Renting a car should never be as complicated as buying or owning one. Yet, sometimes the process is a bit more involved than pick up, drive away and drop off.
By Andrea Sachs
Though these incidences might not occur very often, it is always best to know how to handle them. Knotty topics such as insurance and manager’s choice can also trip you up.
To that end, we answered some of the most confounding questions about renting a car, so you can enjoy the freedom of the road without worry or regret.
Does my credit card cover rental car damages?
Each credit card is unique, but most plans include some type of coverage, such as damages or theft of a vehicle. Higher-end cards might also cover liability, but the standard card stops short of injury, personal property damage or accidents involving second parties.
To take advantage of this benefit, you must book the car with that card and forgo the rental car agency’s insurance.
“You have to decline the coverage at the counter,” said Sally French, lead writer at NerdWallet. “Otherwise, the rental car insurance kicks. ”
Before you file a claim with the credit card company, ascertain whether you have primary or secondary coverage. For primary, you can go straight to the credit card company, which will pay for the repairs or reimburse you for them. For secondary coverage, you must first contact your personal car insurance company. The credit card company will cover expenses denied by the insurance company.
Of the two types, Nick Ewen, senior editorial director at the Points Guy, prefers primary because “you are not running the risk of your premiums going up.”
Several variables can affect coverage. Ewen said a card might offer primary for international trips and secondary for domestic travel. In addition, your credit card might not cover long-term rentals exceeding a month, luxury cars or recreational vehicles.
I don’t have car insurance. Do I need to buy the rental agency’s?
This is always the biggest conundrum. If your credit card company and/or personal car insurer provide solid coverage, you can skip the rental car company’s insurance. If you don’t have either, consider adding it.
Sharky Laguana, president of the American Car Rental Association, said domestic rental agencies do not require travelers to purchase their insurance, but he recommends it “to avoid having financial responsibility for damages.”
Ewen leaves it up to personal choice.
“Ultimately, it’s playing the risk game,” he said. “If you’re going to be using the car to basically drive somewhere and back, the chances having a real significant issue will be relatively low.”
Yet, as I learned with the airborne pebble in Detroit, mishaps can happen. The company charged me more than $700 to repair the cracked windshield.
Before driving off, should I take photos of the car?
Yes, snap away.
“Some companies will take pictures for you, and a few even use automated systems for this purpose,” Laguana said, “but there is no harm in taking a minute to take your own pictures, as it may give you additional peace of mind.”
When taking pictures or shooting video of the rental, include an image of the rental car parking lot, irrefutable evidence that you did not cause the damage. Also don’t neglect the interior. If the dents or rips are abundant, inform an employee and consider swapping cars.
What if my plane arrives after the counter’s closing time?
When booking a rental car, fill out the flight information on the form. This way, the company will know if your plane is behind schedule.
In addition, as soon as you learn of the delay, call the local number — or central reservations, if no one answers — and let them know you are landing after the counter closes. An employee might stay late, leave the keys in a lock box or change your reservation to the morning.
“If you’re running late, most rental companies will usually hold your reservation for at least a couple hours,” Laguana said, “so there’s a good chance that a vehicle scheduled to be picked up at the end of the day would still be available the next morning.”
Should I rent a toll pass or is it cheaper to pay the tolls?
Gone are the days of the tollbooth attendant. Highways around the country are switching to an electronic toll collection system.
If you have a transponder for your personal vehicle, it could be valid in your vacation destination — that is if you remembered to pack it. Florida’s SunPass Pro, for instance, can be used on toll roads in 21 states, including ones that accept E-ZPass. To transfer the transponder to the rental car, update your account with the rental car’s license plate.
Some toll road networks offer prepaid toll passes with no monthly fee. The North Texas Tollway Authority, for one, sells passes for $10 and $20. TollTag is valid on all toll roads in Texas, Oklahoma and Kansas, plus TEXpress Lanes.
Transponders are also available through the rental car agency, though the extra cost can add up. For Northeast travelers, Enterprise charges $3.95 to $4.95 per day (with a maximum of $30 per rental period), plus the individual tolls. Unfortunately, you have to pay the daily fee even on days that you don’t need it.
If your route is light on toll roads, a less expensive option might be to pay the individual toll, plus the company’s administrative fee. The agency will send you an invoice or deduct the amount from your security deposit. To cut the agency out of the transaction, see if you can pay online before the invoice lands in the rental company’s mailbox.
Ewen warns drivers to not accidentally activate the transponder by sliding the lever to the “on” position. Also, check your credit card statement for erroneous toll charges.
Why are there so many taxes and additional fees?
If you feel as if you need a tax accountant to understand your invoice, you’re not alone.
“It’s not as simple as your usual sales tax,” Ewen said. “The car rental companies are adding some these charges themselves. But at other times, it’s completely outside of their control, like an airport surcharge to help fund capital improvement projects.”
Rental car companies that lease space from an airport can really pile on the extra charges, more so than off-site branches, a June study by NerdWallet reported. The investigation compared the price of a seven-night rental from 15 domestic airports and their downtown equivalents. According to the findings, airport rentals cost about 18 percent more on average.
“A huge reason for that is because airports love to charge extra fees,” French said.
At San Francisco International Airport, for instance, car renters pay a $16 transportation and facility fee, which covers the AirTrain. Similar to a hotel resort fee, you can’t wriggle out of paying it by saying you won’t use that service or amenity.
To avoid the hefty charges, you could reserve a car from a non-airport location. Just do the math before booking: The ride to the site could cost more than the airport rental’s taxes and fees.
How do I make sure I get the car I actually want?
Rental car agencies are not facing the dire fleet shortage of previous years, but selection is still a competitive sport. Agencies overbook, and travelers sometimes return the car late or extend their reservation. So instead of the midsize sedan you are requested, you are handed the keys to a pickup truck or minivan.
To improve your odds, book as far in advance as possible and prepay. Signing up for the company’s loyalty program can also help you lock in your preferred type of car. Some categories of vehicles are more popular in certain destinations, such as SUVs in ski resort areas and compacts in cities. If possible, go against the norm and pick an outlier vehicle.
French said companies may compensate with an upgrade, but warns: “If the car requires premium gas or has worse gas mileage, that might not be an upgrade at all.”
Alternately, if you have no specific requirements, consider the manager’s choice, one of the cheapest rate categories. The agencies use this incentive to move cars with a higher supply than demand, such as electric vehicles. The few times I have used this option, I have been presented with a purple Mustang and a Dodge convertible.
“It can often be an excellent deal,” Lagauna said, “giving you a car that would typically rent for more.”
What should I do if the tank isn’t full at pickup?
Ask for a new car or make sure your contract notes the diminished amount. For the return, only fill it to that line.
If you are already outside airport grounds, take a photo of the gas gauge. Even with proof, however, the rental company may not credit you, and if you return the car partially full, you may incur a penalty.
Are new rental models phasing out older USB port types?
Newer vehicles are incorporating the next generation of USB ports for charging gadgets. The 2024 Mazda I rented in Louisville had USB-C connectors but, as far as I could tell, no USB-A.
“Many rental cars are on the older side, so they will still have the USB-A chargers,” Ewen said. “But we are starting to see more of the other kind.”
To keep your cellphone battery charged, Ewen recommends carrying a power bank or portable charger. You can also buy an adapter.
