US car hire costs for Australians
 

Hoping for a lead here from someone with advice concerning car hire costs in the US.
I'm always a 'belts and braces'type and tick ALL the boxes for extra insurance, waivers etc.
The thought of being caught up in an ongoing drama over a minor accident or stolen car doesn't appeal on holidays.
I notice on US postings that AAA members (US residents) can use their own car insurance to lower costs.
Any leads or tips on a similiar scheme for Aus. visitors in the US or just a few tips on reducing car hire costs?

We are Australians and have hired cars in the US a few times and have found the best way to save money is to check and double-check the charges on the invoice before you sign for them. When you collect the car you are usually presented with a list of charges and a "please sign here, here and here" but most of the time we've found charges that weren't applicable. For example, being charged the wrong daily rate compared to the rate we had booked at home, a one-way drop off fee which we had been told would be waived (and eventually was), charges to pick up at the airport when we had been in the city a few days, etc etc. Some companies seem to make a habit of it so watch out.
Kay

hello shippingoffice, when will you be coming to the US? Whenever it is, welcome!

In most cases, picking up a rental car in a city versus picking up a rental car at the airport will be less expensive. I have no idea where you will be arriving to in the US. You will have to judge the cost of getting from the airport to the city (and of course the same getting back to the airport) but it could save you money, possibly, to pick up your rental car in the downtown city you will be first staying in. I love the "belts and braces" expression. That is delightful. By the way so am I, and I will have to remember this expression. It is very descriptive. I wonder if there is a female version of this saying. Best wishes, and have a beautiful and safe time in the US.

Would it not have been better to post this on the US forum?

It's better both here and the US forum. Most Americans (and many foreigners) are unaware that US hire car pricing is different for non-US license holders than for residents. When you make your booking online, you'll see various boxes asking for your nationality. That data goes into their Great-Oz-(ha ha)-Behind-the-Curtain rates machine and out pops a daily/weekly rate that's tailored to your particular country's actuarial risk/yield algorithm. Or something. Point being, they will attempt to extract maximum scratch from your purse.

First and most important is to check with your credit card issuer to see what, if any, supplemental car hire insurance may be included with your card. A lot of people blythely waive the collision supplement when renting cars because they assume it's covered by their credit card. Maybe, maybe not.

Second, the AA (AAA) and its international affiliates may be able to advise you ro extend your Australian insurance to US hires, but maybe not. The US AAA is actually pretty lousy on that front. Do indeed phone your own insurance provider too, and query them about theft of property from inside the car as well. Many US auto insurance policies don't cover this while on holiday, while homeowner's (or renter's) insurance does. Go figure.

Third, the point about airport v. in-city pick-up and drop-off is crucial. In many US cities additional taxes and fees imposed by the airport authorities can add so much to the car hire bill that all in it's cheaper to take a taxi into the city from the airport (and back) to collect and lose the car than just dealing with the airport stations in the first place.

Finally, especially if you're contemplating one-way hires (which a lot of foreign visitors like to do with good reason), shop with the car agencies directly rather than through the likes of Expedia et al. Invariably the rates you'll get from the horses' mouths will be less. Even better is to phone the renting location directly once you're in-country, and ask if they have any cars that need returning to where you happen to be going. More than once we or friends have needed one-way car hires, and have negotiated (yes, as in bargained) with local agency reps to return "Oregon" cars to Oregon, without one-way drop fees or the extortionate rates the aforementioned computers will try to impose.

Sorry Gardyloo but this question and its answers relate directly to the US and not to Australia or the South Pacific regions covered by this forum. Anyone wanting this information from these areas would be better asking the question on the US forum imo.

Are you the board moderator Paul?

Hi

First and most important is to check with your credit card issuer to see what, if any, supplemental car hire insurance may be included with your card. A lot of people blythely waive the collision supplement when renting cars because they assume it's covered by their credit card. Maybe, maybe not

As Gardylo says this is very important in the states so research it well.

If you have a gold or Platinum Visa or Mastercard check with them as to their supplemental collision coverage. Many people do not realize that the car rental company can or will charge you for the time that the vehicle is in the shop. So it's important to know if you are covered for this down time as well as the actual collision charges.

