Good Afternoon
I'm just budgeting for a summer visit to New England, seventeen days will cost around £450 (Hertz) , but will I be stung for additional insurance when I pick up, and if so how much to reckon on?
cheers
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Depends where (UK or USA) you book it.
Book in the UK and the package usually includes all the insurance you need. Book it in the US and you'll pay probably in the region of the same again as you were quoted originally.
I go to Florida quite a bit and always use www.usrentacar.co.uk (many other similar companies are available). Compare it with the inclusive prices on the UK websites of various rental companies, but they're usually a lot cheaper.
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if you book from a uk based wesite (netflights is decent) its all inclusive of all taxes and insurances that you need
a booking on a u.s site will be plus insurance , as americans often have their own cover from their own car
just be aware the agent will try and sell all manner of add on insurances that you dont need , refuse these and check carefully that they havent added them anyway before you sign on the dotted line
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A couple of years ago 2007 I hired a 7seat Voyager MPV(minivan) in Canada for 2 weeks, booked and paid for it here in the UK and had the Gold package at £393. Did'nt have worry about ins or waivers etc, including fuel. Just pick it up, with details of your License and drop it off without any checks of fuel or damge etc. Picked up at Vancouver Airport and dropped at Calgary Airport.
The car was from Alamo and they quoted me more than YesCarHire.
www.yescarhire.com/
Give the a try
Edited by autumnboy on 01/05/2009 at 18:28
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Thanks, I'll give them a try.
Do different companies stick with specific makes of cars, I don't want a Chrysler neon :-)
I think Hertz were offering a Ford Focus which would be ideal. I'll be picking up from Bradley International at Hartford CT.
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Quote "I don't want a Chrysler Neon :-) "
..unless it comes out £100 cheaper than Hertz :-B ..
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I think Hertz were offering a Ford Focus which would be ideal. >>
I don't think the American Focus is the same as ours, have alook.
www.fordvehicles.com/cars/focuscoupe/
www.fordvehicles.com/cars/focussedan/
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I don't think the American Focus is the same as ours have alook.
That's brand-new - certainly up till now the one they've had looked just the same as ours (but with a bigger engine, auto etc and a way cheaper price tag!).
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>> >> I think Hertz were offering a Ford Focus which would be ideal. >> I don't think the American Focus is the same as ours have alook.
>>
Beleive me, the American Focus is dire to drive. I found it a handful above 60mph. Besides, it was so difficult to find in the car park
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Do different companies stick with specific makes of cars I don't want a Chrysler neon :-)
I don't know if their are any specific affiliations and, even if there are, then they probably change quite frequently. I've always found the car choice quite random and for medium size (intermediate) cars often seem to end up being a Japanese make (although I think they're actually assembled in the US).
For the last few trips to Florida and to Canada I've hired SUVs. If a company offered Jeep Grand Cherokee then we usually got that, but, at least in Florida, sometimes bigger, 7/8 seater SUVs are cheaper than the Jeep. Even then, they try to push the Toyota versions.
It's best to keep an open mind, but if you don't like the car you're offered you can always ask to change it.
Edited by Bill Payer on 01/05/2009 at 23:49
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>> Do different companies stick with specific makes of cars I don't want a Chrysler >> neon :-) >>
When hiring a car Stateside, it's always best to ask for a Ford Crown Victoria or its sister cars, the Mercury Grand Marquis and Lincoln Town Car. Most agencies will have one or more of these, and trust me, on American roads you ***DON'T*** want to get stuck driving some tiny, underpowered rattletrap that folds up like an accordion the moment another car taps it. In the unlikely event your agency doesn't have one of the aforementioned, ask for the largest SUV they have--last time I flew into MSP they gave me a big, burly Jeep Patriot.
When in Rome, do as the Romans do--i.e., drive American and do your best to affect an American drawl while there. YEEEEEEEEEEEEEE-----HAAAAAAAAAWWWW!!!!!!
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In the past, National/ Alamo used to be major outlet for GM cars in the US. More recently, they've started offering a wider range. I've had Chryslers, Fords, Toyotas and, bizarrely, Volvos from them. I always go for a midsize or intermediate when renting. The smaller ones are dire and a US Ford Focus does not drive like a european Ford Focus.
I've frequently ended up with a Chevrolet Impala which is spacious, has a big boot and is not too bad to drive. There is even a 5.3litre V8 version with 300hp (front wheel drive remember!). The Toyota Camry is also ok and the hybrid version is nice around town. Most SUVs I find cramped and uncomfortable for longer journeys unless it's something really enormous like a Jeep Patriot or Toyota Sequoia. I also got 9mpg out of a Grand Cherokee once.
If you can get one, the nicest US car I've driven is the Chrysler 300, also available with a Dodge badge as an enormous estate.
By the way, don't forget your iPod. US local radio is generally dire and will have you wanting to stick pins in your eyes outside of the major cities. GM rental cars less than 3 months old used to have Satellite Radio, though I don't know if that's still the case.
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Most SUVs I find cramped and uncomfortable for longer journeys unless it's something really enormous like a Jeep Patriot or Toyota Sequoia. I also got 9mpg out of a Grand Cherokee once.
