Hertz - Long Term Rental Upgrade Strategy:FLL

I have a question regarding the best strategy for, or expectation of an upgrade for a long term rental at FLL.

I am a Gold member, renting a car for use by my parents (I will be the renter). My plan is to rent a midsize, and hope for an upgrade into something better.

I'm not looking to be upgraded into anything crazy, like a Town Car, Convertible or some luxurious imported sedan, but I'd like a shot at a Camry (or Camry Hybrid), Prius or something like a Ford 500.

The rental period will be the week before Christmas through the first week in April with a total cost of about $2,500 or so after tax. I'd think for dropping that kind of change, the location would be open to offering a pretty nice upgrade - especially since we would be paying for the use of a car which would otherwise likely sit idle from after New Years until around Presidents Day weekend.

Does anyone have experience upgrading long term rentals, or getting good upgrades at the FLL airport, or any nearby local locations?

A few things to suggest:

- For a rental that long, I'm not sure I'd chance an upgrade if what you really want is a larger car. Don't book less than what you need -- ie if they can deal with a midsize, reserve one and hope for an upgrade. Don't do what I once made the mistake of doing which was to reserve an Economy and hope for a midsize. I got the economy and had to pay more to upgrade it than I would have at the time of reservation.
- Look at the non-airport HLE locations in the area; you could easily save by not having to pay the airport fees over that long period
- There are some multi-month discounts on Hertz.com. Not sure how much they'll really save you but worth investigating
- Pricing out as a single rental, and then again a series of month-long rentals would be worth trying. Sometimes you can save a bit by breaking it up, even though you have to drive back in and swap the rental (or have them start the new one on the existing car).

I don't believe any rental agency is going to rent you a car for four months straight, they all have a 30 day limit after which you'll have to return the car and they would most likely give you another one. These are commonly referred to as mini-leases.

I would contact your local Enterprise and see what you might be able to work out with them in terms of price and vehicle, they deal with these types of rentals to a much greater extent than Hertz I believe, it is one of their specialities.

I'm not sure why renting a car in your name that is going to be used by someone else for a long period of time is a good idea.

I don't believe any rental agency is going to rent you a car for four months straight, they all have a 30 day limit after which you'll have to return the car and they would most likely give you another one. These are commonly referred to as mini-leases.

I would contact your local Enterprise and see what you might be able to work out with them in terms of price and vehicle, they deal with these types of rentals to a much greater extent than Hertz I believe, it is one of their specialities.

I'm not sure why renting a car in your name that is going to be used by someone else for a long period of time is a good idea.

All the major companies offer these rate plans and none of them list any requirement to return the car in 30 days for a replacement. Enterprise is significantly more expensive than Hertz, and I've always found their service subpar. I get far superior service from my local Avis location than any Enterprise office - except in this case, Avis is charging alot more than Hertz for a long rental.

I don't see any problem renting a car which will be used by members of my immediate family living at my residence - I believe that type of additional driver is specifically allowed.

Noah, I think the HLE locations are cheaper for both rental rates and fees - but their supply of cars is significantly less than that of the airport location - especially FLL and its abundant supply. Perhaps I can rent from a HLE, and exchange at the airport for something better if they don't upgrade.

I found a $50 off coupon plus an upgrade coupon, so I could use either to help bump me up to a nicer car or save a few $$.

I don't see any problem renting a car which will be used by members of my immediate family living at my residence - I believe that type of additional driver is specifically allowed.


Obviously, the risk is yours bocastephen, but my reading of the following paragraph (from the Hertz Gold web site), pretty clearly says that "immediate family" are not specifically allowed. To make them "allowed" they would have to sign a Additional Authorized Operator form (and probably pay a fee).

