General car rental questions
Oct 10th, 2004, 05:14 AM
#1
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General car rental questions
I booked a van over the holidays through Thrifty car rental over their web site. We are picking it up at the Las Vegas airport and will have it for a week. When I booked the van I gave the information and received a confirmation number. At no time did they ask for any credit card information or deposit information. Is this typical of car rental places or should I be worried that I may not have a vehicle when we get there? Anyone else have an experience booking on-line like this?
Oct 10th, 2004, 05:21 AM
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Yes, we always book with Thrifthy this way. I wouldn't waist my time worrying about it. I recall that one year ago they did not have a rental facilities at the airport. You had to take a shuttle and the rental place is some distance from the airport. Don't worry, be happy
Oct 10th, 2004, 07:52 AM
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If you are picking up Dec 24 or before, you should not have any problem since pre-holiday is not a busy time in Las Vegas. But a reservation does not guarantee you a car. You would be wise to reserve something with another company as a safeguard. Not a polite thing to do, but if the rental car companies will not guarantee their reservations they leave us no choice. I have been "burned" by Budget twice, they DO take a credit card number at reservation time but STILL do not guarantee a car.
You might call Thrifty and ask them if pre-paying for the car will guarantee its availability. With Avis, if they have no cars, they pay the difference after finding you a car with another company. Not sure about Thrifty.
Also, check with your credit card company to see if they cover the insurances on a VAN rental. Some only cover cars. Or check with your auto insurance agent at home as your regular policy might cover you driving a rental car. If so, don't fall for the hard-sell of insurances at the Thrifty counter.
You might call Thrifty and ask them if pre-paying for the car will guarantee its availability. With Avis, if they have no cars, they pay the difference after finding you a car with another company. Not sure about Thrifty.
Also, check with your credit card company to see if they cover the insurances on a VAN rental. Some only cover cars. Or check with your auto insurance agent at home as your regular policy might cover you driving a rental car. If so, don't fall for the hard-sell of insurances at the Thrifty counter.
Oct 10th, 2004, 01:09 PM
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Dear fun -
We just booked a mini-van through Alamo. I also got nervous when I typed my confirmation number in and got a totally different price. I called and they reassured me that it was the correct price. We got the van for the quoted price with no problem.
We just booked a mini-van through Alamo. I also got nervous when I typed my confirmation number in and got a totally different price. I called and they reassured me that it was the correct price. We got the van for the quoted price with no problem.
Oct 10th, 2004, 01:45 PM
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We rented a car thru same LV Thrifty office. If by some chance you are taking this van on the road to California during the week you will have it, it has to meet California emissions standards. Even though we had told them we were doing a one-way rental and returning it in California, they had to hunt around the lot to find a car for us with Calif. plates.
When they were unable to find a California car they "upgraded" us to a full-size van that we discovered had a faulty transmission.
The positive point of this story is that they were very accomodating when we exchanged the van the next day - on my suspicious days, I think they tried to dump this faulty van on us to make us return it to Calif. for them. On my saner days I decide they did not know it was broken and politely replaced it for us.
When they were unable to find a California car they "upgraded" us to a full-size van that we discovered had a faulty transmission.
The positive point of this story is that they were very accomodating when we exchanged the van the next day - on my suspicious days, I think they tried to dump this faulty van on us to make us return it to Calif. for them. On my saner days I decide they did not know it was broken and politely replaced it for us.
Oct 11th, 2004, 05:16 AM
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Ok, now I'm really nervous! We are taking it to California for the week...gail, you have me shaking. Should I call the rental place (and how far in advance?) and tell them about our California plans? We will be returning it to Vegas. We have 7 people so we HAVE to have a van so I'm concerned about "getting what's available". Also, "z" said the rental place was a ways away from the airport..is that what you remember?
Oct 11th, 2004, 09:36 AM
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First, since you are just driving it to California, I think you are OK - it may just apply to cars that are to be re-rented in California - I would get number and call the LV Thrifty office - not some national 800 number and ask them.
Second, distance from airport. The Thrifty rental place is within sight of the airport, although distance is perhaps a mile from the terminal. It is a few blocks from beginning of Strip.
Third - our problem was quickly and efficiently fixed. Unless you are leaving for Calif the moment you pick up the car (which is unlikely or else you would have flown into Calif), you could handle any car problems later that day or the next day, as we did. That would give them plenty of time to fix any problem.
Fourth - we have rented cars for business and pleasure all over the country and have never had a problem that could not be fixed effectively. I am sure you could get some horror stories from someone on this board to show times when the opposite was the case - but it really is rare.
Second, distance from airport. The Thrifty rental place is within sight of the airport, although distance is perhaps a mile from the terminal. It is a few blocks from beginning of Strip.
Third - our problem was quickly and efficiently fixed. Unless you are leaving for Calif the moment you pick up the car (which is unlikely or else you would have flown into Calif), you could handle any car problems later that day or the next day, as we did. That would give them plenty of time to fix any problem.
Fourth - we have rented cars for business and pleasure all over the country and have never had a problem that could not be fixed effectively. I am sure you could get some horror stories from someone on this board to show times when the opposite was the case - but it really is rare.
