Renting car in USA

masterboy123

Hi everyone,

Any idea where can I book cheap cars online for 5 days in New york/Newark area? It looks like after insurance its going to be about 250 euros for 5 days.

Also I am wondering if I need International driving permit, I have full Irish licence.

Thank you very much

alias no.9

masterboy123 wrote: »

Hi everyone,

Any idea where can I book cheap cars online for 5 days in New york/Newark area? It looks like after insurance its going to be about 250 euros for 5 days.

Also I am wondering if I need International driving permit, I have full Irish licence.

Thank you very much

International Licences are only for cases of language differences

coylemj

Have you thought about where you're going to park the car on the days you're in New York city?

Full Irish driving licence and a credit card are all you'll need. Beware of any seemingly cheap deals, they will usually involve a severe reality check when you collect the car i.e. hidden extras.

ScottSF

The general advice is that car rentals in the US are always more expensive at airport locations than city locations. There are airport pickup charges and/or taxes added in. So try to rent from a local location, maybe not in Manhattan but in New Jersey for example.

masterboy123

thanks for the suggestions.

i will be renting the car at Newark airport and using it in atlantic city and nearby places.

I applied for International Driving permit also today, just to be on the safe side.

Ponster

You'll also get the best deal booking through a .co.uk or .ie site if you can rather than .com

I tend to use Irish-based NovacarHire as the price that they give you is the final without any surprises.

Yamanoto

masterboy123 wrote: »

I applied for International Driving permit also today, just to be on the safe side.

It's an utter waste of money tbh - I've had 5 rentals in the States since May & it simply isn't required or requested.

Your Irish License suffices.

coylemj

Yamanoto wrote: »

It's an utter waste of money tbh - I've had 5 rentals in the States since May & it simply isn't required or requested.

Your Irish License suffices.

+1 The AA locally has the franchise for this nice little money earner and their website is sufficiently vague to fool people into thinking that you might need it so a lot of people do it 'just in case'.

Complete waste of money.

ProudDUB

Yamanoto wrote: »

It's an utter waste of money tbh - I've had 5 rentals in the States since May & it simply isn't required or requested.

Your Irish License suffices.

Yep. It really is a waste of money. OP, all an international does is convert the details of your existing license into English. It is not a stand alone document by itself. If your license was (for example) from India or Japan and it used letter and characters that would not be legible to an English speaker, an international license could be a handy thing to have on you, if you were renting a car in an English speaking county. Some car hire companies require one. But as your license is already in English, getting an international DL is a complete waste of money.

masterboy123

Well I sent the application already for IDP... next time i will not make it.

Novocarhire is charging €365 for 5 days. I checked dollar car rental and thats giving the cheapest rate. Any other suggestion for car rental please?

Yamanoto

I've seen the online broker below recommended here on Boards several times.

I've always found Alamo good to deal with, but just be sure to book through a European portal to ensure collision damage waiver is included in the overall price. It's also worth checking the level of third party cover is adequate ($1 million or so). One other thing - I always book the cheapest / smallest class of car available, though they never have them on site in my experience. The result being you're habitually upgraded to either a compact or midsize. May be worth a punt unless you definitely require a vehicle of a certain size.

http://www.autoeurope.ie/

https://www.alamo.com/en_US/car-rental/foreign-landing-pages/alamo-ireland/alamo-ireland-us-locations.html?countryOfResidence=IE?countryOfResidence=IE&utm_source=google&utm_medium=ppc&utm_term=alamo&utm_campaign=Brand%2BExact&sissr=1

athtrasna

Have always gotten good rates through Argus car hire. They include all insurance and a tank of petrol too.

Ponster

masterboy123 wrote: »

Any other suggestion for car rental please?

Not unless you give us the dates and places. A cheap broker today for you may be expensive tomorrow for someone else. All these companies are in the same business and it's not possible to find one that stands out as being less expensive than the rest 100% of the time.

Ruu

Only rented a car twice in the US and used Budget, booked online and no surprises with price either time. No pushing anything that I didnt require from the agent. Found some discount codes online as well.

masterboy123

autoeurope.ie is giving best rate...with Zero Excess with Super Cover including wheels, glass, underside and roof of vehicle...

thanks for giving tips..

next step i will buy prepaid currency Mastercard from Postoffice to use in USA.

