Author Topic: Car rental CC change (Read 11923 times)

YG · « **on:** November 30, 2011, 12:04:04 AM »

in my experience renting cars, a hold is placed on a CC when the contract is opened, and then when it is closed, the charge may be processed either on the card on which the hold was placed, or on another card, at the discretion of the renter.

As far as I can see, one would be able to use an AmEx card initially on the contract - to get the premium primary insurance for a fee of $25, and then when closing the contract - assuming the bez"H the trip was uneventful and the insurance is not actually needed, one could actually charge the rental price to a different card, if for example one had a min. spend to reach on a non-AmEx card, and the hold that had been placed on the AmEx would just drop off.

Result:
No need to take out expensive insurance from the rental company - covered by amex, and if all goes smoothly actual rental cost charged to a non AmEx card, and if G-d forbid there are some hiccups and the insurance is needed, it is there as the car has been rented using a hold on an Amex - exactly the way it would be if one were not planning to change cards later.

It just seems too simple.
Am I missing something?

Saver2000 · « **Reply #1 on:** November 30, 2011, 12:07:50 AM »

Quote from: YG on November 30, 2011, 12:04:04 AM

in my experience renting cars, a hold is placed on a CC when the contract is opened, and then when it is closed, the charge may be processed either on the card on which the hold was placed, or on another card.

As far as I can see, one would be able to use an AmEx card initially on the contract - to get the premium orimary insurance for a fee of $25, and then when closing the contract - assuming the bez"H the trip was uneventful and the insurance is not actually needed, one could actually charge the rental price to a different card, if for example one had a min. spend to reach on a non-AmEx card, and the hold that had been placed on the AmEx would just drop off.

It just seems too simple.
Am I missing something?

Nope, you aren't missing anything.
IIRC a friend of mine has done this. I will ask him to confirm.

YG · « **Reply #2 on:** November 30, 2011, 12:08:55 AM »

Quote from: Saver2000 on November 30, 2011, 12:07:50 AM

Nope, you aren't missing anything.
IIRC a friend of mine has done this. I will ask him to confirm.

Thank you much!

elig770 · « **Reply #3 on:** November 30, 2011, 12:22:58 AM »

I heard of it a while back from a friend and I just tried it today when I returned my rental to Hertz...

YG · « **Reply #4 on:** November 30, 2011, 12:24:45 AM »

and...........?
all smooth?

elig770 · « **Reply #5 on:** November 30, 2011, 12:30:22 AM »

All smooth just they made me go inside instead of the quick return and I'm going to have to wait and see about my Amex...

YG · « **Reply #6 on:** November 30, 2011, 12:32:08 AM »

would you be so kind as to let us know in this thread when its all settled?
it will be much appreciated!

joey89 · « **Reply #7 on:** November 30, 2011, 01:47:39 AM »

can report that i tried it b4 all smooth. and even when i got some scratches i left it on the amex and called a couple weeks later to change to a non amex card. if ur a hertz gold member u can change the charge to a different card up to 60 days after return, and when amex refunds the rental they refund the $20/$25 fee.

joey89 · « **Reply #8 on:** November 30, 2011, 01:49:21 AM »

Quote from: elig770 on November 30, 2011, 12:30:22 AM

All smooth just they made me go inside instead of the quick return and I'm going to have to wait and see about my Amex...

IME you can do it with the guy outside as long as u let him know b4 he prints the receipt for the rental

steeeveknowsbest · « **Reply #9 on:** November 30, 2011, 03:28:02 AM »

i have personally successfully pulled off this nifty trick about 20 times. I've never had any problems

Columbiadorm · « **Reply #10 on:** November 30, 2011, 08:24:47 AM »

Quote from: steeeveknowsbest on November 30, 2011, 03:28:02 AM

i have personally successfully pulled off this nifty trick about 20 times. I've never had any problems

I've done it in the past (Avis). No issues/problem.

I returned a car to Enterprise about an hour ago, they are always asking me when I return the car if I wish to keep the charges on the original card or use a different CC.

gevaldig · « **Reply #11 on:** December 01, 2011, 12:01:45 AM »

the 25 dollars is a one time charge? or every single day

gozalim · « **Reply #12 on:** December 01, 2011, 12:40:23 AM »

Quote from: gevaldig on December 01, 2011, 12:01:45 AM

the 25 dollars is a one time charge? or every single day

1 time

gevaldig · « **Reply #13 on:** December 01, 2011, 01:04:38 AM »

thanks

YG · « **Reply #14 on:** December 01, 2011, 02:03:53 AM »

Quote from: gevaldig on December 01, 2011, 12:01:45 AM

the 25 dollars is a one time charge? or every single day

If you call AmEx and register your card once off for premium coverage, then every time you rent a car on that card, they will automatically charge a $25 fee for primary coverage for the duration of the rental.

As far as I know, personal CCs dont usually cover rentals that are longer than 15 days, - not even the first 15 days of them, however AmEx premium coverage will cover rentals that are longer than most states allow - you cant usually rent for more than 30 days straight or it becomes a lease, but AmEx premium coverage covers rentals for that long.

gevaldig · « **Reply #15 on:** December 01, 2011, 09:14:14 AM »

which amex cards gives you premium coverage? and do i need davka to call them ?

AJK · « **Reply #16 on:** December 01, 2011, 10:41:20 AM »

Quote from: gevaldig on December 01, 2011, 09:14:14 AM

which amex cards gives you premium coverage? and do i need davka to call them ?

Google should be your friend.

JEWDA · « **Reply #17 on:** December 01, 2011, 10:53:42 AM »

I did that a couple times, actually the guy at enterprise was the one who suggested me to do that.

jblack · « **Reply #18 on:** December 01, 2011, 01:26:07 PM »

1 if i don't have another insurance is there any benefit in getting this
2 is it confirmed that the 25$ are not charged if at the end the charge is placed on a different card?
3 do they have anything similar for a liability coverage program?

gozalim · « **Reply #19 on:** December 01, 2011, 01:35:07 PM »

Quote from: jblack on December 01, 2011, 01:26:07 PM

1 if i don't have another insurance is there any benefit in getting this
2 is it confirmed that the 25$ are not charged if at the end the charge is placed on a different card?
3 do they have anything similar for a liability coverage program?

1-small benefit, not really much (if the rental company decide to be nasty about it, you're safer like this)
2-confirmed (if you are charged you can call back and get it refunded)
3-no