The only thing I'm relatively cautious with is suspiciously high deposits/credit authorizations.
When I run the numbers, it would literally take years for the amount I spend renting to surpass the amount I'd spend on just the sales tax or insurance for a hypothetical viable car. It turns out that owning a car is like owning a McMansion, such that you end up inflating your lifestyle to fill the space or depend on the car.
No that’s the worst case scenario.
> you have to navigate high pressure tactics on buying upgrades, fuel, insurance, etc.
No you don’t. In the US, the major reputable companies allow you to register your DL and insurance, pick your default fuel preference. 20 minutes prior the reservation you get a list of available cars and proceed directly to the car. You then scan a QR code at the exit, maybe you show your DL to a guy at the gate, who is in no position to sell anything. This is for almost all airport locations and many corporate locations.
Even when you see an agent.. High pressure tactics? That’s impossible, they have no leverage. It’s not like buying a hot new car or something. The insurance is usually worthless to you so you aren’t losing anything by walking away. Just say no? A simple no always works. Carry a credit card with primary rental insurance. I have had a sales person try to give some bullshit song and dance even when I politely tell them I have primary insurance on my card. It’s a simple “no, not interested.” What are they going to do?
If they charged for tolls that can only mean they got billed by tolling agency, often by plate reader. I mean it kind of sucks but if your ezpass doesn’t work not sure how that makes the rental company responsible.
https://www.tollsbymailny.com/vector/videotolls/paytollnow/s...
True, although you usually have a 48 hour window to post register. Not saying this is the most consumer friendly setup, but the fees are avoidable.
> Further, not everyone in a rental (often in a strange place) knows they will use a toll road
When I end up in a such a state I reflexively register (actually use a checklist, can take care of this in the hotel room in the evening for instance) regardless of whether I plan to use a toll road or not. There’s no guesswork to this other than knowing what states I’ll be in.
Always make sure the rental car either does not have a transponder or that it is closed in its shielded box.
If you’re dealing with an agent always make sure every add on service is declined.
> Google & Apple Pay as a cashless alternative for people without an EZ Pass.
But how would that work with open road tolling?
> But how would that work with open road tolling?
For one, both companies also operate GPS services so perhaps it could all be integrated. Or just have one or two lanes available for people to slow down and tap to pay (still benefit from no staffing the toll booth). Or you could have a pull-off area right after the tollbooth with QR codes to pay by PayPal, Venmo, etc.
Ah the weak HN trope to anyone giving sound advice when all you care about is “winning” an argument.
This also veered the topic into ad hominem completely unnecessarily.
> doubtful that lots of people spend precious travel time (especially if with family/kids)
Sheesh. That website takes literally less than a minute to complete for a link that I found in less than a 10 second search. I have family/kids, so no, try again.
When I arrive at the airport and I see long lines of families waiting for up to an hour at the Thrifty/Dollar/Fox counter so that maybe they could save a few bucks (often not) while I am walking directly to the lot from a flight to pick up the car - perhaps I may be an outlier, but I certainly know something about saving “precious” time and false economies.
30 seconds to fill out a web form is a complete nothingburger.
> Very doubtful that many people have checklists for this purpose.
I have a checklist for traveling. This is one item. Do you not understand the “list” part, it’s not a whole list just for tolls. Ironically, before I had a family I wouldn’t often bother. Having a family/kids makes lists a tremendous stress reliever.
> still benefit from no staffing the toll booth
> pull-off area right after the tollbooth
Open road (overhead) tolling has no toll booths. Some states are entirely toll booth free outside of bridges and others are following. The cost savings of eliminating toll booth infrastructure entirely is substantial because it’s not just the booths, it greatly simplifies hundreds of interchanges.
As far as the rest, I wasn't trying to even make an argument, let alone win it. Just an observation that few people register their rental cars with out-of-state toll web sites. You sound like a very organized person, kudos, many people would like to run their lives as efficiently as you do. I certainly can't get from this page https://www.paturnpike.com/e-zpass/rental-vehicles to a completed, registered account in 30 seconds - it often takes me that long just to find my wallet and pull out the necessary credit card, let alone type it in.
There’s no booth. There’s no place for a booth.
> There's a physical structure which exists for the purpose of supporting the infrastructure and electronics necessary
No, not really. In addition to the overhead gantry there’s a small off road utility cabinet and some solar panels. Most of the mainline NYS thruway for instance now has no toll booths. The tolling system is literally just a stantion/gantry like those holding up the road signs over the main highway. There’s no slowing down, and if you’re not paying attention you might not even notice it. There is no infrastructure for anyone to pull over or slow down, there are no dedicated access lanes. In some cases the toll points are not proximal to any interchanges. All of that has been permanently removed. Hence “open road tolling”.
As far as a pull off area? There are rest stops (some manned) and cell phone lots.
You realize once you put in that one “special” lane you’ve created a massive chokepoint (This hybrid has in fact been the status quo for years in many areas, getting away from it is the point)? It’s all or nothing really.
https://www.stantec.com/en/projects/united-states-projects/n...
I’ll admit the PA site is relatively unfriendly steaming pile. The NY one is much faster. Some states have a 14 day registration period (like IL), which should be the norm IMHO.
Finally, a tag is less and less onerous. Virtually every toll state on the east accepts Ezpass. You don’t need a Sunpass or whatever anymore.
Other thing many don’t do but should. Spend a minute or two making a walk around video with detail shots for damage. This is a small inconvenience over trusting the last check in guy. I prefer not having to get insurance involved if I can avoid it. It’s a $40000 piece of equipment I just took possession of (I do think the idea that this fundamentally can be an absolutely hassle free experience is some first world thinking - this is not a defense of the sliminess of the business, but still, let’s be reasonable, it’s too easy to just get the keys to a newish car. That said, I support existing and some further state level consumer protections).
front desk: “want to add fuel protection”
me: “no”
front desk: “Okay, sign rental agreement and sign here to indicate you declined protection. Here’s your keys. “
I would say a majority of the time it’s just a script they are told to recite.
Dealerships on the other hand is a whole new beast. I wish very much that dealerships in the US go away.
Unnecessary middlemen used to extract as much profit with no added value.
Car sells for MSRP, but you want MSRP + $2000 in “market adjustment fee” and “document fees”
Fuck off.
Sounds like a plug-in hybrid might be a great car for you. I have one and it works pretty well.