jackal

Renting the Car
Now that you’ve gotten a good rate reserved, here are some tips on renting the car. I’ve heard from several people that the world of rental cars is foreign and confusing, so hopefully these pointers will help.

First of all, when you show up at the rental counter, you will need to provide a driver's license and a credit card. The credit card needs to match the name on the driver's license. It's not usually a problem to rent the car to a different person than it was reserved for (reserved for Joe Schmo but brother-in-law John Smith wants to do the driving), but the credit card needs to be in the name of whoever is renting the vehicle.

If you can, use a credit card. Not only do most credit cards provide some collision damage insurance (though it can be flaky), many locations have limits on accepting debit cards or even do not accept debit cards altogether. Customers who only have debit cards are viewed by rental agencies as riskier for numerous reasons, and it's harder to collect on bad debt from a debit card with $200 in the bank account than from a credit card with a $25,000 limit. If you use a debit card to rent the vehicle, be prepared for some (or all) of the following additional qualifications or restrictions:

• Limits on the size of vehicle (basic vehicles only, no SUVs or specialty cars)
• A possibly-substantial additional deposit above the amount of the rental (refunds can take some time to process)
• A credit check (inquiries can hurt your credit score)
• Restrictions by residency (no local renters, out-of-state driver's license required, flight itinerary required, etc.)
• Proof of insurance required
• Coverage options restricted (prohibited from purchasing coverage)

Handling the Sales
Most rental agents are on some type of commission or incentive system, although the specific system and its lucrativeness varies between companies and locations. Some locations (especially some, but not all, franchised locations) stress sales, while others are less intense or have lazy agents who simply ask, "Do you need any coverage?". While nobody should be subjected to ultra-high-pressure sales (and in case you are, read the following so you know what you want before you get to the counter), a good sales agent can effectively show you the value of the options he or she is offering while providing excellent customer service. Do not simply walk up to the counter, toss your driver's license and credit card at the agent, and say, "I don't need any of your expensive insurances or gas." Nothing is more off-putting to the agent, and he or she might do something like give you the oldest, most dinged-up car on the lot or put a note to show you absolutely no mercy on fuel at return or overtime charges--or, in extreme cases, nitpick some policy in order to deny you a rental car. If you have your heart set on declining everything, the best thing to do is listen politely and then politely decline the offers. Rental sales agents actually have a good bit of authority (they're not minimum-wage order-takers) and can make your life miserable if you treat them poorly or don't respect them. (I know one agent who would make it a point to offer and explain every option in full detail--politely and with a smile on her face--if a customer walked up and told her up front that they were in a hurry and just wanted to decline everything. That could make a transaction take upwards of 10 minutes. Surprisingly, too, she said she actually had good luck convincing these people to buy some of the options using this method.)

However, if you are interested in at least understanding what the rental company is offering, here is a description of the items an agent may offer you:

Upgrades: It's obviously in the company's interest to roll higher-priced vehicles, but most people attempt to save as much money as possible by booking small cars, even though they'd rather drive something bigger (there's a reason the Toyota Camry, and not the Chevy Aveo, is the best-selling car in the U.S., and trucks and SUVs are getting more and more popular despite rising gas prices). Agents are trained to offer upgrades in order to balance the fleet and, of course, maximize the company's (and their) revenue.
Coverage or protection: There are several different options available, and many people are confused by them.

• Loss Damage Waiver covers any physical damage to the rental vehicle and associated fees and is somewhat analagous to comprehensive and collision coverages on a typical personal automobile insurance policy. Although it varies by location, LDW typically includes coverage for the following items:
  • 100% of damage to the rental vehicle (no limit and no deductible)
  • Tire repair or replacement
  • Windshield repair or replacement
  • Diminution of value (the decrease in the resale value of the vehicle)
  • Loss of use (you keep paying while the car is in the shop or waiting for parts)
  • Administrative fees
  In other words, if anything happens to your rental vehicle, you are basically not responsible. This option is not an insurance policy but a contractual "waiver"--in exchange for a fee, the rental company is agreeing to "waive" its right to collect on damages from you. (Tip: don't confuse the rental agent by telling them you want to "waive" this option.) Note that violating the rental agreement (allowing an unauthorized person to drive, driving while intoxicated, driving on unpaved roads or out of the allowed area, reckless driving, etc.--read the contract for full details) will void this and any other coverage. Check with the specific location for any limits on coverage.
  
  Note that LDW only covers your rental vehicle. It does not cover death or injury to you or the occupants of your vehicle or to third parties involved in the accident.
  
  The cost can be somewhat steep--anywhere from $9 per day up to $30 (possibly higher!) per day, depending on location, coverage limits, and size of vehicle--but the benefits are that it's hassle-free (no endless dealings with insurance companies, especially if they don't cover rental cars), has no extra out-of-pocket expenses (deductibles, loss of use and other items not covered by some insurance companies), and protects your insurance premium (no insurance company payout).
  
