Parcel shelves in small hire cars in the US
The last time I hired a small car in the US (I think I was meant to get a Ford Fiesta or similar, but got a Ford Focus), there was no parcel shelf to cover the trunk. This meant that I could never leave anything in the car while parked safely. I've never had a hire car in Europe where the trunk was visible through the windows!
Is it common for hatchbacks in the US to come with nothing to cover the trunk?
Is it possible to ensure I get a car with something to cover the trunk, short of getting a more expensive car (which can be hard when travelling for work)?
Best Answer
Not sure what you expect to leave in the parked car's trunk that this feature would be necessary and where.
But the answer is yes it is common for hatchbacks in the US not to have one because a lot of people find it annoying and may have removed it themselves. Having said that. The 2017 Ford Focus the shelf like that may be an optional equipment but it is definitely available:
(from inhabitat.com)
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Where is the parcel shelf in a car?
The parcel shelf is a removable part of the car and a very handy thing to have. It is the shelf which sits behind the rear seat and can be used to store small items on although care should be taken not to obstruct the view through the rear window.What is a parcel shelf in a car?
parcel shelf in British English (\u02c8p\u0251\u02d0s\u0259l \u0283\u025blf ) automobiles. a shelf (which is usually removable) inside a car, located behind the back seats, and used to store small items.Rent a car for up to HALF PRICE!! Ultimate Car Rental Tips // Car Hire deals // USA \u0026 UK
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Answer 2
This happened to me too, in California. I had a lot of luggage, so I was rather annoyed -- stuff does get stolen from car boots, and two large suitcases can look very tempting to a thief. The car was pre-paid too, so I couldn't go elsewhere.
I complained, they said they had nothing else in my bracket, I said I can't drive around displaying my assets like that! In the end they offered me a decent discount on the next bracket up, which I accepted gratefully.
In short: I don't know if it's common, but it does happen. Those shelves are often ridiculously weak, and I expect they just throw them away if they get broken.
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Images: Alex Azabache, Karolina Grabowska, Artem Beliaikin, Ekrulila