What time is recorded when you rent a vehicle from Hertz?

[beardoc]

I'm going to run through a scenario and ask for advice:

I reserve a vehicle from Hertz at an airport from 8:30am and returning at 8:30am the next day - with the grace period of 29 minutes this means the latest the vehicle must be returned is 8:59am the next day.

However, my flight into the airport runs late and the actual time for collecting the vehicle is 9:30am. What is the time that the vehicle needs to be back? Is it the originally booked time of 8:30am (8:59am with grace period) or now 9:30am (or 9:59am with grace period)?

 

[The Rok]

I would imagine it is 24:29 from when you collect as opposed to when you schedule collection! Good question, especially if you were a couple of hours late.

 

[TonyD]

I would imagine it is 24:29 from when you collect as opposed to when you schedule collection! Good question, especially if you were a couple of hours late.

done this many times. It is definitely from the collection time.

 

[kpc]

A local Sydney AVIS franchise insisted it was the time I booked not the time I arrived (20 minutes after), and only relented when I threatened to cancel the reservation and walk to the nearby Hertz franchise!:evil:

 

[koonyaflyer]

Can confirm it is definitely the time you actually get your key, or drive through gold canopy check point. This is also the time our Tolls are linked to.

 

[serfty]

ALWAY check your documentation upon collection to ensure the pick-up time noted is accrate.

I have seen things like 8:30am for a 1pm pick up.

 

[ColinP]

ALWAY check your documentation upon collection to ensure the pick-up time noted is accrate.

I have seen things like 8:30am for a 1pm pick up.

I had one that had yesterday's date as the pick up date. Took the car back 24 hrs later and they said I was a day late :-O. Was a small business though. Not one of the majors.
I always check now.

 

[ozbeachbabe]

I always check the time printed out on the rental agreement (RA) & ask the rental agent at the time what the grace period is - it used to be 59 mins.

It sounds as though members of VIP type car programs could be at a distinct disadvantage when it comes to rentals if their RA's are printed out ahead of time for 'convenience'.

It would appear one way to avoid incorrect charges would be to ask the car rental place to reprint your RA on pick up which of course defeats the purpose of express pickups.

 

[yohy?!]

Never had an issue with hertz returning it 24 hours after collection time when I've picked it up late.

They were even pretty good dealing with damage from a car park pylon that 'jumped out in front of me':!:

 

[docjames]

Collection time. Make sure to check the paperwork.

some centres will log the time you exit the carpark, others will be when you sign the paperwork in the office.

 

[Sprucegoose]

ALWAY check your documentation upon collection to ensure the pick-up time noted is accrate.

I have seen things like 8:30am for a 1pm pick up.

I never have in the past, but I now count my change at the shops i will now check this as well.

Thanks for the reminder.

 

[Sprucegoose]

done this many times. It is definitely from the collection time.

How do they update your collection time at the express exit?

 

[serfty]

I never have in the past, but I now count my change at the shops i will now check this as well.

Thanks for the reminder.

Saves hassles when you return the car and they try to charge you for three days when you only had the vehicle for 46 hours. (Found this out the hard way. :-|

(... it's another in a long line of do when picking up rentals ... check tank ... check dints/scratches, check odometer, check rental rate, check pick up time ...)

 

[koonyaflyer]

How do they update your collection time at the express exit?

When you show your licence they bring up the rental agreement on their screen, this triggers the pickup time to register in their system.

I had an interesting situation in Sydney some months ago when the Hertz system was down, so at the boom gate they could not enter this in their system. The system must have come back up around an hour later, so according to Hertz my pickup ime was 2.30pm. This time also generated through to Roam, which meant that I got hit with Toll infringement notices for the tolls between my 1.30pm pickup and their 2.30 processing time!

 

[TonyD]

When you show your licence they bring up the rental agreement on their screen, this triggers the pickup time to register in their system.

Thats exactly it. Also answer to query about pre printed express forms. I have often wndered what happens when i drop the key to an unattended desk but have been in on time.

 

[u92741]

I ask another question - what happens if you book it for 8:30 but get there early and pick it up at 7:00am do they count it from when you pick it up or from your booking? They count it from pick up - so in that context, they would clock you out from pick up at 9:30am. When you book you are giving them an approx time to pick up so they know to have th car ready. If your plane is late, then they should take that into consideration else they should not be at the airport doing business.
Perhaps you need to use a different car hirer..... ALWAYS check your paperwork....

 

[MoolahQ]

Hertz has always started the booking from the time you collect your vehicle. The time you enter on the booking form is to enable the staff to get the car from storage and prepare it. I've rented from many airports around the country and Hertz have always been the easiest and most professional to deal with. Well, almost every time, anyone can have an off-day.