Thrifty USA - flat tyre

TonyM19

Hi

Looking for some advice on how best to deal with a flat tyre on a USA car rental. Its the first one in 20y of renting! Luckily the car is on the drive of my accommodation. I declined roadside assistance cover st $8 a day (I'm on a 28 day stay). There is a spare tyre and a wrench in the boot but no jack. I think I can borrow a jack.

I'm thinking my options are:

Change the tyre myself. Tell the rental company. Pay the bill and claimed back from Leisure Guard on my Excess insurance.

Change the tyre, take it back and keep quiet (I do have 17 nights left)

Call roadside assistance. I'm assuming I can't claim anything back then.

Call the rental company see how much its going to cost for a new tyre and get quotes to fix it locally. Might be cheaper but I'm assuming that's not going to paid out by Leisure Guard.

Any other suggestions?

eDicky

A new tyre? Why would that be necessary, did you drive on it flat?

I would change the wheel, and with 17 more days' rental have the puncture repaired in case of another flat. I would put the relatively small personal expense of this down to bad luck, not worth bothering to claim on.

As a jack should be part of the equipment supplied with a rental car (normally?), I would be tempted to call Thrifty and tell them to bring me one immediately. Then casually ask the guy who brings it what the result of returning the car with a flat spare would be, if any.

You can probably buy the aerosol can for emergency puncture repair that inflates the tyre and seals it, but it's only meant for temporary use. this could be a cheap solution if available nearby such as a gas station.

TonyM19

Thanks for the response.

Don't know when/how I got the flat. Drove about 20 miles max yesterday so thetrs s chance some of that was on the flat. Its a rear tyre but it didn't feel like it was flat. First step is to reinflate it and look for obvious damage I suppose.

Good idea about getting the jack sent out. I'll tell them I checked before a long road trip. The emergency tyre repair kits ruin the tyre so that's a last resort.

Going to call Leisure Guard to see what cover (if any) is available for a flat

pompeyrich

TonyM19 wrote: »

Thanks for the response.

Don't know when/how I got the flat. Drove about 20 miles max yesterday so thetrs s chance some of that was on the flat. Its a rear tyre but it didn't feel like it was flat. First step is to reinflate it and look for obvious damage I suppose.

Good idea about getting the jack sent out. I'll tell them I checked before a long road trip. The emergency tyre repair kits ruin the tyre so that's a last resort.

Going to call Leisure Guard to see what cover (if any) is available for a flat

As edicky says, call Thrifty and ask how you can change the tyre when no jack provided.

I've had a quick look on LGs website and tyres are covered up to £6,000 along with any admin charges up to £200, so make sure you get a damage report and copies of any invoices credit card payments you make.

You can d/l the policy wording from their site HERE

TonyM19

Thanks again

Just noticed I have an emergency sparre rather than fullsize - i thought it was just the UK that stiff us with that. I need to do a 100 mile round trip to LAX tomorrow and I don't fancy that on an emergency tyre. I'm going to have to get it fixed sharpish. Good news that I can claim.

TonyM19

Positive outcome to this. Borrowed a jack, changed the tyre. Called Thrifty. They directed me to the nearest branch (10 miles away) and exchanged the car. I even got a free upgrade. I asked several times and they assured me there was no charge. In fact they said I should have just called roadside assistance to change the wheel and there would have been no charge.

Pretty impressive service from Thrifty.

EssexExile

Not all car hire companies are the money grabbing rogues you'd think by reading this forum.

Shimrod

TonyM19 wrote: »

Called Thrifty. They directed me to the nearest branch (10 miles away) and exchanged the car. I even got a free upgrade.

Had the same service recently with Avis in Canada. Roadside assistance changed the wheel, followed by a trip to the nearest Avis centre to change the car. Completely painless experience and no charges.