WARNING - Hertz charging for car wash
Apr 18, 2010, 2:50 pm
#31
Join Date: Mar 2008
Location: TPA, SRQ
Posts: 61
I was charged that fee this past week. I did a one way in a Toyota Camry from PNS (3/15) to SRQ (3/17). The car had some bugs on the front from driving at night and I left some papers in the back seat. I was hit $20 and apparently my 5 star status didn't do me any good in getting them to remove the charge. I guess I am going to start running them through a gas station car wash prior to returning.
Apr 18, 2010, 3:34 pm
#32
FlyerTalk Evangelist
Join Date: Dec 1999
Programs: Marriott Lifetime Titanium
Posts: 15,352
I was charged that fee this past week. I did a one way in a Toyota Camry from PNS (3/15) to SRQ (3/17). The car had some bugs on the front from driving at night and I left some papers in the back seat. I was hit $20 and apparently my 5 star status didn't do me any good in getting them to remove the charge. I guess I am going to start running them through a gas station car wash prior to returning.
Apr 18, 2010, 6:19 pm
#33
Join Date: Nov 2002
Location: SEA/YVR/BLI
Programs: UA "Lifetime" Gold, AS MVPG100K, OW Emerald, HH Lifetime Diamond, IC Plat, Marriott Gold, Hertz Gold
Posts: 9,490
I was charged that fee this past week. I did a one way in a Toyota Camry from PNS (3/15) to SRQ (3/17). The car had some bugs on the front from driving at night and I left some papers in the back seat. I was hit $20 and apparently my 5 star status didn't do me any good in getting them to remove the charge. I guess I am going to start running them through a gas station car wash prior to returning.
Seriously, that's ridiculous and I hope you take the time to complain about it to Corporate.
Dec 12, 2014, 6:34 am
#34
Join Date: Dec 2002
Location: Pleasant Prairie, WI USA DL FO (until 2/04), NW silver '03, NW gold '04+'05 Plat '06+ (thanks, Leo!), DL SkyClub
Programs: DL Plat/ Million Miler, AS, Hilton, Marriott Bonvoy, Piggly Wiggly Pig Points
Posts: 2,233
Rental at LAS for trip to Zion and Bryce Canyon National Parks. Car was OK. It snowed on the way back to LAS and, of course, there was some salt and road grime on the car -- nothing unusual for winter driving (actually fairly mild). When I went to return the car I was told they would assess a $25 cleaning charge because they would have to do additional/exceptional work to clean it -- but then suggested I go to the car wash down the street, which I did. I chose the cheapest quick wash and the car was spotless afterward (and that would have been the equivalent of Hertz's wash, at the very least).
Dec 12, 2014, 11:47 am
#35
Join Date: Apr 2007
Location: Charlotte, NC
Posts: 1,086
Rental at LAS for trip to Zion and Bryce Canyon National Parks. Car was OK. It snowed on the way back to LAS and, of course, there was some salt and road grime on the car -- nothing unusual for winter driving (actually fairly mild). When I went to return the car I was told they would assess a $25 cleaning charge because they would have to do additional/exceptional work to clean it -- but then suggested I go to the car wash down the street, which I did. I chose the cheapest quick wash and the car was spotless afterward (and that would have been the equivalent of Hertz's wash, at the very least).
Dec 12, 2014, 1:36 pm
#36
Join Date: Dec 2002
Location: Pleasant Prairie, WI USA DL FO (until 2/04), NW silver '03, NW gold '04+'05 Plat '06+ (thanks, Leo!), DL SkyClub
Programs: DL Plat/ Million Miler, AS, Hilton, Marriott Bonvoy, Piggly Wiggly Pig Points
Posts: 2,233
Dec 12, 2014, 1:36 pm
#37
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Join Date: Dec 2003
Location: Not here; there!
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Wirelessly posted (BlackBerry: BlackBerry8530/5.0.0.1030 Profile/MIDP-2.1 Configuration/CLDC-1.1 VendorID/417)
Did you submit the car-wash bill to Hertz, and seek reimbursement for an on-the-road expense? 
Originally Posted by Dick Ginkowski
Rental at LAS for trip to Zion and Bryce Canyon National Parks. Car was OK. It snowed on the way back to LAS and, of course, there was some salt and road grime on the car -- nothing unusual for winter driving (actually fairly mild). When I went to return the car I was told they would assess a $25 cleaning charge because they would have to do additional/exceptional work to clean it -- but then suggested I go to the car wash down the street, which I did. I chose the cheapest quick wash and the car was spotless afterward (and that would have been the equivalent of Hertz's wash, at the very least).
Dec 12, 2014, 1:44 pm
#38
Join Date: Dec 2002
Location: Pleasant Prairie, WI USA DL FO (until 2/04), NW silver '03, NW gold '04+'05 Plat '06+ (thanks, Leo!), DL SkyClub
Programs: DL Plat/ Million Miler, AS, Hilton, Marriott Bonvoy, Piggly Wiggly Pig Points
Posts: 2,233
Funny you should mention the expenses. In 44 years of renting I have had more "on the road" expenses to repair faulty cars in the last five years than in the past -- and I don't mean replacing a light that burned out. Missing gas cap at rental, defective wiper blades, filters, sidewall tire blowout, fuses, key batteries, washing dirty vehicles and so on.