Prior to planning my vacation to San Antonio, Texas, I researched car rentals in the San Antonio area to find out which car company could best meet my needs. Budget and Enterprise came in with the lowest non-discount rates. Because I intended to pick up my car at the airport and return it in downtown San Antonio later in the evening or the following day, I wanted to find a rental company conveniently located in downtown San Antonio. None of the rental car companies were nearly as convenient as Hertz, which had a location inside the Marriott Rivercenter where I had reservations. In essence, I could drop my rental car off at my own hotel, placing the keys in the drop box on the way up to my room.
Rather than find the discounts available for the various rental car companies, I focused on the discounts available through Hertz, which would be the most convenient for me. I checked the internet for available discounts through my various memberships and found the biggest savings through my USAA membership. The USAA discount brought the base price of a compact rental down from 43 dollars per day to 26 dollars per day. Not a bad savings. With taxes, it looked like I was going to be well under forty dollars. I made the reservation and did an on-line check-in. With on-line check-in, if you wait for more than ten minutes in line, you get a fifty dollar credit towards your rental.
When I arrived at the San Antonio airport, there was a Hertz shuttle parked in the shuttle waiting area. I boarded the bus and waited about ten minutes before we departed. The ride to the rental location was less than five minutes. There were three of us on the shuttle bus. One was a gold member, who only had to look up at the board on the Hertz lot to find his rental. The other customer and I entered the Hertz rental building together. There was no line. Two customer service representatives were waiting to assist us…so my wait was non-existent. So much for the fifty dollar credit.
While completing the necessary documentations for my rental (I was expecting to rent a Ford Focus), the customer service rep offered me an upgrade to the Honda Accord for nine dollars more. I did something I rarely do…I took the upgrade. That nine dollars ballooned up on me in taxes and fuel surcharges. Hertz charges $6.99 per gallon for fuel unless you bring it in topped off or accept the pre-paid full tank at around $1.55 per gallon (for San Antonio). I opted for the tank of gas, which was much larger on the Accord than the Focus…something I hadn’t considered ahead of time. I wasn’t planning to do a lot of driving, but I like to have the full tank option in case I don’t have time to gas up. At $6.99 per gallon for gas, it doesn’t take much to exceed the pre-paid option. My expected rental under forty dollars quickly accelerated to a $70.00 rental. That part was my own fault.
After being provided with my contract, I went out on the lot and retrieved my Honda Accord. The keys were already in the car along with a damage sheet that had been filled out. The car was plain white with a beige interior. Upon inspection of the car, I should have immediately gone back inside and changed my rental. I was planning to meet family in the San Antonio area and felt rushed, so I opted to stick with this rental. I think I grew to despise my own decision. The Honda Accord was filthy inside and out. The carpets were heavily stained, there were cigarette burns in the upholstery and the exterior hadn’t seen a car wash in quite some time. The hubcaps were all damaged as well as visible damage on the front right fender, rear bumper and along the doors. This car had obviously seen better days. With mileage exceeding 30,000 miles, I’m hoping this car will be retired soon. It is a disgrace to the Hertz fleet. If there other cars are anything like this one, I will never rent from Hertz again.
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