Speak Out - Car Rental Companies

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In American English

 

Car rental companies - are they ripping you off?

When looking for a vehicle to rent while on vacation away from your home state, you have to be careful of the rental agency and their contract with you. Many car and van rental agencies do NOT have free drop off at any location policies, and you may find that you MUST return the vehicle back to where you rented it, or pay nearly double the rental price; this they will tell you is because they have to pay a driver to bring the vehicle back to their location. Denver, Colorado is good for this even though most people rent to drive to Yellowstone and then down to Salt Lake, Utah or visa versa and one has to question the one-way charges.

++++++++ EXAMPLE ++++++++

This is a quote over the Internet done at 9:30 AM 3/16/2011 from one of the less expensive rental agencies; several agencies were nearly double this quoted amount.

 

The trip is from:

Pick-up SEATTLE AIRPORT, WA, USA Aug 16, 2011 09:00 AM
Return ALBUQUERQUE AIRPORT, NM ,USA Aug 28, 2011 09:00 AM

 

The Vehicle to be rented is:

Car Class: Hyundai Sonata or similar
Rate: $252.63/week

 

The one-way fee for a return at a different location is:

Drop off fee: $634.48

 

Which brings the total cost to:

Total Base Rate (USD): $1,087.06

 

But, wait there are more fees to add:

The Rental Time Charge = $452.58
APT CONC RECOV FEE (11.1%)  = $121.70
Customer Facility Charge ($5.00 per day)  = $60.00
Energy Recovery Fee ($0.45 per day)  = $4.50
RENTAL TAX (9.7%)  = $118.15
STATE TAX (9.5%) = $115.72
Vehicle License Fee ($0.40 per day) = $4.80

Total Estimated Mandatory Charges (USD) = $1,511.93

 

Thus, the total is actually:

Estimated Grand Total (USD) $1,511.93

Which works out at $125.99 per day on a vehicle that has a $39.95 per day advertized rate...**

 

This does not include the GPS, the optional insurances, or the gasoline used, or any tolls that may be encountered, which can bring the cost to over $2,000 for 12 days rental..

** This pricing puts most Senior Citizens off, as they are not about to spend over a month's Social Security for a 12 day vacation trip, and it is the Seniors that account for most of the domestic traveling in the USA.  Chamber of Commerce's and their membership have to wake up to this and make adjustments, or face losing more and more of their clients as the cost of living goes up and Seniors as a group become poorer.

 

++++++++++++END EXAMPLE ++++++++++++

But, that is only one of the little 'rip offs' that are done, another is the 'fill the tank' fiasco where you either pay extra, about $25, up front or pay nearly double for gasoline that they pump into the returned vehicle when you check it back in without a full, topped off, tank. Thus, always make sure you fill the tank within a mile of two of the rental agency, before turning it in and settling up the bill.

Third and most damaging 'rip off' is the damage claim made against you for a minor dent or scratch that was there when you rented the vehicle, but not reported on the rental contract at time of signing. What happens here is that you rent the vehicle, happily hop in and drive away without doing a complete inspection of the interior and exterior, including the trunk and the spare tire, and thus on return of the vehicle 'they' do and find nicks, dents, scratches, missing jacks, stained seats, etc, for which you are now responsible and will pay. The damages can easily be claimed by them to be in the thousands, and since you are now home in another state, they can easily get a judgment and charge your credit card.

The last 'rip off' is the 'out of state' transport of the vehicle, places like Denver, Colorado fully know that you will as a tourist be going to Yellowstone, and probably Salt Lake or Glacier National Park, or Mount Rushmore, and thus will be leaving the state, but their contract states that you MAY NOT leave the state in their vehicle without paying an additional charge or penalty. Do they know if you do leave the state, yes, they do. Most newer rental vehicles have GPS or some theft prevention signaling device that 'tracks' the location of the vehicle in either real time or by a recorder, and thus your whereabouts can be fully known throughout your trip.

The moral here is to make sure your rental contract is what you want and need, and you fully inspect, and document in writing and with photos any damages, before leaving the rental agency. Fill the tank and take photos of the vehicle when you turn it back in, that way you have some proof that any damages after your rental period are not yours.

 

*** See our booklet on Car Rentals for more information >>> Click Here >>

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En Español

 

Las compañías de alquiler de coches - es desgarran ellos usted fuera?

Cuando buscar un vehículo para alquilar mientras sobre vacaciones lejos de su estado doméstico, usted tiene que tener cuidado de la agencia de arriendo y su contrato con usted.  Muchas agencias de arriendo de furgón y automóvil NO han libre bajado fuera en ningunas políticas de ubicación, y usted puede encontrar que usted DEBE volver el vehículo respalda a donde usted alquilar lo, o la retribución aproximadamente dobla el
precio de arriendo; este ellos contarán usted es porque ellos tienen que pagar un conductor para traer el vehículo respaldar a su ubicación. Denver, Colorado es bueno que este si bien la mayoría de el alquiler de gente maneje a Yellowstone y entonces abajo para Salar Lago, Utah o la visa versa y uno tiene que preguntar las cargas de una sola dirección.

Pero, que es uno único de los pocos'rip fuera que se hecho, otro es el'fillel tanque'fiasco donde usted o el extra de retribución, sobre $25, arriba la frente o la retribución aproximadamente dobla para la gasolina que ellos bombean en el vehículo volvido cuando usted verifica respalda en sin un lleno, superado fuera, tanque. Así, siempre asegurar usted llena el tanque dentro de una milla de dos de la agencia de arriendo, antes de de volver lo en y radicando arriba la cuenta.

El tercero y muy dañoso'ripfuera'es el reclamo de daño hecho contra usted para una rayadura o abolladura menor que había cuando usted alquiló el vehículo, pero no informada sobre el arriendo contrata en el tiempo de firmar. Qué sucede aquí es que usted alquila el vehículo, felizmente brinca en y paseo lejos sin hacer una inspección completa del interna y exterior, incluyendo el tronco y la llanta de repuesto, y así sobre el regreso del vehículo'they'y encontrar muescas, abolla, las rayaduras, extrañando gatos, manchando los asientos, etc, para que usted es ahora responsable y retribución. Los daños pueden fácilmente ser afirmados por ellos estar en el millares, y desde usted es ahora hogar en otro estado, ellos pueden conseguir fácilmente un fallo y cobra su tarjeta de crédito.

El último'ripfuera'es el'outde estado'transporte del vehículo, pone como Denver, Colorado totalmente sabe que usted como un turista ir a Yellowstone, y probablemente Glaciar o Lago de Sal el Parque Nacional, o Monta Rushmore, y así dejar el estado, pero sus estados de contrato que usted NO PUEDE salir el estado en su vehículo sin pagar una pena o cargo adicional.  Haga ellos saben si usted sale el estado, sí, ellos hacen. La mayoría de los vehículos más nuevos de arriendo tienen GPS o alguna prevención de ladronicio que señaliza dispositivo que'tracks'la ubicación del vehículo en o tiempo real o por una grabadora, y así su paradero puede totalmente conocerse a lo largo de su viaje.

La moral aquí está asegurar su contrato de arriendo es qué usted quiere y necesita, y que que usted totalmente registre, y documenta por escrito y con fotos y los daños, antes de de dejar la agencia de arriendo. Llene el tanque y tome las fotos del vehículo cuando usted vuelve respalda en, esa manera usted tiene alguna demostración que cualquier daños después de de su período de arriendo not son suyo.

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