Car Rental basics

Generally most rules for car rental are quite similar. The price of a rental is determined by supply and demand. A car rental has a set number cars available to rent. As the demand for cars goes up, the supply goes down along with it, which in turn drives the prices up when heavy demands for cars occur. Not all locations have the same price even if they are in the same company chain for that very reason.

Anyone can make a reservation, but there are requirements when a customer with a reservation actually rents the vehicle. They usually require the renter to be at least age 25, as of the day of the rental. Some will rent to under 25 with a fee charged. In addition, under 25 renters can not rent above a certain car class because of insurance. I do not mean the renter's own insurance, I mean the car rental company's insurance. Even if they are listed as additional drivers, they can only drive up to a specific class of vehicle and still pay the underage 25 fee.

Another requirement is having a vaild driver's license with the customer at time of rental. No license to show rental agent?, no car. Also, if the license is expired, no car. Why? Because it is illegal to rent someone a car without a valid license. Without the license, we do not know if it is really lost or it is really revoked or suspended.

Another requirement, unless the reservation is set up beforehand to be billed to a company, a credit card that is not tied to a bank account. Even if it is prepaid through a website or voucher company, customer still must have a credit card to swipe in case they keep it longer. Some places will take debit/check cards, but many will not. The Visa logo on the bank card does not make it a credit card because it still is connected to a bank account. You are not at a grocery store buying a bag of chips, you are renting a $30,000 car and we want it back. Some locations take cash upfront, but many will only accept cash at the return of the vehicle.

Lastly, a requirement for all car rentals in my airport is that the driver's license and credit card must match the same person renting the car. Credit card numbers written down or over the phone are not acceptable. Why? Fraud. Need I go on? Let me know if I do. I shall end this posting now. Genie signing out.