Ways To Save $$ When Renting A Car

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!!

[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.

I got some tips to add...

7. DON'T BUY INTO THE "PACKAGE BULLSHIT"

Enterprise encourages its employees to scam the customers into buying stuff they don't need such as in Group 32 where we would combine DW+PAI into a "basic" or "standard" protection package or DW+PAI+SLP into a "full" or "complete" protection package. PAI is the most useless product, in all the time I spent at ERAC I never saw one claim for it. Remember that you can buy each product SEPARATELY and they are OPTIONAL. If you want DW only get DW. Don't let them scam you.

8. THE PRICE YOU RESERVED IS THE PRICE YOU PAY

You reserved a compact car at a $19.99 weekend special and all that's left on the lot is a Lincoln Towncar. Guess what? You're getting that Lincoln for $19.99. Don't let them do a blind sell-up meaning they'll tell you that the car you reserved is either at the wash or getting an oil change and that you can take the Lincoln for $49.99 when it is usually $99.99. Don't let them stall for time and hope another car will return because that car will be yours and most likely will need an oil change because we all know it's gone 15,000 miles without one. And most importantly do not let them take you to another branch to get the car you reserved. If you let them take you to another branch, I guarantee you will get the WORST car on their lot. Your car will be filthy, have a ton of mechanical issues, and will have no gas. It is in the benefit of branches to lose their worst car to other branches. If they tell you they are going to take you to another, REFUSE TO GO. Say I reserved a car at THIS BRANCH and THIS TIME and to give me the Lincoln or whatever car is there. If they refuse to give you the free upgrade which they most likely will, demand to contact the Area Manager or regional corporate office.

9. YOU DON'T HAVE TO PAY TAXES ON AN INSURANCE REPLACEMENT.

If insurance is paying for the car and they are paying a flat rate such as $25 or $30, ERAC will try to get you to pay taxes. Although this is not unethical of ERAC, remember that you don't have to pay the taxes. Tell them to make it so the the flat rate pays for the car and the taxes. This is easily done. If they bitch and moan that they can't do it, they are lying.

[JD Dude]

10)Make your reservation for an ECONOMY car ( not compact) unless you need some type of specialty vehicle (Van, Luxury, etc). You can always upgrade at the normal rates if they actually have a GEO Metro, but chances are they don't and therefore you get a free upgrade. (Usually to a mid or full size) I've found late morning is a good time to reserve since the morning rush from the shops is usually over, try 10:30 or so.

[Cynical]

THe main way to save money at ERAC is to be your normal, horrible everyday complaining i hate my life selves. THe rental monkey will get so sick of hearing abour your woes, that he'll give you the car for free just to avoid shooting himself in the head.

I use this all the time. Be up front with the rental monkey that you know how his zoo operates and that you'll be prepared to feed him plenty of bananas and peanuts if he does the right tricks. Meaning, if he gives you a good break on rate and miles, that you'll take the dub but only if he gives you the best corporate dub rate (then say you work for that company). To sweeten the deal, tell the anxious little ERAC simian that you'll also split the contract up into smaller periods (i.e., four-day rental becomes four separate one-day rentals). Without having to inform his apeship of the obvious, he'll know that this means an easy way for him to bump up his dub numbers. Also, let the monkey know that you're prepared to write him a stellar letter of commendation to his RVP and ARM if he dances to the tune you're grinding out. And actually follow through with this letter, since it will further build the relationship on your terms. The cool thing about doing this is that everyone wins: You get a car at a great rate with good miles and complete coverage for a near song and the chimp-man-zee gets those numbers he so slavishly desires!

[gp65:(]

Originally Posted by Unregistered

I use this all the time. Be up front with the rental monkey that you know how his zoo operates and that you'll be prepared to feed him plenty of bananas and peanuts if he does the right tricks. Meaning, if he gives you a good break on rate and miles, that you'll take the dub but only if he gives you the best corporate dub rate (then say you work for that company). To sweeten the deal, tell the anxious little ERAC simian that you'll also split the contract up into smaller periods (i.e., four-day rental becomes four separate one-day rentals). Without having to inform his apeship of the obvious, he'll know that this means an easy way for him to bump up his dub numbers. Also, let the monkey know that you're prepared to write him a stellar letter of commendation to his RVP and ARM if he dances to the tune you're grinding out. And actually follow through with this letter, since it will further build the relationship on your terms. The cool thing about doing this is that everyone wins: You get a car at a great rate with good miles and complete coverage for a near song and the chimp-man-zee gets those numbers he so slavishly desires!

This is actually an awesome idea! I've never heard of this, but it is truly a win-win. A customer who did this would be treated like Jesus in any branch.

Originally Posted by Unregistered

I use this all the time. Be up front with the rental monkey that you know how his zoo operates and that you'll be prepared to feed him plenty of bananas and peanuts if he does the right tricks. Meaning, if he gives you a good break on rate and miles, that you'll take the dub but only if he gives you the best corporate dub rate (then say you work for that company). To sweeten the deal, tell the anxious little ERAC simian that you'll also split the contract up into smaller periods (i.e., four-day rental becomes four separate one-day rentals). Without having to inform his apeship of the obvious, he'll know that this means an easy way for him to bump up his dub numbers. Also, let the monkey know that you're prepared to write him a stellar letter of commendation to his RVP and ARM if he dances to the tune you're grinding out. And actually follow through with this letter, since it will further build the relationship on your terms. The cool thing about doing this is that everyone wins: You get a car at a great rate with good miles and complete coverage for a near song and the chimp-man-zee gets those numbers he so slavishly desires!

You are totally right, I didn't even think of mentioning this. Also, if you complain about the potpourri smell they put in the car or that there were cigarettes in the ashtray, you will always get money off. The best one that I heard though was that the previous renter left bags of garbage in the trunk that started to make the car reek... let's just say that he got upgraded every time he rented for a very long time.

[ExERAC656]

Originally Posted by More tips

9. YOU DON'T HAVE TO PAY TAXES ON AN INSURANCE REPLACEMENT.

If insurance is paying for the car and they are paying a flat rate such as $25 or $30, ERAC will try to get you to pay taxes. Although this is not unethical of ERAC, remember that you don't have to pay the taxes. Tell them to make it so the the flat rate pays for the car and the taxes. This is easily done. If they bitch and moan that they can't do it, they are lying.

This is not correct information. If you are involved in a multi-party accident and the other party(s) are taking responsibility for the damage usually that insurance company will pay 19.99, 21.99, 25.99 etc. per day. The .99 usually means that the full amount + tax is billed to the insurance company. However if you are using you rental reimbursment on your own policy (ie you are at fault) then you policy is usually set at 20, 25, 30, 35, etc. flat p/day. While the ERACer can be cool and put you into a car that covers that rate + tax per day it is up to you to make sure you don't go over that.

ERAC preaches to max rate, and since they can't charge 35 p/day for a compact car on ins. deals you might ask them if you can get a pcar for 35 with taxes included... this helps them max rate. However if you have 20 p/day rental reimb. then you are most certainly going to be left holding the bill for the tax.

To whomever posted that.. make sure you get you facts straight before you encourage someone to do something that is incorrect!