Return a car when closed
Jun 2, 2007 | 6:59 pm
#1
Original Poster
Join Date: May 2002
Location: PHL USA; US Pref
Posts: 664
Return a car when closed
I am renting a car in Ithaca in a couple of weeks, and after finishing the reservation, I saw that the ITH station doesn't open until 9AM on Sundays. My flight LEAVES at 9AM on Sunday. Is there a mechanism for me to return the car at around 8AM on Sunday when they are closed?
Thanks!
Thanks!
Jun 2, 2007 | 8:57 pm
#2
FlyerTalk Evangelist
Join Date: Jan 2004
Location: About 45 miles NW of MCO
Programs: Acapulco - Gold, Panama - Red, Timothy Leary 8 Mile High Club
Posts: 31,311
I am renting a car in Ithaca in a couple of weeks, and after finishing the reservation, I saw that the ITH station doesn't open until 9AM on Sundays. My flight LEAVES at 9AM on Sunday. Is there a mechanism for me to return the car at around 8AM on Sunday when they are closed?
Thanks!
Thanks!
I've also returned an Avis car at the CLE rental center when it was closed (something like between 2 and 5 am). There, the security guard takes the keys. Again, you get your receipt from the Avis website.
You can always call Avis to be sure.
Jun 2, 2007 | 11:06 pm
#3
Moderator: Avis and Rental Cars
Join Date: Oct 2006
Posts: 8,070
I've been to many smaller airports and they all have a drop box for your keys. They also mail me the receipt, but like Bama said, you can get it online or from email.
A note though... if anyone rents from an off-airport location, be sure they have a drop box if you're leaving it when the site is not open. I've used 4 or 5 local sites that do not have drop boxes and make you return the car only when they're open. Come to think of it, most of these locations that I've encountered are in Sears' parking lots.
A note though... if anyone rents from an off-airport location, be sure they have a drop box if you're leaving it when the site is not open. I've used 4 or 5 local sites that do not have drop boxes and make you return the car only when they're open. Come to think of it, most of these locations that I've encountered are in Sears' parking lots.
Jun 3, 2007 | 9:00 am
#4
Senior Moderator; Moderator, Flyertalk Cares
Join Date: Jun 1999
Location: Fulltime travel/mostly Europe
Programs: UA 1.7 MM;; Accor & Marriott Pt; Hyatt Globalist
Posts: 17,927
I was recently told by Avis Chairman's Preferred agent that if the online reservation system accepts your drop off time when it's outside of regular hours that there is a method of dropping it off when the office is closed. I don't know how fail safe this is, but that's what she said...
Jun 3, 2007 | 11:39 am
#5
Original Poster
Join Date: May 2002
Location: PHL USA; US Pref
Posts: 664
thanks
Ok....thanks for the tips.
I finally got through to the Avis ITH desk (after several days of trying but the phone kept giving me the national number).
They do have a metal drop-box there, and they said to also fill out the white sleeve that the rental info comes in so they can figure out what to charge me. (Put the gas level, mileage, etc.) Why do I have to write that stuff? Are they just going to believe me when I write that I have left the car with a full tank?
I finally got through to the Avis ITH desk (after several days of trying but the phone kept giving me the national number).
They do have a metal drop-box there, and they said to also fill out the white sleeve that the rental info comes in so they can figure out what to charge me. (Put the gas level, mileage, etc.) Why do I have to write that stuff? Are they just going to believe me when I write that I have left the car with a full tank?
Jun 3, 2007 | 2:57 pm
#6
Moderator: Avis and Rental Cars
Join Date: Oct 2006
Posts: 8,070
They'll believe you & charge you. However, if they go to clean the car & it's not a full tank of gas, they'll amend the total to charge you the appropriate amount.
Several times I've had a car & when I go in to the desk and give the agent my mileage (small apts), they say that's less than when I rented it. They'll page someone in the parking lot to verify I'm right. The person before me must have inverted some numbers or something. No biggie b/c most all non-1 way rentals are unlimited mileage.
Several times I've had a car & when I go in to the desk and give the agent my mileage (small apts), they say that's less than when I rented it. They'll page someone in the parking lot to verify I'm right. The person before me must have inverted some numbers or something. No biggie b/c most all non-1 way rentals are unlimited mileage.
Jun 4, 2007 | 9:54 am
#9
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I absolutely disgree. I have had multiple local rentals that end on Sunday when my local Avis office is closed. I return the car Sunday, drop the keys in the dropbox (there is a label on the box stating Nothing but keys, please) and the receipt I pull off Avis.com the following day always reflects the scheduled return date and time. That said, YMMV.
Jun 4, 2007 | 8:39 pm
#10
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I absolutely disgree. I have had multiple local rentals that end on Sunday when my local Avis office is closed. I return the car Sunday, drop the keys in the dropbox (there is a label on the box stating Nothing but keys, please) and the receipt I pull off Avis.com the following day always reflects the scheduled return date and time. That said, YMMV.
Jun 5, 2007 | 7:06 am
#11
Join Date: Jan 2006
Posts: 153
One other thing I would add is a change to the terms and conditions that occurred last year. The renter is responsible for the vehicle until an Avis agent closes out the rental. If you return the car when the station is closed and somebody damages the vehicle after you returned it, but before the Avis rep inspects it, you are liable for those damages.