Renting a car - need some info.

Drez

Okay so I've never rented a car before, but my family needs one for Thanksgiving weekend. Due to scheduling it was decided that it would be most convenient if I rented it and picked it up.

I have a few questions:

a) Do they do a credit check?
b) Can someone else pay using their credit card or whatever? Can *I* pay using their credit card? Can you reserve a car for someone else?
c) Are you allowed to share driving with other people or is only the renter allowed to operate the vehicle?
d) If yes: Can someone else pick up the car for the renter? Like if my father rents it under his name, can I go pick it up for him?

Thanks. Figured I would ask here first, before calling the car rental services here.

Enc

Drez wrote:

Okay so I've never rented a car before, but my family needs one for Thanksgiving weekend. Due to scheduling it was decided that it would be most convenient if I rented it and picked it up.

I have a few questions:

a) Do they do a credit check?
b) Can someone else pay using their credit card or whatever? Can *I* pay using their credit card? Can you reserve a car for someone else?
c) Are you allowed to share driving with other people or is only the renter allowed to operate the vehicle?
d) If yes: Can someone else pick up the car for the renter? Like if my father rents it under his name, can I go pick it up for him?

Thanks. Figured I would ask here first, before calling the car rental services here.

a) Yes.
b) Yes, sometimes (varies from company to company).
c) Yes, but you pay more per driver on there. And you have to include all drivers for liability purposes. You can share without doing so, but if you get in an accident and someone not registered was driving you are in for trouble.
d) What you would want to do is have your father do the entire rental process and have you included as one of the drivers. I've done this plenty of times with my work and family, and it works fine. It will be more expensive with two drivers, but if you have poor credit this is really your only option.

Drez

Okay thanks....that's very helpful.

Deebaser

Most companies don't do a credit check, but they require a credit card (not a debit card)

Drez

Ah, ok. Thanks.

Evil_Reaver

Deebaser wrote:

Most companies don't do a credit check, but they require a credit card (not a debit card)

Some let you use a debit card but they require a ridiculously expensive deposit if you do.

You're better off using a credit card always for renting cars.

DevoutlyApathetic

"Premium" Credit Cards will also usually have some kind of automatic coverage for rental cars as well.

illig

In your last thread you said you're in NYC. If that's where you're renting you need to call RIGHT NOW to reserve a car... And even so it might be too late. Rental cars are scarce around major holidays in the city.

If you can't find anything, call places in LI and NJ where you can get to by train... You might use better luck.

wonderpug

Drez, are you over 25?

antherem

Enc wrote:

Drez wrote:

Okay so I've never rented a car before, but my family needs one for Thanksgiving weekend. Due to scheduling it was decided that it would be most convenient if I rented it and picked it up.

I have a few questions:

a) Do they do a credit check?
b) Can someone else pay using their credit card or whatever? Can *I* pay using their credit card? Can you reserve a car for someone else?
c) Are you allowed to share driving with other people or is only the renter allowed to operate the vehicle?
d) If yes: Can someone else pick up the car for the renter? Like if my father rents it under his name, can I go pick it up for him?

Thanks. Figured I would ask here first, before calling the car rental services here.

a) Yes.
b) Yes, sometimes (varies from company to company).
c) Yes, but you pay more per driver on there. And you have to include all drivers for liability purposes. You can share without doing so, but if you get in an accident and someone not registered was driving you are in for trouble.
d) What you would want to do is have your father do the entire rental process and have you included as one of the drivers. I've done this plenty of times with my work and family, and it works fine. It will be more expensive with two drivers, but if you have poor credit this is really your only option.

I've rented from a few companies and never had them do a credit check, although they do require a credit card. Hertz would not allow me to add an additional driver who was not physically present at the time of the rental. Neither Hertz or Enterprise allowed me to use my card for a rental under someone else's name, they required the primary driver's credit card. Limed the bit about non-registered drivers. Do not drive a rental unless you are a registered driver. You can be on the hook for serious money if an unregistered driver drives your car, and your insurance will not cover it.

Drez

wonderpug wrote:

Drez, are you over 25?

Yes.

Drez

illig wrote:

In your last thread you said you're in NYC. If that's where you're renting you need to call RIGHT NOW to reserve a car... And even so it might be too late. Rental cars are scarce around major holidays in the city.

If you can't find anything, call places in LI and NJ where you can get to by train... You might use better luck.

I'm in NYC, but not Manhattan. I doubt I'll have trouble, but you may be right. I'm going to call around now.

Drez

Well...thanks guys. We decided to go with the bus to AC instead. Cars ARE available but they hiked up the prices to $117/day for the smallest car. Plus, to add him as an additional driver would mean he would have to be present, and he cannot be present tomorrow during their hours of operation, so it defeats the purpose. (I'm not paying, nor am I doing the driving.)

The bus isn't so pleasant either, but we'll manage. It's a fuckload cheaper, at least.

WildEEP

Just an FYI for the "registered" vs "non-registered" drivers. If your insurance covers a rental, then there is a small clause in almost every agreement that almost no one invokes.
If you let a friend drive your vehicle (or rented vehicle) and its for you - he/she is running an errand in your service..then if they get into an accident, your insurance covers them. If they get into an accident, just remember that they were on their way to wherever to get whatever for you.

The Crowing One

Drez wrote:

The bus isn't so pleasant either, but we'll manage. It's a fuckload cheaper, at least.

I took the Megabus from NYC to AC a few weeks ago for work for about $25. It was spacious and comfortable. It sure beat the hell out of doing my own driving.

Drez

The Crowing One wrote:

Drez wrote:

The bus isn't so pleasant either, but we'll manage. It's a fuckload cheaper, at least.

I took the Megabus from NYC to AC a few weeks ago for work for about $25. It was spacious and comfortable. It sure beat the hell out of doing my own driving.

Thanks.

I figure I'll charge my iPad up tonight, put some movies on it, and just tune everything out.