car hire in US

[kusanku]

I am off to US in a couple of weeks. The plan is to fly in to Boston, and drive to Chicago via the Great Lakes. Can anyone recommend a good car hire company, or warn me of any to avoid?

 

[EDZ649]

I have used Avis and Hertz, both much of a muchness. Just remember to take out the collision damage waiver. they will try and sell you extra ins for your passengers which i a waste of time in my opinion.

 

[SL300-24]

Alamo are good too.....

 

[mbenz76]

I always use Budget when I go over. Have used them more times than I can remember and have always been very pleased.

 

[wxmclk]

As above and no problems with Hertz or Alamo. Have also used Dollar a couple of times, though not 100% certain they operate outside Florida- would need to check this.

 

[c2raig]

Internationally I use Hertz a lot, and I find them brilliant, but then again my firm puts a fortune through them so they may just look after us, as they never seem to have a Mondeo, but they do have a Merc SLK or high end Volvo or a VW Eos etc...

 

[NewMB]

Hertz or Avis for me too. Have been lucky enough to become Hertz #1 Club Gold & Avis Preffered and always recieved great service.

I would always take out every insurance available due to the american way of suing everything and everybody, just to be on the safe side.

Avis gave us a Chrysler 300 5.7 Hemi once....

 

[mbenz76]

I would always take out every insurance available due to the american way of suing everything and everybody, just to be on the safe side.

I second that. I always take absolutely everything going. At the end of the day, if something happens to the car I want to be sure that I don't have to pay a penny to the rental company or anyone else.

Some basic rentals basically set the excess at the value of the vehicle, so if someone runs into it while parked and drives away, you are stuck paying the value of the car back through no fault of your own.

I also always take the pre-paid gas option, so I don't have to fill the tank back before taking the car back. Yes you lose a bit unless you run it in on vapours, but it saves the hassle of having to find a gas station on your way to the airport, and with Budget at least, it's slightly cheaper than buying a tank of gas at a local station.

 

[gkerr4]

I tend to use a broker such as carsabroad or (more likely) holidayautos.com - they sell their own insurance so you choose a package that suits and then there are no extras when you pick up.

In the states I tend to get the biggest car available - it doesn't cost that much more for a giant SUV than a mid-size thing. My mate does the same but pre-books a basic car and haggles on the upgrade price at the collection desk - he sometimes does well and sometimes not so. Up to you.

Boston to chicago will be a good drive - i'm most jealous!

 

[312 Sprinter]

Pick one that doesn't automatically flash up when you book your flight. The queues are shorter that way.

 

[c2raig]

I think the best one I've had was a CLK Convertible for no extra charge when I asked for a Focus

 

[lil.smartie]

Insurance 4 Car hire, top level over will be LOTS less than US car hire company will charge!

Dollar always been good & Enterprise but we have now bought a car there as we always paid too much to hire companies! Dollar 1st time we were there gave us a Mustang convertible in place of a sebring!

Kate

 

[mbenz76]

I always go for a mid-range SUV but quite often upgrade at the desk to massive SUV. The upgrade price at the desk is WAY cheaper than if you had booked it originally.

Most of the big name companies are very busy most of the time, but if you are a frequent renter you can skip the lines at many of them and go straight to the parking lot and collect your car.

 

[GP801]

Try Car Hire in Spain, Portugal, Malaga, Malta, Cyprus from all major airports - Economy Car Hire. Used them a lot in europe and they do USA aswell. Rates include no insurance excess and free 2nd driver. They are a broker but provide excellent service and will liase with the hire company on your behalf if you have problems.

 

[El Caballo]

I am off to US in a couple of weeks. The plan is to fly in to Boston, and drive to Chicago via the Great Lakes. Can anyone recommend a good car hire company, or warn me of any to avoid?

Go ahead with the damage coverage insurance, be sure they know you are taking the car out of state. I don't know your route but it sounds like you will be going from Boston out through upstate New York (check out the Finger Lakes) over to Buffalo down to Ohio and up into the mitten of Michigan and down over to Chi-town. A nice drive.

I'd like to suggest, since the timing is perfect, to go into New Hampshire and Vermont to see the colors of the leaves as it is peak season for that when you are getting there. I grew up in Connecticut and Maine and you will love the brisk New England fall weather. Enjoy.

 

[Burger]

I always use Hertz myself. Check out their 'special' vehicle range and go hire something you've always wanted to try. Last time I was there in The Smoky Mountains I hired a Mustang Convertible which was great fun. They usually have some of the modern muscle cars available too.

Regards,

 

[steve333]

Alamo are good too.....

+1 for Alamo,have used them 7 or 8 times at various locations throughout the states & never had a problem

 

[gaz_l]

The one thing I would say is, whatever company you rent from, don't put up with any issues. I booked a convertible when we did our east coast driving holiday a couple of years ago (DC-Boston-NY) and Hertz rolled out a Sebring.

Ok, crappy car but in the group I'd booked, couldn't complain. What I did object to was the fact that it was prom season and the velour upholstery (yum) was covered in glitter - methinks the previous night's rental had been to 4 girlies. I objected, they said they'd clean it. 10 minutes later, it came back full of glitter. More objections, car goes away again, comes back another 10 minutes later - you guessed it, still full of glitter. I point out to the rental clerk that it will take them hours to clean it to my satisfaction, so we came to a compromise. I took a Mustang coupe, no not the convertible I'd booked but it was fresh into the yard, as in straight off the transporter - it had exactly 6 miles on the clock.

So, it was nicely run in for them 1200 miles later when I dropped it back at JFK airport..

Cheers,

Gaz

 

[kusanku]

Thank you everyone for your replies. I booked with Hertz in the end. It worked out that very few companies would allow me to pick the car up in Boston and drop off in Chicago. Have booked a Toyota Camry, which is part of Hertz "green" range.

 

[crockers]

I always use my mothers Toyota Camry - makes me realise how much I miss my own car...

Don't forget your seasick pills..