CBS News is reporting that more car rental companies are adding fuel-efficient and hybrid cars to their selections, but at the same time, some may be shooting themselves in the foot by charging a ridiculous amount to rent one. According to the article:

“Those who are looking for a value in terms of dollar for dollar will absolutely not get hybrids,” said Brian Chee, the head automotive analyst at MyRide.com. But he said there’s a growing market that’s willing to shell out an extra $40 for the hybrids during quick vacations.
And some wonder whether consumers will be willing to dish out premiums that typically range from $5 to $15 a day for a hybrid. The premiums could outstrip fuel savings on short-term rentals.

I’ve listed hybrid rentals in previous posts, and I’ve also run the numbers. Without any savings or coupons at all (something I’ve never done while actually renting a car) I was looking at almost $600 for a “green” auto than a regular one. The kicker? Some of these fuel-friendly cars are models they were renting anyway at regular prices!

It looks as though consumers are going to have to be a lot more discerning when renting cars. Make your reservation online, then call and make sure you know you aren’t going to get stuck with a car that would have cost you a fraction of the price to rent a year or two ago.

The good news?

Enterprise has slowly built up its hybrid fleet, boasting 4,000 of the vehicles in its fleet of 1.1 million. Hertz Global Holdings Inc. said it will have spent $68 million to add 3,500 Toyota Prius hybrids by the start of the summer. And Avis Budget Group Inc. spokesman John Barrows said his company now offers 2,500 hybrids.

Finding an environmentally friendlier car to rent is getting easier … even if the price doesn’t come down. It makes me ask the question — would you, personally, budget more for your vacation to drive a “greener” car?

I would, but probably no more than $300.

[photo source Nissan USA ]

Post from: EveryJoe

Would you pay more to rent a Prius?

Renting a hybrid on a long trip makes sense money-wise (if you don’t get ripped on the rental cost … this is where Fox’s guarantee really comes in handy) but renting a hybrid before you buy is also a good idea. Especially if you haven’t had much of a chance to test drive. I’ll tell you why…

We were at a car lot looking at the new arrivals lately (yes, technically, I was supposed to buy a car on Friday but then hubby came down with the flu … I think he may be suffering from sticker shock syndrome ;P) and the salesman had a surprising message for us.

“Don’t bother with a hybrid Camry,” he said.  “They don’t get much better gas mileage for the money, and they might wind up costing you a bundle. The last guy I sold one to – an older fella – was trying to park in the garage, thought he shut the car off, then bumped the gas when he was getting out and ran into the wall. He traded it in 3 weeks after he bought it.”

I trust this story is true for two reasons. 1) The salesman was willing to forgo a bigger sale to have a happy customer. They rarely go that route, but 2) a few months ago there was a brand new but technically “used” Camry hybrid on the lot.

I know several older people who do drive hybrids so that’s not the point I’m making here. I know a woman who is reaching 90 who is finishing up her PhD in Chemistry. She may be the first, who knows, and I’ve the grand opportunity of knowing her. She could figure out a hybrid, and I know some teens and middle-aged people who might struggle with it as well. (There’s a reason I didn’t tell my sister to buy a hybrid, you guys. She’s scary behind the wheel without all the doodads to distract her.)

Renting a hybrid gives you a chance to really get to know the car before you buy it, because there is a slight learning curve.  Keeping that in mind, however, it might be a good idea to make sure you have enough insurance coverage. :D

Most of the companies that rent prius, camry hybrids, etc don’t have them at all of their locations. If you don’t live near a major airport, it can be hard to rent through Hertz or Avis, for instance. With Fox you can rent a prius, or other hybrid, at branches in Arizona, California, Florida, Missouri, Texas, Utah, Washington (state) in the United States, and in Montreal or Toronto, Canada. You can also rent a hybrid car in select locations in Costa Rica, Guam, Mexico, New Zealand, Puerto Rico, Saint Lucia, United Arab Emirates, and the Netherlands Antilles.

Post from: EveryJoe

More ways to rent a prius

As with the Hertz rental program, not every office has hybrids available. It is a great way to get a feel for a new car before you buy it though, so … might be worth an extra trip.

Post from: EveryJoe

Rent a Prius or Nissan Altima hybrid