Best/worst car rental company between Hertz, Avis, Enterprise, Budget

[Dennis S]

That's my only choices. It's for probably 4 weekdays, 700 miles, no particular type or make of car, and any size for one person. A cooler car would be great if it doesn't cost much. Price is the main factor followed by customer service.

I don't want to use the Internet for anything. I just want to show up at the desk with my credit card.

[Ombligo]

If you are picking up/returning to the same location, paying straight, then Enterprise would be my choice. Enterprise offices are all locally controlled and agents have the ability to set rates to any amount.

I would still check online for discounts at the others, as well as checking for any group discounts from AAA, AARP, Airline frequent flyers, etc.

[Gareth]

Dennis S wrote:
I don't want to use the Internet for anything. I just want to show up at the desk with my credit card.

You don't want to make a reservation over the internet? Are you going to make a reservation over the phone? Or are you literally just planning to show up with your credit card and hope they have a vehicle available for you?

It's unlikely to happen to you, but I've been in situations where the only rental vehicle available in a town was a 15 pass van for something like $400+ per day...

Also, is mileage important to you? Because I've noticed that sometimes a pick-up truck or large sedan is actually cheaper than a compact/mid-size sedan.

[Dennis S]

Gareth, over the phone. The type doesn't matter - pickup, SUV, sedan, sports car. No van or sub-compact, though. Gas mileage matters but not greatly.

[Fritz]

they all suck. they all lie.
I got a "free" "upgrade" recently form a 35mpg sedan that was my res, to a 20mpg 4 wheel Toyota. One was Hurts the other was Mayvis.
Depending on where you're renting, maybe https://turo.com/en-us/rentals is a better option.

[freeradical]

One thing I've noticed about Enterprise, is that they play this game where they don't rent you the car with a full tank of gas. When you're checking the car out, the agent will look at the fuel gauge and notate where he thinks the gas level is. You're supposed to return the car with the gas at the same level. This has always struck me as kind of sleazy.

[Gareth]

freeradical wrote:
One thing I've noticed about Enterprise, is that they play this game where they don't rent you the car with a full tank of gas. When you're checking the car out, the agent will look at the fuel gauge and notate where he thinks the gas level is. You're supposed to return the car with the gas at the same level. This has always struck me as kind of sleazy.

Is there any rental car company that doesn't do this? Seems like they all do.

Another option is to pre-pay for a "full tank" (doesn't mean you'll get one), but it means you can return the car on empty. The pre-pay option is a little more expensive than surrounding gas stations but not the "bend-over" crazy rates they charge you if you return it below the level it was checked out at. I don't use this option for personal rentals, but I will for work when we have a bunch of crew checking out cars and I don't want to deal with collecting and reimbursing receipts after the fact.

[TLB]

Enterprise or Budget for me. Both have off airport locations very close to my home. Both have given me very good service. Enterprise has a slight edge since they are closest and give me my business' negotiated rates for personal travel. Downside is the office is closed on Sundays so a Sunday return is booked first thing Monday am. I generally just plan around it. I couldn't handle not at least exploring rate options online before calling in, but that's me.

[Mr645]

I won't rent from Enterprise ever again. First, after renting a black hatchback for 2 days when I returned it they tell me they are charging me $800 for the 2 inch scratch on the rear bumper. But it's black paint scratched revealing black plastic. And no way it happened while I had the car. I drove it home, didm;t hit anything, drove it to work, where I have a 4000 sq ft parking lot for just me. Drove it back home and back to them the next day. Finally the girl that I rented it from says "that scratch has been there for a while"

Second, one of their renters bought the full coverage from Enterprise. And while backing down my street, besides to use my driveway to back in to turn around. Drove into the side of my parked car.

Enterprise agrees to accept responsibility but refuses the dealer estimate of $3400 to fix it. (Rear fender, rear bumper, passenger door, drivers door all damaged.) They send out someone who says it will cost $1400. Skips over a dozen parts and they want to pay for 4 hour son body work when the shop I took it too tells me the book time is 22 hrs.

We ended up in court where Enterprise paid the now $3600 in repairs and another $2k in diminished value. All the while I am driving one of their rentals cars that they provided.

Because it took 14 days to get approval to start work, and a few parts on back order, and thanksgiving weekend, I had their rental car for 34 days. I then start getting calls from the Enterprise location to pay for 4 days rental that RAS (Enterprised insurance division) only paid for 30 days.

rant over

[MrNoBody]

fyi:
Avis owns Budget, Payless Car Rental, Apex Car Rentals, and Zipcar.
Hertz owns Dollar, and Thrifty.
Enterprise, National, and Alamo are all the same company.

I like Enterprise. Being a vet I get good pricing and my Geico insurance
will take care of any issues.