Driven to Rent
There are many reasons to think about renting a car.
Maybe you have the most amazing vacation planned but don’t think your old car will get you to paradise. Or you may want to give the family a little more room than your economy car offers, and renting a minivan or sports utility vehicle is an entertaining thought.
It could be that you want to impress your old classmates at your 25-year reunion and that sporty import you don’t own--yet--would be just the thing.
Or maybe you just need something to get you around town--something inexpensive and practical.
Whatever your reason, there are times you need a temporary set of wheels, so we talked to rental car companies to find out some of your options.
For those who just need transportation, there is Rent-a-Wreck in Thousand Oaks. The cars have not been wrecked, but they don’t look new and shiny, either. Most are from the early ‘90s, manager Eddie Cardina said.
The daily fee for a small car--think Ford Escort--is $19.95. A bigger car, such as a Ford Taurus or Honda Accord, is $22.95 a day. Minivans are $44.85 a day, and pickup trucks are $29.95 a day.
Cars come with 100 free miles a day and cost 21 cents a mile after that. Unlimited mileage rates can be negotiated, Cardina said.
In fact, the companies we talked to seemed willing to negotiate rates with customers in various situations. It seems they would rather rent a car than have it sitting on their lot. So don’t be afraid to ask for a deal.
And don’t automatically sign up for the rental car insurance policy. Chances are that your auto insurance policy or the credit card you are using covers rentals, Cardina said.
He suggested that customers check with their credit cards and insurance agents and find out what coverage they already have before paying $15 or more a day for more insurance.
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Abdul Barakat, who opened Neighborhood Rent-a-Car in Moorpark a year ago, has more than a dozen vehicles in his fleet.
He rents a subcompact Daewoo for $19.95 a day with a three-day minimum. A compact with a two-day minimum is $24.95 and a standard with no minimum is $34.95. He rents a luxury car for $49.95 a day. Cars come with 120 free miles per day and cost 20 cents for additional miles. For $10 more a day, a customer can get an extra 500 miles.
“Make sure the rental car company you choose has a young fleet of well-maintained cars,” Barakat said.
Another tip: If you make arrangements to pick your car up at 8 a.m., be there at 8 a.m. or change the pickup time. Some firms won’t hold cars, and you could arrive to find out that the vehicle you wanted has been rented out from under you.
Also, ask what charges will apply in addition to the quoted rate. Tax, license, refueling? Get it in writing.
Also you have to make arrangements for returning the vehicle. If you plan to return it on Saturday and the business is not open on weekends, find out what will happen. The business might have a drop-off procedure--or you might have to keep the car until Monday and pay for the extra days.
And don’t forget that renting a car is not the same as owning one. When you rent, you are the only one allowed to drive that car, said Jose Becerra, of Budget Rental Car in Oxnard.
“If the police stop someone and learn they are not the one who is supposed to be driving a rental car, they will impound the vehicle,” Becerra said.
The person who rented the car is responsible for any impound fees, he said.
It is also important that you are honest with the rental car company about what you plan to do with the vehicle, he said. Some companies do not allow people to drive their cars out of the country or even out of state.
It also might help to tell the rental company why you are renting. Some have weekly rates or insurance rates if you are replacing a wrecked car while waiting for repair.
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At Budget, a compact car--the Ford Escort variety--with unlimited miles is $34.99 a day, a mid-size with unlimited miles is $38.99, a full-size with unlimited mileage--a Ford Taurus type--is $49.99 and a premium, such as a Grand Marquee with unlimited mileage is $59.99, Becerra said.
Luxury vehicles, such as a Lincoln Town Car, rent for $64.99 a day with 100 miles free and 25 cents a mile after that.
“Never assume you have unlimited miles,” Becerra said. “Understand exactly what you will be paying.”
Budget also has Ford Mustang convertibles for $69.99 a day, Ford Explorer SUVs for $89.99 and Lincoln Navigators for $99.99, each with 100 miles free and 25 cents a mile after that.
Budget’s cars are 2000 models, and rental prices may vary from town to town, as they do for Enterprise rental cars.
Enterprise has locations in Simi Valley, Westlake Village, Thousand Oaks, Newbury Park, Moorpark, Camarillo, Oxnard, Ventura, Port Hueneme and Oxnard.
It has a large variety, beginning with an economy--Geo Metro, for instance--for $29.99 a day; a compact--Ford Escort--for $33.99; an intermediate--Geo Prism--for $38.99; and a standard--Pontiac Grand Am--for $43.99 a day. Each comes with 100 or sometimes 150 miles free with a charge of 21 cents a mile after that and the option of adding unlimited miles for $5 a day.
Some cars are available as weekend specials with a three-day minimum. For example, the economy or compact are $9.99 a day for the weekend special.
All Enterprise cars are either 1999 or 2000 models and have fewer than 20,000 miles, said John Eckerman, regional manager.
That includes their exotics. Small exotics--like the Lexus 300--are $99.99 a day, medium exotics--Jaguars--$139.99 and large exotics--Lexus 400s--are $149.99. All come with 100 free miles with a charge of 45 cents a mile for excess miles.
Any of them might be perfect for that class reunion or special date.
Nancy Needham writes a weekly consumer column and can be reached at nancy.needham@reporters.net.
