Hertz - Gold Family - Underage fee in Canada

I've noticed today that when I log into my account and use the Gold Family Discount, it now does not list the $25/day underage fee, where as 2 or 3 weeks ago it did. Does that mean that they will not officially charge the fee in Canada anymore as what happens in the US? I read on this board that this CDP is only really supposed to work in the US.

When I use another CDP, the underage fee re-appears, so they still know I'm under 25.

This summer when I've booked cars with the Gold Family Discount, it would show the fee upon reservation but none of the corporate locations would actually charge me for it - only the licencee locations in Ottawa.

I doubt they will ever get rid of the fee permanently. I think it shows how desperate they are for revenue that they keep pushing underage waivers right now. Underage rentals are risky and I saw many go sour during my time.

Certain corporate CDPs waive the underage charge, for all the companies. Were there big losses with them? If not, the question could become: How are corporate underage renters different than retail? Are they different at all? Are they more personally responsible people? Are they smarter and thus make more intelligent decisions? Are they more skilled drivers?

Having an underage coupon (PC) was very clever, in my opinion. It prevents the renter from using any other coupon. If it's the Family Gold CDP, other coupons can be used, but the Family Gold discount is a small percentage of what AAA's CDP gives. The net cost is still cheaper than paying the underage fee with the AAA coupons, though.

It also works well for the college town market, especially if it's a college with restrictive parking policies. Zipcar brought their business to such places for precisely that reason. With the regular companies, one-way minivans and/or SUVs to and from college towns in the boonies can be very lucrative. (expensive because it's one-way in general, more expensive if it's going out to the boonies with low demand, more expensive because it's a specialty vehicle)


Also, here's an interesting comparison. U-Haul and Hertz's corporate partner, Penske, allow 18 year olds to rent moving trucks with no additional surcharge. They make a lot of money from the college market, as well as from graduate and professional students. Apparently they must not have too many losses with those, otherwise this would stop. But, on the other hand, Budget Truck has an underage fee, and like rental car partners Avis and Budget, does not really want this business.

Corporate underage rentals are better because they are renting for business and seem to care more about the car at that point in time. I don't think too many people want go partying in a box truck so I'm sure that is why U-Haul & Penske can do it like they do.

I'm 25 so I was just part of the age group that I say is awful. 21-24 includes enough bad apples to ruin it for the rest. 18-20 aren't even people yet. I don't know what genius decided that 18-20 on insurance replacement was a good idea.

Some of the corporate CDPs that include the underage fee waiver apply for personal travel, as well. I know someone affiliated with such an organization who said he got a great deal for his grand tour of Florida vacation last summer.