Car rental craziness
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When GG Park shows were announced, it offered an excuse for a longer family visit and I booked a compact rental car (easier to park in SF) for our time in CA.
I searched for the lowest price, any national brand, using search engines and then booked direct. Direct from Alamo, if I recall. Initial lowest price --- well over $600.
Knowing prices change like the stock market, a couple of weeks later I re-rented the same car from the same company --- and saved $150.
Today I rented the same sized vehicle from Thrifty for $281 total.
Good for me this time, but variable pricing sucks.
Does anyone ever buy the car insurance they offer?
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Top of Page Bottom of Page PermalinkFull Name: Mice elf
That's the only way, Alan.
That's the only way, Alan. Hotels too.
great savings
Top of Page Bottom of Page PermalinkFull Name: Alan R
I wonder how that pricing
I wonder how that pricing algorithm works.
Also, someone told me they are using AI connected scans of rentals on return to check for the slightest damage.
Top of Page Bottom of Page PermalinkFull Name: Jay Sunshine
^^^Hertz does this exact
^^^Hertz does this exact thing you mention.
https://www.msn.com/en-us/autos/news/hertz-ai-scanner-charges-350-for-tiny-dings-on-rental-and-this-is-going-off-the-rails/
Top of Page Bottom of Page PermalinkFull Name: MeditateontheQ
I've rented cars on Turo app
I've rented cars on Turo app from private owners....works well and insurance is available, a variety of pricing and vehicles.
Top of Page Bottom of Page PermalinkFull Name: Dr. Benway
ive bought the insurance they
ive bought the insurance they offered once because i had never driven in the snow before and was in CO during a pretty extreme snowstorm for some furthur shows at 1st bank. 2011 i think?
i did ok driving in the snow and managed to keep control of my vehicle during a few very hairy moments, learned how to handle myself inthose conditions pretty quickly, but i ended up backing into a pole while pulling out of a parking space and fuuuuucked the bumper up. i had the insurance so i dropped the car off, showed them the damage and that was that, it was totally fine. they said it would have been the same if id totaled the thing, so ive been getting it ever since.
outside of hitting stationary objects twice during my first 6mo of learning to drive(also during my 1st and 2nd times ever driving in more dense urban areas like SF/oak/berkeley), the above story is the only time ive ever hit anything with my car or been involved in any kind of traffic/car related accident outside of my parked, unoccupied car being hit by someone, but i still get the insurance when i rent a car even though im wildly confident in my driving abilities and have a track record to back it up. its been awhile since i rented a car but iirc it was like 100 bucks on top of multiple hundreds for a weekish rental, and compared to potentially being on the hook for thousands or tens of thousands, it feels worth it for me.
Top of Page Bottom of Page PermalinkFull Name: Andy
Should you have automobile
Should you have automobile insurance with "car rental insurance' added at a tiny fee, then the car is covered minus the deductible. Only exception, depends on insurance, is the car rental fee per day the car is not drivable. I've never added the company insurance and have rented over 500 vehicles. Hope this helps. Smiles
Top of Page Bottom of Page PermalinkFull Name: Lord Kalvert
Never buy the insurance- but
Never buy the insurance- but I did last month in France. You pretty much have to have it when out of the country. U.S. companies can't insure you over there- and in Paris - you NEED full coverage.
Top of Page Bottom of Page PermalinkFull Name: Joe Buck is Back
Turo worked out great for me
Turo worked out great for me in Alaska a few years ago. This was just after covid and things were starting to open back up. The regular companies had a shortage of rentals.
Top of Page Bottom of Page PermalinkFull Name: treat island
It used to be that using
It used to be that using certain credit cards gave rental coverage (maybe minus a deductible?), it's been so long I don't know if it's still so.
Top of Page Bottom of Page PermalinkFull Name: TommyGutt
been renting cars for decades
been renting cars for decades, I use hotwire usually get a 22,00 per day rate, use my visa premiere card never get insurance.. We're covered.. once a while back for Phil's resceduled Philoween, 80th bday I took a low cost and getting in to JFK took the shuttlte to an off site renter where they refused my visa card couvrage.. wanted 65 bucks more a day .. Fuckn a I took the train...
Top of Page Bottom of Page PermalinkFull Name: surjade
VPN location can have an
VPN location can have an effect on pricing of everything on the interwebs.
Top of Page Bottom of Page PermalinkFull Name: dimethyllovebeam
from Jackass 1.......get the
from Jackass 1.......get the insurance....lol I hit a dog.
Top of Page Bottom of Page PermalinkFull Name: Andy
Hey Judith: No credit cards
Hey Judith: No credit cards any more. They off "secondary" not "primary" insurance. In other words, NO COVERAGE.
Top of Page Bottom of Page PermalinkFull Name: Zzzzzz
No car needed in SF
No car needed in SF
Top of Page Bottom of Page PermalinkFull Name: El Nino
Just came across this report
Just came across this report on gaming revenue in Nevada. The state is down 2% as compared to same month last year, but that is almost entirely driven by LV Strip, LV Downtown and South Lake all of which depend some on foreign tourists who have stopped coming.
Laughlin, Sparks and Wendover where the are no foreign tourists are all up. The Trump economy probably explains why rental cars in SF have come down so much. No Canadians or European to rent those cars.
https://gaming.nv.gov/uploadedFiles/gamingnvgov/content/about/abb-revenu...
Top of Page Bottom of Page PermalinkFull Name: Alan R
Zang, agreed. If I didn't
Zang, agreed. If I didn't have to visit fam in the foothills, I wouldn't bother. I went small to fit into the little spaces in the Richmond.
How many times did I used to have to get out of the car, measure the available inches to the next garage or driveway, move the car up a little, get out, measure again..... we all had our "secret" spots where knew we could just fit.
Top of Page Bottom of Page PermalinkFull Name: Zzzzzz
I was surprised at car rental
I was surprised at car rental prices too. I forgot to rent for my boulder trip next week and it was still very reasonable. And it was the same the week before for my florida tour. I think some of this may also be due to Uber and Lyft. I used to rent for every business trip and I'd rather not deal with a car, gas and even more so, hotel valet which seems to be standard at $40-60. Even though I'm not paying for it my clients are.
There was also an article in NYT about AI scanners to track dings on rental cars now. I think Hertz is using it and a few others. That's going to push me further away from rental cars.
Top of Page Bottom of Page PermalinkFull Name: Alan R
I'm waiting for the day when
I'm waiting for the day when people rent driver-less cars and AI finds a ding in the bumper and demands payment. This is how the robot vs robot wars will begin.
Top of Page Bottom of Page PermalinkFull Name: Def. High
When 4 driver-less cars meet
When 4 driver-less cars meet at a 4-way stop, will one of them ever go first?
Top of Page Bottom of Page PermalinkFull Name: Zzzzzz
I did see a bit of this in SF
I did see a bit of this in SF. There were so many waymos in one area that they all stopped for each other in the middle of the street and caused a back up. I assume they will get smarter. Just seems like a big investment and what I witnessed didn't give me any faith in hopping in one of those things....yet.