Ways To Save $$ When Renting A Car

[ExERAC656]

Originally Posted by blame

4- DON'T TAKE THE INSURANCE.
Well, they don't call it insurance. They call it many other things. If you pay for the entire amount of the rental (not an insurance co or 3rd party), if anything happens, your credit card will cover your deductible. And to be honest, a majority of the damage is non-documentable if it doesn't go outside the E-tool (a 2 inch circle they use to document damage). So door dents and minor bumper scraches, don't worry, they can't charge you for it.

QUOTE]

I have to disagree with number 4...do not, I repeat, never trust your credit card to cover anything. Take your chances on your insurance covering anything from a chipped windshield to a totalled car, but 98% of the time a credit card company will NOT cover any part of a rental car. The credit card companies use rental car "coverage" as a hook...but the fine print is way to fine, and will not transfer. The damage waiver at rental car companies is just that...a waiver. It waives your responsibility to anything that happens to the car. Depending on which state you live or rent in...insurance companies have different levels of coverage. The damage waiver takes all the responsibility off of the renter. Just do your research. Your personal car insurance may transfer, but in the case of an accident, you may have a higher responsibility rate with your car insurance. Again...do your research. If you don't want to, take the damage waiver, that way...no worries. In my eight years with the company, I have only seen one claim actually go through a credit card company.

For once I might actually agree with Blame on something. If you have great credit and you have never made a claim for something of the nature of damage to a rental car you might be covered by the ccard company. From what I remember about ccard claims you have to do all the leg work on filing the claim yourself and you have to do it within 30 days of when the ticket was closed. This means you are at the mercy of ERAC giving you all the appropriate paperwork and getting it to the ccard company. While spending my time at ERAC I only say 1 successful claim filed with a credit card..

Credit Card companies are just about as shady as ERAC is...

[Texas]

I just used this three days ago: For my Airport rental, I made a res with Hertz and Avis. I called ERAC from the airport terminal and told them that I have a res w/Hertz but REALLY wanted to rent thru ERAC. ERAC is always looking to steal rentals from the competition so they'll be sure to offer you a good car at a decent rate... even if they're low on cars (because the rental gods will take car of them, right?). I was going to buy dw anyways because I can expense my rental so... I asked for DW only (the split). Then I mentioned that I used to work for ERAC.. the guy bled his sole about hating his job etc... BUT... he still need to get as much dw/pai/slp as possible. Not caring about rate, I told him if he gives me another 20% off my rental, I'd take pai. Done deal.

Originally Posted by Unregistered

As an ex-ERAC employee, I am grateful for this website and how I can tell people about how to save money by renting from ERAC. Here is what you have to do.

1- IF YOU ARE HAVING THE CAR FOR A LONG TIME (1 week plus)
Tell ERAC that you were in a car accident, and your car was totalled, and you didn't have rental coverage and your insurance company told you to mention their name and you would get a discount. The best company so far is Allstate, whose cheapest rate is $16.50/day for an economy car, and the last I heard, $25.49 for a full size car. This way they can not verify if your car is in a bodyshop or not since it was totalled. But be careful on this one, they usually ask to see your proof of insurance, so make sure you tell them your insurance companies name.

2- IF YOU ARE HAVING THE CAR A SHORTER PERIOD OF TIME
Tell them you work for Bank One and that you have a national account. They have the best rates, by far, for corporate customers that I saw for the 3+ years I worked there. I think their corporate code was 38C3805, but don't hold me to that.

3- RESERVE ONLINE.
Online rates are so much cheaper. Call the local office first, make a tentative reservation, then check the internet. I am guessing you will save 10-20% there.

4- DON'T TAKE THE INSURANCE.
Well, they don't call it insurance. They call it many other things. If you pay for the entire amount of the rental (not an insurance co or 3rd party), if anything happens, your credit card will cover your deductible. And to be honest, a majority of the damage is non-documentable if it doesn't go outside the E-tool (a 2 inch circle they use to document damage). So door dents and minor bumper scraches, don't worry, they can't charge you for it.

5- ADDITIONAL DRIVERS
If you have an additional driver that is not your spouse, make sure you mention/dispute the fee they may put on your contract. Tell them that no-one told you that when making the reservation, and they will take it off. It's just an easy way for them make more money.

6- SHOP AROUND
Enterprise doesn't like loosing a deal to a competitor, especially Hertz. Usually they are cheaper, so find out what their rates are first then tell ERAC you found it cheaper and they will match the rates. Be careful on this one though, because if it is around the holidays, the other rental companies may be sold out of the "specialty" vehicles, like SUV's or Minivans. Check and see if they are available when you are checking rates.

Hope this helps. Write back if you have any success. Good luck renting!!

ooh ooh... correction take the CDW/PAI and then after the employee does the final walk-around and says "great no new damage" and they tally up yer bill, say you declined the waiver and cause a stink. ERAC WILL WRITE THIS OFF. AND it won't disturb their quotas. That way every1 is happy. Cheerio :)

Originally Posted by Unregistered

ooh ooh... correction take the CDW/PAI and then after the employee does the final walk-around and says "great no new damage" and they tally up yer bill, say you declined the waiver and cause a stink. ERAC WILL WRITE THIS OFF. AND it won't disturb their quotas. That way every1 is happy. Cheerio :)

2 things. Always reserve a compact car. They never have enough and like it was mentioned earlier, do not fall for the "your car is not here" crap, but you could ask them to put you in a nicer car for say $2/day. They will take anything to add to their rate. The second thing, always take the dw, and then dispute it at the end. I was in a training class years ago with a branch manager who had a repeat weekend special customer who rented every weekend. This guy always took full boat, then when he returned he said he didn't want it. He did this EVERY weekend. The branch manager told him if he signed for it, he would have to pay for it, but every time he would refuse. The branch manager could not do anything for risk of this guy getting an esqi call and taking him out. Always remember, threaten to be not be completely satisfied and they will cave.

