Car rental in the US

cozmicf on 18/06/2016 - 18:29
Last edited 19/06/2016 - 16:10

Hey guys, so I'm going to the West Coast of the US in a couple of months with another friend for 3 weeks. Travelling from Seattle, down through Portland, to San Francisco, Las Vegas, and finally Los Angeles, staying 2-6 days in each city. We probably won't need a car the whole time, but at least for the drives between the cities we will need a car, and possibly for LA the whole time.

Do you guys have any advice on which rental companies to use? Whether it's worth hiring the whole time or just use between cities and drop off? Where and when to drop off and pick up the cars (eg airport/city)? Where to book online, discount codes, etc? Best cars to hire (for 2 people with their luggage) - price, fuel economy, insurance?

Or any other tips and tricks?

Edit: What kind of ball park price should I expect for rental including insurance per day for a small economy car (and how much more is it to upgrade to something with a bit of grunt like a camaro?)?

Travel

Comments

  • tinx on 18/06/2016 - 21:08
    +1

    Been so long but we use Alamo when we went there

    Pick up at LA airport (there's a shuttle bus from airport) then drive to SF drop off in the city, stayed at Santa Barbara.

    You don't need car in SF if you stay in the city.

    LA yea you need it :)

    Don't have any tips since it's been so long but Don't forget travel insurance!

    Have fun and safe holiday! Don't forget factory outlet! Very cheap :)

    • cozmicf on 18/06/2016 - 22:00

      Thanks for the info! Will look at Alamo. Good to know we can get around SF without a car, should save us a few bucks.

      • fossilfuel on 18/06/2016 - 22:07

        LA is a nightmare without a car. Public transport is non existent. If you hire a rental car, it normally comes with insurance. Fuel is very cheap in the US, although it's more expensive in California. It's currently $2.89 a gallon which equates to roughly $1 AUD/L, 95 unleaded.

        Good luck finding parking in San Fran city. Public transport is very good in San Fran and I reckon you could ditch the car at the airport then catch the metro into the city if you're staying there.

        • cozmicf on 19/06/2016 - 00:33

          Ok. Well we are driving from Seattle to San Francisco so we'll drop the car off once we get there, and use public transport whilst we're there.

        • [Deactivated] on 19/06/2016 - 13:28
          +1

          In America the advertised price does not include any insurance.

        • [Deactivated] on 19/06/2016 - 13:30
          +1

          @cozmicf:
          You'll end up with two pre-authorisations on your card which take upto two weeks to be removed.

        • cozmicf on 19/06/2016 - 15:43

          @Drew22:
          So how do you tell how much you're gonna pay before you actually go to pick up the car?

        • [Deactivated] on 19/06/2016 - 18:11

          @cozmicf:
          When you booking online you have the option of adding the insurance

  • eatwell365 on 18/06/2016 - 23:33

    Hire fee is very reasonable. CAis compulsory for insurance Ie included. Think we got Avia, can pick you up to rent place and collect car when finished with same fees.

    If driver never drives left handed car, make sure to get practice before going to main road. Very easily drift to the right.

    • [Deactivated] on 19/06/2016 - 13:29

      It is compulsory but not included in the advertised price.

  • derweep on 19/06/2016 - 00:53

    Try the car rental website on Momondo, I went through there and had a list of companies and it was way cheaper through there than all the others. But it could be different based on your need, date, etc. I had a mini-van, people mover, from LAX to LAS, pick up from the airport, there are shuttle buses to take you to the rental place as soon as you leave the airport as per previous post. Show your license, passport, paper work done, go out and pick your car on the lots and your good to go. I went with the Dollar rental company which was the cheapest, fairly easy and hassle free process. The return was also good, I dropped it off at Vegas McCarran airport in one of the rental return building/garage place, just let the worker scan the car and you're good to go. Catch another shuttle bus to the airport and that's it.

    I had everything on it, excess free damage/collision, unlimited mileage, free second driver, got to put in full fuel before returning, etc. And don't forget your travel insurance, you might need it to cover for legal purpose should another driver decide to sue or take you to court if anything happens.
    Overall, it was a good experience, got to learn to drive the LA freeways, that was crazy but good fun, a fairly decent run to Vegas but good scenery and straight run made it all good. You will learn to adapt if you drive continuously, I was fairly confident on the 2nd day and by the 3rd was running around the Vegas strip, wider area with the traffics and it seems all natural. I think you will find the renting process easy and hassle free, you will enjoy driving in the US.

    • cozmicf on 19/06/2016 - 15:45

      Thanks for the info. I've heard before to stay away from the cheaper companies as they can be a hassle to deal with if something does go wrong. Do you know if this is true and whether it's worth forking out a little extra for the big name companies?

      • derweep on 19/06/2016 - 20:54

        I don't see any problem with the smaller company, although the one I went through momondo seems big enough as they have presence everywhere, the price was good and you get everything. Try through there or also through skyscanner.com.au which can also be cheap, I didn't have any prang so I can't tell what happens then but from the start to the end it wasn't a hassle at all. The other thing is you have to prepaid when you book, and they take a deposit on your card when you get there, don't know if it's something you like but it was my first time and it was no hassle. The car is decent, I had other choices available but chose a Toyota for reliability, we had 6 people so I imagine for two it would be a bit easier getting in and out. Let me know if you need anyt other info.