2. WHO MAY OPERATE THE CAR

Only You and, with Your permission, the following persons, provided that they meet the qualifications set forth in the following sentence (“Authorized Operators”), may operate the Car: Your spouse, Your domestic partner (if You are not married), Your employer, employees and fellow employees incidental to their business duties, and any other person who meets Hertz’ qualifications and who signs an Additional Authorized Operator form at the time of rental. Except as provided in the following sentence, all Authorized Operators must be at least 25 years old and have a valid driver’s license from a jurisdiction acceptable to Hertz. ...Except to the extent necessary for valet parking or in an emergency as permitted by law, no other persons are permitted to operate the Car; for purposes hereof, an “emergency” shall mean urgent circumstances which, under the laws of the jurisdiction in which the alleged emergency occurred, would justify the operation of an automobile by an unlicensed driver. With respect to persons who must sign an Additional Authorized Operator form, other qualifications may, at Hertz’ discretion, be in effect at the time and place of rental; and, where permitted by law, Hertz may impose an additional fee for such persons. A “domestic partner” is an unmarried partner of the same or opposite sex who is not Your parent, grandparent, sibling, child, grandchild, uncle, aunt, niece or nephew (in each case by blood or adoption), who permanently resides at the same address as You, and whose driver’s license shows the same residence address as Your driver’s license. By operating the Car (whether or not an Additional Authorized Operator form is completed), an Authorized Operator will be deemed jointly and severally responsible for Your obligations under this Agreement related to the Car, as well as for any obligations that this Agreement directly imposes on an Authorized Operator of the Car (for example: the obligations contained in paragraphs 9 and 10(e)).

Obviously, the risk is yours bocastephen, but my reading of the following paragraph (from the Hertz Gold web site), pretty clearly says that "immediate family" are not specifically allowed. To make them "allowed" they would have to sign a Additional Authorized Operator form (and probably pay a fee).....

That part is OK - I knew they would need to sign the form. My company CDP waives the fee.

Noah, I think the HLE locations are cheaper for both rental rates and fees - but their supply of cars is significantly less than that of the airport location - especially FLL and its abundant supply. Perhaps I can rent from a HLE, and exchange at the airport for something better if they don't upgrade.


I think it is really a toss-up as far as what you're going to get from what location -- if your goal is to get the largest car for the least spend, the HLE might be the way to go. For example, if you could book a full size car at the HLE for the same price as a Midsize at the airport, I'd go with the HLE option because at least you are guaranteed to get the size you want.

Furthermore, you can probably call the manager of the HLE up a few days in advance and see what they can do for you for the long rental; much easier to work with them and to exchange out if you don't get what you want.

Hertz at FLL? How did you get it to $2,500? I looked at a few days before Christmas to a few days after New Year's Day (roughly 2 weeks) and it was $1,400 for a mid-size!

Hertz at FLL? How did you get it to $2,500? I looked at a few days before Christmas to a few days after New Year's Day (roughly 2 weeks) and it was $1,400 for a mid-size!

The multi-month long term rates are far less than the weekly-30 day rates I tried. Actually, as Noah pointed out, the HLE locations were cheaper because the airport concession fee was left off - and that added up to plenty of cash on a 3+ month rental.

Another point - you're pricing out a 2 week rental during the absolute busiest 2 week period of the year down here, even though 1,400 is alot, it's not out of whack. I would check the other rental car forums for some codes and find another company to chop a good chunk of change off your Hertz price - they are the most expensive option around here, except oddly enough, for multi-month rentals.

All the major companies offer these rate plans and none of them list any requirement to return the car in 30 days for a replacement. "The maximum hiring duration is 30 days. For each rental period over 30 days, a new contract must be established."

That is from my Hertz #1 Club Gold Terms and Conditions (near the very end), as I said, it is my understanding that all the rental agencies have similar conditions, they want to see you and their car every 30 days, for what I believe are fairly obvious reasons.

Edited to Clarify:

Actually, I just realized those are the wrong terms and conditions, they only apply to travel agents or something like that, these are the correct ones:

"IN NO EVENT MAY YOU KEEP THE CAR FOR MORE THAN THIRTY (30) DAYS (IN NEW JERSEY, OHIO AND SOUTH
DAKOTA, 28 DAYS), UNLESS AUTHORIZED IN WRITING BY HERTZ."

And I know it says unless authorized in writing, but they are unlikely to authorize that, they want to see you and their car every 30 (or 28) days.

That part is OK - I knew they would need to sign the form. My company CDP waives the fee.As long as your parent(s) are specifically listed as authorized drivers and such additional authorized drivers are allowed under your company's contract you are okay.