Car rental - an underage fee question
 

Well, finally as of May 24th I'm able to rent a car within all 50 states in the U.S.
The day I've dreamed of since I flew the airplane for the first time to the not known city Sofia, Bulgaria at the age of 2 http://www.flyertalk.com/forum/wink.gif http://www.flyertalk.com/forum/smile.gif

No, seriously. I have a problem. I mean, the only problem I have is the underage fee when renting a car. Most of the car rental companies charge the fee of $10-$20/day. National doesn't even rent to people under 25!

You would say : get the one that charge $10/day wouldn't ya ?
WRONG! Companies that charge $10 usually have higher rates which comes to the same price as others http://www.flyertalk.com/forum/smile.gif

Well, I was thinking that maybe you know any other way to ... let's say ... get rid of that fee. I don't mean or want to do anything illegal, but I know that there is a lot of guys under 25 who can rent a car ( usually thanks to their companies they work for ).

Unfortunetely I don't work yet so this is basicaly not gonna work. What I'm trying to say is :

~$200 for a 4 day rental on a compact car ?!!

Please help ! http://www.flyertalk.com/forum/smile.gif http://www.flyertalk.com/forum/smile.gif

Well, there's one way I know of:

If you are a member of the American Bar Association (if you are not a lawyer or a law student, then you can be an "associate member, which is $115 a year),then they will fee-waive the #1 Gold Application for Hertz and Hertz will lower the age restriction to 21.

[This message has been edited by BoSoxFan45 (edited 06-09-2000).]

I also remember that Hertz used to waive it for AAA members, too, but it's been over 10 years since I've needed that perk. grrrrr

BoSoxFan45, I don't think I understand. I received the #1 Gold Application for Hertz with the fee waived from TWA ( I'm an Elite with them ). The agreement says the I MUST be 25 to sign up so ...

Are you saying that Hertz is gonna lower the age restriction when I become an American Bar Association member ?

Hmm ...

Eastbay1K, I'm also an AAA member, so I think I'll give Hertz a call. Hope they still do that. Thanks for the tip.

Any other ideas ?

Thanks guys, YOU ARE GREAT !

A few years ago I had the same problem. I was in NYC over Memorial weekend. Something came up and I had to get a rental. I finally found a car at JFK from one of the major rental companies for around $60 per day. Not to mention the underage fee of $70 per day. The day I turned that car in, I vowed to not pay another underage fee.

This is what I did. It is unethical and illegal but I didn't care and don't regret it. I signed up for every car rental express check-out membership club I could find. I forged my birthyear to indicate that I was 25.

Since they have your credit card on file, your keys and rental agreement ready (hopefully), they just hand you the paper and you walk off or either they drop you off at your car. The only person that ever saw my license was the security guy that let me through the gate. He sure didn't care how old I was. It worked every time.

Note: Make sure that there is a preferred service or some type of kiosk for a quick check out. If you have to go to the check-in desk to take care of turning in a certificate or making a change, you will probably have to show your license. Stay away from the desk unless you want to pay the underage fee.

A short update. I called Hertz and talked to the underage desk rep. Basicaly, without the CDP# there is nothing they can DO! Period.

The AAA membership doesn't work anymore.
She didn't know about the American Bar Association and clearly stated that If I give her the CDP# she can check what kind of agreement the company providing the number has with Hertz.

Chriss, I'm a member of Fastlane with Dollar, QuickSilver with Alamo and FastBreak with Budget.
I think the only company that this can work with is Dollar. But I think I gave them my birthdate when signing up the agreement http://www.flyertalk.com/forum/frown.gif

Ehhh ...



[This message has been edited by Damian (edited 06-09-2000).]

I'm under 25 too, and a Hertz Gold renting from Hertz weekly. I use a corporate contract. I know of some people under 21 who work for my company and Hertz won't go that far, so the company has to pay for car service every day for that person. Sheesh!

Ok, another update. The American Bar Association membership CDP# will WORK!

