Driving in US

[patryn33]

2) insurance for the car, i tried to book at dollar.co.uk, they didnt state any insurance is it + the amount on the day I appear.

they did state, did U click on the rental conditions?

Rates:
Daily rates imply a 24 hour reservation period, with 1 hour grace period. Weekly rates imply a 5-7 day reservation period, with a 1 hour grace period. Dollar/Thrifty Car Rental cannot refund any unused days if the vehicle is returned early.

Rental includes:
Unlimited Mileage, Loss/Collision Damage Waiver, Supplemental Liability Insurance, Uninsured Motorist Protection, All Taxes and Airport and Local Fees

Rental does not include:
All Additional Drivers Charges, Initial Tank of Petrol, GPS Satellite Navigation (Garmin nuvi), Personal Accident Insurance, Emergency Sickness Protection, Child/Baby Seat, Under-age Driver Fee, Ski Racks

Additional fees:
"You could be charged additional fees for cars returned at a different time or date from the original reservation. * Optional items (ie: child seats, etc.) are on a request basis only, for an additional fee."

Mileage restrictions:
Unlimited mileage rates have no restrictions on the number of miles you are allowed to drive if you have proof of a round trip ticket. However, certain geographical restrictions may still apply. Miles per day rates specify a maximum number of miles that you are allowed to accumulate. A per mile fee may be charged for any additional miles. There may be minimum/maximum rental periods.

Age restrictions:
Minimum driver age 21, except New York. New York minimum driver age is 18. No Maximum Driver Age. Drivers age 18-24 may be required to pay an additional fee locally. Additional drivers may incur additional fees.

Drivers Must:
* Renter and any additional drivers must present a full valid drivers license at time of pick up held for a minimum of 1 year. Please note at the time of pick up the local supplier will require a security deposit to be left for the vehicle. This takes the form of an amount (minimum: Excess + Fuel + VAT) being blocked on the primary drivers credit card, (cash deposits, Maestro, Switch and debit cards are rarely accepted so please be sure to check with our agents at time of reservation if you require this facility). This amount will be returned in full at the end of the rental provided the vehicle is returned in the same condition as rented.
All drivers must possess a valid driver’s license in their country of residence. Drivers with a USA or Canada driver’s license will NOT be accepted at time of rental. Please review the “Residency restrictions” clause below, before completing your booking.

Other Restrictions:
*Please note: In common with most car hire suppliers the insurance coverage does not cover damage to windows, wheels, tires, the roof, underside & interior of the vehicle, towing charges or damage caused negligently, willfully or recklessly.

Payment:
The voucher is not a Rental Agreement. When you pick up the vehicle, you must sign a Rental Agreement provided by Dollar Car Rental and subject to local laws. The Dollar Car Rental voucher must be presented at the rental desk in order to guarantee the Dollar Car Rental rate is applied.

Residency restrictions:
Local residents may have additional restrictions. Bookings are limited to residents of website’s operating country. If a website in your home country of residence is not currently offered by company, please refer to our company’s .COM website. Please refer to the aforementioned “Drivers Must” clause for driver restrictions.

Falsifying information:
Falsifying information may void company liability and you may be responsible for any damages or injuries that may incur.

Fuel Policy:
If not included in your prepaid rate, you will be charged for a full tank of petrol for an amount equal to self-service pump price, at the commencement of the rental. You should return the vehicle as empty as possible. No refund is provided for unused fuel.

 

[derazor]

Patryn, seems like the LDW/CDW is included which is sufficient protection?

Just wondering those that use Dollar before, how is the car/service overall? They seems to be the cheapest when I tried to use Hertz / National / Alamo / Avis to gauge the prices.

I'm looking at renting as follows
1) SF 2 days ( convertible for coastal drive )
2) Las Vegas 2-3 days
3) San diego 1 day
4) Anaheim 1 day

I read that if you select compact most of the time you'd get upgraded ( not at airport ) as Americans like to drive big cars and they do not have enough compact car fleet.

Lastly, anyone tried priceline for car rental?

