USA Car Hire Costs

LittleMissAspie

Hi I have got a quote for car hire in America, it is a basic package and says there are local charges and taxes to pay. But I can't seem to find any mention of how much these local charges might be. We are going to San Francisco so need a car from the airport. I can't find how much taxes and fees are, I can't find how much it costs for one additional driver (we want to take turns driving) etc.

There are "packages" that include all costs but these include things we don't need like under-25 drivers and baby seats. So I'm thinking it might be cheaper to take the basic package and pay the extras separately.

Does anyone have any idea how much these costs are likely to be?

Slothy

Careful if considering renting from Avis. On my recent trip I was charged with a $35 + tax refuelling charge, despite returning the car full (petrol station was 1.9 miles from the car drop-off location).

Still fighting it out with them, but atrocious customer service so far.

steveo3002

id advise you use a uk agent like netflights , everything you need is all inc in the price

be aware when you get the sesk clerk will try to sell you all manner of add ons regardless of where you booked ...refuse them all

AndyHo

Regardless of what you may hear from the tour operators in this country, who are just out to make a fast buck, there is no charge for additional drivers in California, it's against state law. Just make sure you are both present, with full British DLs (Inc paper sheet) and CC at the rental desk on arrival. As far as taxes and fees, just go onto the Car Rental website of the company you're using and get a quote for the same duration and car size and it will break down those fees.

AndyHo

Is this a rental only deal or does it include CDW, SLI etc? If it's rental only, where did you find this?

LittleMissAspie

It's Dollar. To get the premium package which includes additional driver, it's an extra £462.

Independent insurance is £117 from Questor so would taxes/fees and one additional driver come to more than £345?

LittleMissAspie

AndyHo wrote: »

Regardless of what you may hear from the tour operators in this country, who are just out to make a fast buck, there is no charge for additional drivers in California, it's against state law. Just make sure you are both peresent, with full British DLs (Inc paper sheet) at the rental desk on arrival. As far as taxes and fees, just go onto the Car Rental website of the company you're using and get a quote for the sam duratin and car size and it will break down those fees.

Ooh no charge, but we'll be driving into Oregon and maybe Nevada... does that make any difference?

The basic package is with Virgin Holidays, flydrive.

LittleMissAspie

Okay on dollar.com the breakdown of the price is $200 for mandatory fees. This is for "apt conc recov fee", state tax, tourism surcharge and transaction fee.

So, if we booked this Virgin flydrive deal and took the basic package, bought our own car insurance and turned up in San Francisco to take the car, we would have to pay just $200 extra? Has anyone done this?

AndyHo

In that case, go for the Virgin Holidays Flydrive RENTAL ONLY, I've just had a quote for LHR-LAX inc Full size 2 door for 19 days from 16th Sept for £531 (1 person travelling). Then get the Questor Annual policy in SLI for £117. This is exactly what I do. You'll end up paying about $40 or so in taxes and fees at the desk on pickup. Also book through Virgin Holidays NOT VA, VA won't do Rental Only. Apply for their Frequent card and you'll also get a free upgrade to the next class of car, I pay for an Int 2 door and get a full size door. Never rented from SFX, but in LAX you only get charged State tax and Tourist tax.

Just looked on Dollar.com and the fees are higher at SFX, I'm going on what I was charged same time last year.

:T

LittleMissAspie

Only $40, are you sure? That seems very little.
I wonder how they work out car rental sales tax on a flydrive.

AndyHo

Just tried to find the contract but have binned it......sorry