I called Hertz and verified it. Thanks BoSoxFan45 http://www.flyertalk.com/forum/smile.gif The only question I have is: do I need to pay that $115 fee ? http://www.flyertalk.com/forum/wink.gif http://www.flyertalk.com/forum/wink.gif

Any other ideas ?

Maybe u should try Avis....They are the only one I have heard of that,under contracts, let under 21's rent. I am 19 and been renting since I was 18 and am preferred and have had no problem in 50 US, san juan, South America,Mexico, nor the Carribean. See if Avis can help u out but the others are really strict.... DO U have the AT &T Student Advantage card? Dollar waives the fee with that card.

I have a Student Advantage card, but the Dollar rates with it are same as I was renting regular rate plus underage fee. Sometimes renting with regular rate + underage fee is cheaper then with the SA card http://www.flyertalk.com/forum/smile.gif

Thanks anyway http://www.flyertalk.com/forum/smile.gif I'll give an Avis a call too.

I have heard that Enterprise rents to people under 25, although I don't know if there is a fee.

Good luck.

DD

DgyDaddy. Yes, you are correct. Enterprise rents to people under 25 just outside the airport and the rates at those locations are .. you guessed it same as I would pay the regular fee plus underage fee http://www.flyertalk.com/forum/frown.gif
They also rent to people 21-24 with the fee which varies from airport to the airport ( $5-$20 )

I'm thinking about getting the ABA membership. It will almost pay off after my first rental in Chicago and I'll be free for the next 365 days http://www.flyertalk.com/forum/smile.gif As you know I would do everything to avoid paying the $115 fee, and I'll 'til someone else comes up with other idea http://www.flyertalk.com/forum/smile.gif

Thank you guys..

[This message has been edited by Damian (edited 06-09-2000).]

Damian,

I think you're going to have to spring for the ABA membership. When I was in law school is was under 25, and you have to be an ABA member to use it. They make you show your ABA I.D. when you pick up the car. There are some GREAT BIG http://www.flyertalk.com/forum/smile.gif hotel discounts with the ABA membership, too, at some fanatasic hotels, including most Ritz Carton's (for example- 1 BR Suite in RC Boston on the Public Garden -$305- regularly $785 or so), so it might be worth checking into.

Hope this helps....

[This message has been edited by BoSoxFan45 (edited 06-09-2000).]

If your company has an account with the rental company, or you have a corporate credit card, or something like that, you can rent without the fee. Some sort of corporate-related loophole.

Car rental age restrictions are so silly. I'd love to see a lawsuit for age discrimination. You can vote at 18 and drink at 21, but you can't rent a car until you're 25? Please.

How screwy are the car rental companies? When I got married, I was 22. On our honeymoon, we went to Canada, where I was able to rent a car with no problem. Had we been 100 miles farther south, in the good ol' USA, no problem. So you mean you won't rent me a car in my country, but if I go to a foreign country where the driving rules are different, then you will? Yes, the rental companies are even worse than the airlines.

motnot, I agree with you a 100%.

Here is another update but this time you will never believe what happened.

I called both ABA, Hertz reservations and #1 Club Gold to verify that the ABA CD# will waive the underage fee and both of them said IT WILL. I already faxed the agreement to Hertz and was on the phone with the lady from underage desk at Hertz who said again IT WILL. About 15 minutes ago the lady named Gloria called and said she can not get my approved with the CD# because ABA changed the agreement with them and no longer provide the benefit of waving the underage fee. ???!!! There is nothing wrong with my driving record nor my credit cards I listed in the agreement so .... I have no idea what coused that I can not be approved.

Well, I called the ABA and talked to very nice lady who took my phone #'s and said that she'll check that with Hertz and get back to me ASAP. She said she's not heard anything about changing the agreement within the last 2 or 3 hours http://www.flyertalk.com/forum/wink.gif ( that was the time frame in which I was told by Hertz that the CDP# would work )

What's up with that ? Sounds like Eastern Europe thing http://www.flyertalk.com/forum/wink.gif http://www.flyertalk.com/forum/frown.gif

Ohh boy !


[This message has been edited by Damian (edited 06-09-2000).]