 

[patryn33]

I have rented priceline, hotwire, dollar, budget, enterprise etc.

not much difference. the cheapest rate from hotwire/priceline in my experience went to dollar. All rental car company vehicles are fleet vehicles.
rental car companies usually sell their car b4 reaching 36K miles, with that many car are under a yr old.

for drivers that feel confident with their driving LDW/CDW is sufficient. if U worry than pay more $$. it is insurance after all, should sh*t happens u may wish U bought it. if nothing happen U wish that you have not bought more.

note: if it is your fault, rental car companies can bill U for the numbers of days cars is in shop as rental and the cost of repairs etc.

I don't think U can find convertible for dollar U might have to go with hertz. just make sure the weather is good else it sucks big time

 

[derazor]

I checked dollar. They seem to have the convertible.

What are the so called additional Drivers Charges? Hopefully additionals are not too much.

Rental does not include:
All Additional Drivers Charges, Initial Tank of Petrol, GPS Satellite Navigation (Garmin nuvi), Personal Accident Insurance, Emergency Sickness Protection, Child/Baby Seat, Under-age Driver Fee, Ski Racks

 

[ses009]

The price you pay is only for main driver. If there is a 2nd driver, there will be additional charge. Of course if you don't pay for that, mai suay suay accident or what.

 

[patryn33]

I checked dollar. They seem to have the convertible.

What are the so called additional Drivers Charges? Hopefully additionals are not too much.

that is usually US$5-10/day per additional driver.

 

[zorrus]

hi guys, will there be any issues if i drive a new-york rented Hertz car into Canada to view Niagara falls?

 

[devilish_me]

hi guys, will there be any issues if i drive a new-york rented Hertz car into Canada to view Niagara falls?

nope. just make sure you've the canadian visa if required (non-singapore passports).

 

[derazor]

The price you pay is only for main driver. If there is a 2nd driver, there will be additional charge. Of course if you don't pay for that, mai suay suay accident or what.

I think it's alright, 1 person will be driving only

 

[derazor]

Hi experts,

Did some planning again with Hotwire. Wanted to pickup from San Diego Airport and return at Anaheim. It's like 170GBP for like 2 days.

As discussed, Dollar seems to be the most value for $. So I tried for a week rental, from San Diego Airport to LAX. The fees come out to be 140GBP as per below. Sounds too good to be true? Just concern a lot of plus plus tax later on.

I'd be getting the full size Dodge Charger, does it have cruise control? No mention in the webbie.

Cheers.

 

[hwaa]

is there scenarios whereby one actually forgot to bring driver's license? do they allow scanned copy?

 

[sumsum80]

nope. just make sure you've the canadian visa if required (non-singapore passports).

singapore passport no need

 

[patryn33]

I'd be getting the full size Dodge Charger, does it have cruise control? No mention in the webbie.

iirc rates does include tax. u can contact them to double check, they do have an email address.

all full size car has cruise control

 

[derazor]

Thanks patryn33.

These question might be a bit silly, pls bear with me.

1) When you collect the car what are the things do you normally check?
2) Do you all go for the pre-fuel thingy. i.e you need to fill up before you return. Difficult to find petrol kiosk?
3) How do you plan in such a way that you need to refuel during the journey? Long drives that I have is SF to Big Sur ( round trip ) and Vegas to Grand Canyon ( round trip ).
4) What about toilet breaks? Is it similar to our neighbour's North South Highway. Every 15 to 30mins there's a place for you to do your business.
5) Generally parking use what denomination of coins?

 

[genie47]

Hi experts,

Did some planning again with Hotwire. Wanted to pickup from San Diego Airport and return at Anaheim. It's like 170GBP for like 2 days.

As discussed, Dollar seems to be the most value for $. So I tried for a week rental, from San Diego Airport to LAX. The fees come out to be 140GBP as per below. Sounds too good to be true? Just concern a lot of plus plus tax later on.

I'd be getting the full size Dodge Charger, does it have cruise control? No mention in the webbie.

Cheers.

The Charger comes with cruise control. Don't ever dream of them giving you the 5.7L Hemi version. Parked my puny 3.5L V6 version next to the Hemi version at Bryce Canyon. Very subtle differences.

 

[patryn33]

1) When you collect the car what are the things do you normally check?
2) Do you all go for the pre-fuel thingy. i.e you need to fill up before you return. Difficult to find petrol kiosk?
3) How do you plan in such a way that you need to refuel during the journey? Long drives that I have is SF to Big Sur ( round trip ) and Vegas to Grand Canyon ( round trip ).
4) What about toilet breaks? Is it similar to our neighbour's North South Highway. Every 15 to 30mins there's a place for you to do your business.
5) Generally parking use what denomination of coins?

