No more Rent-A-Wreck, need least-hassle SLC car rental recommendations

[slindo]

I've always rented from Rent-a-Wreck but they seem to be gone.

Can anyone suggest one of the National chains in SLC that are not too crazy or vengeful? I know they all officially forbid driving their cars on the salt, but my understanding is that some are more obssessed with it than others. I don't mind taking my chances with getting it clean enough that they won't know, but I don't want to promise not too or  to sign an agreeement not to take it on the salt, or that I will pay a $750 charge if I do, or any other crazy stuff like that.

One with a reasonable cleaning fee if they catch me would be OK, say $100-200 would be ok, but not $500!

Oh, I've heard rumors that some send agents to events to look for their cars on the salt, and confiscate them on the spot. Anyone know if this is true, and if so, who does it?

[Glen]

Most new rental cars have a GPS  built in

[widgeon]

If you rent a car in SLC, take it to the Blue Beacon Truck wash open 24hrs just on the out  skirts of SLC coming back and for $20 - $30 they will cherry it up for you.  Like nothing every happened.  Rich

[slindo]

But are they actually using them to trace/punish usage? There were a few sleezy off-brand rental companies who tried to, and drove themselves out of business. but there don't seem to be many instances of the majors doing it. I know some states have laws making it illegal to.

It's interesting, for all this talk of $750 penalties for going on the salt, or (as Budget told me they do) rental companies putting each returned car on the lift to microscopically inspect for salt, how few complaints there seem to be here and elsewhere on the net of people being caught or penalized. So this may mean the rental car companies aren't really being as vicious as they would have us believe (something which I admit is hard to believe, as rental car companies seem to delight in taking the low road). Or it may just mean people are  embarrassed at being caught, and don't talk about it.

BTW, it is intersting to note that according to virtually EVERY rental car contract, any driving off paved or state maintained roads is a violation of the contract - that means when you pull into a dirt access road or parking lot at a farm stand, state park or high school football game,  you are violating the contract!

Most new rental cars have a GPS  built in

[mkilger]

rentals  in LA they have no idea were you are going  with there cars  what I cant go to SLC or even close to it, I dont think the LA based rental people have a clue about the (salt), but I still wont take it on the salt. I pick it up at noon today. I may even go Drifting with it tonight at the speedway. LOL

[Freud]

In my opinion, for what its worth, is this.

They don't care about what damage the salt does. All they want is that they don't have to spend a of of time cleaning it before it's back out on the road. How many times have u stood at the counter and waited for the car to come off the wash line so u can get out'a there?

If u return it with the fender wells full and the floor mats looking like it snowed inside the car, you can expect to get slapped down.

Salt Lake rental agencies face this several times each year but they also get cars returned with a build up of snow that looks exactly the same as the way they come back from the salt and they don't go ballistic over that.

It ain't rocket science...........

FREUD

[DMH]

We're driving out this year from the southwest Ohio in a rental.  Gonna cost me a little over $250 for the week, unlimited mileage. Gas it and go. I'll clean it up real good before I return it. They'll be scratching their heads when I return it with over 3,000 miles on odometer. Flying sucks.

[Luckyontheducky]

I am going with FOX this year.  They have no outright ban on the salt.  I used Advantage last year, they DID have a ban on the salt, but I cleaned it up real good and they didn't even complain about the hole I burned in the seat!  Hertz has told me that they just as soon I didn't go to the salt, but even if I did, the max they would charge was $100

[Milwaukee Midget]

One time I tried renting a car in Nashville during the week of the National Association of Music Merchants (NAMM) show.  I should have known better - couldn't get my hands on a car to save my amp, so I rented a U-haul cargo van.  Their only concern was that I sweep it out.  Yeah, I paid mileage, but it was the easiest rental return I'd ever been through.

Could double as a camper . . . Throw an air mattress in it and viola, you're bunkin' at the bend.

[Dr Goggles]

It's interesting, for all this talk of $750 penalties for going on the salt,

When they get that money they put it in a trust account and give it to the people they sell the car to as compensation....er,NOT! ! !

Once had a Toyota van spit a hose and overheat on the "interstate" while on tour years ago, the company sent another one up on a truck. When we got back to the agent I asked them what was wrong with it ...." ..don't know, we got it running and took it to the auctions"

Next thing they'll have recorders going in their cars and you'll have to pay an excess if you cuss in it.........

yeah OK, I'll leave it alone... as usual, no helpful advice just smart cracks

[slindo]

Fox has a terrible reputation, according the the inet review/opinion places, so be sure  you print out your reservations and especially price info, as they apparently have a reputation  for jacking up the price after they have you at their off airport location.

I'm probably going with Hertz. $40 more, but they sounded the least insane about salt when I called them.

I am going with FOX this year.  They have no outright ban on the salt.  I used Advantage last year, they DID have a ban on the salt, but I cleaned it up real good and they didn't even complain about the hole I burned in the seat!  Hertz has told me that they just as soon I didn't go to the salt, but even if I did, the max they would charge was $100