Originally Posted by
prathmann
I've used the cheap trunk rack on occasion with both rental cars and with my own. One thing to watch for is that the load is spread over a large and strong enough area of the trunk so you don't get indentations in the trunk lid. I don't worry about it if it's my car (keep them long enough that minor cosmetic issues no longer affect resale value), but it could lead to liability issues with a rental car.
Having sold and used a variety of racks before I was aware of the dentage threat and had some concerns, but the Allen Compact I bought was the only rack in stock at that moment and, fortunately, it left the rental unmarred.