Car hire in the US

[VPS]

I'm going cross eyed reading all the threads and looking at the websites for car hire. I want to hire a car for a week from Vegas at the end of September. I've looked at Alamo but by the time you add on all the bits, its about the same price as Hertz that I have a CDP for.

Economy rentals seem really cheap but I can't find anywhere they cover roadside assist.

What happens if you break down or have an accident or breakdown and you are not covered by roadside assist.

Thanks in advance

 

[johnsluk]

Last time I went to America (California) I trawled all the websites and ended up going with Hertz. If you sign up for a United's (free) frequent flyer program MileagePlus, you get a Hertz discount code that you can use. Was very happy with their service and cover.

https://www.united.com/web/en-US/content/reservations/car.aspx

I'd also suggest looking at Cheap Car Rentals, Best Prices Guaranteed | rentalcars.com as they are always heavily discounted when hiring from airports. I didn't go through them only because my Pickup/drop off wasn't at an airport so wasnt much cheaper.

 

[BAM1748]

Hi, for car hire for a week is $50 really going to make a difference. I have used Alamo many times and never had a car breakdown, I did have to replace a tyre on an Avis car once at the Grand Canyon and two tyres on a Dollar car also at the Grand Canyon funnily enough.

If you have an accident or break down ring the rental car company and they can help. When I did the two tyres on a Dodge Avenger this year the tyre shop simply phoned the rental car company on my behalf and got credit card details over the phone so I wasn't even out of pocket.

Depending on your level of confidence, where you are going and driving skill I wouldn't worry about roadside assist, in 25 years of renting cars in the US have never needed it.

Matt

 

[TheRealTMA]

I actually found earlier this year that hiring through Budget in Australia for Boston to Toronto was cheaper than the online systems, plus I got full insurance included.

 

[casanovawa]

I'm looking at hiring a 4wd for about 4-5 days out of Las Vegas and return on rentalcars.com for about A$400, not sure I am going to find a better deal than that...

Not sure about the roadside assistance but seems a bit of the insurance is covered..

Edit: Except if i go and have alook on Expedia.com.au and can see a 4wd from Sixt for about A$290...

 

[VPS]

I think I'd like roadside assist - middle aged woman driving alone for a week - does anyone have any anecdotes of what happens if you don't have roadside assist?

Will check out links from others - thanks

 

[sausagefingers]

I think I'd like roadside assist - middle aged woman driving alone for a week - does anyone have any anecdotes of what happens if you don't have roadside assist?

Will check out links from others - thanks

I read somewhere that the car is towed back to its original location (pickup) not sure how true. I've done two driving holiday in the US and never taken the option, last year My wife and daughters drove from NYC-Washington-Orlando-Dallas-Vegas-LA all without an issue.

Previous year I got a flat tyre or tire I guess and had to change to the space saver about 2 hours outside vegas, I just drove to a tyre shop and gave him the flat tyre (ruined) and asked him for the cheapest tyre possible, picked it up the next day and done the wheel switch-a-roo.

 

[coriander]

Economy rentals seem really cheap but I can't find anywhere they cover roadside assist.

What happens if you break down or have an accident or breakdown and you are not covered by roadside assist.

Alamo will offer you roadside assist at check-in if you have an ECR voucher - $9.95 per day in Jan this year.
I declined because I was driving within California and had my RACV card with me (membership reciprocity).

I can't comment about what happens if you need roadside assist as, like BAM, I've driven ~100,000km all over the US over the past 35 years in rental cars and never needed to call anyone.

Make sure you have all your waivers and insurances: ECR do provide CDW, SLI, RLP, theft insurance, wheels, glass, underside as part of their package.

I thought this article quite sobering for "how to write off your rental car", and why you need your insurances/waivers: Motorists flee as wildfire races across California freeway - Las Vegas Sun News (paragraph 8).

 

[sausagefingers]

Alamo will offer you roadside assist at check-in if you have an ECR voucher - $9.95 per day in Jan this year.
I declined because I was driving within California and had my RACV card with me (membership reciprocity).

I can't comment about what happens if you need roadside assist as, like BAM, I've driven ~100,000km all over the US over the past 35 years in rental cars and never needed to call anyone.

Make sure you have all your waivers and insurances: ECR do provide CDW, SLI, RLP, theft insurance, wheels, glass, underside as part of their package.

I thought this article quite sobering for "how to write off your rental car", and why you need your insurances/waivers: (paragraph 8).

I was unaware that RACV or in my cace RACQ would have any benefits in the US.

Good to know.

 

[coriander]

I was unaware that RACV or in my case RACQ would have any benefits in the US.

I mainly use the AAA offices for their maps and tourist guides. Show your card (there's a club code on the rear) and they are very helpful giving you everything you need always for free. Your card also can give you any AAA discounts for accommodation and shows (we saved about $40 per ticket on Blue Man Group in LAS, and room upgrade at the Cosmo in also in LAS).

 

[sausagefingers]

I mainly use the AAA offices for their maps and tourist guides. Show your card (there's a club code on the rear) and they are very helpful giving you everything you need always for free. Your card also can give you any AAA discounts for accommodation and shows (we saved about $40 per ticket on Blue Man Group in LAS, and room upgrade at the Cosmo in also in LAS).

Great advice,

Thanks

 

[VPS]

Alamo will offer you roadside assist at check-in if you have an ECR voucher - $9.95 per day in Jan this year.
I declined because I was driving within California and had my RACV card with me (membership reciprocity).

Hi - can you clarify what an ECR voucher is please?

- if my local RAA membership is OK then I'll just use that and forget about the roadside assist

 

[drron]

I was unaware that RACV or in my cace RACQ would have any benefits in the US.

Good to know.

Lots of benefits.You do qualify for their basic roadside assistance.An they get reciprocal benefits with us-
Welcome AAA Affiliates

International Clubs | AAA Exchange

 

[VPS]

OK - gone with Hertz and won't have roadside assist - will rely on RAA if necessary - thanks for all the help - will update after the trip

 

[TheRealTMA]

OK - gone with Hertz and won't have roadside assist - will rely on RAA if necessary - thanks for all the help - will update after the trip

I'm sure it will be fine. Good luck!

 

[coriander]

Hi - can you clarify what an ECR voucher is please?

Economy Car Rentals (economycarrentals.com) - isn't that who you were talking about in the OP?

 

[VPS]

Economy Car Rentals (economycarrentals.com) - isn't that who you were talking about in the OP?

Yes - thought so but just wanted to confirm - thanks

 

[coriander]

OK - gone with Hertz

Which Hertz site? :shock: I've never been able to get Hertz's prices within cooee of ECR's prices.

 

[johnsluk]

Which Hertz site? :shock: I've never been able to get Hertz's prices within cooee of ECR's prices.

Wow wish I'd known about this place earlier, I went with Hertz and even after discount, ECR are about $100 cheaper for a weeks rental. Have saved that site for my trip next year

 

[VPS]

Which Hertz site? :shock: I've never been able to get Hertz's prices within cooee of ECR's prices.

I joined Marriott rewards when I stayed there ages ago and used the CDP on the back of that card which says I get 20% off - doubt they'll check but I'm taking the car and I got a week in a reasonable size car for $330 for the week - I'm Hertz gold but that's only because I joined ages ago and haven't used Hertz for over a year - it seemed when I tried ECR there was lots of extras when I clicked confirm and I had rung Hertz and they assured me there were no hidden extras and I'm going to use my local RAA card for any roadside assistance.