View Poll Results: What is Your Opinion of "Holding" a Car in the Ultimate Choice Section?
I am against it; a renter should never take the keys of a car when browsing the lot.
19
32.76%
It's ok to take the keys of a single car while looking for something better.
38
65.52%
It's ok to take the keys of several cars while looking for something better.
0
0%
I have no opinion on this issue.
1
1.72%
Voters: 58. You may not vote on this poll
"holding" a car while checking the rest of the inventory
Sep 17, 2018, 4:44 am
#46
Join Date: Jan 2008
Location: Chicago, Illinois
Programs: United 1K, Hilton Diamond, National Executive Elite, Hertz President's Circle
Posts: 690
Ive had quite a few cars that have had remote start. I’d actually say a good majority.
Sep 17, 2018, 6:24 am
#47
Join Date: Jul 2006
Location: NYC
Programs: DL PM, Marriott Gold, Hertz PC, National Exec
Posts: 6,736
It's quite common on higher tier cars (F and above, and many SUVs), at least in the US.
Sep 17, 2018, 6:25 am
#48
Join Date: Jul 2006
Location: NYC
Programs: DL PM, Marriott Gold, Hertz PC, National Exec
Posts: 6,736
Sep 18, 2018, 4:09 am
#49
Join Date: Oct 2016
Posts: 3,703
Why would automakers who spend millions a year on legal departments to avoid litigation push a feature that is commonly illegal? Leaving the keys in the ignition is illegal in some places. A remote start where the key is not in the car and the car turns off after a certain amount of time is not illegal.
Sep 18, 2018, 4:51 am
#50
Join Date: Jan 2008
Location: Chicago, Illinois
Programs: United 1K, Hilton Diamond, National Executive Elite, Hertz President's Circle
Posts: 690
Why would automakers who spend millions a year on legal departments to avoid litigation push a feature that is commonly illegal? Leaving the keys in the ignition is illegal in some places. A remote start where the key is not in the car and the car turns off after a certain amount of time is not illegal.
States that have anti-idling laws include:
Arizona
California
Colorado
Connecticut
Delaware
District of Columbia
Georgia
Hawaii
Illinois
Louisiana
Maine
Maryland
Massachusetts
Minnesota
Missouri
Nevada
New Hampshire
New Jersey
New York
Ohio
Oregon
Pennsylvania
Rhode Island
South Carolina
Texas
Utah
Vermont
Virginia
Washington
Wisconsin
Wyoming
Some are more lienent based on features of the remote start, but idling unattended is not legal in most states.
https://www.lifewire.com/are-remote-...illegal-534652
https://www.goodhousekeeping.com/lif...r-idling-laws/
Sep 18, 2018, 5:42 am
#51
Join Date: Jul 2006
Location: NYC
Programs: DL PM, Marriott Gold, Hertz PC, National Exec
Posts: 6,736
In NYC, it's a max of three minutes, or one minute if you're near a school. $350 fine for first offense, up to $2k for repeat offenders.
Nov 3, 2018, 4:56 pm
#52
Join Date: Oct 2016
Posts: 3,703
I had another negative experience with someone doing this a couple days ago. I arrived at the Hertz lot and saw a handsome Dodge Charger R/T in PC. I went right to it, tried to open the door, and sure enough it was locked. Looked through the window, no key visible. So I looked around the rest of the lot waiting to see if someone would come back for it or an employee would bring the keys. Then I had to go back in to the airport. (No, I did not take keys to any car with me.) Came back about 30 minutes later, car was still there, locked. I got an employee and asked if he knew where the keys were. He looked around and then said, "Someone probably took the keys and went back inside to the bathroom or something. They do that from time to time." I thanked him and chose another car. I doubt I was the only one who tried to take it.
So some jerk locked the best car on the lot for at least half an hour, wasted my time, wasted at least one employee's time, and probably wasted other people's time. Not okay. If you really want to hold the car while you go back inside, check it out and then park it in the regular parking garage.
So some jerk locked the best car on the lot for at least half an hour, wasted my time, wasted at least one employee's time, and probably wasted other people's time. Not okay. If you really want to hold the car while you go back inside, check it out and then park it in the regular parking garage.
