2 things--

1. remember to value your time appropriately--vacation time has a time value and 1 hour to get a rental car to save 1 hour a day is a good deal

2. just saw something-I am a USAA member for insurance and they have some tie-in with Mears in Orlando--if you are too, you might want to check.

Ok, I'm convinced. I just renewed my Hertz #1 Club membership for work, so I guess I'll take advantage of that.

Thanks for the advice.

jamiel, I am a USAA member too - just got my auto insurance rebate! :) $50 on $300 of premiums. We should start a board for auto insurance/driving/renting...there"s a lot of tips to give. Maybe I can get a board going in my spare time, I will be unemployed after the 1st.

Aubie, I got appx $100 on $600 in premiums. A board might be good--worst case was when I rented in Montreal--one year later they asked if I knew about damage to the rental car !?!

jamiel, well, I have always considered that once the car is checked in and I am given a final receipt, unless the damage is noted...I consider the final receipt a release from any farther claims or charges, unless maybe the damage was concealed and undetectable from a visual inspection.

I had a very minor scrape on the wheel of my Eurpean rental car(in Europe they try to scam you for every minor dent and scratch) and was worried until I checked the car in...after that, I considered my receipt an acknowledgement that the car was returned in satisfactory condition. If they wait a year to tell me...I will raise h***!

Everyone...beware in Europe, when returning a car, they get down on their knees and eyeball the car for any little scratch or dent..I think it is a big scam to try to get normal wear and tear billed to customers. I wish the U.S. based car rental agencies would put and end to this! Their attitude...someone damaged the car so someone must be held responsible. So far I have been lucky and not had any of these scratch and dent claims.

aubie, you're right, but in this case silence was golden--the only thing they did was send letters to me. Even though I've got their express service, they never called or anything.

I don't think that there is as developed an auction market in Europe that buys cars from afar, like they have to dispose of the rental cars. The auction process pushes much of the rehabilitation cost of the off-rental cars to the dealer, I'd guess.

most of the (used) rented car are sold by the rental-car-companies to eastern Europe.

(some of them land there before they reached their pension-age .....).

It seems that most of us feel the best rental
car agencies are Hertz and Avis. I like Hertz, quick check in and out, courteous service, like the special coupons I get in the mail.

I will have a report on National Car Rental
shortly.

OMNI to Matt: As I said before... I will tip
my Red Green Show hat in salute to your Goofy
Hat. And my cat tie too. CATMAN