Rental car
34% The Gate with Brian Cohen
28% View from the Wing
25% Your Mileage May Vary
13% Other
Rental cars offer flexibility for short-term transportation needs, with options ranging from traditional rentals to innovative delivery services. The Gate with Brian Cohen +2
Booking and Availability
- Many rental companies, including Hertz and Avis, offer up to 25% off base rates through June 30, 2026, especially for bookings made in advance.
- Some locations provide a “pick your own car” option, but availability depends on inventory and may result in limited choices, often just a few vehicles in a designated area.
- If your preferred car class is unavailable, staff may offer alternatives—such as a larger vehicle at no extra cost—so being flexible can help avoid delays.🔗
Delivery and Convenience Options
- Uber Rent now offers home or location delivery for rental cars, skipping the counter and shuttle. This service is available for those 25+ who book at least 2 hours in advance, though airport delivery is generally not available.
- Avis Preferred and similar loyalty programs allow members to bypass lines and select their preferred vehicle, which can save time and money.🔗
Key Considerations
- Renting is typically the most expensive option, with daily rates potentially reaching $930/month.
- Leasing is cheaper than renting and includes warranty coverage, but comes with long-term commitments, mileage limits, and early termination fees. 🔗
- If a rental agency runs out of cars, being polite and patient increases the chance of getting a suitable alternative.🔗
The Gate with Brian Cohen 34%
Will Purchasing Vehicles Become Impossible For Many People?
Will purchasing vehicles become impossible for many people — to the point where renting or leasing a vehicle becomes the norm in the future? I ask this question because someone I know who owns a 2019 Honda HR-V — which was purchased new from the dealer — has been experiencing problems over the last couple of months. The engine sounds rougher and does not run as smoothly anymore; flooding has occurred on the passenger side of the car which leaves the floor and carpeting on the inside wet; and the air conditioning has slowly began to fail. She
Your Mileage May Vary 11%
The “Pick Your Own Car” Gimmick (And Why It’s Often Not Much of a Choice)
I remember when I first became a National Car Rental Emerald Club member. That status gave me the privilege of booking a midsize car and being able to rent any vehicle parked in the Emerald Aisle. No more having to take the car they assigned me. I had the power to pick whichever car I wanted. I remember renting an Oldsmobile Bravada just because I could. OK, stop being jealous. Who wouldn’t want to rent this car? In today’s car rental world, National is no longer the only company that offers a “pick your own car” experience.
View from the Wing 28%
Uber Is Testing A Better Way To Rent Cars — Skip The Counter, Skip The Shuttle, Get Delivery
Avis and Hertz have ‘invitation only’ elite levels. Avis has their Chairmans Club, while Hertz has Platinum. Many years ago, Avis Chairmans Club was available with a NetJets card purchase. Customers got a paper form to fax into Avis. So someone on FlyerTalk photocopied the form. And they photocopied the form. And so on. Chairmans Club was supposed to be upgrades to ‘best car on the lot’ as long as you rented a midsize. You’d pay market rate for gas refills. And they dropped you off back at the terminal in the rental vehicle – no riding the bus.
Points with a Crew 13%
Why you’re foolish to rent a “standard” car
If you’re looking to book a car – you can save up to 10% on cars through Booking.com with this link I think rental cars are the last great “black hole” of rewards programs. While it is possible (maybe not EASY, but possible) to get free hotel nights and airline flights using miles and points, especially with lucrative credit card signup bonuses and spending, unless you’re renting cars a LOT (i.e. for business), you’re not likely to get much in the way of free car rental days. I find, even if you ARE renting a lot, the car rental
Your Mileage May Vary 14%
What To Do When A Rental Car Company Is Out Of Cars
We don’t rent cars all that often anymore. Over the years, we’ve become much more comfortable taking public transportation to and from the airport in major cities like New York and Chicago, and then using Uber, Lyft, taxis or local transit to get around once we’re there. These days, we usually only rent a car when we’re going somewhere public transportation really isn’t an option, like when we flew to Charlotte and then drove to South of the Border. That’s what makes it so maddening when you show up at the rental car counter, reservation in hand, only