- The rental car business began in the early twentieth century by a fellow in Nebraska named Joe Saunders. He made a tidy profit from his small business. Another car rental business in Chicago started humbly by Walter L. Jacobs, and it went on to gross a million dollars in profits per year. This was no small thing in the time period. John Hertz, who is the namesake for the Hertz rental company, bought out the business. Rental car companies were known as shady businesses by some during the time of prohibition. Many feared that the cars were used for criminal activity. Rental car companies survived this briefly bad reputation, and they have thrived as respectable businesses ever since the end of prohibition.
- Rental car companies are generally flexible about many things, but there are several things that they all do not compromise on. The renter of the car generally has to be at the location in person with a credit card (or debit card) and a photo identification. Cash (if large in sum) is acceptable, but the renter still has to be there in person with a photo identification. This can be confusing to some. If someone is at a national car rental chain in Atlanta, he cannot give his identification and credit card to the same chain for someone in Michigan to rent the car. The driver with the credit card and photo identification has to be at the pick-up location. This is especially true for cross country rentals where one picks it up in one location, yet drops it in another. Also note that you have to be over 25 to rent a car at almost all car rental companies. Some make an exception with an additional--sometimes hefty--deposit. This is for the safety and protection of the business.
- It's a great idea to rent a car if you are driving across the country. Nearly all national chains rent the cars for pick-up in one location and drop off at another. You could drive from California to New York City with little problem from the major--and some smaller--chains. If you choose a car that is cheaper on gas than your own, you may save a lot of money on even a small trip. You can even do a drive from the south to north of your state. Returning the car to a different chain in the same state is usually not a problem.
- The high price of gasoline--combined with more environmental awareness--has created a huge market for hybrid vehicles. Major chains and smaller companies now offer hybrids. This factor varies hugely by location. Look up your local branch from the websites in the Resources section below. It's wise to get a hybrid or smaller vehicle. Saving on gas can be as cost effective as going with a cheaper car.
- It's wise to get full insurance coverage with your rental car. Yes, you may have your own insurance that covers the rental, but having insurance on the car will prevent you from having to deal with your own insurance at all. It will be no hassle in the case of an accident. If driving a long distance, the chance for dings and damage to the car increases. Also, driving in an unfamiliar vehicle may make you a less safe driver than you normally are. Some car insurance companies don't protect the actual rental vehicle. It's recommended to go with the insurance offered at the company. It will be worth it in a worse case scenario, and it will be worth it in the grief and worry it saves you along the way.
- What a lot of people don't know is that the price given to you on a rental is sometimes not concrete. Different rates are offered on the same car based on season, time of the week and customer history. The summer tends to be a busy time for car rentals. All holiday times are hectic. It's safer to rent during the week, as opposed to the weekend. Renting on a weekly basis will also save you cash. If you are a long-time customer with the company, bring this up before requesting a rate. Let your representative know the price of a vehicle that you can afford per day before he gives you a quote. At some of the chains, the customer service representatives are trained to work with customers on pricing. This isn't always true when it comes to price flexibility, but it's worth a shot.
