What tips or tricks can you use to get an upgraded/better hire car?
(In a similar vein to this question on hotel room upgrades and this question on flight upgrades...)
Most regular car rentals agencies have various categories of car - Budget/Economy, Compact, Midsize, Fullsize, etc. The names vary from agency to agency and around the world, but the principles are similar.
Generally the "better" the category, the better the car - larger, more luxury, etc.
What tips or tricks can you apply to get a better car or better benefits than you originally booked? This might result in a "better" car, or perhaps something else such as a free satnav included, free miles included, or some other perk that improves the overall value for money equation.
Some of the tips I've noticed are:
- Being a regular renter with that agency, e.g. status with Hertz Gold Plus Rewards.
- Turning up to a smaller (often in-town) rental location when they only have a few cars left, which can bag you a free upgrade (although this can also backfire and you can get a dismal car!).
Best Answer
I once booked a compact (i.e. cheapest available) car at Avis in Germany via Internet, and included a satnav option. Because they didn't have (or didn't want to bother with) a portable satnav, I got a Ford S-Max with a builtin one.
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Quick Answer about "What tips or tricks can you use to get an upgraded/better hire car?"
How can I get a better car rental?
The Cheapest Way to Rent a Car: 10 TipsShould I upgrade my rental car?
If all else fails, just ask for an upgrade If you're flexible, you can typically get an upgrade for far less than the cost of booking the next class of car. The goal of the car rental agent is to get customers to spend more than their original reservation, even if it's just a dollar or two.How can I get a free upgrade from Hertz?
Rent a car with Hertz for 5 (five) days or more at participating locations in USA and Canada and enjoy free one car class upgrade....Applicable upgrades:What sort of questions do you need to ask for a higher car reservation?
Important Questions to Ask at the Rental Car Counter- When do I need to return the car? ...
- How much will the rental actually cost? ...
- What is my liability if I'm involved in fender-bender (or worse)? ...
- Do I need extra insurance? ...
- Where can I drive? ...
- What are the terms of my rental agreement? ...
- Where do I keep my rental contract?
6 CAR RENTAL SECRETS HERTZ, BUDGET \u0026 ENTERPRISE Don't Want You to Know! (2020 UPDATED)
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Answer 2
In these days of internet bookings, it's easy to forget that most of the big companies have teams of people paid to take sales calls. Most of these people have quite a lot of discretion about giving you discounts, freebies, upgrades and other goodies. So, after you've found the car you want, you should call their sales line, and get a quote. Then ask them if they can help you out, if there's any way they can give you a discount etc. Remember, it's in the salesperson's interest to make that sale, as they have to hit their sales targets. They're not allowed offer discounts, until you ask them for one. So, a little bit of negotiation can win you some goodies. Make sure you get on the preferred customers programmes too.
The other trick was already mentioned - book the cheapest car, and then arrive late in the day at the lot. 4 times out of 5, you'll get a bigger car. One time I even got an automatic (rare here in Europe). Of course, you should bear in mind that bigger cars use more fuel, so you might end up spending more money in the end.
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