Hertz - Renting a car on Edgeware Road central London: No congestion charge?

Hertz has an office at 35 Edgeware road. Looking at the congestion charge map, it looks like if I rent a car there and turn left, going out Edgeware road to the inner ring road and then continue out of London, I'll not have to pay the congestion charge; i.e., Edgeware road and the ring road, even though they pass through the congestion charging area are exempted from the charge. Also looks like Paddington station is outside the zone.

Did I get this right?

While the entrance to that Hertz station is on Edgeware road, the exit from Hertz is a few feet down a side road that turns into Edgeware, that wouldn't be a problem, they would have thought this one through, wouldn't they?

Thanks for any help.

Yes I think you got it right.

Edgware (note spelling) Road is out of the zone, the tricky bit maybe the exit, as you mention, could be that is a problem, depends on where the cameras are located for the side street. Paddington is outside of the zone.

Why not give the office a call, you can't be the first that asked it. I maybe down Edgware Road way later this week, in which case I'll be walking by the Hertz office, if I am, I'll have a quick look.

Thanks. Everytime I remember to call the office directly, it's just after they have closed (8 hours behind here). But I finally got the time right and the option to "speak to the local office" puts you into voice mail jail, they won't put you through.

Even if the old exit was poorly located, they might let you out the entrance directly onto Edgware (without the second E), but I've also run into plenty of British shop attendants who were mean-spirited enough to refuse this kind of request absent a formal company policy, and there is a exit blocking device they must remove so you can't just do it on your own.

Moving this to the Hertz forum at the OP's request.

If anyone has a clue about this, I'd appreciate knowing before getting to London next week. Hertz at that office is also not responding to my email on the matter. Thanks!

As far as I am aware, there is no way to leave the Marble Arch branch of Hertz without paying the Congestion Charge (unless, of course, you do it after 6pm or before 7am). Allow me to show my working:

Here (http://www.cclondon.com/download/DetailMapECCZ.pdf) is the map of the zone, which clearly starts on Edgware Road to the south of the junction with Sussex Gardens / Old Marylebone Road. The Hertz is further south, much closer towards Marble Arch. Google Maps shows 35 Edgware Road as being here (http://maps.google.co.uk/maps?f=q&hl=en&q=35+Edgware+Rd,+Westminster,+London,+United+Kingd om&sll=54.162434,-3.647461&sspn=16.486344,26.367188&ie=UTF8&cd=1&geocode=0,51.514488,-0.162047&z=16&iwloc=addr&om=1).

As far as I am aware, there is no way to leave the Marble Arch branch of Hertz without paying the Congestion Charge (unless, of course, you do it after 6pm or before 7am). Allow me to show my working:

Here (http://www.cclondon.com/download/DetailMapECCZ.pdf) is the map of the zone, which clearly starts on Edgware Road to the south of the junction with Sussex Gardens / Old Marylebone Road. The Hertz is further south, much closer towards Marble Arch. Google Maps shows 35 Edgware Road as being here (http://maps.google.co.uk/maps?f=q&hl=en&q=35+Edgware+Rd,+Westminster,+London,+United+Kingd om&sll=54.162434,-3.647461&sspn=16.486344,26.367188&ie=UTF8&cd=1&geocode=0,51.514488,-0.162047&z=16&iwloc=addr&om=1).Edgware Road itself though is exempted from the charges, as shown on the map you linked to, so as long as the OP can turn out of the Hertz directly onto Edgware Road they should be fine. The question is then can you get out of the Hertz directly onto Edgware, and the OP would specifically like to head north, so can they make a left turn onto Edgware from Hertz.

I was just there a month ago and I have a strong hunch the only way to exit the premises is one of the roads in the back which is within the £8 zone charge.

Weekends, it's free too. Any chance you're coming in on a Saturday or a Sunday?

Edgware Road itself though is exempted from the charges, as shown on the map you linked to
So it is. I didn't realise that.

Actually, having rented before from this branch, as I noted in the original post, the entrance is on Edgware but the exit is on Seymour St, rather close to Edgware (certainly less than 100' away, probably less than 50' away). So whether there is a charge or not is determined by whether the exit is before the cameras OR whether during congestion charge times they will let you exit via Edgware.

Again, a barrier that must be moved by staff blocks you from exiting or entering via either way. So the question in the case of the second choice depends on the willingness of staff -- something which cannot typically counted on at that branch unless there is a mandate from Hertz.

Sure would be nice if UK Hertz staff in that branch either answered their phone when open or their emails, but they don't -- further evidence of their lack of customer orientation. Don't suppose there is a Hertz lurker either?

Hi,
I rent from this branch pretty much once every week.
The entrance is not in the congestion zone but the exit is. You therefore do need to pay the fee when you rent a car, however, they will do this for you and add the cost (no admin fee) to the rental if you are a gold customer.

I have seen staff driving out of the 'in' but But never a customer.

Phillip

Bummer, but thanks. GBP8 extra for 50 feet driving. Classic British lack of customer service, I think I will ask them directly when I am there this weekend and if that's what they say, move my upcoming rental outside the zone, there's an office on Fulham Palace road near Hammersmith.

I have no need or intention of renting from here, but I find this astonishing.

To be fair to them, I'm not sure that there is a lot they can do. I think the only way around it would be to have someone permanently man the entrance and stop people driving in to let you out, if you've seen the branch you'll know why.
The Hammersmith branch is a bit out of the way, perhaps you could have them deliver the car too you?

I wandered by today and asked, they said they disallowed it because it was "dangerous" to turn out onto Edgware road. Nonsense. The station was completely devoid of customers when I went in -- looks like the charge has driven most of their business elsewhere. It wouldn't be that hard to install a camera and a stop light or just send someone up for the short period of time when a car is exiting.