Car hire advice
Discussion
Hi all,
I am looking to hire a car in September for when I go to Cornwall. The family car will be used by my wife for work.
Looking on websites many have an added extra for sat navs.
Now most modern cars have large screens that you can use apple airplay or android auto.
Do hire companies turn these functions off to charge for sat navs?
Also any recommendations for hire companies?
Many thanks
I am looking to hire a car in September for when I go to Cornwall. The family car will be used by my wife for work.
Looking on websites many have an added extra for sat navs.
Now most modern cars have large screens that you can use apple airplay or android auto.
Do hire companies turn these functions off to charge for sat navs?
Also any recommendations for hire companies?
Many thanks
It depends on the company and the car.
I've never paid for sat-nav because I've always had my own (currently a £110 Garmin DriveSmart 55 from about 2020, with free map upgrades), which means I don't have to learn how to use a different system in each vehicle - but of the cars that probably came with it as standard, it's never been disabled in my experience.
I'd be more concerned about actually getting the type of car you ordered...as Enterprise once told me that a Hyundai H800 mini-bus was equivalent to a 'premium diesel estate' that I'd ordered...in that it was the same cost and have equal or more space (although dit about 20mpg vs the 50mpg the car would have got.
Luckily they allowed me to swap it out for a 320D Touring at another branch, once I'd called the head office and explained/complained about the extra costs for my 2000 mile trip.
I've never paid for sat-nav because I've always had my own (currently a £110 Garmin DriveSmart 55 from about 2020, with free map upgrades), which means I don't have to learn how to use a different system in each vehicle - but of the cars that probably came with it as standard, it's never been disabled in my experience.
I'd be more concerned about actually getting the type of car you ordered...as Enterprise once told me that a Hyundai H800 mini-bus was equivalent to a 'premium diesel estate' that I'd ordered...in that it was the same cost and have equal or more space (although dit about 20mpg vs the 50mpg the car would have got.
Luckily they allowed me to swap it out for a 320D Touring at another branch, once I'd called the head office and explained/complained about the extra costs for my 2000 mile trip.
I have hired several vehicles in the UK over the last 8 years or so, usually from Enterprise as they had an office up the road from my old address.
On all of the vehicles they had sat-nav despite it being a tick box on the forms. I assume that ensures you'll get it but based on the models we had (Insignia/Sharan/Alhambra/Tourneo) it was a default option. I was fully prepared to use my phone and Waze though.
Last month we hired a 9 seater (Merc Vito) from a local firm in Stroud and it was complete poverty spec. Automatic and cruise control but that was it so I just used my phone. That said, it was about £450 cheaper using the local firm over the nearest Enterprise.
On all of the vehicles they had sat-nav despite it being a tick box on the forms. I assume that ensures you'll get it but based on the models we had (Insignia/Sharan/Alhambra/Tourneo) it was a default option. I was fully prepared to use my phone and Waze though.
Last month we hired a 9 seater (Merc Vito) from a local firm in Stroud and it was complete poverty spec. Automatic and cruise control but that was it so I just used my phone. That said, it was about £450 cheaper using the local firm over the nearest Enterprise.
DMCFan said:
Hi all,
Do hire companies turn these functions off to charge for sat navs?
Also any recommendations for hire companies?
In a word, no. It’s an idiot tax if you tick that box or for foreigners who don’t want to rinse their data. Very rare to see a car these days without built in (albeit terrible) sat nav and CarPlay prep. Do hire companies turn these functions off to charge for sat navs?
Also any recommendations for hire companies?
Company, I tend to stick to either enterprise who always give great service, or sixt for their ‘mystery car’ which the person at the desk always lets me choose.
mmm-five said:
I'd be more concerned about actually getting the type of car you ordered...as Enterprise once told me that a Hyundai H800 mini-bus was equivalent to a 'premium diesel estate' that I'd ordered...in that it was the same cost and have equal or more space (although dit about 20mpg vs the 50mpg the car would have.
Boils my piss that. I always for a Golf or equivalent. I keep getting crossovers which, in comparison, are rubbish to drive. This time (as in today), thank f
k, I got a Cupra. When I complain the staff keep insisting that crossovers are somehow "better". Sod that, if I'd I wanted a wobblebox on stilts I'd have asked for one.
mmm-five said:
I'd be more concerned about actually getting the type of car you ordered.
From what I know of how Enterprise work, it's absolute chaos behind the scenes and you're not really guaranteed a specific vehicle until you literally have the keys in your hand and are sat in the driver's seat. Stock moves between branches all the time, and often at really short notice. If the branch 5 miles up the road has managed to rent out your golf-or-similar for £50 more then off it goes to them and your branch is left scrabbling around for a replacement. The company I used to work for rented a lot of vans from Enterprise and I'd regularly be sat waiting for a van to arrive from another branch as they'd had the booked one reassigned elsewhere.agent006 said:
mmm-five said:
I'd be more concerned about actually getting the type of car you ordered.
From what I know of how Enterprise work, it's absolute chaos behind the scenes and you're not really guaranteed a specific vehicle until you literally have the keys in your hand and are sat in the driver's seat. Stock moves between branches all the time, and often at really short notice. If the branch 5 miles up the road has managed to rent out your golf-or-similar for £50 more then off it goes to them and your branch is left scrabbling around for a replacement. The company I used to work for rented a lot of vans from Enterprise and I'd regularly be sat waiting for a van to arrive from another branch as they'd had the booked one reassigned elsewhere.
I guess like all things retail we all have different experiences.
I rent enterprise every time I go home as I will fly into Leeds Bradford, and the staff there are just super nice, not pushy and easy to deal with whenever I need to make changes. Also as I’ll be visiting my elderly parents they are very understanding if I refuse a certain ‘replacement’ car type in the grounds it won’t be suitable for them.
But unless there’s a good deal on I really would just go for the sixt mystery option and be chatty at the desk. Out of peak times they’ll just tell you the list of what you can choose from which can be surprisingly wide.
I rent enterprise every time I go home as I will fly into Leeds Bradford, and the staff there are just super nice, not pushy and easy to deal with whenever I need to make changes. Also as I’ll be visiting my elderly parents they are very understanding if I refuse a certain ‘replacement’ car type in the grounds it won’t be suitable for them.
But unless there’s a good deal on I really would just go for the sixt mystery option and be chatty at the desk. Out of peak times they’ll just tell you the list of what you can choose from which can be surprisingly wide.
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