Renting a car in LA

[Arthur Hodgson]

I use cheap_car-rental.com It also prices out as USD$38 all in for one day in LA.. for a 4 door compact (2 door is 36)

Thing I especialy like with that mob is that there are no one way drop off fees to hire/return in CA/NV/AZ....if renting from any of those three states...

Suits MY travel... YMMV!!:mrgreen:

Well, my mileage certainly does vary.

Anyhow, just booked a one-day rental for mid-August, pick up LAX, drop off LAS. Total cost was AUD 45, including the free tankfull of petrol.

I don't see how they can make money on this, with sky-high fuel prices. Booked it now to lock in the free fuel and also the high AUD rate vs the USD.

 

[trooper]

Outstanding!!! :mrgreen: especially at.. what? 92 cents?

Share your bewilderment at how they make money!

 

[straitman]

You know Arthur that is a shame. This is the first instance I can recall on this website of "I know and I ain't sharing". One of the best things on this forum is willingness to help others with information. Pity its a philosophy you seem not to share.

I agree wholeheartedly and for that reason won't bight at all other than to say so :!:

 

[Arthur Hodgson]

You know Arthur that is a shame. This is the first instance I can recall on this website of "I know and I ain't sharing". One of the best things on this forum is willingness to help others with information. Pity its a philosophy you seem not to share.

Sorry to be a party pooper, but I can't see this deal lasting if there is a major run on it. It's the way of the world, and I'm sure you will understand.

I do think, however, I should have given you enough clues. It's a uk website and I'm sure you are resourceful enough to find it.

Certainly no one told me about it, but it was an interesting find. Oh, and it books mainly with Dollar in the US, who seem to have a bizarre way of allocating vehicles. I usually book an economy car, and end up with a SUV or people-mover, with a free tankfull of petrol. How strange, but I'm not complaining.

 

[Arthur Hodgson]

Just in case anyone is still interested, here are the details of the company I usually use for car rentals in the US:
Car Hire

The only slight problem with this company is that it is quite impossible to contact them to change or cancel a booking. I've sent many emails, faxes and snail-mail letters regarding changes to bookings and never once received a reply of any sort.

They may be cheap, but caveat emptor, I suppose.

 

[Dave Noble]

Just in case anyone is still interested, here are the details of the company I usually use for car rentals in the US:
Car Hire

The only slight problem with this company is that it is quite impossible to contact them to change or cancel a booking. I've sent many emails, faxes and snail-mail letters regarding changes to bookings and never once received a reply of any sort..

Have you tried phoning them?

Dave

 

[Driver]

I suppose I'm new to this and probably it will cost me money but I wanted everything detailed and safe. I went with Alamo - found a print out discount and found the online site took it. Print and take with me. The site caters to Australians who like all their insurances and add-ons upfront.

Everyone wants to save money but we are real careful people - every insurance under the sun is Mr Drivers motto I reckon! And no excess!!

Alamo Rent A Car - Discount Rental Cars, Vacation Car Rental Deals

Discount Coupon - available for certain car catagories
Alamo Car Rentals - Alamo Coupon Codes

 

[Budley]

Interesting.

 

[Arthur Hodgson]

Have you tried phoning them?

Dave

Well, Dave, actually no. Apart from the time differences, I don't want to sit in a hold queue for half an hour or longer. My phone bill might be more than the reservation is worth. Their lack of communication does not make me feel that they will answer their phones in a timely manner. Shades of Ryanair, I think.

However, I would like to mention that I have also used another UK-based car rental company http://www.novacarhire.com/, and have found their customer service (via email) to be excellent. Never had a problem with changes or cancellations.

I guess you live and learn, and I certainly would never make a big dollar booking with NetFlights in the UK, as I couldn’t trust them to deliver or react to requests for changes.

 

[Dave Noble]

Well, Dave, actually no. Apart from the time differences, I don't want to sit in a hold queue for half an hour or longer. My phone bill might be more than the reservation is worth.

I have used that company in the past for making a few flight bookings ex-UK; not the best but not the worst and have found that they do answer their phones

You can call them for free on a service like skype or other VOIP service by using airline network's freefone number of +44 800 747 000

The time difference to UK is pretty reasonable for calling from home I find since 6pm in Australia at this time of year is 9am in London

Dave

 

[Arthur Hodgson]

I have used that company in the past for making a few flight bookings ex-UK; not the best but not the worst and have found that they do answer their phones

You can call them for free on a service like skype or other VOIP service by using airline network's freefone number of +44 800 747 000

The time difference to UK is pretty reasonable for calling from home I find since 6pm in Australia at this time of year is 9am in London

Dave

Thanks for your comments, Dave.

