I previously rented a car from a physical dealership in the US, and compared to this time renting through Ctrip, Ctrip was significantly cheaper. Firstly, you can use various Ctrip discounts, saving a considerable amount overall. Secondly, Ctrip's partnered insurance companies offer lower prices. Previously, renting a car locally in the US was okay, but adding insurance significantly increased the price, which is essential. This time, Ctrip's price was truly advantageous.
In terms of convenience, booking through Ctrip was very easy. After paying online, no additional fees were mentioned on the spot; it was simply a matter of payment and a deposit being processed. They only checked my driver's license and name; they didn't show any pre-order documents or anything like that.
I guess it wasn't peak tourist season, because when I went to pick up the car, there was no one else there. However, there were problems picking up the car. The parking spot they were given was empty, so I went to find the staff, and they quickly changed it to another one. It turned out they'd upgraded from a Japanese car to a Dodge SUV for free. I was initially thinking of taking it regardless of the gas cost, but upon inspection, a wheel rim was missing. The car was very new, and although it didn't affect drivability, I still couldn't accept it, so I went back to exchange it. After a lot of trouble with various issues, it took over an hour to finally get a satisfactory car.
Americans really are rough around the edges!
Luckily, the car I finally rented was very new and easy to drive. Aside from the wasted time, everything else was great.