Rental Car Blues

Remember back when you rented a car, filled it up with gas when you brought it back, paid with your card and went on your merry way.  Well, now, things have changed and to be real safe, you better check everything about that car before you drive it off the lot.  We have had several clients fuss about being treated unfairly, being charged unjustly, and most of the time not finding out about it until they get a bill from the car rental company a week later.

The Dallas Morning News Travel Troubleshooter, Christopher Elliott, has to address car rental problems seemingly at least once a month.  A couple of weeks ago a renter brought the car in with a full tank of gas, but when she reviewed her bill, she had been charged an additional $7.43 for .08 gallons of gas.  How is it possible, that they can ascertain just how full or how low the tank is?

Well, it’s done by satellite.  Avis has the technology and Hertz is working fast to get it too, and I’m sure all the others will follow suit.  It’s called electronic fuel metering, and the car rental firms are intent on accounting for every drop of fuel, and making sure it is paid for.  It was reported that Hertz chief executive, Mark Frissora, says that his company loses $50 million a year in fuel costs so they are going to this Aibox system that not only monitors the fuel usage, but also has the capability of remotely shutting off the car engine and operating the car locks from an office base. Of course he says this will be good for the customers.  I don’t know how much it will cost, but you can be sure it will be good for the car rental companies too.

He says the technology automatically measures and records the precise amount of gas in the tank at the time the customer exits the rental facility and measures and records the fuel level again when the vehicle is returned.  If you bring it back needing some more gas, the rental agency will certainly fill it up for you, and they charge an arm and a leg to bring it up to full.  Notice the illustration in the second paragraph; they were charging around $9.28 a gallon.

So, our tip when you are renting a car is to make sure you inspect the auto with a critical eye in the presence of the agent, and if there are bumps and scratches or a dirty interior, make sure the agent signs off on it.  Get them to check the gas by satellite before you drive off so you can see what the fuel level is.  Make sure too that if you drive through mud or on a dirt road that you run it through the car wash before you check it in.  Be positive during the entire transaction, but remember, they are in the business of making money, but hopefully they will be fair and just with their customers too.

Your experienced travel agent at The Travel Factory has the capability to shop for the best rental rate and will ask you for that privilege when you make an airline reservation.  Call us at 698-1421 or toll-free 800-760-4040.  Or, drop in for a visit with a real live person at 4150 Southwest Drive, Ste. 120 between Rosas and Chick-fil-A.  You can also interact with us at our website: www.thetravelfactoryabilene.com.