Each to their own, but I find the US SUVs effortless to drive and the full size ( 5 seater Jeep Grand Cherokee) not at all cramped.
Did quite a long boring journey last year in a 7 seater Dodge Durango and I can't imagine anything easier - better visibility from the higher driving position makes the driving easier.
Fuel consumption is pretty bad - I was pleased that the Durango got was an "upscale" version with a V8 and proper 4WD (most SUV in warmer States are 2WD). However 14MPG (US) with cruise set at 70 was about the best it did. Petrol is back under $2 per US gallon now though.
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I suggest every Briton visiting America drive around in a Hummer or Jeep Commander like President Bush looking for his Crawford compound, and as stated above, trade that Yorkshire accent for a broad Texas drawl and you'll fit in effortlessly. Also drive around in a pickup with a gun rack for extra authenticity!
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I have driven a Hummer actually Pebble!
A H1 in fact - not the H2 which is for women or the H3 which is for girls.
6 litre twin turbo charged V12 diesel and it makes you feel unstoppable. At least until you realise that it's flat out at 50mph! Went offroading in it though, absolutely awesome piece of machinery. Might write about the experience here sometime if I get round to it.
I've also driven a Jeep Commander, didn't like it.
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You are better served by making all arrangements before you arrive. Many rental operations will quote one price and try to charge more and add "extras" when you go to pick up your car. They take advantage of your just having arrived, wanting to get your car and be off !! Make and model are your choice but fuel is much less expensive so it is an opportunity to drive a machine with all the bells, whistles and power. ONE FINAL WARNING Be sure there is no hidden penalty for exceeding the speed limit. Cars with sattelite systems can be monitered and some contracts have a hidden penalty for this. A nasty shock when you go to settle up.
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ONE FINAL WARNING Be sure there is no hidden penalty for exceeding the speed limit. Cars with sattelite systems can be monitered and some contracts have a hidden penalty for this. A nasty shock when you go to settle up.
I thought they only fitted this Big Brother system to vans. Have they started fitting it cars as well?
By the way, if they have, make sure there are no clauses in the contract stopping you from driving into another State. Otherwise the tracking system will land you with another big bill if you do leave the State.
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Big brother is alive and well in the US. They just elected a new one and the next four years are going to be worse. The sattelite tracking has been around for a few years mostly in the higher end vehicles. Many people have been charged substantial amounts for doing 80 in a 65 zone and do not find out until they get their credit card statement.
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>Many people have been charged substantial amounts for doing 80 in a 65 zone
Can you provide links to instances where this has occured?
One company in Connecticut tried to do this but got smacked down by the Courts. I haven't heard of any other case.
Kevin...
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Here's the link and ruling.
www.thenewspaper.com/news/03/305.asp
Kevin...
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Many people have been charged substantial amounts for doing 80 in a 65 zone >>
Can you provide any evidence of
1. that happening,
2. [and this is probably easier] the terms and conditions in any US car hire agreements which allow the hire company to do what you say they do.
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That aspect seems settled at least in Conn. After lengthy appeals the state court upheld the ruling against the rental companies about two years ago. In that state the rental agency cannot charge fines for exceeding 79 mph. ANOTHER MORE IMPORTANT TOPIC -- Speed traps. Some towns make a living handing out tickets and rental cares are prime targets. For a list of speed traps by state go to -> www.copspy.com/VA.html A nice list of places to be careful when passing through.
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>In that state the rental agency cannot charge fines for exceeding 79 mph.
That decision has effectively decreed that rental companies cannot use GPS data to gouge customers in any state. A Magistrate Judge anywhere in the US, presented with that ruling, is very unlikely to find on behalf of the rental company unless the company could prove that the vehicle had suffered extra-ordinary abuse.
Note that in the original case the rental company argued that it was not a speeding fine but a charge for extra wear and tear on the vehicle. They had to do this because rental companies have no legal authority to enforce traffic violations.
>A nice list of places to be careful when passing through.
I'm afraid that the info on that site is very unreliable.
My advice is "Stick to the speed limits everywhere except interstates. On interstates go with the flow".
Kevin...
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Are there any online equivalents of the highway code for individual states so that forwarned is forarmed ?
e.g. IIRC when I was driving down the Florida Keys on a single lane in each direction the guy in front stopped waiting to turn left so I very gently slowly eased past him using the gravel hard shoulder. I was later informed it was illegal.
IIRC In some states you cannot carry booze or empty booze cans/bottles inside the passenger compartment.
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Are there any online equivalents of the highway code for individual states so that forwarned is forarmed ?
The Florida one is here: www.flhsmv.gov/handbooks/
For your offence (offense!):
"Passing on the right is only legal when there are two or more lanes of traffic moving in the same direction or the vehicle you are passing is making a left turn. Pulling off the roadway to pass on the right is against the law."
I would imagine a bit of Googling would soon find the one for most / all States.
Edited by Bill Payer on 07/05/2009 at 12:50
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online equivalents of the highway code for individual states so that forwarned is forarmed ? >>
They are called Driver Handbook - add the name of the State and search for pdf copies online.
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Thanks for those promt replies. I will follow up those links.
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