Avis Car Rentals

Here are my impressions from this trip: 1. Regarding toll roads: When picking up the car, I told the staff I would pay the tolls myself, and they said OK, but didn't say anything else. Later, I drove on a toll highway in California, but when I tried to pay, I couldn't do so online. It showed the car belonged to the rental company and couldn't be paid. When I returned the car, I asked the staff and learned that the tolls would be deducted from the deposit, plus a small handling fee of a few dollars. Almost a month later, I received a notification of the deductions: a toll of a little over three dollars and a handling fee of a little over six dollars, totaling a little over ten dollars. It wasn't a lot of money, but I wasn't happy. I felt the staff hadn't explained the details beforehand. 2. Regarding insurance: I bought two enhanced insurance policies through Ctrip. The purchase page stated that these policies couldn't be bought from the rental company, only through Ctrip, and were underwritten by a domestic insurance company. I would have to pay upfront and claim reimbursement after returning home, which seemed very troublesome. Later, when I picked up the car, the rental company also tried to sell me enhanced insurance. When I asked about the price, it was surprisingly cheap, almost the same as the price in China. I felt very annoyed; I felt Ctrip's approach was unethical. 3. For free vehicle upgrades, you need to repeatedly confirm with the staff on-site. If you're thorough, they won't try to trick you. I was initially paying for an upgrade, but after repeated confirmation, I was upgraded from a standard-size SUV to a full-size SUV for free. This is a reminder to other travelers, but it really tests your oral communication skills. 4. I chose a large brand rental company because they won't be too picky about the car's condition upon return. I drove in the desert, resulting in the car being in poor condition, but the staff glanced at it and approved it upon return. Smaller companies probably wouldn't have been so lenient. 5. The full-size SUV was great, but the fuel consumption was really high. And with the highest gas prices in the US, it was basically one RMB per kilometer. After driving over 3,000 kilometers, the cost of refueling was one or two times higher than when I came to the US before.

This little car has been with me for almost two months. Although I found the sunroof was broken, the interior hadn't been washed, and the windshield washer fluid reservoir was intermittent when I picked it up, I still decided not to replace it. The car is fine; it's just that the previous driver didn't take good care of it. Every time I return the car, it's full of gas, but I always find it empty when I pick it up. This poor little car hopes to encounter more good drivers.

The receptionist at the front desk was very helpful, but when I went down to the motor pool to pick up my car after checking in, the car I was supposed to rent wasn't there! I found a nearby staff member and explained the situation, and they arranged a different car for me, which was fine, but I thought, "Well, that's America for you." Everything else was fine.

The LV car return location provided by Ctrip was incorrect. Luckily, I had allowed an hour, so searching for the airport car return center was more reliable. The airport shuttle bus was very convenient and free, which was a good thing.

I booked an SUV but received a regular sedan instead, and to make matters worse, the wait for delivery took another 40 minutes. The Avis service center in Los Angeles is on the fifth floor, while the pick-up point is on the first floor, making it difficult to find the specific vehicle (I only realized it was a sedan after I got the car; did I have to go up to the fifth floor again and spend another hour?). Luckily, I found a staff member to help me finally get the car. I've been renting cars in Los Angeles for over 10 years, and while prices have increased, service has declined. This time, choosing the established Avis was no exception.

The vehicle was clean, and I used and returned it safely. The rental process was hassle-free, and they handled everything efficiently on their own. They also promptly reflected any necessary changes.