Beware of "Dollar Picks the car" car rental

[DeniseM]

On our recent trip to Kauai, I booked a "great deal" with Dollar that was labeled: "Dollar picks the vehicle compact or larger."

But when I checked in, they gave us a big, 3-row passenger van, that I simply was not comfortable driving. To switch to a different car, I had to pay an additional $15 per day.

Since passenger vans are usually expensive to rent, it never occurred to me, that I'd get this behemoth. Live and learn!

 

[rickandcindy23]

What's funny to me is that when you want a very large vehicle and have your fingers crossed for an upgrade like that, you never get it.

We did this once in Orlando and hoped for an intermediate car, and we got a tiny car I would consider economy and not compact. Ours was the same deal through the sister company to yours--Thrifty.

 

[dioxide45]

Sounds like a way for them to use up leftover inventory. I would suspect these are the least reserved vehicles at the rental agencies. Wouldn't count on getting a convertible in Hawaii with this kind of rate.

 

[DeniseM]

I didn't want a convertible - I was hoping for a compact car. The guy at the counter said that the car you get is whatever they have excess inventory for, and that week, it was the vans.

 

[DaveNV]

I'd have started trolling beaches, picking up hitchhikers for money. Haul them and their beach gear back to their resort for a fee.

Dave