Any stories out there about rental cars breaking down, etc? What do you do if a rental car breaks down and the rental agency is closed? Case in point, Enterprise closes all locations usually at 6:00 pm and at 12 noon on Saturdays. What happens then? Once I had to postpone my trip by one day because the oil light came on in a brand new Chevy Cavalier (only had 4000 miles on it at the time). All the Enterprise places in the area were closed.

Pretty much all the rental agencies have 24 hour roadside assistance if the car actually breaks down. But if you think it's a serious problem and you want to return the car and get another one, you might be out of luck depending on what time of the day it is. Yes, most of the NEIGHBORHOOD Enterprise locations close at 6:00 PM, so your best bet might be to return it to an airport location, which is open much later.

Another bad thing about the neighborhood locations is that most of them are closed on Sundays too!

A co worker of mine took a trip to Denver. He rented through a major nationwide company so there was always someone in the office where he picked up the car.... problem was, he was up in the middle of Rocky Mountain national park (Two hours travel from rental location). Upside of the story is that the rental agency offered to treat everyone to a nice dinner (luckily he broke down near a populated area in the park in early evening) while arrangements to bring another car to the location were made, and he got a luxury car as a replacement for same $. I was not so lucky in above post as no one was in the neighborhood office where I rented my car. I did not think of calling the airport location, which was just about a 1/2 hour away. I waited until next morning to get car replaced.

I think Enterprise uses AAA as a backup for roadside service when local branches are closed. But like Big Jim said Enterprise has a presence at most airports and are open 24 hours or close to it. (Like 6am to midnight)

But I ask this question> If that was your car that broke down in the same spot: wouldn't you be waiting until the next day to take it to a garage or a dealer? Are you to assume that if you rent a car and it breaks down, that the rental company has a fleet of Chinook helecopters on 24 hour standby? That way they can airlift a replacement vehicle directly to you in an hour or two.

Things happen to cars all the time: they break down, it happens.

No, i don't expect a helicopter to fly in, but luckily I was in my hometown at the time of the breakdown. Also, you expect a new car to be new! It only had 4000 miles on it at the time. Everything turned out for the best, but on the weekends you feel like you are all alone out there as far as car service goes.

Another thing... Even if AAA comes to your rescue, what's the most they can do for you? Tow you to a repair facility. If that repair facility (usually the dealer) is not open, your are "s.o.l." They cant open the Enterprise office and replace the car for you. And that I think is the most important. Getting you a replacement car.

Most reputable rental car companies bend over backward to shoulder the expense of rare breakdowns and such. Even the costs of flat tires are deducted (not added) from your bill.

In most cases you just dial the 24-hour number and towing companies that are contracted by the rental car place come to your location and assist with what you need, at no cost to you.

Now obviously if you're in some remote spot in Wyoming far from any rental location, there is considerable time involved. Once you get back to civilization they'll do what they can to replace your car ASAP.

One more reason why skimping on the rental car companies, just to save a few cents per day, may not be too sensible.

Hope this helps someone.

Emucom, I think you should name the rental company which provided the dinner and an upgrade to your friends. What good customer service...something that is,sadly,getting rare as we all seem to find out daily!

Not sure if it was Dollar or Thrifty, I'll have to ask him.