What is the flexibility on pick-up and returns to avoid extra charges?
 

I was looking at a rental in Rome, Italy with return in Florence, Italy in November. I want to pick-up on a Monday, probably around 11:00am and drop off on Wednesday, probably around 4:00pm.

The thing is, if I book it from Monday at Noon and schedule a return for 12:15 on Wed., Hertz quotes me charges for two days... but if I put in my real times, I get charged a third-day which is l like an extra 160 euros...

If I pick-it up a little early (say before 12:00 and closer to 11:00) and drop it off a couple hours late (between 3 and 4), is there any way I can avoid the charge for a third day?? Is there flexibility in this range without being charged an extra day?

Hertz will allow a 29 minute grace period only I'm afraid. Sorry

I found out the hard way--having been a Gold #1 customer for years without ever being late, ran into unusual circumstances and today returned the car after 45 minutes.

I thought the grace period was still an hour, and feel that Hertz should have broadcast emails to long-term customers.

I am not happy about this.

I think I can remember when it was actually two hours?

Anyway, if you're going to be tight and you're Gold, get the actual time entered on your record when you leave the lot (not sure the best way to do this?). The default start time on your rental is the time you gave for your flight arrival, and of course you're leaving the lot later than that.

this is good info... I was actually planning on doing the same thing for my trip to Detroit... requesting a later pick up than I will actually show up at Hertz and returning slightly later than the time I specified.

I'll have to change it now

thanks

--Russ

I rent locally here in Hoboken with Enterprise over Hertz and I recall last December I had called to let them know I was stuck in traffic down south and would be several hours late returning and they had no problem with it. No extra days or penalties and even thanked me for letting them know. Too bad Hertz is so strict now. I cancelled my reservation because the extra three hours I want the car is not worth the entire extra day Hertz is charging... pro-rata would be nice.

Wirelessly posted (Mozilla/4.0 (compatible; MSIE 6.0; Windows 98; PalmSource/Palm-D062; Blazer/4.5) 16;320x320)

Well actually if you don't adjust the time when you leave, you can make the argument when you return that the start time is innacurate and should be adjusted. They can change start time easier than return time.

And yes, they used to be much more generous. And nowadays HLE's tend to be more flexible than airport locations.

I dont understand why the OP feels like he should not be charged for going 5 hours over. You want to rent a car, drive it around, and not pay for it?! WOW.

LOL!

I wonder where he plans to find a rental car agency with a five hour grace period. Never found one myself LOL!

Up until 3yrs ago it did used to be a 59 minute grace period, after a period of analizing returns and fleet turnarounds, it appeared the majority spoilt if for the minority. 90% of regular renters including Gold, who knew how to 'work' the system forced a change of grace period. Also at this time Avis, National and Europcar did the same in the UK with the grace period and reduced it.

I rented a car for under 2 hours this weekend. The daily rate was less than the 3/6/9 rate.

I think that I should have been given the car for free based on a grace period. :p

You would!

Free sounds good. :)

I was always wondering what happens when you are scheduled to return the car close to the closing time of the particular airport rental desk.


Assuming you're returning the car where the drop box has to be used, you're basically free to keep the car until just before the rental desk opens the following morning, right?


So in essense most rental car companies that close in the evening allow you to rent the car for whatever the amount of time you choose to do so before you use the drop-box to return your key... in theory anyway, right?


I'm just thinking outloud here.

--Russ

If you used the drop box when the office is closed, the car will be checked in as of the time the facility opens.