What Size To Rent?
Fitting Into A Rental Car: What Size Is That Car?
Generally, rental cars are offered in several sizes: sub-compact, compact, mid- sized, full-size, minivans, trucks and SUVs. The size you choose will reflect what your needs are and the number people in your group. The rental class is considered either economy or luxury. The class you choose is an individual decision based on the condition of your pocket book and your comfort preferences. A compact car generally will hold two adults and two small children. There is little room for luggage in compact car rentals, but if you're mindful of costs, this is the most economical size. An average, mid-sized automobile will usually comfortably seat two adults and two children with sufficient room for luggage. A mid-sized car can usually take two large suitcases and maybe a couple of smaller pieces. Full-sized cars comfortably seat four adults. Trunk space is better with room for several pieces of luggage of assorted sizes. Minivans, a favorite rental of families with children, generally have enough legroom to seat seven adults and assorted luggage. SUVs generally accommodate five adults and their assorted belongings.
PRICE VARIATION: Prices
vary according to your car rental size and when you're renting. For example, prices quoted for weekday car rental of a compact was $65.99, and for the mid-sized rental car, it was $80.99. On a weekend, these same vehicles can rent for 20 - 30% less. Additionally, prices also vary across companies. A review of rental car prices in the Denver area indicated that from company to company in similar locations prices on a SUV could vary up to 30% a day. These prices were from similar name-branded car rental locations.VEHICLE QUALITY: Beca
use of industry regulations that require regular inspections and standards of vehicle care, quality of the rent vehicles is similar. Typically, you can expect not to have trouble with the drivability of the car. However, some rental companies specialize in reduced pricing. They keep cars longer or buy used cars and then refurbish them. That ultimately may affect the overall comfort quality of a rental car. Some dealers may not so readily repair damage to the exterior or interior of their cars, such as tears in the upholstery. Some companies may routinely detail their cars, while a discounted car rental company may follow a laxer schedule. One way to check out the variables is to log on to Consumer Reports and read up on their comparisons and evaluations of the various car rental companies. Further, many of these companies report their own standards of care on their web sites indicating such details as frequency of routine maintenance and regular cleaning schedules. While some online sites have pictures of their vehicles, that method of determining overall quality may be misleading. While you can determine the make and model of the car rental, there is, after all, no way to verify that the car pictured is the car you will receive. Take advantage of the many travel sites that have ratings of car rentals and often report such details as vehicle safety ratings and overall customer satisfaction.Renting Something A Little Larger: Trucks, SUVs and Vans
When you're heading across country with a few more than a crowd, it helps to have a vehicle you don't have to shoehorn your friends into. Or maybe you need to haul more than a toothbrush and a change of underwear. That's when you want a rent van, SUV or pickup truck instead of a Geo Metro. All the big car rental companies offer SUVs, pick-up trucks and vans if you are looking for something bigger and with more room than a car. The availability on most vehicles differs depending on whether the rental office is located in a major city or at an airport.
Budget Rental trucks can usually be picked up on the spot during business hours. Usually, if there's cars available at airport rental locations, SUVs and vans can be had under the required twenty-four to forty-eight hour lead-time. In smaller cities and rural areas, you have to book through the reservation phone number listed in the local phone book. If you want a truck or SUV, be sure to ask about availability before reserving. National Car Rental, Avis, Hertz and others offer SUVs in mid-size, standard size and full size. Depending on the location and city, you just can walk in and rent one. Like Budget, for smaller cities and rural areas, a reservation of twenty-four to forty-eight hours in advance may have to be made. The major car rental companies also rent minivans that can be rented on the spot or by phone reservation. Be aware that the larger the vehicle or the higher the class (such as luxury car), the greater will be the rental cost. Enterprise has its line up of trucks, minivans and SUV rentals. They tout having the most locations to rent from in the U.S. and usually have cars on the lot available for immediate pickup. They prefer you call one day in advance for rentals from their smaller locations to double check whether one is in stock or will have to be driven in from a parent (typically airport) location.
Thrifty & Alamo: Thrifty has many rental cars available along with all vans, SUV and trucks. They may be reserved online or directly with the rental location you choose. Walk-ins are welcome but not all locations are equipped with all types of vehicles. Call the reservation line three to four hours ahead, depending on the location and time of day. Their airport locations may require a reservation twenty-four hours to forty-eight hours in advance. Additionally, some smaller locations and airports will only carry certain rental car types. Alamo Rent A Car has SUVs in midsize, standard, full-size, premium and luxury. The only rental size for a van is a minivan. Most of the vehicles are available at main locations in the larger cities and airports depending on the time of day. Smaller city locations should be called twenty-four hours to forty-eight hours in advance to secure a rental car, SUV or van. Alamo does not have truck rentals in their stores or online.