We're renting a car from Enterprise on Friday...Anything I should know?

[YellowRubberDuckie]

We've never rented a car before. What should I know going into it so I don't look like an idiot?
Duckie

[Robb]

1. Turns out Enterprise's cars

...don't actually come in that big brown paper wrapping. Imagine my disappointment. :(

[YellowRubberDuckie]

2. That IS disappointing.

But at least the Charger we're renting will be all flashy without it. :evilgrin:

[puerco-bellies]

3. If your insurance does not cover you in any car you drive, buy some.

If you are absolutely SURE you are covered in any car save yourself some duckets and decline the rental insurance.

[YellowRubberDuckie]

8. I kept the full coverage insurance when I paid off my car...

So I think we're good. I just read thru the policy, and I believe we are covered.
Duckie

[democracyindanger]

4. Check your auto policy

and make sure you're covered for rental cars, too. If you're not, see how much it would cost for a rider on your policy.

Take a good look at the condition of the car before you drive off, and if there's damage make sure it's noted by one of the employees.

[YellowRubberDuckie]

5. We figure we'll get the damage insurance...

And we have full coverage, and I believe we're covered.
Duckie

[democracyindanger]

6. But remember

you may be covered for liability by your insurance company in any car you drive, but not collision/comprehensive.

[YellowRubberDuckie]

9. We'll double check...

Thanks for the heads up.
Duckie

[jobycom]

27. I refuse the insurance regularly. I remember once...

I was talking to the counter clerk, explaining that if I always refused the insurance, then when I finally did have an accident, I will have saved enough to cover the deductable. He told me that was right, that "the house always wins."

So on that very trip a porcupine ran in front of me on I-10 just before the Pecos River bridge. I swerved gently to avoid him (and did), but the road conditions were awful and I went into a fishtail, and eventually totaled the car against the guard rail.

So I expected to have to pay the deductible, and waited for the bill. Finally got something from my insurance company saying the bill was paid in full.

Turns out the credit card I paid with automatically provided insurance to cover the deductible.

Oddly, I had wanted to pay cash, and was upset that they wouldn't take cash and forced me to use a credit card I didn't want to use.

The moral of the story? Check to see if your credit cards cover insurance on rental. Some do. Enterprise won't tell you if yours does, because they make as much money off the insurance as off the cars. And be careful on I-10 by the Pecos River bridge--the porcupines are reckless around there.

[sbj405]

7. Pre-paid fuel

Usually not a good deal. Decline that and just fill it up before you return it.

Ditto what everyone's said re: insurance.

[Kutjara]

14. Although, by not purchasing the fuel...

...you miss out on the fun of trying to get the car back to the rental company totally empty. It's vastly entertaining and the looks on the faces of the rental company employees when the engine chugs, wheezes and cuts out as the car rolls to a stop in front of them, is priceless. Hey, it's my gas, I'm gonna use it all.

[NewWaveChick1981]

10. Most rental car agencies will only accept credit cards for rental.

Not debit cards. Ask them if you're not sure what the policy is. When you return the car, you can pay rental charges with a debit card if you like, but the deposit has to be charged to a credit card. I've rented more cars in the past year for my job than I've ever rented before in my life, so I know what current policies are like. :)

And the advice given to you by other DUers on this thread is excellent! :hi:

[Oeditpus Rex]

11. When slamming it into reverse at 60 mph

— because you've always wanted to, and, hey, it's a rental car — remember to first take your foot off the accelerator, because the rapidly decreasing torque will lessen the chance of bits of the bellhousing finding their way into your ass.

[YellowRubberDuckie]

16. ...

[Arugula Latte]

12. Enterprise will send someone to your house to pick you up.

When we've used them, they've always been well-scrubbed young whitebread Christian males. I think the owner (at least of the local franchise, if not nationally) is a big Xtian.

[YellowRubberDuckie]

13. Yeah, we're going to do that.

I've just got to figure out how to synchronize a few things, namely getting my husband there at the same time in order to make sure we can pay with his credit card.
Duckie

[hopein08]

15. Well, when we rented from them they apparently overcharged a tad...

because we got a letter saying that we were in the database as having rented and been overcharged twice and where therefore part of a class action lawsuit (unless we signed a paper saying we wanted out of it, which we didn't bother to do). Enterprise lost the lawsuit and had to pay someone. Certainly not me. My insurance company, I presume, as both had been rented with insurance company aid due to our car need fixed after accidents.

I know, that doesn't help much. Sorry!

[XemaSab]

17. Get the INSURANCE

I learned this the hard way. :(

Also, if you have a friend who is spotting for you through a tricky spot, and they say it's OK but you don't agree, don't do it. Or if you do, make sure the friend has money to help pay for the damages. :(

[YellowRubberDuckie]

18. We're going on vacation...

And we've got insurance. We'll just get the extra damage waiver.
Duckie

[XemaSab]

21. Oh, I was on vacation too...

A vacation that wound up being 520 dollars extra. :cry:

[YellowRubberDuckie]

23. Why so much extra?

We're going for 5 days, the thing said 218 for those days, plus the damage waiver. And it won't be extra as long as we don't stray from the bordering states of oklahoma, which we won't. If it's any extra, i'm going to be buggin'.
Duckie

[XemaSab]

25. Because I decided it would be cheaper

to pay for the damage out of pocket than pay extra for the insurance. :P

[elocs]

19. I think there is something about paying with VISA

which covers your collision insurance.

[YellowRubberDuckie]

22. We have a mastercard, so that's out.

[Floogeldy]

20. Pay attention to their inspection of the car before you take it.

Make sure they write down every dent, scratch, etc., so they can't blame you for damaging the car after you return it.

;)

[mdmc]

24. I'd take the insurance

and read their mission statement. If it still says that they strive to over meet all of the customers expectations, then request a free upgrade.

[NoPasaran]

26. I suggest you take the pre-paid fuel

A friend who worked in the rental racket told me that they always stuck people who didn't opt for any extras with crappy cars.

And once when I returned a car that was literally running on fumes the renatl agent told me that in general if you return it with a quarter tank or less, you've probably come out ahead on the deal.

[jobycom]

28. Driving is like voting

You use D to go forward, R to go backwards.