Travel Reference
In-Depth Information
Rental
CAR
Car rental is a very competitive business. Most rental companies require that you have a
major credit card; that you be at least 25 years old; and that you have a valid driver's li-
cense (your home license will do). Some national companies may rent to drivers between
the ages of 21 and 24 for an additional charge. Those under 21 are usually not permitted to
rent at all.
Additional drivers are not usually covered under the base rate and an additional daily sur-
charge will be applied. If someone other than the parties authorised on the rental contract is
driving the vehicle and has an accident, all paid insurances will be void: you don't want this
to happen. If anyone else is likely to drive the vehicle, they need to be present at the time of
collection and are required to submit their driver's license and pay the extra fee. If the addi-
tional driver is not able to be present at the time of collection, it is possible to drive into any
branch of the rental company and add the additional driver on to your rental agreement at a
later date. Charges may be backdated to the day of collection.
Good independent agencies are listed by
Car Rental Express
(
www.carrentalexpress.com
), which rates and compares independent agencies in US cities;
it's particularly useful for searching out cheaper long-term rentals.
National car-rental companies:
Alamo
( 877-222-9075;
www.alamo.com
)
Avis
( 800-331-2112;
www.avis.com
)
Budget
( 800-527-0700;
www.budget.com
)
Dollar
( 800-800-4000;
www.dollar.com
)
Enterprise
( 800-261-7331;
www.enterprise.com
)
Hertz
( 800-654-3131;
www.hertz.com
)
National
( 800-468-3334;
www.nationalcar.com
)
Rent-a-Wreck
( 877-877-0700;
www.rentawreck.com
)
Thrifty
( 800-367-2277;
www.thrifty.com
)
Rental cars are readily available at all airport locations and many downtown city loca-
tions. With advance reservations for a small car, the daily rate with unlimited mileage is
about $35 to $55, while typical weekly rates are $200 to $400, plus myriad taxes and fees.
If you rent from a downtown location, you can save money by avoiding the exorbitant air-
port fees.