Nov 4, 2018, 5:09 am
#53
Join Date: Jan 2008
Location: Chicago, Illinois
Programs: United 1K, Hilton Diamond, National Executive Elite, Hertz President's Circle
Posts: 690
I had another negative experience with someone doing this a couple days ago. I arrived at the Hertz lot and saw a handsome Dodge Charger R/T in PC. I went right to it, tried to open the door, and sure enough it was locked. Looked through the window, no key visible. So I looked around the rest of the lot waiting to see if someone would come back for it or an employee would bring the keys. Then I had to go back in to the airport. (No, I did not take keys to any car with me.) Came back about 30 minutes later, car was still there, locked. I got an employee and asked if he knew where the keys were. He looked around and then said, "Someone probably took the keys and went back inside to the bathroom or something. They do that from time to time." I thanked him and chose another car. I doubt I was the only one who tried to take it.
So some jerk locked the best car on the lot for at least half an hour, wasted my time, wasted at least one employee's time, and probably wasted other people's time. Not okay. If you really want to hold the car while you go back inside, check it out and then park it in the regular parking garage.
So some jerk locked the best car on the lot for at least half an hour, wasted my time, wasted at least one employee's time, and probably wasted other people's time. Not okay. If you really want to hold the car while you go back inside, check it out and then park it in the regular parking garage.
Alright, that really wasn’t me, but the setup was too good. While I do take the keys to the vehicle I first see and like, as mentioned previously, I don’t have them for more than 2-3 minutes. What you mention above is unacceptable.
I will I’ll lose another option that may have happen though. I was twice assigned a Range Rover HSE and both times, the keys were missing (two different cars sitting next to each other. Those 2 same range rovers were parked in the same exact a lot upon my return 4-days later and again at my pickup 3-days later. So, it is possible the keys for the Charger were missing.
Sorry for your experience.
Nov 4, 2018, 10:58 am
#54
Join Date: Jul 2007
Location: San Francisco/Sydney
Programs: UA 1K/MM, Hilton Diamond, Marriott Something, IHG Gold, Hertz PC, Avis PC
Posts: 8,156
Three times in the past few months I've seen cars in the PC area with no keys in them, although in fairness on every occasion they had signs on them (or writing on the door) to say "No Keys".
It does make me wonder how the keys disappeared. Potentially someone pocketing them to reserve a vehicle and then forgetting they had them when they pick another car. Or maybe just someone deciding they need to own a key for a particular model of car?
On one occasion (at SLC) the car was still there 2 days later, still without keys.
It does make me wonder how the keys disappeared. Potentially someone pocketing them to reserve a vehicle and then forgetting they had them when they pick another car. Or maybe just someone deciding they need to own a key for a particular model of car?
On one occasion (at SLC) the car was still there 2 days later, still without keys.
Nov 4, 2018, 12:03 pm
#55
Join Date: Oct 2016
Posts: 3,703
Three times in the past few months I've seen cars in the PC area with no keys in them, although in fairness on every occasion they had signs on them (or writing on the door) to say "No Keys".
It does make me wonder how the keys disappeared. Potentially someone pocketing them to reserve a vehicle and then forgetting they had them when they pick another car. Or maybe just someone deciding they need to own a key for a particular model of car?
On one occasion (at SLC) the car was still there 2 days later, still without keys.
It does make me wonder how the keys disappeared. Potentially someone pocketing them to reserve a vehicle and then forgetting they had them when they pick another car. Or maybe just someone deciding they need to own a key for a particular model of car?
On one occasion (at SLC) the car was still there 2 days later, still without keys.
Nov 4, 2018, 3:57 pm
#56
Join Date: Jan 2008
Location: Chicago, Illinois
Programs: United 1K, Hilton Diamond, National Executive Elite, Hertz President's Circle
Posts: 690
This poses another issue though. If keys walk, who says the walking of the keys wasn’t planned and then the vehicle is easily stolen once the next renter takes the vehicle? I would assume that with the electronics today, that a specific fob can be deactivated?
Nov 4, 2018, 6:04 pm
#57
Join Date: Jul 2007
Location: San Francisco/Sydney
Programs: UA 1K/MM, Hilton Diamond, Marriott Something, IHG Gold, Hertz PC, Avis PC
Posts: 8,156
Of course that doesn't help for the physical key, only the fob, so someone could still potentially physically gain access to the vehicle, but that's about all.
Personally I'd be more worried about the vehicles that have two keys on the keyring as one of them could easily go missing without anyone noticing. Or, as I found on one Avis rental a few years ago, the second key was in an envelope in the trunk (in the tool kit compartment). Thankfully it wasn't one of the new fobs where it only needs to be near the car to be active but one that actually required you to push the button - although it still would have been trivial to take it without anyone noticing and then break into/steal the car later.
