Relay-Version: version B 2.10 5/3/83; site utzoo.UUCP
Posting-Version: version B 2.10.1 6/24/83; site decvax.UUCP
Path: utzoo!watmath!clyde!akgua!mcnc!decvax!minow
From: minow@decvax.UUCP (Martin Minow)
Newsgroups: net.consumers
Subject: Car rental survival kit
Message-ID: <1@decvax.UUCP>
Date: Mon, 21-May-84 21:00:21 EDT
Article-I.D.: decvax.1
Posted: Mon May 21 21:00:21 1984
Date-Received: Wed, 23-May-84 08:04:47 EDT
References: <615@ut-ngp.UUCP>, <114@mtxinu.UUCP>
Organization: DEC UNIX Engineering Group
Lines: 30

Here are a few hints for car rentals:

1. There ain't no such thing as a free lunch.

2. Refuse the optional insurance add-on's (collision and personal
   injury).  Check your own car and home-owner's policy -- you
   might already be covered.  Also, you pay a lot for a little
   insurance: $3,000 on a per-year basis at Alamo.  Better check
   the rental company's policy on accidents -- in some, you
   are responsible for the first $200, in others for the first
   $1,000, at Alamo, for the entire car!  (So, if one company
   quotes $18.95 per day, and another $19.95 per day, the cheapest
   might not be.)

3. Don't upgrade.  If you ordered a sub-compact and they say you
   can get a mid-size car for only 80% of the normal upgrade, what
   they're really saying is that they don't have any sub-compacts
   in stock and, if you refuse, you'll get one anyway.

4. If it don't work, take it back.  This includes a car full of
   cigar buts as well as the more serious front-end vibration
   (happened to me two weeks ago).  If you rent from a reasonable
   company, you may well be upgraded (without charge) by way
   of apology.

5. If it looks too good to be true, it probably ain't.

Martin Minow
decvax!minow