  
• Supplemental Liability Insurance provides protection against third-party claims for both bodily injury and property damage, usually up to $1 million per incident and is more or less analagous to liability insurance on a typical personal automobile insurance policy. In other words, if you hit someone else, this policy will cover their car repair, medical bills, lost income, pain and suffering, etc. It is "supplemental" in that it will extend any existing liability insurance offered by the rental company up to $1 million per incident, but since companies are rarely in the habit of giving things out for free, third-party liability insurance is only included in the rate in states where it is legally required (and even then, it is usually only up to state minimum coverage limits). It is a primary policy, meaning that the $1 million limit would need to be exhausted before anything is claimed against your personal liability policy.
  
  Note that SLI only covers third party claims. It does not cover your rental vehicle or any death or injury to you or the occupants of your vehicle.
  
  The cost is usually less than LDW (between $10 and $15) but of course varies by location, and the benefits are similar to the ones listed for LDW above. In addition, the $1 million policy can help provide substantial protection of your personal assets should you be at fault in a major accident.
  
  
• Personal Accident Insurance and Personal Effects Insurance are usually sold bundled together as the Personal Protection Plan. PAI provides some medical, death and dismemberment benefits for bodily injury. Coverage is provided for the primary renter for accidents in and out of the vehicle and for injury to any passengers due to an accident in the vehicle only. PEI provides some coverage against loss or damage to personal property, subject to a deductible and limits on items covered (basically, it doesn't cover electronics, jewelry, or anything expensive).
  
  The cost for the two together is usually around $5 per day but may be less if bundled with other coverage options.
  
  
• Uninsured/Underinsured Motorist Protection provides coverage for injuries and damages caused by an owner or driver of an uninsured or underinsured third party vehicle. In other words, if Joe Schmo driving on a suspended license and with no insurance hits you and puts you in the hospital, damage to your car and your medical bills, etc., are covered. If Joe Schmo has state minimum coverage but your hospital bill ends up being $300,000, this policy would cover the difference.
  
  The cost is usually $5 or so per day and is only offered at some locations.
  
  
• Pre-Paid Fuel may be the most confusing item on the menu. At most locations, the vehicle is delivered to you with a full tank of fuel. Normally, you are responsible for returning it in the same condition. If you do not, the rental agency will refuel the vehicle at a premium price (I know one Budget location that charges $10 per gallon!).
  
  With pre-paid fuel, however, you buy one full tank of gas in advance from the rental agency, usually at a competitive price per gallon with nearby gas stations (and sometimes a lower rate). By doing this, you are not responsible for refueling the car before returning it. However--and this is the part that confuses most people--you are buying a full tank of gas no matter how much you use. If you only use a quarter of a tank, you are not refunded for the other three quarters of a tank.
  
  If you're keeping the car for one day just to drive to a meeting and back, it's probably not a good deal (unless you're a Fortune 500 CEO and your time is worth thousands per hour, in which case the time saved by not having to refuel it may be justifiable). But if you're going to be driving at least a couple hundred miles and are the kind of person who waits until the last minute to do everything (including returning the vehicle and checking into the flight), or you don't mind paying a little bit for convenience--or you like to drive the car down to the last drop and want to get the most for your money (I've been known to drive 30 or more miles with the fuel light on), pre-paid fuel isn't a bad deal.
  
  
• Other options include TripSaver roadside assistance (at $4.99 per day, not a bad deal if you're going to be doing a lot of driving) and GPS units ($10-12 per day, a bit spendy but fun and useful if you're in an unfamiliar area and don't already have your own). Other location-specific options may be offered.

Rental contract terms and conditions are mostly common-sense, but if you've never rented a car before, it's a good idea to familiarize yourself with them. It's not usually good form to hold up a line while you spend 20 minutes reading them with a magnifying glass, but it shouldn't be a problem to read them before you drive out of the lot and come back if you have questions or want to void out the rental.

Before you sign the rental contract, though, it's a good idea to review the charges, especially if your total is different than your original reservation's quote. It's a LOT easier (and you have a lot more bargaining power) to adjust or at least clarify things up front than complaining at the return (after you've gotten use of the upgrade or the coverage or whatever you "didn't know about"). Carefully read any spots the agent asks you to initial, too. A good agent will fully explain the contract and charges before having you sign it, but not everyone is as thorough (and, yes, there are a very few bad eggs out there, too, who may try to hide things in the contract that you don't want).

After signing everything, you'll be directed to your car. When you get to the car, do a very careful inspection for any damage, no matter how minor. While most locations are fairly lenient with damage (minor door dings or surface scratches are generally not a problem and are considered normal wear and tear), it is in your best interest to make sure the agency has all pre-existing damage on record--or you risk having to pay for it upon return. Pay special attention to the less-visible spots down near the bottom of the car, the windshield, and the tires (look for low pressure, indicating possible leaks). Report anything you see to the appropriate person (a gate attendant, lot attendant, or back at the rental counter) and make sure they have it in writing (either on a vehicle damage slip or at least in their computer system). It would be in your best interest to have a copy of that record as well. (You should do this even if you've purchased LDW in the event that something happens that voids the coverage, leaving you on the hook for those charges.)

Most corporate-owned locations and franchises do run an honest business and will not intentionally charge you for damage you didn't do, but sometimes damage does appear on cars and can be difficult to track down exactly who caused it. There are some less-than-ethical operators out there, too, and anything you can do to protect yourself is a good idea.