    • SimbaGirl on 19/06/2016 - 21:22
      +1

      And don't forget your travel insurance, you might need it to cover for legal purpose should another driver decide to sue or take you to court if anything happens.

      The personal liability offered on travel insurance policies doesn't cover you for injury to another person or damage to someone else's property if you are driving a motor vehicle (the exclusion is usually worded something like "claims arising from your ownership, custody or use of any firearm or weapon, aerial device, watercraft or motorised vehicle"), so it's important to make sure you take out the appropriate liability insurance (usually referred to as SLI or ALI) when renting a vehicle in the US.

      • derweep on 19/06/2016 - 21:38

        Right, I have forgotten about that section, there is something in the insurance clause about that. Yeah, so you will need to buy extra insurance at the rental place should you wish to.

  • KenOath on 19/06/2016 - 06:32
    +2

    A couple of anomolies to remember ….. you can turn right at red lights after stopping when safe to do so

    You can not serve yourself petrol/gasoline in Oregon state, you must wait for an attendant to fill your vehicle.

    At a yeild/stop sign controlled four way junction you should proceed in the same order in which you arrived - the first to arrive is the first to proceed, the second to arrive is the second to proceed, and so on…….

    Buy yourself a couple of small stickers, ie US flags ect, to place over the rental car barcodes on the windows. Alternatively remove the barcodes before hitting the road stick them in the glovebox and replace them when when returning the car. It wiill deter opportunistic thieves from targeting it as a rental.

    Oh and buy up big in Oregon …. No state sales tax there!

    Enjoy!

    • cozmicf on 19/06/2016 - 16:02

      Thanks for the tips! I've never heard of that stickers tip before but it makes sense and I'll use it when I'm there.

      No sales tax in Oregon you say? Nice!

    • brett-au on 19/06/2016 - 18:19

      This is a brilliant idea. My car was targeted in the car park of a small state park, which is a perfect honey pot. Who would have all their tech in the car but not on their back - the person renting a vehicle.

  • RockyRaccoon on 19/06/2016 - 13:14

    Insure yourself very carefully.

    US car rental insurance isnt the same as here especially for non US residents.

    Read this wiki for details

    https://www.ozbargain.com.au/wiki/car_rental_insurance

    You are travelling from Seattle to LAX. So its probably better value to book the car for the whole time.

    1. It gives you freedom in a country where many sights are not easy to get to with public transport.
    2. And more importantly if you rent in one city you will often pay a drop off fee if leaving in another. So picking up in Seattle then dropping off in Portland you pay a drop off fee. Then you rent in Portland then drop off in San Fran, another fee and so on. Again you need to check what these fees are by getting prices.
    3. Some companies waive these fees but you will find that their daily rates are higher. Shop around again as some may have cars they are trying to send back so they wont charge you.

    Back to insurance, prebooking this is often cheaper than doing it when you pick up the car. Also if you book thru a UK car rental site you will find the package price for complete insurance cover is cheaper than via the US sites (something to do with UK rental laws)

    Again read the wiki article very carefully. Travel insurance covering car rental, is ok here in Oz because of mandatory insurance requirements whereas in the US these insurances are up to you to arrange, and basic insurance cover that the car rental companies provide by default are woefully inadequate .eg All they cover you for $5K for damage to property. Wipe out any car say valued at $10K and you are out of pocket $5K (plus the rental car). Travel insurance only covers any excess charged by the rental car company.

    Again an example.

    $5K coverage
    $20K accident
    You get $5K from Car rental company Insurance, $5K from Travel insurance
    Guess who has to pay the balance

    (its a little more complicated but in effect this gives you the general idea)

    So by buying via the UK sites you get better covearge and cheaper for this complete coverage than from US sites

    • cozmicf on 19/06/2016 - 15:59

      Wow, thanks for the tip to use UK sites, will try that.

      Had a read of that article, seems like there are a lot of potential pitfalls, as is the case with insurance normally anyway.

      Hopefully I can find a rental company that won't charge too much for dropping it off in a different city. I think the costs of hiring the car for the days we aren't travelling interstate will probably end up costing more than just dropping it off a paying a bit extra for that since we will be spending a few days in cities like SF where we don't need to drive. We'll get some quotes and compare.

      Thanks again for the info!

  • Olokun on 19/06/2016 - 13:53

    We have booked ours through http://economycarrentals.com/ which the rental will be with Alamo.

    As far as I can read in the T&C full insurance is included.

