Process for booking an AWD/4WD car online
I am trying to rent an all-wheel-drive or 4-wheel-drive (AWD or 4WD) car. However, none of the sites I normally use to look for cars (AutoSlash, Kayak, CarRentals, directly at a few rental companies' websites, etc) say whether the car will be AWD/4WD or not. I can select "SUV" as the car type, but many SUV models can be either 2WD or 4WD/AWD. As I understand it, car rental companies typically have a mixture of both in their fleets.
I've heard of some people successfully reserving a 4WD/AWD vehicle by calling the rental company or by filling in the "special requests" field during reservation. However, these solutions are not ideal since nothing is guaranteed in writing by the can rental company. I don't want to pay a premium for reserving an SUV only to find out at the rental counter that I get a 2WD one.
So, is there a way to reliably reserve a 4WD/AWD car online from a major car rental company? Note that I'm not looking for specialized "adventure/offroading" companies, but rather the typical car rental companies you would find around an airport. San Francisco / SFO is the one I'm most interested in for the purposes of this question. This is to have an extra level of safety if I happen to take a trip higher in the mountains in snowy conditions, and to be able to handle condition R1 listed here, and not for some crazy offroading adventure.
Best Answer
I rented an SUV (not an 4WD!) at LAX Hertz office through hertz.co.uk site with almost all insurances. I can see Nissan Pathfinder on link has 4WD. Normally hertz.co.uk is cheaper than hertz.com .
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How does on demand AWD work?
On-Demand: Some all-wheel-drive systems are based heavily on front-wheel-drive systems. With an on-demand AWD system, the front wheels receive all of the power, as long as you're driving in normal conditions. If the system detects slippage, it sends power to the rear wheels as well, helping to stabilize the vehicle.Is AWD worth in India?
This is specifically helpful in eliminating the risk of accidents when the car is at a slow speed and the traction is less. Thus, AWD vehicles are specifically useful for people living in areas that receive a lot of annual snowfall. For anyone who loves travel and adventure, AWD vehicles are the ideal choice.Is full-time AWD good?
In full-time AWD, both the front and rear axles are driven all the time. On dry pavement, this kind of AWD can help the vehicle handle better and ensure that full power gets to the road. And in slippery conditions, such as ice, snow or mud, it provides always-ready traction for safer, more confident handling.Is AWD good for city driving?
The short answer is yes. AWD vehicles offer significant safety benefits to city drivers and consistently perform better in the city than other cars for a range of reasons. The safety benefits are dependent on the type of All-Wheel Drive system used in the car.How to Rally an AWD Car
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