ProudDUB

masterboy123 wrote: »

autoeurope.ie is giving best rate...with Zero Excess with Super Cover including wheels, glass, underside and roof of vehicle...

thanks for giving tips..

next step i will buy prepaid currency Mastercard from Postoffice to use in USA.

Are you planning on using that to pay for the car rental? Most car hire companies won't let you pick up a car from them unless you are using a major credit card...not a debit card, or a pre paid card that you load money on to, but an actual credit card from one of the main credit card companies...VISA, Mastercard, AMEX etc etc.

If you are paying for it all in advance thru a third party website or travel agent and/or you are taking out full insurance, they may let you use a pre paid card, or they may still require a credit card. It's some thing I'd definitely look into first.

masterboy123

I am going to use the pre-paid card to buy thing and eat at restaurants in U.S.

I only have debit card with myself. I will pay for the car rental next week. Is the debit card enough?

ProudDUB wrote: »

Are you planning on using that to pay for the car rental? Most car hire companies won't let you pick up a car from them unless you are using a major credit card...not a debit card, or a pre paid card that you load money on to, but an actual credit card from one of the main credit card companies...VISA, Mastercard, AMEX etc etc.

If you are paying for it all in advance thru a third party website or travel agent and/or you are taking out full insurance, they may let you use a pre paid card, or they may still require a credit card. It's some thing I'd definitely look into first.

ProudDUB

masterboy123 wrote: »

I am going to use the pre-paid card to buy thing and eat at restaurants in U.S.

I only have debit card with myself. I will pay for the car rental next week. Is the debit card enough?

I doubt it. Car rental companies generally require a credit card. This is to cover themselves if you damage/crash the car. If anything bad happens, they can bill the credit card company for the damage/loss. The credit card company then come after you for the moolah. If all you have is a debit card, all they can bill you for is the amount that is in your bank account. If you don't have enough money in your account to cover the damage, they are out of pocket. Hence their requiring a credit card.

You need to check with the car rental company itself. They may accept a debit card if you are taking out maximum car insurance coverage, or they may require a very cash deposit in addition to the cost of the rental itself. Don't just show up on the day with a debit card, as you'll definitely have issues.

InTheTrees

ProudDUB wrote: »

You need to check with the car rental company itself. They may accept a debit card if you are taking out maximum car insurance coverage, or they may require a very cash deposit in addition to the cost of the rental itself. Don't just show up on the day with a debit card, as you'll definitely have issues.

Also check with the rental company in the state you are renting from as the rules can vary from state to state.

Also the credit card has to be in the name of one of the drivers.

Yamanoto

masterboy123 wrote: »

I only have debit card with myself. I will pay for the car rental next week. Is the debit card enough?

If anyone else in your party has a credit card, that's undoubtedly gonna make the whole process a lot less complicated.

I saw a sign at the Alamo counter in MSP airport recently, stating debit cards ARE accepted once you can provide proof of a return ticket. Enterprise and National are part of the same alliance & look to have somewhat similar policies as per the link below.

I'm not sure how current the info is, but by the looks of it that the Alamo policy is company wide. Other rental firms appear to perform credit checks on-site and / or look for cash advances, which may pose issues for overseas residents etc.

http://www.best-car-rental-tips.com/debit-card-rental-policies.html

masterboy123

Holycr.....

I am going to email the autoeurope company to clarify that i have only debit card and i dont have credit card...

Yamanoto

masterboy123 wrote: »

Holycr.....

I am going to email the autoeurope company to clarify that i have only debit card and i dont have credit card...

As suggested by others above, it'd also be wise to speak with the relevant branches of the rental firms directly. By the looks of the link I provided, a debit card may well be workable with Alamo, Enterprise & National, though you should probably also be asking what sort of $ hold they'll place on the card.

masterboy123

I have emailed the car rental company...

I am not sure if I can even get a credit card from my AIB bank. I am with them since last 10 months but i heard one should have account with them for 2 years to be eligible to apply for a credit card. So i am stuck now

InTheTrees

Yamanoto wrote: »

If anyone else in your party has a credit card, that's undoubtedly gonna make the whole process a lot less complicated.

