Enterprise adds 5000 hybrid cars to their rental fleet

by Scott Carmichael on

People are apparently not renting cars as often as they used to. But while some car rental firms are closing up shop, others are taking those lemons and making “green lemonade”.

Enterprise rent-a-car just announced a massive expansion to their hybrid rental fleet.

The chain is adding 5000 new hybrid vehicles, and expanding their “hybrid branch” lineup. Already, 27 Enterprise locations offer online and phone reservations of a hybrid vehicle, and that number is set to rise to 80 within a couple of months.

The Enterprise hybrid lineup offers the Ford Escape, Toyota Prius and the Toyota Camry.

Sadly, being green comes at a price. A regular airport rental with Enterprise (for a standard car) is about $30/day, but to protect the environment in a hybrid, you’ll pay about $70/day. Ouch.

Still, it’s nice to see a major rental company making a difference, and it is always great when customers at least have the option to rent green.

Budget program strains your budget

by Tom Johansmeyer on

We’re all turned on by the thought of getting free money in the mail, but you should be skeptical unless the tooth fairy delivers it personally. According to Upgrade:Travel Better, you should be wary of a new deal from Budget Rent-A-Car.

Sign the $10 check that you get from Budget, and you’re really joining a fee-laden membership program that will cost you much more. The best part? You’re giving the company that manages this program (Trilegiant) access to your credit card information. So, you know they’ll get paid. As you may have figured out by now, Trilegiant has a history of complaints about its billing practices.

If you believe in free money, sign the “check” immediately. If Trilegiant doesn’t take your money, someone else undoubtedly will.

[Via Wall Street Journal]

[Thanks, Dad]

Advantage Rent A Car is the next victim of the crappy economy

by Scott Carmichael on

The doom and gloom stories about our economy going down the toilet are starting to depress me.

The news from Advantage Rent A Car is no different – not only have people stopped buying cars, they obviously no longer rent them either.

The chain has 49 stores in the United States, and well over 100 overseas but the decline in rentals and the lack of available credit has forced them into Chapter 11.

The press release does not mention what the fate is of their international locations, but the Advantage.com website won’t let you reserve a car at any of their locations.

Customers with a rental car reservation will be assisted by Hertz who will honor “nearly all” the pending reservations. The Advantage locations at the following airport locations will remain open for normal business: Austin, Chicago Midway, Colorado Springs, Denver, El Paso, Houston, Orlando, Phoenix and Salt Lake City.

If you have an existing reservation with Advantage then you are advised to call 800-777-5500 or 80-777-5524 to be advised of the status of your reservation. Advantage does remind people currently using one of their rental cars that they will want them back as scheduled. The “consolidation” will affect 440 Advantage employees, I wish them the best of luck in finding a new job.

Rental Car Rant – Underage Driving

by Adrienne Wilson on

Most women my age; single, no kids, and free as a bird either revel in their youthful paradise or cringe, grit their teeth and ball up a fist when someone inquires about their age. For the most part I’m happily approaching the official mid-20’s age bracket, but not fast enough it seems. I seriously can’t wait until my 25th birthday only and all so I can rent a car without facing ridiculous surcharges. Ugh! You turn 18 you can buy smokes, get shipped off to Iraq, vote or choose not to and at 21 you’re free to buy all the brewskies and whiskey your heart desires, but being under 25 in the rental car world gets you no love. What gives?

Sure a few misbehaving college kids (or misbehaving adults over 25) along the way probably messed it up for the rest of the responsible individuals, but isn’t there some way to get a decent day, weekly or weekend rate if you’re under 25? According to some online sources like SmarterTravel.com some underage drivers are better off dealing with independent rental agencies, that will charge a daily fee that runs a little less than most major agencies. If you’re under 25 and traveling on business or work for the U.S. Government you may be able to waive the fees altogether. Best thing to do is to spend sometime browsing the web for the best deals or pleading with someone you know to bum their vehicle for your short stay. If I weren’t in Los Angeles at the moment with family spread between; Simi Valley, Huntington Beach, and Corona, I’d certainly opt for taking public transportation over paying the $55 a day for my standard rental car. As for right now I just have to suck it up until I fly out on Monday.

If you’re 18-25 and experiencing the same woes as me pop into some of these other online sites for advice and just be prepared to pay the fees if you must have a rental.