[gp65:(]

Originally Posted by Unregistered

ooh ooh... correction take the CDW/PAI and then after the employee does the final walk-around and says "great no new damage" and they tally up yer bill, say you declined the waiver and cause a stink. ERAC WILL WRITE THIS OFF. AND it won't disturb their quotas. That way every1 is happy. Cheerio :)

Yes it does affect quotas. At least in gp65, we have to RECOMPUTE dw disputes, not 0531 them.

I don't give a shit. If someone disputes more than once, fuck 'em. I don't care, they are paying.

[slave no more]

CCARD coverages are bullshit. My cousin rented from Avis in Maryland and his ccard company denied because 1) He has his own insurance (their exact words), 2) Since he was on vacation all costs of the vacation must be paid for on the same card, gas for the rental AND THE HOTEL! He had to file with his insurance company and they tried to deny it because the contract said he was using his ccard coverages. He actually talked to the nationwide claims manager for his insurance company in order to get them to pay. Some insurance companies have $500 or $1000 deductibles and some even charge you 10% of the total damages or don't pay downtime. The CDW is worth it for a few days because 75 is much cheaper and easier the $500 and your policy going up. I am not brainwashed I just don;t feel like fucking around with my insurance and ccard coverages are shit. The only one I trust is Diners Club!

Originally Posted by Unregistered

As an ex-ERAC employee, I am grateful for this website and how I can tell people about how to save money by renting from ERAC. Here is what you have to do.

1- IF YOU ARE HAVING THE CAR FOR A LONG TIME (1 week plus)
Tell ERAC that you were in a car accident, and your car was totalled, and you didn't have rental coverage and your insurance company told you to mention their name and you would get a discount. The best company so far is Allstate, whose cheapest rate is $16.50/day for an economy car, and the last I heard, $25.49 for a full size car. This way they can not verify if your car is in a bodyshop or not since it was totalled. But be careful on this one, they usually ask to see your proof of insurance, so make sure you tell them your insurance companies name.

2- IF YOU ARE HAVING THE CAR A SHORTER PERIOD OF TIME
Tell them you work for Bank One and that you have a national account. They have the best rates, by far, for corporate customers that I saw for the 3+ years I worked there. I think their corporate code was 38C3805, but don't hold me to that.

3- RESERVE ONLINE.
Online rates are so much cheaper. Call the local office first, make a tentative reservation, then check the internet. I am guessing you will save 10-20% there.

4- DON'T TAKE THE INSURANCE.
Well, they don't call it insurance. They call it many other things. If you pay for the entire amount of the rental (not an insurance co or 3rd party), if anything happens, your credit card will cover your deductible. And to be honest, a majority of the damage is non-documentable if it doesn't go outside the E-tool (a 2 inch circle they use to document damage). So door dents and minor bumper scraches, don't worry, they can't charge you for it.

5- ADDITIONAL DRIVERS
If you have an additional driver that is not your spouse, make sure you mention/dispute the fee they may put on your contract. Tell them that no-one told you that when making the reservation, and they will take it off. It's just an easy way for them make more money.

6- SHOP AROUND
Enterprise doesn't like loosing a deal to a competitor, especially Hertz. Usually they are cheaper, so find out what their rates are first then tell ERAC you found it cheaper and they will match the rates. Be careful on this one though, because if it is around the holidays, the other rental companies may be sold out of the "specialty" vehicles, like SUV's or Minivans. Check and see if they are available when you are checking rates.

Hope this helps. Write back if you have any success. Good luck renting!!

Good points. Just to add to this;

1. Tell them that whoever you talked to on the phone said they would not charge you an additional driver's fee or underage fee. 99% of the time they will succumb.

2. The internet has by far the best rates. Have them write your total on the contract before you sign shit.

3. Barter with the agent and say you will take CDW for a tank of gas. Say that is a deal you used to work out at another office. Most will do. Stop by another office the next day and sign it off.

4. Say you called Hertz and they are offering a smoking deal. Make it up. If they are anything but sitting 95%, they will give you the car.

5. The corporate code thing works wonders. The only problem is that most corporate accounts charge more than Joe Schmo off the street. Be careful.

6. Say that you work for an insurance company or body shop and they will give you unlimited mileage on the $9.99 weekend special.

Originally Posted by gp65:(

Yes it does affect quotas. At least in gp65, we have to RECOMPUTE dw disputes, not 0531 them.

I don't give a shit. If someone disputes more than once, fuck 'em. I don't care, they are paying.

If you actually work for erac you would know that recompute is no longer an option. So fuck you...you have know idea what you are talking about.

[gp65:(]

Originally Posted by Unregistered

If you actually work for erac you would know that recompute is no longer an option. So fuck you...you have know idea what you are talking about.

Maybe in your group, but not in 65. We still recompute.

[ERAC BURNOUT&DAMN PROUD!!]

If you decide to take insurance all you need is DW or Damage Waiver. Do not fall for the basic package crap!