I am currently employed by Hertz UK and have been for past six yrs. I also have gained experience from working in Hertz Central Reservations in Europe. I would like to try and answer any reasonable queries and maybe lay to rest some of the 'old wives tales' relating to Hertz policys & procedures.
why is it so bloody expensive to rent a car in Europe from Hertz? i was trying to use my hertz employee rate in LGW and the rate was $500 a week with NL ;( for a compact
why is it so bloody expensive to rent a car in Europe from Hertz? i was trying to use my hertz employee rate in LGW and the rate was $500 a week with NL ;( for a compact
What dates are you looking at, fleet issues in the UK at the moment, yielding and minimum keeps in at the moement for foreseeable future, also what group of car?
Location: BMI (CMI/PIA/ORD/STL as viable alternates)
Programs: AA EXP + 1.4 MM, EBB/S, Hertz/PC, Hilton/D
Posts: 251
We were charged GBP211 additional charge when we returned a car a couple of weeks ago which was listed as a "vehicle upcharge" which was not on the estimate I got online. I'm never renting from Hertz UK ever again.
Thanks for offering to answer questions. That's very brave of you.
I have to say that hiring a car is my least favourite travel task. Hertz is no worse or no better than the other majors. Getting the best rate that you are qualified for is an onerous task. You end up having to go through all your CDPs (airline, employer, hotel, loyalty program) and all the available coupons then inspect the fine print to make sure you are comparing apples to apples.
The following is case and point
Renting from FCO in August, for 3 weeks, automatic Green Collection (Mercedes A class)
My Aeroplan CDP comes up with a rate of 112.16 euro a week (Rate Code FTL4GB) but extra fees push the total closer to 900 euros.
The Car & Driver CDP gets me a rate of 54.96 euro a week (Rate Code EOX4GB) and the total less than 800 euros.
Simple choice right? Nope, a closer look shows that the EOX4GB rate doesn't include CDW. Also the theft insurance is 346 Euro whereas the FTL4GB has theft insurance at 130 Euro. What gives, I ask? Does the EOX4GB insurance somehow include CDW (because I've NEVER been able to decline CDW in Italy)?
Calling the Hertz Gold line is no help. A very patient sales rep went through it all with me and said she doesn't understand why the theft insurance rate would change. Nor can she guarantee that I won't be forced to take CDW when I pick up the car.
Just to be safe, I take the higher rate. Which annoys me and does nothing to make me loyal to Hertz.
My questions for you are. Does anybody understand these rates? Why can't your website just determine what the best rate for me is based on the CPDs I've recorded in my Gold profile?
And ultimately, can I have the 100 euro difference between those two rates back? I'd like to take my wife to dinner.
Have a few questions as I am scheduled to rent for the first time in Europe in a couple weeks at the Heathrow Hertz location.
1. How important is an international drivers license? Required? Nice to have?
2. My rental rate is pretty decent, but the super cover and other insurances add another 100 pounds to the rate. How important are these? Are these sometimes covered by insurance companies?
Any other recommendations? I'm a hertz five star member, which probably doesn't mean much.
Have a few questions as I am scheduled to rent for the first time in Europe in a couple weeks at the Heathrow Hertz location.
1. How important is an international drivers license? Required? Nice to have?
2. My rental rate is pretty decent, but the super cover and other insurances add another 100 pounds to the rate. How important are these? Are these sometimes covered by insurance companies?
Any other recommendations? I'm a hertz five star member, which probably doesn't mean much.
Location: LAX and LHR. UA 1K MM, HHonors Silver Gold, Hyatt Gold Passport, Hertz #1 Gold 5*, Avis Preferred
Posts: 1,452
Why is it that Hertz Europe locations do not have any cars with automatic transmission smaller than the most expensive category? I don't need a Mercedes, but I do want auto and air-con as standard (e.g. in the south of France).
Why is it that Hertz Europe locations do not have any cars with automatic transmission smaller than the most expensive category? I don't need a Mercedes, but I do want auto and air-con as standard (e.g. in the south of France).
