Long distance car rental for under-25s

[odontomachus]

Two friends and I are planning a holiday in the States next summer. We have nothing solid yet, beyond a big list of "things we want to see," but the tentative plan is to spend two or three weeks going up and down the east coast by car. We'll all have UK driving licenses by then, and aim to share the driving wherever possible. We've discussed using

Comments

[odontomachus]

...failing all this, any anglophiles with their own car fancy a bitchin' road trip down the eastern seaboard next summer? We'll bring you Curly Wurlies and piccies of the Queen.

[pillbugg]

I would LOVE that, but I can't promise I'll be available yet.

[tisiphone]

Something you need to know is that quoted American car rental rates bear only a passing resemblance to reality, and usually the lack of resemblance is in the wrong direction. In other words, whatever rate you're looking at? Double it - that's more likely. My partner uses a company called (I'm reasonably sure) Holiday Auto when he rents a car here, which has advantages including being tailored to British renters and giving you a price that's far more realistic. I'd look into that.

(To clarify, that is a British company - you pre-pay for your auto rental there and then pick it up at your designated pickup location.)

[o0oepiphanyo0o]

So yeah theres an extra fee for being under 25.

Enterprise has always been the cheapest for me.

If you dont tell they wont know, just dont crash.

Crappy cars are pretty much guaranteed to crap out on you. My friend did it though. It only finally broke in L.A. which was the last part of her trip.

Have you tried couchsurfing.com? there are also cheap hotels and motels. I mean if it's really shit it's still going to be a cool adventure.

One thing... the travel-lodges here are not the same as the ones there.

the one here in our town is like the kind where hookers live with their families and pimps.

[o0oepiphanyo0o]

oh and you can refuse insurance at most places. Enterprise has always given me the exact price quoted on the rental reservation. They do trick you with trying to buy all sorts of insurance which you dont have to always get.

[tisiphone]

Refusing insurance is not wise unless you are absolutely positive your English auto insurance covers you, and possibly not even then.

[tronochick]

My husband used to be management for Enterprise.

A few clarifications:

1. You don't have to tell them you are under 25 but you have to hand over your license, which has your birthdate. all they have to do is simple maths to figure out you are under 25 and they WILL charge you.

.. and 2. The extra coverage isn't a "trick." I used to think it was (before Enterprise) but I can honestly tell you that for the rest of my life, if I ever rent a car again, I will pay for their coverage. Why??? If you elect to use your own insurance and you do ANYTHING to the car, they require you to pay your deductible to them up front and then can go after your insurance for any additional costs associated with the damage (i.e. loss of use). If you take the insurance and you break the car, you hand back the keys and they give you a new one. No brainer in my books.

[boudiceaborn]

Enterprise was always cheapest for my partner and I when we were under 25, but they still did charge us an extra $10/day to rent

[jessfauve]

Look into joining zipcar. Their UK membership is good in the US and visa versa. They don't rent cars for one ways but you can rent for several days in a row. You'd probably have to base yourself out of cities and other metro areas (like college towns) in order to find cars and take shorter car trips while there. And then buses/trains in between the cities. But there's no additional fee for underage drivers, as long as everyone is over 21, and anyone with a zipcar memebership can drive a zipcar at any time, it doesn't need to be rented specifically in their name. It's not super cheap BUT all fuel and insurance are completely included.