Car rental company not renting to people with local addresses?

[Ron Obvious]

I had an unusual experience last week. We live in Seattle but had been spending the winter in So. California and Arizona. As we've done frequently in the past, we flew home for a few days to take care of local matters and reserved a car rental at Sea-Tac airport through Priceline.

Arriving at the airport late at night, I found out the car rental company, which I won't name here and shall refer to as "Shift-4", refused to rent us the car because they had a policy against renting cars to people with local addresses. Not from their airport location anyway, as "they wanted to keep track of their cars(?)".

I've never heard of such a thing before in all my years of renting cars! I couldn't get any explanation that made sense, but it's possible I was too furious to listen carefully at this point. They would be happy to rent us a car from their downtown location, but the busses had stopped running by then and we had to make alternate arrangements at great inconvenience.

Needless to say, I won't be renting from Shift-4 anymore, but I just can't see the reason behind this sort of thing. What's the point? For that matter, is this even legal, refusing service because of the customer's address?

Anyone have this happen to them or know why Shift-4 (and others apparently) would have such a policy?

[Major Nikon]

1. They can refuse service for any reason that isn't a legally protected civil rights issue

They could refuse service if you have a size 9 shoe if they wanted. Nothing illegal about it.

[undeterred]

2. When someone is using a car locally I'm thinking they are using it

because their car is in the shop or because they don't have a car and their use of a car is occasional. But I can't see how that makes any difference to the rental company. I've used rental cars for all kinds of reasons- for company use and the above use- and nobody ever cared why.

For what its worth Enterprise is pretty friendly, and they pick you up.

[Ron Obvious]

6. Apparently this sort of rule is restricted to airport rentals

Last edited Sun Jan 29, 2012, 02:12 PM - Edit history (1)

I often feel like the way I'm living my life, I'm trying to fit a square peg into a round hole as I'm always wanting to do things differently..

On edit: I've had good experiences with Enterprise, Budget and especially Alamo.

[Kali]

3. I'd say name them and also send a copy of this to corporate headquarters

not renting to a local address? WTF?

[Ron Obvious]

5. I kinda did name them...

I thought calling them shift-4 was a fairly thin disguise for Dollar. Anyway, I complained to Priceline because this restriction was absolutely not mentioned in the rules and restrictions.

[Kali]

8. d'oh

$

the tax thing might be a reason but it really doensn't make sense to me - you fly in and use the car locally or go on a road trip - what difference does it make - not really their concern other than boundaries and mileage...

I'll give my personal rec for Enterprise and the airport location in Tucson will let you take their cars to Mexico so...

[haele]

4. Local tax and fee benefits? Rentals associated with airports and other "tourist/travel" businesses

Aren't taxed the same as rentals for in town. The company might have this rule as a cost-saving measure. Infortunatly, if you try to rent online, most of the car rental websites will automatically default to the airport rentals - which are usually only available for people with tickets.
I will sometimes rent if I'm going to be going a couple hundred miles from home to save wear and tear on our family vehicle. If we're too close to needing maintenance, it's actually cheaper and more energy efficient to rent than bite the bullet and drive.
However, I regularly been able to access a "local rental" from the airport location of an auto rental company I will call "Millinium Falcon" when I needed to rent a vehicle to go a farther than the other local rental sites would allow me to go (normally, they will only allow you to drive the vehicle one state away and I needed to go two states due to a family emergancy).
Call around, there are a few car rental companies that will allow local rentals (other than insurance and business rentals, which are other animals alltogether).

Haele

[Ron Obvious]

7. I think you're on to something

I suspect you've hit on the real reason, re: taxes. They were just coy about it.

[grasswire]

9. you can always get a U-Haul van or pickup for $19.95/day plus mileage.

That might make sense in some instances. No fuss, either.

[alphafemale]

10. I've never had that problem.

I've rented cars a few times for long trips. Just be sure there is not a restriction on where you can go beforehand.

[Ikonoklast]

11. I've had that happen to me once, at their airport location. Shmertz, I think it was called....

After being turned down by Schmertz, I called Enterprise, as they were more than happy to rent a car to me, and take my business.

I have been a loyal user of their services ever since.