How Do Different Car Rental Companies Compare?
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Introduction
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Car rental companies differ in many ways with their deals, specials, terms and conditions, and more. Their job is to cater to the needs of the individual looking for a temporary ride, whether on vacation, a business trip or any other special needs situation. Rental companies differ in price, service, selection and size. Hertz has the most airport-based rental locations, while Enterprise has the most overall locations in the United States. However, this is only where the comparisons begin.
Price
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The most obvious consideration is price. Price varies with conditions, and there are some variables to keep in mind. When working with one of the smaller companies, there may be some substantial mileage charges, but the bigger companies such as Hertz, Avis, National and others usually provide unlimited free mileage throughout Europe and the United States--although Canada is more of a wild card. Also, specialty vehicles such as trucks and vans may, in general, not be eligible for free mileage.
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Convenience
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There is less separation among the major companies (Avis, Budget, National, Alamo, Hertz and Enterprise) when it comes to discounts and convenience, but there are some important points. Frequent-drive convenience programs put customers on a pace toward achieving a speedier rental process, and these programs are offered with Alamo, Avis, Hertz, Budget and National. However, Budget, Avis and Hertz do charge an annual fee for this program, unless the customer qualifies for a discount that negates this fee. This fast-track program is achieved by the car rental company keeping a file of the specific customer's information and using that to make a pre-issued contract to allow the renter to bypass lines altogether. National offers some of the better choices within different classes through pricing, irrespective of company.
All rental companies, regardless of size, offer a number of discounts depending on credit cards carried and what clubs the customer belongs to. AARP membership, for example, will get you some special discounts at Avis, National and Hertz, while AAA membership will serve you particularly well at places like Thrifty.
GPS Support
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Certain companies have invested further into GPS, or Global Positioning Satellite systems, than others, and these aid drivers in finding their way. Hertz and Avis are both big on GPS--with Avis offering portable units for convenience--while Hertz and their Neverlost system is wired into the car. The Neversoft system is a bit pricier than Avis and its portable setup.
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