1. check for scratches,dents, cracks
2. I don't usually not worth it, just fill when u return. it is easy to find gas stations near the rental location.
3. never! I usually just look for gas station when U are ~0.25 tank. if U find somehow it has become super ulu then start looking when it is half tank!
4. US is different, rest stop can be 2hrs apart. the best place is watch out for gas station or fast food such as MacDonald.
5. parking structure credit card/cash. street parking with meter somethings coins that is going away usually credit card. if U are not in the downtown or major city usually free.

 

[touchme]

recently rented a super value chysler 7-seater mpv from alamo 3 weeks for $480 all-in from lax. Thats thro applying different combi of coupon codes and rateIDs, from $630 initially. Noticed that best rate to book bwtn 3-7 days prior. Last minutes rates are usu. higher. (thou thry may market as special rates)
avoid airport pickup if u can from those 5 stars, eg.avis or hertz, can uncur a premium of $100. The rest provide 10-mins shuttle to nearby off-airport depots.
For inspection, dents less than a golf ball size and scratches less than 5 inches are forgiven. I guess those smaller rent shops, thou half-cheaper will capitalise on this, and carrot u back.
Overkilled myself with 4852 miles drive thro CA, AZ, UT, NV. Dropped a 5-day CruiseAmerica RV rent from LV, after they refuse me a parking space for the mpv.

 

[genie47]

recently rented a super value chysler 7-seater mpv from alamo 3 weeks for $480 all-in from lax. Thats thro applying different combi of coupon codes and rateIDs, from $630 initially. Noticed that best rate to book bwtn 3-7 days prior. Last minutes rates are usu. higher. (thou thry may market as special rates)
avoid airport pickup if u can from those 5 stars, eg.avis or hertz, can uncur a premium of $100. The rest provide 10-mins shuttle to nearby off-airport depots.
For inspection, dents less than a golf ball size and scratches less than 5 inches are forgiven. I guess those smaller rent shops, thou half-cheaper will capitalise on this, and carrot u back.
Overkilled myself with 4852 miles drive thro CA, AZ, UT, NV. Dropped a 5-day CruiseAmerica RV rent from LV, after they refuse me a parking space for the mpv.

Wah! 4852 miles! Your adventure really adventure.

 

[hermes76]

1. check for scratches,dents, cracks
2. I don't usually not worth it, just fill when u return. it is easy to find gas stations near the rental location.
3. never! I usually just look for gas station when U are ~0.25 tank. if U find somehow it has become super ulu then start looking when it is half tank!
4. US is different, rest stop can be 2hrs apart. the best place is watch out for gas station or fast food such as MacDonald.
5. parking structure credit card/cash. street parking with meter somethings coins that is going away usually credit card. if U are not in the downtown or major city usually free.

me juz back last weekend.

1. oops, i din check coz they drove the 2.4T Cruze (I chose Cruze over a Sentra 2.5) to the exit & I have no chance to check, juz took over & drove off

2. I was given 3/4 tank but opted for them to fill to full & they asked me to return to LAX EMPTY which I did! refilling is pre-paid, i.e u pay counter the amount u want to pump first before filling up, if excess they will refund you. 1/2 tank on a 2400cc is abt USD35

3. oh yah, 1/2 tank better re-fuel if you know you are travelling long distance

4. we pre-packed some dried food, cold sandwiches & gallons of water juz incase, good to rest 15-30mins after abt 2hrs drive if not mind will lose focus...

5. meter-parking accepts min. quarters, parking at malls/marts usually free

 

[GenuineSeller]

Typically, gas will cost more along the highway, resting area.

I believe full size car usually will have the function where it will tell you how many "miles" to go before refuelling is required. For me, I will make use of that, and knowing the distance to my destination, I will decide if I should refuel it along the highway or get to the city area for gas.

Parking is free for resting area. In city, look out for free parking after 5pm or 6pm. It will save you some $$.

For toilet break, advice is, once you know you need to release, stop at the next resting area. Do not think that you can "tong" until the one after next ....... there are also toilets without food centres like MCD or other fast food. I was kind of worried when I enter one such toilet at 1am, and was driving alone. Although food is not available at such resting areas, vending machines are available.

I like driving in the states....enjoy!