    From the inclusions when searching for a rental

    Full Insurance
    ZERO Deductible
    ZERO Deductible (protects you against damages to your rental car)
    Third party liability protection (Liability Insurance for damages or injuries to any 3rd party outside the rental car)
    Theft insurance (protects you against theft of the rental car)
    Wheels, Glass & Underside (protects you against damages to the wheels, glass and underside of the car)
    With this package you are FULLY Covered and your liability in the event of damage or theft is ZERO!
    Excess: 0 USD for damages and theft

    From our agreement

    Collision Damage Waiver - Yes
    Theft insurance - Yes
    Third party insurance / RLP + SLI - Yes
    Excess: 0 USD for damages and theft

    • RockyRaccoon on 19/06/2016 - 16:02

      Yes this is an example of a full coverage provider

      • cozmicf on 27/06/2016 - 20:33

        Do you know if this is all I would need in terms of insurance? I am looking at economycarrentals.com, and it's working out to be $220 for a 2 day stint (Seattle to SF), and $500 for a 9 day stint (SF to LAX) with a Hyundai Accent. I find these prices reasonable, just wondering if this is the total price you would expect including insurance.

    • cozmicf on 19/06/2016 - 16:07

      Just had a quick look at that site. It's good that it appears to include full insurance saving some hassle, but I wonder if it works out to be much more expensive that way? Will have to try a few quotes.

      • Olokun on 19/06/2016 - 16:29

        For us it was significantly cheaper then the next cheapest. Also includes free cancellation up to 48 hours of booking.

  • brett-au on 19/06/2016 - 18:26

    I've picked up a few cars one way, but found California to be a bit of a pain. Because of their emissions laws, they usually only rent CA plate cars in California. That way the rental company knows the vehicle complies. It might be cheaper to end in Vegas and fly back to LAX. That way you can stay on the coast.

    My suggestion is use priceline.com to search the local car dealers as opposed to picking up from SEA. I remember riding the trolley from the airport and choosing a company that was quite close to a stop. This saves you a lot in airport fees. Worst case book a seat in the van and give the address of the rental place.

    Once you've got a good deal, copy and paste the details into the Australian versions (eg hertz.com.au). The insurance will be a hit, but much less than than the $30/day if you add it on top in the US.

    Finally CDP 307 which is the AAA discount for foreigners with Hertz almost always gives me the best price.

    • cozmicf on 20/06/2016 - 19:11

      Is CDP 307 a discount code?

      • brett-au on 21/06/2016 - 17:43

        Its a corporate discount program - so yes, you need to be an NRMA/RACQ/etc member, but they never check. Anyone who has a card will see the number on the back. Note it is the best price when you include full insurance. I've had two flat tyres and both times they just gave the Hertz credit card over the phone to the repair shop and I didn't pay a cent.

        • cozmicf on 21/06/2016 - 21:29

          Awesome, I'll try that, thanks.

  • KenOath on 19/06/2016 - 21:13

    Download the Roadtrippers app for your tablet and phone, very handy to have on hand!

    www.roadtrippers.com

    As you will be in Seattle visit the Boeing Factory and why not take a day or 2 to visit (British Columbia) BC Canada and also take in Vancouver and the Fraser Valley … I lived in Chilliwack BC in the valley for quite a few years and it is a beautiful spot. It is only 2.5 hours drive on the I5 North.

    • cozmicf on 20/06/2016 - 19:08

      Yeah since we're so close we might try and squeeze that in. Definitely checking out the air and space museum, and probably the Boeing factory too

  • ilikeradiohead on 20/06/2016 - 14:00

    I've been to the States twice and rented a car both times. First time I rented from SF, drove down to San Diego over a week, then drove back to SF in one day to return it (it was pretty rubbish doing that, but time was limited). Second time I rented a car in Houston, drove to San Antonio, Austin, Dallas, New Orleans and back to Houston over about 2 weeks. I think both times I had unlimited miles.

    I think both times it was about $27/day including insurance. I had a Chevy Cruze (same as Holden Cruze) the first time and a Toyota yaris the second time. Cruze was good, Yaris was a bit small in the boot for luggage (also the tiny Japanese cup holder couldn't fit my 32oz soda haha).

    SF, Seattle and Portland you can get by without a car if you're in the inner city. (Kind of like an Australian city)
    LA you can't and Vegas I am not sure because I haven't been.

    Driving is pretty easy there although there is a lot more traffic than here (well, Perth at least). Turning right at a red light is awesome, four way stops signs are a bit confusing at first but not too difficult to get the hang of. Also, if you go off the highway be careful of local PDs pulling you over for speeding fines. They get a lot of their revenue from unsuspecting folk from the big city not realising the 70 zone dropped to 50 in the town they didn't notice haha.

    Other thing to keep in mind are that places often charge more if you pick up and drop off in different locations, and shorter trips are charged more than longer ones (ie 2 days vs 7 days)

    • cozmicf on 20/06/2016 - 19:14

      Thanks for the tips. $27/day is pretty reasonable, I'd be happy if we could get that price.

      True that shorter trips would be more expensive per day, will see if I can find a good balance between length of rental and how long I actually need it for.

      • ilikeradiohead on 21/06/2016 - 10:47

        Sorry I meant US$27 per day, which is about AU$45 right now. It was AU$30 the first time :/

  • cocomelon on 20/06/2016 - 14:15

    went to US 3 months ago and i used Alamo rental company booked through rentalcars UK version. much cheaper than the US version.
    very quick to get your car, no need to queue if you have your booking ready, just use the self service machine.

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