Machka 

It's generally not advisable to go to the airport outlet unless you need to (i.e. you've just arrived in a country and need to find a way to get around).

Where possible, it is often better to select another outlet, downtown perhaps, or out in a suburb.

If you do your research, you'll discover that Hertz, Budget, Thrifty and other commonly used ones may charge more if you rent from the airport outlet than another outlet. You can usually enter the info online and find out which outlet will offer you the best deal. Of course, you do have to have a way to get to that outlet.

And you don't have to get the $30/day insurance ... however it is advisable. We always do, even though it doubles the cost of the rental.

Robert C

That was why I was trying places other than the airport rental. It turned out that there were none that would rent to me.

Machka 

So the Hertz (or Thrifty or Budget or whoever you went with) dealers at locations other than the airport wouldn't rent to you? That seems odd.

We just pop our info into the computer to book one, and then turn up and get it.



OK, I'm going through the process now. I picked Hertz just because it is a commonly known car rental company.

I selected Melbourne as my location and picked a downtown location to get the car rather than the airport. I selected an economy car, ignored all the extras, and clicked submit. Here I need to enter my name and email address, phone number, and arrival info if I have it. If I enter my details and click submit, I would get a confirmation number and email which I would present to the location when I get there.

I did the same with New York city ... same deal.

Nowhere does it ask me if I own my own car. The Australian one just adds the insurance into the price. The New York one lists the insurance as an extra. Both seem perfectly happy to rent to me.

Robert C

This is a small town of about 30K, so the other places do not exist here. For rentals it is the airport or the auto dealerships. That is it.

Rob_E

Yeah, I think Machka's advice is good, but it requires you have a national rental chain that's not located at the airport.

I expect dealers rent cars primarily to customers who are leaving their cars at the dealership for service or are otherwise, temporarily without a car, and therefor already have insurance. I think most of the advice is based on getting insurance from a national rental chain. If your best option is a dealership, then for insurance you'll probably have to look at getting insurance directly through an insurance company unless you have some other source of insurance. Dealerships are definitely not set up to help people who don't want to own a car. ;-)

I-Like-To-Bike

I'd think that most people renting cars at airports are doing so for the express reason of "getting around" after arriving by airplane from anywhere else.

Unless "getting around" only involves getting to one location (and return trip to airport) that could also be reached by taxi, shuttle bus, or convenient public transportation from the airport, car rental obtained at the airport is probably the most practical, if not most economical means of "getting around" after arriving by air at a location far from home.

I don't think many air travelers would find your advice to schlep their luggage somehow to a distant car rental location (and repeat the process in reverse for the return trip) in order to save a few bucks all that useful. Either they are traveling for business purposes on the company dime, or on vacation or to an event where wasting hours on end to get to a cheaper car rental place may not be worth the cost in wasted limited time.

Rob_E

Machka's response specifically mentions that if you're flying in to an airport then renting from the airport might be most practical. The OP specifically mentioned that the airport rental agency was a last resort, so I think we can assume that they were not planning on flying in. Sounds like they were trying to rent in their home town.

But if you are flying in to an airport, I have found that there are often shuttle services to nearby hotels and bus service to the city center. If you wanted to shop around and try to save on rental cars, there are likely options to get around. You point out that many air travelers might find these options less than practical, and you're right. But then this is the car-free/light forum, and I think a lot of in that situation think nothing of hopping on a bus to get around.

Is it worth the extra time/effort? Depends. Sounds like the OP has gone through some effort to find the best deal, so they might think it is worth the effort.

Robert C

In my case I need to go to a testing centre (job related) about 150mi away. There are no Trains, flights, or busses. I did this once before, last year and rented a car at the airport. I was just looking for a cheaper way.

Normally when I leave town I am going home, (to my wife) and I fly. I work in Kansas and live in Salt Lake. I get home about three times a year.

I-Like-To-Bike

Are you referring to Rent-a Wreck type rental car operation run out of a storefront or garage far from any airport?

I'd be surprised if any of the rental car companies at a NYC airport (or any other airport based operation) rent a car with only a relatively small cash deposit and no credit/debit card.

BTW, I got the point, which was to repost the exact same statement about never being asked about car ownership when renting a car that I previously posted in this thread. If you believe your reposting of this fact demonstrated anything more than my statement, fine; re-repost it again and maybe you will "demonstrate" something else.

Machka 

Yes ... that can be a difficulty when you're trying to be car free (or light) in a smaller town or more remote area.

Where we lived north of Melbourne, we had to take a bus to a town about 70 km away which had the closest car rental location.

I-Like-To-Bike

Another factor to consider even for car free folks is a timely return to the airport, especially to catch early morning or red eye flights. Returning a rental car to an off site location that keeps regular business hours and no facility for off-hour returns, combined with the likelihood of just "hopping on a bus" at odd hours may be cause for even car free folks to rethink "nothing" about it.

Artkansas 

When I moved to Little Rock, I rented a car for 3 days so I could find an apartment. I got the insurance. And somewhere along the way I met a small rock that flew into the windshield, cracking it.

Machka 

Yep ... that's all it takes. You can have the best intentions, and then ...

I-Like-To-Bike

Risk of/from what?

I-Like-To-Bike

What makes you think so for damage not caused by the renter's recklessness or irresponsible behavior?

Walter S

Death

I-Like-To-Bike

What is your recommendation than to car free people who need/desire to travel to places for which there is no suitable/practical transportation other than a rental vehicle? Just don't go because of the alleged "Risk of Death!"

fietsbob

See If your Credit Card Company stands Behind You on that ..

I-Like-To-Bike

Could you be any more vague?

fietsbob

Do your own research.

I Have a Bus That gets me to the big city with it's airport..

I-Like-To-Bike

Sounds risky, some people DIE! when taking the bus.
Bus crashes, fatalities worse than reported - USATODAY.com

Walter S

Not necessarily. But if you drive a car once in a few years like me, you will have a little concern and might think twice, being out of practice with safe driving.

SchwinnSuburban

I ditched my car this past Summer, switched my insurance policy with my insurance company to what they call "pedestrian insurance" at $15.00 a month. I'm covered if I borrow someone's car or rent a car. Also, I get medical coverage if in an accident while in a car, on public transportation, etc. Probably one of the best deals on the planet. I'm sure an internet search will come up with more than one insurance company that offers something similar. Of course you will need to have a driver's license, but as anti-personal automobile as I may be, a driver's license is still a handy form of identification when needed.

I-Like-To-Bike

"Covered" for what? Does it include liability coverage for damage and injury to others in other vehicles, or just damage to the vehicle you are driving; or both?

SchwinnSuburban

Full coverage. Sorry about the lack of specificity.