Author Topic: Citizenship at car rentals (Read 3089 times)

shaya · « **on:** December 09, 2012, 06:16:11 PM »

I will be travelling abroad and I see that when renting a car it is much cheaper if i claim to be a US citizen (which I am not) anyone had any bad experiences with doing this?

Bostener · « **Reply #1 on:** December 09, 2012, 06:31:08 PM »

Which countries have better rates for U. S. citizens?

Moishebatchy · « **Reply #2 on:** December 09, 2012, 06:33:48 PM »

Quote from: Bostener on December 09, 2012, 06:31:08 PM

Which countries have better rates for U. S. citizens?

Israel, for starters.

sky121 · « **Reply #3 on:** December 09, 2012, 06:38:01 PM »

Quote from: shaya on December 09, 2012, 06:16:11 PM

I will be travelling abroad and I see that when renting a car it is much cheaper if i claim to be a US citizen (which I am not) anyone had any bad experiences with doing this?

Where are you travelling to specific?

Bostener · « **Reply #4 on:** December 09, 2012, 06:43:32 PM »

Quote from: Moishebatchy on December 09, 2012, 06:33:48 PM

Israel, for starters.

That’s good to know. Any reason for this? Do they like us so much?

Moishebatchy · « **Reply #5 on:** December 09, 2012, 06:45:50 PM »

Quote from: Bostener on December 09, 2012, 06:43:32 PM

That’s good to know. Any reason for this? Do they like us so much?

At Avis, there is a separate set of rate codes that are supposedly only for tourists, technically US citizens. Your agent must book for you under one of those codes, or else you will get the regular Israeli rates.

sky121 · « **Reply #6 on:** December 09, 2012, 06:51:34 PM »

Quote from: Bostener on December 09, 2012, 06:43:32 PM

That’s good to know. Any reason for this? Do they like us so much?

Yes, Israelis have to pay taxes. Americans don't .

Moishebatchy · « **Reply #7 on:** December 09, 2012, 06:55:51 PM »

Quote from: sky121 on December 09, 2012, 06:51:34 PM

Yes, Israelis have to pay taxes. Americans don't .

-1

The Israeli codes (ZP, ZQ, ZY) price out in NIS.

The American codes (HC, HE, HZ) price out in USD.

And the USD amount does not equal the NIS amount for the same car; the Hx codes are cheaper than the Zx codes.

mmermss · « **Reply #8 on:** December 09, 2012, 07:22:38 PM »

Quote from: Moishebatchy on December 09, 2012, 06:55:51 PM

-1

The Israeli codes (ZP, ZQ, ZY) price out in NIS.

The American codes (HC, HE, HZ) price out in USD.

And the USD amount does not equal the NIS amount for the same car; the Hx codes are cheaper than the Zx codes.

How much of a price difference is there?

sky121 · « **Reply #9 on:** December 09, 2012, 07:36:59 PM »

Quote from: Moishebatchy on December 09, 2012, 06:55:51 PM

-1

The Israeli codes (ZP, ZQ, ZY) price out in NIS.

The American codes (HC, HE, HZ) price out in USD.

And the USD amount does not equal the NIS amount for the same car; the Hx codes are cheaper than the Zx codes.

But if I get an American rate and then add the taxes on later on it always ends up being the same as the Israeli rate.
How come?

Any advice for an American with Israeli citizenship to rent at the cheapest rate?

Moishebatchy · « **Reply #10 on:** December 09, 2012, 07:42:11 PM »

Quote from: sky121 on December 09, 2012, 07:36:59 PM

But if I get an American rate and then add the taxes on later on it always ends up being the same as the Israeli rate.

-1

What you are saying is not even possible, as the NIS-to-USD rate keeps going up and down, and with it, the price difference between the Hx codes and the Zx codes.

sky121 · « **Reply #11 on:** December 09, 2012, 07:44:06 PM »

Quote from: Moishebatchy on December 09, 2012, 07:42:11 PM

-1

What you are saying is not even possible, as the NIS-to-USD rate keeps going up and down, and with it, the price difference between the Hx codes and the Zx codes.

I'm not understanding. When I book as an American and get an "American rate" and show up at the rental they realize I have an Israeli passport and add on a percentage (the taxes).

So according to what you're saying is there anything I can do being an American Israeli to get a cheaper rate?

Every once in a while I think about giving up my Israeli citizenship because at the moment I'm only losing out by having it. All that money...

Moishebatchy · « **Reply #12 on:** December 09, 2012, 07:59:11 PM »

Quote from: sky121 on December 09, 2012, 07:44:06 PM

I'm not understanding. When I book as an American and get an "American rate" and show up at the rental they realize I have an Israeli passport and add on a percentage (the taxes).

There are two separate issues here.

First of all, there is the price structure: are you being charged in USD or NIS?

Second of all, there is the issue of paying tax: are you tax-exempt or not?

The two issues have nothing to do with one another. It's possible to pay tax on a USD rental, and it's possible to not pay tax on a NIS rental.

What I was referring to was the first issue. I was pointing out that interestingly, not only is there a difference in currency, but the prices aren't even equivalent! For example, months ago, a B class car on an American rate code was ~$25 per day (which is less than 100 NIS). Yet the same B class car, if rented on the Israeli rate code, would have cost you 123 NIS per day!

Quote from: sky121 on December 09, 2012, 07:44:06 PM

So according to what you're saying is there anything I can do being an American Israeli to get a cheaper rate?

Yes. Book using the USD rate codes, and pay the tax if necessary.

Quote from: sky121 on December 09, 2012, 07:44:06 PM

Every once in a while I think about giving up my Israeli citizenship because at the moment I'm only losing out by having it. All that money...

My sincere condolences... How did you get stuck with it to begin with?

sky121 · « **Reply #13 on:** December 09, 2012, 08:07:44 PM »

Quote from: Moishebatchy on December 09, 2012, 07:59:11 PM

There are two separate issues here.

First of all, there is the price structure: are you being charged in USD or NIS?

Second of all, there is the issue of paying tax: are you tax-exempt or not?

The two issues have nothing to do with one another. It's possible to pay tax on a USD rental, and it's possible to not pay tax on a NIS rental.

What I was referring to was the first issue. I was pointing out that interestingly, not only is there a difference in currency, but the prices aren't even equivalent! For example, months ago, a B class car on an American rate code was ~$25 per day (which is less than 100 NIS). Yet the same B class car, if rented on the Israeli rate code, would have cost you 123 NIS per day!

Yes. Book using the USD rate codes, and pay the tax if necessary.

Usually I am getting priced in USD dollars. I have rented before in NIS.

Am I ALWAYS better off pricing out in USD?

Thanks for the explanation btw.

Quote from: Moishebatchy on December 09, 2012, 07:59:11 PM

My sincere condolences... How did you get stuck with it to begin with?

I was born there. And the truth is I feel like it's 'safe' to have. Otherwise I would get rid of it. I just feel stinky paying taxes in a country I don't even live in at the moment. If I live there that would be a completely separate story.