so a family member needs to rent a full size "Premium" car for four adults. Maybe like a Maxima or Camry. Is their any one that is better than someone else. Alamo, budget, National, Avis, enterprise, dollar, thrifty, etc. All basically the same?

Are their hidden cost's other than the $40 a day?

I'm not sure but Hertz and Avis jumped on the anti NRA train.
https://www.washingtonpost.com...m_term=.d8c5608c3720

I always rent with Dollar but that's in Vegas. Rates change daily if not multiple times a day. I rebook and cancel when a better rate is available. If the renter has full coverage on thier personal vehicle they shouldn't need to get insurance through the rental agency. Many credit cards provide additional coverage if used to rent the vehicle. Some agencies charge more to add drivers.

there are often extra charges when rented from airport based locations. And be sure to understand how and when they charge for fuel... there are different ways the do it.

They're all basically the same, just price shop it like anything else. Stay away from some of the no-name rental car places (Basically anything other than what you listed).

If your family member has an Amex card have them sign up for the premium rental car coverage

https://feeservices.americanex...nce-coverage/home.do

When you rent a car with your Amex, it's a flat $25 fee for the insurance on the rental car for the entire time you rent it up to 42 days.

I generally rent from National. But that's because I'm an Emerald Club member, and that allows me to pick the vehicle of my choosing.

Which airport? Maybe Silvercar is an option.

https://www.silvercar.com/

Last December I rented a vehicle from Hertz. By picking it up from a location about a mile from the airport I did not get nailed with the airport and city fees. The rental was half the price of what it would have been at the airport. Most rental agencies will pick you up. Not all places have the ridiculous fee we have here in El Paso. I have always had good luck with Dollar and Hertz.

try to rent off-airport and you can probably cut your rental cost 15 - 20%

I like National because you can pick your own car.

Check that your auto insurance covers while renting- and decline the rental agency rip off rates "for your protection/just in case"

Take good pictures with your cell phone (assuming you have one) of all four sides of the vehicle to show any damage present when you pick the car up and drop it off.

My recent experience renting cars from Enterprise has been horrible. I will never do business with them again because of their high pressure sales tactics. Just about any of the other companies are good to deal with. You can compare prices on rentalcars.com.

I do the National Emerald Club, works well for me, but my company usually pays for it.

For business, I'm a National Emerald Aisle member (some years Executive level) with Avis as a back-up. Emerald aisle is nice since you can pick your own vehicle and bypass the counter. However, Emerald aisle doesn't exist at smaller airports (e.g. Burbank) so you have to go to the desk and haggle on your preassigned car. I don't like SUVs on business travel as your luggage is visible (they never have the cargo cover) and prefer to get a car so my luggage is out of sight.

For personal travel, I use whichever whomever has the cheapest sports car or convertible. There are some regional rental car companies that I hadn't previously heard of but I've had good experience (e.g. Advantage in West Coast and Thrifty in Hawaii). I'm Hertz Gold due to a credit card and it's nice to see your name on the board and walk directly to car bypassing the counter.

I'd have a shitload more National points if they'd merge their 3 company's programs (National, Alamo, and Enterprise) since I use Alamo and Enterprise fairly often on personal travel and National for business travel.

Hertz is my preference.

Rates vary greatly upon the location, dates, and type of car.

Sometimes there may be a conference nearby and it'll drive the rates up.

Know if your personal insurance will cover the rental car or have a plan to avoid the sodomy of rental company provided insurance.

For personal use I go through Kayak, they often have better prices that direct with the companies.

I have had good experiences with Sixt. They are a European rental car company that has moved over to the US. I've rented their cars on several occasion both in the US and Europe.

Had a bad experience with the Hertz at Nashville airport several years ago. As I was picking up my reservation, the guy said, "How about a nice Toyota Corolla?" And I said, "I don't care, as long as it gets me down the road." I thought he was giving me the car class I had reserved, but come to find out later I was charged with an upgrade. Tried to fight it with Hertz Corporate, but was denied.

So I don't use Hertz.

Thanks guys some good thoughts. How about through Costco or AAA?

I've used them all at one time or another but National is my favorite. I like Avis and the others that have signs with your name on them and the space allowing you to skip check out at the booth, but prefer being able to pick my own car from National.

All of the above is my experiences with the companies above is as a member of their club and with some status so how they work for an everyday renter I don't know. Also I know that National does not always let you choose your own car off the lot. Some smaller airports don't have an outdoor check out facility so you have to get your keys from the desk in the airport. Of course you could ask for a specific one if you know what you want to see if they have it, or walk out and see a car you wanted and walk back in and they would likely change you to that one.

quote:

Originally posted by old rugged cross:

so a family member needs to rent a full size "Premium" car for four adults...

What airport are they flying into? Some of us may be able to provide more specific advice.