV I rented and the air pressure light is on ...I was told to let the person at the check out gate know and they would take care of it. After a minute or so at the gate the woman told me that the tire pressure is fine and that there is something wrong with the light. YEAH RIGHT!!! The last time I will believe that. As soon as I got on the hgihway I had to pull off and find a service station and correct the tire pressure thing.

WHen I returned my car the check the car in and when I looked at my receipt it was $70 more than the contract I received when picking the car up. Another 15 minutes of discussing this with the person checking me in they finally removed that charge.

I just wrote Hertz a long letter and hopefully I will get an answer back. I used Hertz last May and didn't have a problem. I am going again the beging of May and have decided not to use them instead I am going to try National I got a 20% discount for being a DVC member.

Point of this long drawn out story...be careful with Hertz when using AMEX certificates. Also those certificates even though Amex says they are like cash..Hertz will not apply them towards taxes or any other fees.