Originally Posted by
jzweighaft
There's a way around it I think. When re-pricing your original reservation, when you get to the home screen, at the bottom (below the PC/RQ/etc. fields but above the submit button) there's a check box next to the statement "I want the Rate Plan I originally reserved" -- uncheck it, and that allows the lower rate to come up (i.e., my rental was originally on rate code MCLE, when I re-priced it I unchecked the box and the lower rate was TMDE).
BTW, where are you renting from that taxes are only $2 a day??
Oh right, duh, I was oblivious to that box the other day, just clicked right on through without even noticing it, though I know it's been discussed. The funny thing though is on the in between screens, where it shows the car types, the lower rate shows. Then after you continue the lower rate still shows. Then on the very final screen where it includes all taxes and fees, and asks for your payment and airline info and such, it reverts to the original rate. I find that behavior just a little odd.
There are two separate $2/day taxes (thus achieving the $28), and this is not the entire tax. It was just an amount I knew off the top of my head because it was easy. Knowing there was additional tax on top of that I knew that $28 plus the additional tax would push the effective before-tax rate below $100 on the $135.xx all-in total.
I'm renting from HLE in suburban Pittsburgh, PA. A couple years ago the state instituted a $2/day additional rental car tax, and Allegheny County followed suit with their own additional $2/day tax. So that's where I get $28 for a week (2x2x7). That's not the only tax though; a regular sales tax is still applied as well, although I'm not sure what rate and on what amount. Hertz math on the web site with the coupon is always a little screwy.
Looks like this:
1 week at 122.81 USD
ALLEGHENY COUNTY RENTAL VEHICLE TAX 14.00 USD
State Rental Surcharge 14.00 USD
ENERGY SURCHARGE 1.03 USD
Vehicle Subtotal 123.85 USD
(obviously doesn't add up but I have $35 coupon)
Taxes 11.77 USD
Total Approximate Charge 135.62 USD
(actual charge at end is always a buck or two less)
I guess the "taxes" line must be a 9.5% rate on rental cars on the $123.85 amount, that does come out to exactly $11.77. Only thing that makes sense but having trouble confirming with quick search. The regular sales tax in Allegheny would be 7% (most of the state is 6% but Allegheny gets an extra 1% and Philly gets 2% extra.). We had a discussion a while back about the application of dollars off coupons, but it's still hard to figure out the math as far as where the $7 went, seems like $35 turns into about $28 right?
If this were at PIT on airport, there would be an additional fee or two.