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Car Rental In The USA And Canada - Picking Up A Rental Car

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Before leaving Britain, make a photocopy of the car rental voucher if you have one.

Sometimes car rental companies have desks in airport terminals, in which case that is where you should go first unless directed otherwise. Sometimes you negotiate the rental at the terminal desk, sometimes at the depot. The clerk at the desk will direct you accordingly.

If there is no desk in the terminal then in most cases outside the terminal you'll find a bus stop for the free shuttle buses run by each car rental company which ferry their customers between the terminals and their depot. Be sure to get on the appropriate company's bus - they are clearly marked with the company's name and logo. The buses rotate constantly, just wait for one at the stop outside the terminal, which will be signposted. There is no charge for these buses. I've never seen anyone tip a car rental shuttle bus driver but I suppose it could happen. At San Francisco International Airport the main car rental companies share a common shuttle bus system and building, but this is a very unusual arrangement.

When negotiating the rental:

• You'll need your car rental voucher (if any), your credit card (in the main driver's name; additional drivers will almost certainly also need credit cards in each of their names as well) and your full British driver's licence (plus that of any additional drivers). If you have a new British photo-card driving licence then you will also need the accompanying paperwork, as the card does not carry sufficient information.

• Be sure to mention any special requirements such as infant seat rental. Also clearly state if you need a car in which you are allowed to smoke, as most rental cars are non-smoking. Should you smoke in a non-smoking car then you may well have to pay a considerable cost for the vehicle to be cleaned.

• Car rental companies only allocate cars by grades. If you would prefer a particular make or model, or a car with special features such as a CD player, then you can ask but the company is under no obligation to supply. If reliability is an important factor then you may wish to ask for a Japanese car rather than American but again the company is under no obligation to meet such a request.

• All normal rental cars in the USA and Canada have automatic transmission.

• All normal rental cars in the USA and Canada have air conditioning, except perhaps the smallest grade.

• All normal rental cars in the USA and Canada have electric windows, central locking and a radio. Most have a cassette player or (more commonly nowadays) a CD player.

• For details of other features of cars in the USA and Canada, refer to the Driving section of this web site.

• Politely but firmly reject any upgrades and unnecessary insurance policies offered, no matter how intense the hard sell. Normally the only insurance-like option you need to accept is CDW/LDW. If you have separate top-up insurance then you should decline EP (Extra Protection).

• Check carefully that you are being supplied with a car in the grade that you have paid for (this is not normally a problem). In particular, check that the number of doors is correct if you have paid for a four door car (which is sometimes a problem).

• Check the rental agreement. This is a complex document and very difficult to check in detail quickly, but at least check the fundamentals of which cost elements you have accepted and which you have declined.

• If you have a car rental voucher then make sure that the rental agreement shows this fact and lists all the cost elements which the voucher covers.

• Pick up a free map. These are usually available in the form of large sheets on a tear-off pad on the desk. Besides having maps of the region and the city, they also have a large scale map of the airport area which shows exactly where to return the car. If necessary, ask the rental clerk for directions.

• Check the car for any obvious signs of damage.

• Before setting off, take a bit of time to familiarise yourself with the car's controls. Adjust the seat and the mirror. Find out how the lights, windscreen wipers and windscreen demister operate if it looks as if you might need them. If necessary, ask for help.

• If the car has electric windows, as is likely, then figure out how to operate them in order to be able to show the rental agreement to the gate guard on exit.

• Organise any maps that you need before starting off.

• You may be prevented from starting the car by one of its safety interlocks.

• Remember that an automatic car will move immediately you put it in gear, forwards or reverse, unless you have your foot on the brake.

• Drive on the right.

• Do not reverse over the spikes at the rental depot exit. Doing so will cause very serious tyre damage.

• Make a note of the location of the depot, especially if it lies outside the airport area. It's also useful to note the location of a nearby petrol station if you happen spot one.

• Rental cars usually come with only one key. Check in the glove box and the boot to see if there is another key. If not, then any Wal-Mart or K-Mart can usually cut a spare key for less than a Dollar, unless it is a very new car for which they don't have the blanks. Keeping a spare key on you can often save you from a major crisis should you accidentally lock the key in the car.

• When you have more time in a motel, check the details of the rental agreement and also the more obscure aspects of the car's controls. There is often a handbook in the glove box. In summer, be sure to find out how the air conditioning works. Also check the petrol tank capacity (very useful at petrol stations where you have to pay before pumping) and the correct tyre pressures. If the instruction book is missing then a garage may be able to provide this information.

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EMail me Please note that I am not in the car rental business or the travel trade and I cannot provide any more information on car rental other than that presented here. Nor can I process any requests for quotations or reservations for car rental - these should be directed to car rental companies or travel agents.

Most recently modified 30-Jun-02