National - Need help to rent a car for 90 days

Hi all,

First of all, I'm not a native english-speaker, wish my English won't drive you angry.

I will live in SFO for 3 months(6/2-8/25), want to rent a car in that period. I searched a lot in this forum and found a lot useful tips. But I still have a lot of confusing.

1 I'm EA member, if I want a standard car, which is better idea: rent a standard car directly and pick a car from standard car zone; or order a mid-size car and chose any standard car in EA area.

2 I tried some code and contract, the best price I got is using 5760333. Does anyone have better ideas?

3 I haven't received my EA card as I just registered yesterday, can I still use pass counter servies and pick a car in EA then check out?

Really appreciate for your reading, sorry for my poor English again.

First off - welcome to Flyertalk and our National forum.

When you say you're going to be in SFO for 3 months, do you mean that you are going to be in the City of San Francisco proper or the surrounding areas. If you are going to be in the city you may want to reconsider renting a car for the entire period since parking is very expensive and relatively hard to find otherwise. If you are out in the surrounding area, it probably will be a good idea to have a car however. You may want to consider renting the car from a location other than the airport in any case, since the airport has taxes and fees that will add up considerably for such a long rental. If it was a short rental, then the higher cost could make sense in terms of convenience.

Now on to your questions:

1. I would just book mid-size and choose from EA, there will be a standard size car or even a full size one most likely.

2. Even though the best price is using contract 5760333, this is a company contract that includes LDW (insurance on the car itself should you have an accident with the car - even if someone just hits it), unless you work for that company and can prove it, generally using such contract is not recommended since the LDW won't apply, and your own insurance may not cover it either since you weren't eligible to use that contract - you could be out a lot of money if something does happen to the car. I would pay a little more using some other contract code that doesn't include LDW since you won't be faced with this same issue.

3. You'll be able to choose the car - I'm not sure what the procedure is for a first time renter with Emerald Club anymore.

If the OP will be residing in the city and not require a car for daily use it may be advantageous to join a car group like Zip Car or Mint which would take away any responsibility for parking and fuel costs. I would recommend purchasing the extended insurance if offered which in our case was 9.99$ and covered all rentals for 60 days.

Thanks so much, I will stay in Palo Alto, not downtown.
Good to know the risk to use a contract code, really appreciate.

First off - welcome to Flyertalk and our National forum.

When you say you're going to be in SFO for 3 months, do you mean that you are going to be in the City of San Francisco proper or the surrounding areas. If you are going to be in the city you may want to reconsider renting a car for the entire period since parking is very expensive and relatively hard to find otherwise. If you are out in the surrounding area, it probably will be a good idea to have a car however. You may want to consider renting the car from a location other than the airport in any case, since the airport has taxes and fees that will add up considerably for such a long rental. If it was a short rental, then the higher cost could make sense in terms of convenience.

Now on to your questions:

1. I would just book mid-size and choose from EA, there will be a standard size car or even a full size one most likely.

2. Even though the best price is using contract 5760333, this is a company contract that includes LDW (insurance on the car itself should you have an accident with the car - even if someone just hits it), unless you work for that company and can prove it, generally using such contract is not recommended since the LDW won't apply, and your own insurance may not cover it either since you weren't eligible to use that contract - you could be out a lot of money if something does happen to the car. I would pay a little more using some other contract code that doesn't include LDW since you won't be faced with this same issue.

3. You'll be able to choose the car - I'm not sure what the procedure is for a first time renter with Emerald Club anymore.

I will consider more about it, it helps.

If the OP will be residing in the city and not require a car for daily use it may be advantageous to join a car group like Zip Car or Mint which would take away any responsibility for parking and fuel costs. I would recommend purchasing the extended insurance if offered which in our case was 9.99$ and covered all rentals for 60 days.

As much as I am a National loyalist through and through, I have found that National monthly rentals are often higher than competitors in many cases. I just helped a family member book a 90 day rental (breaking it up into 3-30 day rentals) from another agency which had National beat by a couple hundred dollars each month. This is definitely one of those times you will want to cross-shop your rental with the other major agencies.

Also, Peter's suggestion that you look into booking from a local agency, rather than the airport, is absolutely right. We saved over $200 in fees by booking from a local branch.

As much as I am a National loyalist through and through, I have found that National monthly rentals are often higher than competitors in many cases. I just helped a family member book a 90 day rental (breaking it up into 3-30 day rentals) from another agency which had National beat by a couple hundred dollars each month. This is definitely one of those times you will want to cross-shop your rental with the other major agencies.

Also, Peter's suggestion that you look into booking from a local agency, rather than the airport, is absolutely right. We saved over $200 in fees by booking from a local branch.

Another variable is the Bay Area in general. Like NYC, National can be quite a bit higher particularly in these 2 locations.

Also, Peter's suggestion that you look into booking from a local agency, rather than the airport, is absolutely right. We saved over $200 in fees by booking from a local branch.

Going off-airport means losing the Emerald Aisle/Executive Selection 'you choose' benefit for those who are eligible but the reduction in rate, taxes and airport fees can be very significant.

You might want to also look at Enterprise. Their local outlets often have very good long term rates and they will accept your National membership for credit.

Someone else needs to answer this one: If it is just one rental for three months there is just one rental credit, right? It might be wise to break it up to get multiple credits.

Someone else needs to answer this one: If it is just one rental for three months there is just one rental credit, right? It might be wise to break it up to get multiple credits.

Wrong, quite happily. Credits are also a function of rental duration. From the Emerald Club T&Cs:

7. Members who choose to earn vehicle rental credits will receive one credit for each vehicle rental (for the first seven (7) days) plus an additional credit on such rental for every four (4) consecutive days of vehicle rentals in the US or Canada. Consecutive, multiple or overlapping rentals in the same location do not qualify for rental credits.

Wrong, quite happily. Credits are also a function of rental duration. From the Emerald Club T&Cs:

7. Members who choose to earn vehicle rental credits will receive one credit for each vehicle rental (for the first seven (7) days) plus an additional credit on such rental for every four (4) consecutive days of vehicle rentals in the US or Canada. Consecutive, multiple or overlapping rentals in the same location do not qualify for rental credits.

Thanks!

Wrong, quite happily. Credits are also a function of rental duration. From the Emerald Club T&Cs:

7. Members who choose to earn vehicle rental credits will receive one credit for each vehicle rental (for the first seven (7) days) plus an additional credit on such rental for every four (4) consecutive days of vehicle rentals in the US or Canada. Consecutive, multiple or overlapping rentals in the same location do not qualify for rental credits.

Wow - many thanks for bringing this to my attention ! I never got this before and was always doing weeklys with throwing a day at Alamo or Enterprise in between, this is even better !