Only if the credit card holder is one of the named drivers on the rental agreement. In other words the credit card holder needs to have a drivers licence too.

InTheTrees

masterboy123 wrote: »

I have emailed the car rental company...

I am not sure if I can even get a credit card from my AIB bank. I am with them since last 10 months but i heard one should have account with them for 2 years to be eligible to apply for a credit card. So i am stuck now

it may be okay. Ive done it. It varies from state to state and company to company.

(Although I have a credit card now.)

Yamanoto

masterboy123 wrote: »

So i am stuck now

Read the link.....

http://www.best-car-rental-tips.com/debit-card-rental-policies.html

Bannerman7

masterboy123 wrote: »

I have emailed the car rental company...

I am not sure if I can even get a credit card from my AIB bank. I am with them since last 10 months but i heard one should have account with them for 2 years to be eligible to apply for a credit card. So i am stuck now

I prepaid for car rental in Florida thru http://www.trailfinders.ie/car-hire/usa who use Alamo last Sept. At the Alamo desk when asked for credit card I gave my AIB visa debit card. I was asked for proof of return airline ticket & all was fine.

masterboy123

Just saw that there are many toll roads in US. Is the car rental company going to pay for those and charge me at a later stage? Or do I have to manage all the toll payments on my own?

Thanks

BabysCoffee

I generally book with www.carhire3000.com

And yes you will need a credit card to rent a car

Ponster

masterboy123 wrote: »

Just saw that there are many toll roads in US. Is the car rental company going to pay for those and charge me at a later stage? Or do I have to manage all the toll payments on my own?

Thanks

You almost always pay yourself unless you happen to rent a car that comes with a prepayment EzPay badge but it's fairly rare in my experience.
In saying that our Chevy Camaro V8 SS that we picked up at an outrageous price of $125 per day in Vegas last year came with one

Outside of California, Florida and Texas you ain't gonna find too many toll roads.

dudara

masterboy123 wrote: »

Just saw that there are many toll roads in US. Is the car rental company going to pay for those and charge me at a later stage? Or do I have to manage all the toll payments on my own?

Thanks

I aways rent from Hertz, as I have status with them, and I've always had good experiences. I always request a car with an EzyPass as this makes life infinitely easier on turnpikes and toll roads. You will be charged a rental fee for the EzyPass plus the costs of the tolls. This will typically be charged to your credit card some time after the rental (once Hertz get the costs billed to them). Having the EzyPass also means that you can use the express lanes at the toll booths.

If you don't get an EzyPass, then you have to be ready to pay the tolls yourself.

masterboy123

does it make any difference in cost if I pay by cash at toll booth or by EzyPass? Like in Ireland there is price difference with eflowpass

Ponster

Depends on the state, the time of day, the road you are on. Unless you're planning on driving for several months you're not talking about any kind of price difference that's worth talking about.

Where exactly are you going that has all these tolls ?

spideog7

Tolls aren't harmonised throughout the States, EZPass is used on the East coast and works in many States here, IPass is used in the Central States, I don't know if that's interchangeable with EZPass yet or not. The West coast would be different again and an EZPass won't work there. I was in Colorado recently and they don't have tags, it was an M50 style where they read your plates. In that case the rental car company billed me afterwards.

Tag rental is expensive they charge a per day rate regardless of whether or not you use the tag that day. Tolls usually are cheaper by 10 or 15% but that rental charge could easily eat up the difference. Not needing to worry about change is convenient though.

masterboy123

going to use the rented car for 6 days

Newark > Atlantic city (NJ) > Baltimore > Washington DC > Philidelphia > Atlantic city > New york (JFK). Main stay will be in NJ. Will go other places from NJ.

Ponster wrote: »

Depends on the state, the time of day, the road you are on. Unless you're planning on driving for several months you're not talking about any kind of price difference that's worth talking about.

Where exactly are you going that has all these tolls ?

spideog7

masterboy123 wrote: »

going to use the rented car for 6 days

Newark > Atlantic city (NJ) > Baltimore > Washington DC > Philidelphia > Atlantic city > New york (JFK). Main stay will be in NJ. Will go other places from NJ.

