Car Rental - Brokers or Direct?

[NM]

I just looked at Netflights. The age range field tops out at 65.

Reantalcars.com requires anyone over 69 to enter their age. It then says that some of the renters may apply a surcharge.

I guess that is not a problem for me for a few more years

 

[NM]

For those who use rental brokers, do you have to sign up for the contract including showing licence , passport and processing a card ... on pickup ?

One of the biggest concerns I have for using consolidators/brokers is around insurance and excess reduction. The consolidators/brokers seem to get a small commission on the base rental price and look to make money by upselling excess reduction or additional insurances. However, in many cases this additional insurance is completely separate from the rental car company insurance, where they expect you to pay any excess to the rental car company and then claim a refund from the consolidator/broker insurance provider. I have serious concerns with this process where I expect it may be common for claims processing to be slow or rejected/refused and you are left with little recourse.

So If I can find decent deal directly with the rental car company, or one that includes all insurances via the rental car company policy, then that is my preference.

 

[bookworm]

Not sure about the USA but in the UK Hertz had very good rates for more than 30 days but you couldn't just book online you had to email I think - my memory is a bit vague but I remember I got a good deal.

I have used them in Seattle once and had no problem. I was very apprehensive as I often read about it being much better to book with the rental company directly.

I find it’s best to book a year in advance if possible for the best prices. Cancellation and amendments are free on some sites, so book a few until certain of your plans.

I had the most wierd ( but thrilling) experience recently with Rental Cars ( via Booking.com).
I booked a car for a month in the US , pickup in Las Vegas and drop in San Francisco. ( for September this year). There is no one way fee charged.

Due to ticketing issues with my OWA , flights were dropped and I had to replan my trip, hence had to amend the car hire and return a day earlier.
I was quoted almost 40% less than the original booking, and as I had prepaid, my bank account was credited the next day.

 

[RooFlyer]

It is actually also worth checking the Qantas website.
I have saved hundreds of euros on cars in France by booking through Qantas instead of directly through Avis.

Excited about this ... so I go to Qantas site but it doesn't recognise Strasbourg as a pick-up location ... or Nancy, Amiens or Reims for that matter (haven't tried others) even though Avis has multiple locations in each (including airport). I phone the number provided on the QF site, which is the general Avis reservation number. They were clueless about the Qantas site (not surprising - I wouldn't expect them to be on top of third party sites).

Great tip, but only for the major cities, I suspect.

Personally, i'm finding Argushire giving me the exact same price as Avis for a week hire in France (Strasbourg to Geneva airport France side), but Avis will give me E10 off for being a member and give me QFF points. I've reserved it as a back-stop but will keep looking I think. Easyrentcars gave me 'no results' for the same search as Argus and Avis.

 

[esseeeayeenn]

Interesting, I have booked Avis cars through Qantas with pick-ups in Paris, Lyon and Nice.
They are, as you say, major cities but so is Strasbourg. Although it may not have as much tourist traffic.
Is the one way hire still very expensive?

 

[RooFlyer]

Is the one way hire still very expensive?

Using Avis, picking up in Strasbourg, if I return to the French sector of Geneva airport - one way fee is abt 55 Euros.

If I return to the Swiss side of Geneva airport, the one way fee is abt 555 Euros

So I've been researching on-line how Geneva Airport is divided up. On-line forums totally confusing. Avis web site gives a street address for the location in 'mainland' France. Its not. Its at a French enclave within Switzerland, at the airport. Hat-tip to @Jacques Vert for sorting me out! AFF so valuable!

 

[esseeeayeenn]

Avis web site gives a street address for the location in 'mainland' France. Its not. Its at a French enclave within Switzerland, at the airport.

Geneva has a few territorial complexities.
Perhaps someone used google translate to translate "France métropolitain" or "métropol" for short as "mainland France".
But it is a very different concept. More administrative than geographical.
Glad @Jacques Vert has sorted you out.

 

[RooFlyer]

'Mainland France' was my Anglo term trying to convey that the address given was in the main territorial part of France, not the enclave within Geneva Airport.

 

[Jurahn]

Following this thread with interest, as I usually book direct with car rental companies - for domestic, I usually book Thrifty as I found they had the best prices, staff are usually pretty good to deal with, never had any issues with returning the cars, being overcharged etc. I'll be in ACT and NSW for 2 weeks in May and renting a car out of Canberra Airport, so just keeping an eye on prices (which of course are absolutely ridiculous this far out, well over the $1000 mark for 2 weeks). Usually I will book a month or two out if I can find a good deal, then keep checking as prices tend to drop dramatically a week or two out and I just cancel and rebook, however at the moment, rentals with Thrifty throughout February are just stupidly expensive so have been checking out carrentals.com and the like and have been able to find much better prices for coming weeks for at least a couple of cars with Thrifty and even better prices for Enterprise and Alamo, so will certainly be looking at other options when it gets closer to my travel dates. Won't be going with Thrifty this time unless their prices come down considerably!

 

[Flashback]

It can also be worth having a look at #1 Site for Cheap Car Rentals | AutoSlash | Car Rental Deals, it'll keep reviewing the booking too based on criteria you select and check for cheaper prices.