Hi, automatics in Europe are not as common as other countries, thus car manafactuers price on demand,higher purchasing costs means higher rental costs, also as there are less automatics on fleet means when we are running low on them, we have to up the price accordingly,to control demand.
Try booking Midsize Auto (Ford Mondeo in the UK) or automatic from the 'green collection' Hertz have very few auto's in the 'green collection' but as you've booked auto,we have to upgrade free of charge to next size auto avail. Hope this helps!
Have a few questions as I am scheduled to rent for the first time in Europe in a couple weeks at the Heathrow Hertz location.
1. How important is an international drivers license? Required? Nice to have?
2. My rental rate is pretty decent, but the super cover and other insurances add another 100 pounds to the rate. How important are these? Are these sometimes covered by insurance companies?
Any other recommendations? I'm a hertz five star member, which probably doesn't mean much.
1. IDL is mandatory if your home licence is not in english or does not carry translation, bring it anyway just in case
2. Supercover is one of those things that only you can decide, yes it can be quite costly but an unexpected excess charge from £550 to £1000 depending on group booked is a pan whilst on holiday, to be honest most inbound airport renter take this especially on 1-2dy rentals. Personal Insurance is not really worth it, besides most visitors to the UK have thier own travel ins policy.
Some credit card issuers do cover you for rental cars, check with your card issuer. 5*members will have canopy service and access to Gold Lounge.
Thanks for offering to answer questions. That's very brave of you.
I have to say that hiring a car is my least favourite travel task. Hertz is no worse or no better than the other majors. Getting the best rate that you are qualified for is an onerous task. You end up having to go through all your CDPs (airline, employer, hotel, loyalty program) and all the available coupons then inspect the fine print to make sure you are comparing apples to apples.
The following is case and point
Renting from FCO in August, for 3 weeks, automatic Green Collection (Mercedes A class)
My Aeroplan CDP comes up with a rate of 112.16 euro a week (Rate Code FTL4GB) but extra fees push the total closer to 900 euros.
The Car & Driver CDP gets me a rate of 54.96 euro a week (Rate Code EOX4GB) and the total less than 800 euros.
Simple choice right? Nope, a closer look shows that the EOX4GB rate doesn't include CDW. Also the theft insurance is 346 Euro whereas the FTL4GB has theft insurance at 130 Euro. What gives, I ask? Does the EOX4GB insurance somehow include CDW (because I've NEVER been able to decline CDW in Italy)?
Calling the Hertz Gold line is no help. A very patient sales rep went through it all with me and said she doesn't understand why the theft insurance rate would change. Nor can she guarantee that I won't be forced to take CDW when I pick up the car.
Just to be safe, I take the higher rate. Which annoys me and does nothing to make me loyal to Hertz.
My questions for you are. Does anybody understand these rates? Why can't your website just determine what the best rate for me is based on the CPDs I've recorded in my Gold profile?
And ultimately, can I have the 100 euro difference between those two rates back? I'd like to take my wife to dinner.
Contrary to popular belief, CDP codes (unless corporate rates) will only discount the highest published rate, so it is worth checking rates without CDP's as entering a CDP tells the hertz system to search for the highest published rate first, hence sometimes customers thinking CDP's don't work.
Another tip, try setting Hertz website as UK rsident, you will find CDW & TP included in rate.
We were charged GBP211 additional charge when we returned a car a couple of weeks ago which was listed as a "vehicle upcharge" which was not on the estimate I got online. I'm never renting from Hertz UK ever again.
It appears you signed for an 'upsell' to a higher car group, if you really belive you were mis-sold this then you can contact UK customer services via the hertz.co.uk site,click on customer support and follow links.
OK, here's a UK oriented question for you: Why can't renters EXIT from the Edgware Road office directly onto Edgware road during the day M-F if they are immediately leaving London? It would save the congestion charge. Employees do it all the time.
I've emailed Hertz UK about this and gotten no reply.
OK, here's a UK oriented question for you: Why can't renters EXIT from the Edgware Road office directly onto Edgware road during the day M-F if they are immediately leaving London? It would save the congestion charge. Employees do it all the time.
I've emailed Hertz UK about this and gotten no reply.
I shall make a few enquires for you, will aim to get back to you asap.