Then you will be using EZPass and for 6 days driving around those areas it will almost certainly be worth it for convenience if nothing else.

masterboy123

if thats only for convenience and going to cost the same, then i wont be bothered to arrange for an EzPass.
thanks for your advice

spideog7 wrote: »

Then you will be using EZPass and for 6 days driving around those areas it will almost certainly be worth it for convenience if nothing else.

spideog7

masterboy123 wrote: »

if thats only for convenience and going to cost the same, then i wont be bothered to arrange for an EzPass.
thanks for your advice

Nothing to arrange, they're usually installed in a protective housing that prevents them from being read by the antenna, if you want to use it you open the housing otherwise leave it closed. If they aren't like that all you do is ask at the counter and they'll hand you one.

CathalDublin

uscarhire.com was where I booked my car last year, you get the option to upgrade to Hummer, Camaro, Mustang, etc when you get to collection

masterboy123

Cool.

Awaiting for my credit card...as all providers clearly told me debit card won't be accepted initially to reserve a booking
I hope i can get credit within 5-6 days...

Yamanoto

Here's dedication to the cause :P

Took this in MSP airport this afternoon & the two chaps behind the counter confirmed it's not uncommon for folks from overseas to use debit cards.

Anyhoo hope your cc gets to you sharpish OP, it's a less convoluted way of going about a rental for sure.

Ponster

Is there such a thing as a return plane ticket these days? I may or may not be able to come up with a boarding pass depending on who I'm flying with but I'm unsure how I could produce a 'ticket' !

ProudDUB

Perhaps they mean whatever documentation or paperwork you have with you, to travel back to your home country with.

Some people may have paperwork from a travel agent, some may have a print out from an online travel company, some may have documentation from an airline or a cruise company, some may have their boarding pass already printed out.

Maybe the term "return transportation ticket" is just an umbrella term to cover all of that, seeing as people rarely have old fashioned plane tickets anymore.

Yamanoto

As the issuing of paper tickets in traditional form all but died out circa 2008 (with many carriers ditching it long before that date), I'd imagine an e-ticket & accompanying itinerary are perfectly fit for purpose.

masterboy123

Yamanoto
Thanks for the update I spoke with my bank yesterday, I will get CC on Tuesday. Then I will book the car rental...about 2 weeks left for the US trip...Hope the prices wont go higher for car rentals...Or shall i reserve car booking using debit card? Getting good deal at the moment...

I have return e-ticket stating the date clearly for my journey.

InTheTrees

masterboy123 wrote: »

Yamanoto
Hope the prices wont go higher for car rentals...Or shall i reserve car booking using debit card? Getting good deal at the moment...

There will always be deals. You can find more by checking each companies web site too.

And the base prices shouldnt be going up anytime soon.

spideog7

InTheTrees wrote: »

There will always be deals. You can find more by checking each companies web site too.

And the base prices shouldnt be going up anytime soon.

I dunno, if it was me I'd book it to be safe, when it gets close you can't trust there will be a deal.

Yamanoto

You could just book it with your debit card now & then use the credit card as security at the rental counter.

I doubt the rates are going to shift significantly by Tuesday though, if you wanna hold off 'til then.

masterboy123

Thanks, I will wait until Tuesday.

Also, what's the best way to pay in U.S.? I was thinking of getting prepaid Post Mastercard in US$ currency to avoid conversion rate. As the bank can charge higher conversion rate...isn't it? Any suggestions please?

MuddyDog

Thinking of booking a car for the 15h June - 20th June next year. AutoEurope.ie comes in at 162.32 from DOLLAR which seems cheap. How do I know if I'll need to pay more money when I either pick it up or drop it off? I was looking on Expedia and nearly every car there had a note saying I'd have to pay between 150usd and 300usd fee over there as I'm dropping it off at a different location.

I'm picking it up at Charlotte Airport and dropping it at Cape Canaveral in Florida.

Dave1442397

From Dollar's website -

M. One-way Rentals: One-way rentals within the U.S. and within Canada vary by DOLLAR location and vehicle availability. A one-way drop fee will apply.

If you get in touch with the Charlotte location you can ask about the one-way fee. Some places don't charge, so it's worth checking.