Permanently Renting Instead of Owning
#241
formerly memoses
Join Date: Jun 2007
Location: New York City
Programs: DL PM, SPG Plat, Hyatt Something or another, HH Blue :), National EE, Sixt Plat
Posts: 136
My suggestion is this: Start with Executive status (through whatever means or just eventually get there over time), and on an evening like Sunday or Friday, head to the airport and scour the Executive aisle for your favorite car (the lot should be chocked full on those days). Rent the car one way to a local branch under an FCAR contract. At the branch the next day, have a long-term FCAR contract waiting, and when you arrive at the branch, just ask them to keep the car you have and swap the contracts. The branch will usually be happy to oblige with processing the upgrade because you are now giving them money instead of the airport while at the same time not removing any of their inventory. It's basically free revenue for the branch.
#242
A FlyerTalk Posting Legend
Join Date: Sep 2002
Location: LAX/TPE
Programs: United 1K, JAL Sapphire, SPG Lifetime Platinum, National Executive Elite, Hertz PC, Avis PC
Posts: 42,008
My suggestion is this: Start with Executive status (through whatever means or just eventually get there over time), and on an evening like Sunday or Friday, head to the airport and scour the Executive aisle for your favorite car (the lot should be chocked full on those days). Rent the car one way to a local branch under an FCAR contract. At the branch the next day, have a long-term FCAR contract waiting, and when you arrive at the branch, just ask them to keep the car you have and swap the contracts. The branch will usually be happy to oblige with processing the upgrade because you are now giving them money instead of the airport while at the same time not removing any of their inventory. It's basically free revenue for the branch.
The one-way one-day deal is the best use of free days as you can often get something in the premium or luxury category and then with a cooperative (which generally improves over time and frequent rentals) local office, keep it until you need to travel again and drop it back at the airport - where getting the car back will often net you an improved selection when you rent a luxury or premium again - while taking their prized inventory and giving it to the local office will often yield worsening options on future rentals.
Just keep both sides of the bread buttered and you're good to go.
#243
Join Date: Sep 2013
Location: SFO/DTW
Programs: DL PM 0.5MM, Hyatt Globalist, HHonors Gold, SPG Plat, Marriott Gold, Avis PC, National EE, Hertz PC
Posts: 1,988
Not sure if this applies to only certain airports, but at SJC, the branch manager told me that PCARs/FCARs can only leave the airport to local branches after hitting a certain mileage (6k if I recall correctly).
Anything newer and it has to come back to the airport since it is "new"
Anything newer and it has to come back to the airport since it is "new"
#244
A FlyerTalk Posting Legend
Join Date: Sep 2002
Location: LAX/TPE
Programs: United 1K, JAL Sapphire, SPG Lifetime Platinum, National Executive Elite, Hertz PC, Avis PC
Posts: 42,008
Not sure if this applies to only certain airports, but at SJC, the branch manager told me that PCARs/FCARs can only leave the airport to local branches after hitting a certain mileage (6k if I recall correctly).
Anything newer and it has to come back to the airport since it is "new"
Anything newer and it has to come back to the airport since it is "new"
#245
Join Date: Jan 2015
Location: Toronto
Programs: National EE
Posts: 174
Has anybody from Canada , especially Toronto, tried to permanently rent from National instead of leasing long term? The best monthly rental I could get was around $800 per month.Auto collision damage waiver is covered by most gold and platinum credit cards and if the person has two of them, then back to back rental is not an issue.
With leasing one has to consider monthly payments, cost of insurance, maintenance, long term contract (at least 2 years), and limitation of 24000 km per year and most probably it would be more than $800 per month for a SUV.
I'd be happy to hear from people who actually tried it in Canada.
With leasing one has to consider monthly payments, cost of insurance, maintenance, long term contract (at least 2 years), and limitation of 24000 km per year and most probably it would be more than $800 per month for a SUV.