Nov 4, 2018, 10:00 pm
#58
Join Date: May 2017
Programs: National EE, Hertz PC
Posts: 231
Yes. When they re-program the key the old one can be deactivated. Depending on the vehicle this may or may not be optional which is why with some (most?) cars you need to have all keys available when programming a new one as they all need to be reset.
Of course that doesn't help for the physical key, only the fob, so someone could still potentially physically gain access to the vehicle, but that's about all.
Personally I'd be more worried about the vehicles that have two keys on the keyring as one of them could easily go missing without anyone noticing. Or, as I found on one Avis rental a few years ago, the second key was in an envelope in the trunk (in the tool kit compartment). Thankfully it wasn't one of the new fobs where it only needs to be near the car to be active but one that actually required you to push the button - although it still would have been trivial to take it without anyone noticing and then break into/steal the car later.
Of course that doesn't help for the physical key, only the fob, so someone could still potentially physically gain access to the vehicle, but that's about all.
Personally I'd be more worried about the vehicles that have two keys on the keyring as one of them could easily go missing without anyone noticing. Or, as I found on one Avis rental a few years ago, the second key was in an envelope in the trunk (in the tool kit compartment). Thankfully it wasn't one of the new fobs where it only needs to be near the car to be active but one that actually required you to push the button - although it still would have been trivial to take it without anyone noticing and then break into/steal the car later.
Nov 25, 2018, 12:41 am
#59
Join Date: Aug 2014
Posts: 394
I had another negative experience with someone doing this a couple days ago. I arrived at the Hertz lot and saw a handsome Dodge Charger R/T in PC. I went right to it, tried to open the door, and sure enough it was locked. Looked through the window, no key visible. So I looked around the rest of the lot waiting to see if someone would come back for it or an employee would bring the keys. Then I had to go back in to the airport. (No, I did not take keys to any car with me.) Came back about 30 minutes later, car was still there, locked. I got an employee and asked if he knew where the keys were. He looked around and then said, "Someone probably took the keys and went back inside to the bathroom or something. They do that from time to time." I thanked him and chose another car. I doubt I was the only one who tried to take it.
So some jerk locked the best car on the lot for at least half an hour, wasted my time, wasted at least one employee's time, and probably wasted other people's time. Not okay. If you really want to hold the car while you go back inside, check it out and then park it in the regular parking garage.
So some jerk locked the best car on the lot for at least half an hour, wasted my time, wasted at least one employee's time, and probably wasted other people's time. Not okay. If you really want to hold the car while you go back inside, check it out and then park it in the regular parking garage.
Nov 25, 2018, 4:00 am
#60
Join Date: Jul 2007
Location: San Francisco/Sydney
Programs: UA 1K/MM, Hilton Diamond, Marriott Something, IHG Gold, Hertz PC, Avis PC
Posts: 8,156
So on the "no keys" thing...
Got to Boston a few weeks ago, and the only 2 worthwhile cars in the lot were a Chevy Camaro and a Buick Regal. Went for the Camaro, but the trunk wouldn't open. Took the keys into the Gold booth and told them - so anyone trying to pickup that car would have presumed missing keys...
The Buick was more interesting... It was locked, and I was just about to give up on it - until I noticed I could see what appeared to be the keys in the cup holder. A Hertz staff member came long and started trying to help (mainly by suggesting I take another car), and after a minute or so I was about to take his advice when I noticed the trunk wasn't fully closed - sitting open by maybe 1/4". Pushed the trunk closed, the horn stutter-honked, and the drivers door unlocked. I'm presuming it determined that because I'd locked everything (now including the trunk) and left the keys in the car, it had unlocked the door.
Got to Boston a few weeks ago, and the only 2 worthwhile cars in the lot were a Chevy Camaro and a Buick Regal. Went for the Camaro, but the trunk wouldn't open. Took the keys into the Gold booth and told them - so anyone trying to pickup that car would have presumed missing keys...
The Buick was more interesting... It was locked, and I was just about to give up on it - until I noticed I could see what appeared to be the keys in the cup holder. A Hertz staff member came long and started trying to help (mainly by suggesting I take another car), and after a minute or so I was about to take his advice when I noticed the trunk wasn't fully closed - sitting open by maybe 1/4". Pushed the trunk closed, the horn stutter-honked, and the drivers door unlocked. I'm presuming it determined that because I'd locked everything (now including the trunk) and left the keys in the car, it had unlocked the door.