Are there any online car hire sites which are upfront about terms?

Chomeur

It seems that the standard model for hiring cars is that you book them online then have to agree to whatever terms the hire company presents to you when you pick the car up. If you don't like the terms then you can reject the car but will probably have to pay a cancellation fee and will be left without a car for your trip.

I have just booked a car with thrifty. Their online terms state that "geographical restrictions may apply". They don't say what these are. I've emailed them to ask and they haven't responded. If when I arrive they tell me that I can't go where I want to then I've got a big problem.

The whole thing seems totally unacceptable. Are there any car rental sites that are totally upfront about what you're agreeing to?

richardw

No. It's a pain.

Chomeur

I suppose you can say that it's an implied term that the paper contract must be reasonable but that's still far from satisfactory.

Trouble is the companies always charge much more if you make the booking in their offices rather than online. I have a bit of time in my destination before I need the car. Maybe I'll go round some offices, find out full terms, then if necessary go away and book online.

SW17

Where are you renting the car?

photome

I have not had a problem booking through various online sites when renting in the USA

Chomeur

SW17 wrote: »

Where are you renting the car?

Canada. I'm planning to take it into the States for while.

SW17

Chomeur wrote: »

Canada. I'm planning to take it into the States for while.

Never rented in Canada, but if you search on Thrifty.com for your chosen location, there is a link to T&Cs at the bottom of the search result. This will show any driving restrictions for that location.

Chomeur

SW17 wrote: »

Never rented in Canada, but if you search on Thrifty.com for your chosen location, there is a link to T&Cs at the bottom of the search result. This will show any driving restrictions for that location.

OK it says "DRIVING RESTRICTIONS: Unlimited kilometer rates, when available, are for the province from which you rented, and the bordering provinces or states. Vehicles taken outside of the province or bordering province or state will receive 200 kilometers per day and a charge of 0.25CAD per each additional kilometer. Vehicles are not permitted to travel into Alaska, the Yukon, the North West Territories, Nunavut or Mexico."

So I take it that the restrictions mentioned there are all of the ones referred to in the term I quoted in the original post.

I'll be renting in Quebec and taking it to New York State and Ontario, both being states which border Quebec, so I have unlimited mileage (assuming it is available, which they haven't confirmed).