I'd be happy to hear from people who actually tried it in Canada.
#246
Join Date: Sep 2013
Location: SFO/DTW
Programs: DL PM 0.5MM, Hyatt Globalist, HHonors Gold, SPG Plat, Marriott Gold, Avis PC, National EE, Hertz PC
Posts: 1,988
Has anybody from Canada , especially Toronto, tried to permanently rent from National instead of leasing long term? The best monthly rental I could get was around $800 per month.Auto collision damage waiver is covered by most gold and platinum credit cards and if the person has two of them, then back to back rental is not an issue.
With leasing one has to consider monthly payments, cost of insurance, maintenance, long term contract (at least 2 years), and limitation of 24000 km per year and most probably it would be more than $800 per month for a SUV.
I'd be happy to hear from people who actually tried it in Canada.
With leasing one has to consider monthly payments, cost of insurance, maintenance, long term contract (at least 2 years), and limitation of 24000 km per year and most probably it would be more than $800 per month for a SUV.
I'd be happy to hear from people who actually tried it in Canada.
#247
Join Date: Apr 2015
Posts: 212
I am currently renting from National paying $775 a month all in, best they could do. Based on experience none of them want to budge a better price - I am happy with what I have now but I wish for a lower rate. I definitely like this vs. leasing, hopefully 2016 is a good year for National's fleet.
#248
Join Date: Jan 2015
Location: Toronto
Programs: National EE
Posts: 174
I am currently renting from National paying $775 a month all in, best they could do. Based on experience none of them want to budge a better price - I am happy with what I have now but I wish for a lower rate. I definitely like this vs. leasing, hopefully 2016 is a good year for National's fleet.
#249
Join Date: Apr 2015
Posts: 212
total is $775.72 with my (midsize) corporate rate per month with unlimited km. no LDW so I just use my credit card LDW. this is rented through YYZ, been driving a 2016 Explorer Limited since June. love it.
#250
Join Date: Mar 2012
Location: LGA
Programs: DL DM, UA Gold, Marriott Plat Prem., Hilton Gold, National Exec Elite.
Posts: 2,533
Is it a real limited - with a sunroof, etc? Or is it one of those BS limited that would have been a base model a few years ago? I'm very disappointed with limited editions these days - seems like you need platinum titanium to even get a sunroof...
#251
Join Date: Jul 2014
Programs: Kimpton IC, Voila Platinum, Club Carlson Gold Elite,National EE, Hertz PC, Avis First, Sixt Platinum
Posts: 103
Actually, I recently had a titanium which did not have a sunroof. Go figure...
#252
Join Date: Apr 2015
Posts: 212
dual panel moonroof, massaging seats, and active SXM. it's been perfect since day one. would wait for 2017 model for SYNC3.
#253
Join Date: Mar 2012
Location: LGA
Programs: DL DM, UA Gold, Marriott Plat Prem., Hilton Gold, National Exec Elite.
Posts: 2,533
#254
Join Date: Apr 2015
Posts: 212
#255
Join Date: Feb 2012
Location: The place where it gets so hot in the summer some planes can't take off.
Programs: Marriott LT Titanium, WoH Globalist, National EE, United Platinum
Posts: 1,442
total is $775.72 with my (midsize) corporate rate per month with unlimited km. no LDW so I just use my credit card LDW. this is rented through YYZ, been driving a 2016 Explorer Limited since June. love it.
Quote:
Originally Posted by matrixca7
With national you can choose any car from the aisle and even exchange it during your contract with something from another category, but with others like Hertz it's not that easy.
Do you get $775 from airport or local branch downtown Toronto?
Quote:
Originally Posted by matrixca7
With national you can choose any car from the aisle and even exchange it during your contract with something from another category, but with others like Hertz it's not that easy.
Do you get $775 from airport or local branch downtown Toronto?
I also recommend getting a non owner policy since Cc won't cover damage to other vehicles/property/people.