Phone ReservationsFor phone reservations you can call a location directly (this is often easier with small neighbourhood locations) or call the car rental company’s toll free reservation line. Note: It is often difficult to get through to a location directly. Keep in mind that the counter staff is trained to wait on customers. Their priority is always to the person standing in front of them over the ringing phone. I know how frustrating this is for the callers; but give the phone reservation agent a chance. In most cases they can help with what you need. When booking a phone reservation or checking a rate you will be asked certain information. I know there are a lot of questions and things that they need to know. The agents are honestly not trying to drive you crazy! Every piece of information that they ask will help give you the best and most accurate rate possible.
You will be asked
Where do you want to rent?Are you flying into a city and need to pick up and return at the airport? Are you taking a rental car on a trip from your hometown? The location that you rent from will determine your price and the availability of vehicles. Prices are set at each individual location. Airport locations can be more expensive to rent from because of the extra fees. (This fee is usually called a facility fee or airport concession recovery fee.) This is a fee that is charged to the rental car company by the airport. It’s like a form of rent that the company must pay to do business at that location. It is charged to you and paid to the airport. These fees are also usually seen at hotel car rental locations.
What are the dates and times of your rental?For phone reservations, the dates and times are needed in order to check availability of vehicles and pricing. The times are needed in order to calculate the rate. Most car rental companies base your rental on a 24 hour day from the time of pick up. Keep this in mind as it will affect your rate. Let’s say you want to rent at an airport and your flight arrives at Saturday at 11:40am and departs Wednesday at 1pm. If you use those times for your car rental pick up and return the computer will calculate a 5 day rate. It is more likely that you would, say, pick up your vehicle at around noon and return it by noon before you depart. This would give you a more accurate, 4 day rate.
Do you have a discount code, corporate account or frequent renter number?If you have a discount number from an association or program, or a corporate account with that particular car rental company you would provide that. The reservation agent can usually look up the number for you based on the association, program or company name. If you have a frequent renter profile with that car rental company, make sure you provide it.
Note: If you give a coupon, the price given when you are making a phone reservation will not reflect the value of the coupon. The agent will be able to let you know whether the reservation you are looking at will be valid for that particular coupon. The value of the coupon itself will be subtracted from your total at the end of the rental itself, assuming that the rental met the terms and conditions of the coupon.
For more information on Discounts and Coupons, click here.
Do you qualify to rent?You will be asked if you meet the minimum age requirement and credit requirement for that particular company. You will usually also be asked at this point whether there would be other drivers of the vehicle.
For more information on Age Requirements, click here.
What size vehicle are you looking for?After you provide location, dates and times, the rental agent will either offer a vehicle size or ask what you prefer. If that vehicle is available, you will be able to get a rate quote. The size or type of vehicle you need will determine your rate. Often time it’s a balance between what you require (seating for 5) what you would like (comfort, large luggage capacity) and what your budget is! (Doing a lot of driving and gas prices are through the roof!) Take all of these things into account and give yourself some options. Check the prices on different sizes or types of vehicles that would meet your needs and the prices for each.
For more information on Rental Car types and sizes, click here.
For more information on Cancellations and No show policies, click here.
If you make a phone reservation, make sure to spell you last name, even if the agent doesn’t ask. If you lose your reservation number, the only way to look up your reservation is by the location, date and name on the rental. If the last name is misspelled, it can be difficult to find the reservation.
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You may get a cheaper rate by renting at an off-airport location but you should factor in the cost and inconvenience you may incur to get to the other location! Have the phone reservation agent check the prices at several locations.