And, most important, have a great time!!

Paul, I agree that the logical home for this question is the US forum, but on the other hand posting it here has generated some helpful responses.

I once rented a car in Richmond Va. and dropped it off in Charleston SC. While finalising the paperwork I asked whether, as the car was actually sporting SC plates, I wasn't in fact returning it to its true home, and so shouldn't have to pay the one-way fee? This suggestion was treated with withering contempt, and I cursed my ignorance of the system. This ignorance will have to be rectified before our next jaunt, which will take in parts of both the US and Canada.

Sorry if I offended anyone by posting this under AUSTRALIA.
My thoughts were I would reach more Australians with experiences they could offer than by posting under UNITED STATES.
Just another sin to keep me in economy class a while longer I suppose.
Thank you for the responses and the suggestions.

Neil, where are you going and when? Any chance you'll come to New Mexico?

Lee Ann

http://dominic.kelly.site.net.au/ has some excellent advice from an Australian perspective re renting cars in the USA under "Rental Car Tips". Well worth a read.

nzers

Hi, Lee Ann. Tentative plot is a SFO-Vancouver-Calgary-Montana-Wyoming-SFO loop, your Fall next year. We'd love to revisit NM but that would make the trip just too long (we want to take our time rather than rush about like headless chickens).

To Neil -
I'll probably get yelled at for hijacking a post but we did a very similar trip to Canada and the USA a few years ago and I just had to write and let you know a few highlights. It might help with your planning!
- seeing wild animals, specifically in British Columbia and Yellowstone
- Victoria on Vancouver Island
- Yellowstone (not for scenery but for animals and history)
- Jasper
- the small town of Waterton
- Waterton and Glacier Nat Parks (going through US immigration there was surreal)
- Baker City where the terrific museum is dedicated to the Oregon Trail pioneers

Kay

Neil, have a lovely trip! It sounds like you'll have plenty to see without trying to stuff New Mexico into the mix.

Lee Ann

Kay, many thanks for the suggestions - that's the sort of stuff we need. And Lee Ann, fortunately we saw and very much liked parts of NM in '96, although I'd still like to spend more time in the Four Corners region. Sadly, though, you can't do everything.

Following on from the "Snakes in Australia in July" thread, unfortunately gutted by the sensitive Fodors editors, maybe I should post an alarmist enquiry on the US forum about rattlers, bears and mountain lions?

>>Following on from the "Snakes in Australia in July" thread, unfortunately gutted by the sensitive Fodors editors, maybe I should post an alarmist enquiry on the US forum about rattlers, bears and mountain lions?<<

I dare you! ;-)

Actually, there was a recent thread there about wildlife in the national parks - you could do a search and add on to it... :-)

Lee Ann

I was reading through the posts with a bit of interest just because we found the car rental policies in Oz so much different than North America. I notice that you are beginning in the US, travelling into Canada then back into the US. As Canadians we are not allowed to drive a US rental car into Canada. I'm sure this won't be a problem for you but worth asking the rental car company.

TSO, American Express has recently started a service for Cardmembers for $19.95 US, Amex picks up the primary coverage for rentals up to one month. That's a flat fee regardless of whether the rental is 4 days or 4 weeks. Previously my AMex card was secondary insurance to my personal car insurance and only covered my deductible ( I know cause a totaled a Dollar rental Mitsubishi 2 years ago)

Neil I routinely pick up rental cars at the Seattle Airport and drive them into BC and over to Victoria ( the truck crossing at the border is usually quicker than the car crossing at Peace Arch.

We need to coordinate our schedules so we can overlap in either the Bay Area or Victoria. ( Remember the offer of our apartment in Oakland?)

cheers AndrewDavid

PS TSO, This means w/ an Amex card you don't have to check any of those boxes, you can decline. With
rental agencies charging approx $10 US / day for collision, I think an AMEX card might be a good investment if you don't have one. Also, that coveragedoeas not apply in Australia, Italy and Ireland! Boo