I have to say though that I really can't be bothered having to jump through hoops to deal with this company. As mentioned, there are many others which have much better customer service departments, so they have now lost my business for one. If they don't care, then neither do I.

My problems with having to change bookings all stem from good old United Airlines. They have made such swingeing schedule changes to some of my paid reservations that I have had to cancel/change many hotel and car bookings.

Everyone except this company in Preston has been really pro-active in helping me. For example, I had to change a few hotel bookings with expedia.com (not .au) and was quite willing to pay the cancellation fee of USD 25. However, the agent I spoke to (a US-based call centre) offered to speak to her supervisor, without any prompting from me, to have the cancellation fees waived. This was done and the service I received was excellent. Moral of the story, I will be quite happy to put more business expedia's way.

That's life, and business, I guess.

PS. It might be also worth mentioning that I lived near Preston, Lancs for over 25 years, so I'm not entirely unfamiliar with the territory.

 

[Dave Noble]

PS. It might be also worth mentioning that I lived near Preston, Lancs for over 25 years, so I'm not entirely unfamiliar with the territory.

I only spent a few years in Preston but do know it a bit; such a huge bus station for such a small place

Dave

 

[Arthur Hodgson]

I only spent a few years in Preston but do know it a bit; such a huge bus station for such a small place

Dave

It's not really that small a place, I would guess at least 150,000 inhabitants, quite big by Australian inland cities standards.

And thinking about it, I have a feeling that if I did ring Airline Network I would be greeted by someone from the Sub-Continent. All starts to make sense.

 

[Mrmaxwell]

Here is my tip after just renting a car from LAX using Thrifty.

Thrifty LAX seem to let you choose any car from their carpark once you complete the paperwork. I had booked a small compact, but was advised in the car park take any car I wish as they were not loaded with bookings. Instead of a compact I took a nice mustang convertible. Thing is all the cars are out back with the keys in them and nothing stops you from hopping into any car you wish.

Fast forward to returning my car, all checked and voila, my charge is as per my original quote for the small compact. Obviously YMMV but if you can book with Thrifty LAX, it is worth a try.

PS. After 2 months of car rental in the USA, hotwire.com proved to be by far the cheapest when renting from a major airport. My cheapest rate was $8.95 per day from LAS (Vegas) for a week.

PSS. Why hide deals/tips you find? This website has saved me so much $$$ I owe it more than a few small tips!

 

[BAM1748]

Is an Australian Driver's License sufficient to rent a car in Los Angeles?

I managed to hire a car (off airport as they all are) SFO and returned it to LAX without a driver license. I simply forgot it when I changed over my wallet the day I departed Sydney.

I showed my passport, they asked if I had a drivers license and hey presto here are keys the sir.

I was surprised myself, but they did ask a lot of extra questions and made me take all the insurance they had. (obviously I didn't argue or even comment). It was with a smaller company, can't remember the name now, something like Red Spot here in Oz so I guess they could be flexible.

 

[auriga]

Here is my tip after just renting a car from LAX using Thrifty.

Thrifty LAX seem to let you choose any car from their carpark once you complete the paperwork. I had booked a small compact, but was advised in the car park take any car I wish as they were not loaded with bookings. Instead of a compact I took a nice mustang convertible. Thing is all the cars are out back with the keys in them and nothing stops you from hopping into any car you wish.

Fast forward to returning my car, all checked and voila, my charge is as per my original quote for the small compact. Obviously YMMV but if you can book with Thrifty LAX, it is worth a try.

PS. After 2 months of car rental in the USA, hotwire.com proved to be by far the cheapest when renting from a major airport. My cheapest rate was $8.95 per day from LAS (Vegas) for a week.

PSS. Why hide deals/tips you find? This website has saved me so much $$$ I owe it more than a few small tips!

How did you deal with the insurance issues using hotwire? Were you able to get full insurance coverage ( ie minimal excess) for the car/s? (at what price if so).

 

[Elvin Yeo]

Is an Australian Driver's License sufficient to rent a car in Los Angeles?

Yes you can use that