Pros: Clean, dependable cars, decent international coverage Cons: Great deals are rare, few choices beyond basic car types
I love a great deal, and that means I jump around a lot when renting cars. I don't stick to one company. I go with whoever gives me the best deal for a particular time and place. Occasionally, that company is National, though to be honest, I usually find ...
Pros: Emerald Aisle offers chance for no charge upgrades Cons: Fleet is a little boring, locations don't always have Emerald Aisle
You will find National Car Rental at most US and Canadian airports, as well as in many major downtown areas and international locations as well. For the most part, they are a decent car rental company. As a frequent renter, I have had minimal ...
Pros: reasonable rates, lots of depots nationwide Cons: limited kilometers
Car rentals are quite expensive in New Zealand and finding a good deal with a reputable firm can be quite a challenge. My choices were fairly limited when trying to find a short term rental that wasn't going to involve taking out a second mortgage to ...
Pros: The least expensive with a coupon; no drop-off charge Cons: None in my experiences
There are two reviews in one on National Car Rental
On the island of Oahu in Hawai’i where we recently spent a 3-week vacation (June 2002) on 4 islands we rented a car through National. This was our first time using National and...
Pros: The service; Thousands of locations Cons: Limited car selection; Prices can usually be beaten by one of the budget competitors
Searching for a car rental recently brought me back to a company I hadn’t used in a while. My usual car renting partners are Enterprise and Dollar, and I won’t normally switch to another company unless a good deal catches my eye or some other compelling ...
While vacationing in California the last week of June, my husband and I rented a car from National in San Diego. To keep a long story short, I won the trip so all the arrangements were pretty much made for us, keep this in mind.
Pros: Nice vehicle, good rates Cons: Poor service, only given 1/2 tank of gas at pick up
Our family was planning our semi-annual vacation to the East Coast and as usual we rent a minivan to make the trip easier for us and to save our small cars from the 1500 mile trip. About six weeks prior to our planned departure, I began to make the...
Pros: The staff was SOOO helpful!! Clean cars Cons: like any other rental car it is expensive!
I am going to write an experience I had with NATIONAL about 2 and 1/2 years ago. I had reservations to use one of their cars in Hawaii in February, but unfortunately we didn’t get to go. The service was the same 2 1/2 years later.
Pros: Choose your car Cons: You expect "fully inclusive" to mean "fully inclusive"?
As I said in previous reviews, virtually all the car rental I've done has been from London, arriving at London Heathrow or Gatwick, on average about twice a month. There, National and Alamo appear to be the same, sharing an office and a car depot.
...
Pros: You can drive to any state you wish, unlimited mileage. Cons: Airport taxes, city taxes, state taxes, etc.
On our most recent vacation (we've gotta terrorize those terrorists and keep our economy strong) it was rather a hybrid vacation. I wanted to go to Washington state and visit my son. My husband, on the other hand, wanted to do some sightseeing and go...
Pros: Your choice of clean cars, a great rate, convenient locations, specials too! Cons: "fabreeze" odor can be overwhelming, no other downsides worth noting.
In keeping with the patriotic theme that is running amuck (with good reason) we decided to rent from National Car Rental when we were in NYC last week. In all honesty, we tried Avis, Hertz and Budget too, but none had a “mommy van” that was...
Pros: Convenient, easy, not cheap, but no surprises. Cons: Can't think of any.
When I fly into a strange city (and San Francisco can be really strange) in the double digit night time hours, it's usually after getting up early, working a full day, flying to Honolulu, dealing with the Honolulu airport, trying to get comfy while ...
Pros: Allows one-way rentals Cons: None that I could see.
I rented from National on my last trip to California. I always wanted to drive from LA to San Francisco and this time I planned to do so. The major problem was that I did not want to go back to LA from SF. That would have been another 6-hour drive and ...
Pros: unlimited miles, friendly staff Cons: None that come to mind
I have been using National for a long time now and I always keep coming back. They offer some many attractive deals and they are almost everywhere. They also have very new cars and low prices. So once again I used them while in Orlando, Florida a few...
Pros: Short wait in line, no pressure to purchase insurance. Cons: We don't get to use them much because they don't do much business with Priceline.
As frequent travelers who visit Orlando once or twice a month, my husband and I have become intimately familiar with most of the major car rental agencies there. To save money, we roll the dice with Priceline. Normally we get Alamo, but Avis and Hertz ...
Pros: Choose your own car on Emerald Aisle, acceptable Web site Cons: Too expensive, boring GM cars, s-l-o-w shuttles
I've rented a LOT of cars. I generally travel 2x/month for about the last ten years or so. I started renting w/National in 1997 when I asked at the counter about Emerald Aisle and they gave me a "free" membership because I said I hate Hertz. Nobody ...
Pros: Quality Customer Service, Good rates, Emerald Club is worthwhile! Cons: Never had a bad experience with this company.
Ok, here’s my National Car Rental tale… After September 11th my wife got word that she was expected at conventions in Atlanta and Chicago during consecutive weekends in early January,2002. No problem, except that she is still breast-feeding our daughter,...
Pros: Unlike all other rental places, the car I reserved was there (possibly because it sucked...) Cons: They gouged me for gas I didn't need.
I filled my rented car with gas just outside the airport in McAllen, Texas, before returning my car to National Car Rental. When I returned my car keys I had the receipt for my gas, just like the sign on the wall said I had to do to avoid hefty fines...
It was a short trip that by all rights didn't need to have happened. But it was not mine to wonder why, just mine to fly and..... Well anyway, I get to Denver on yet another packed Delta flight and there is the...
Pros: Good rates and cars. Cons: Fuel charge is outrageous and no customer service at least at JFK.
Okay well maybe I am being a bit harsh, but after being spoiled by Thrifty Car Rental in Georgia, I was really disappointed in National in NY. To be fair I need to point out what was good first, then I will follow with all the things that I wasn't...
Pros: On a positive note, there are other rental car companies to choose. Cons: National Roadside Assistance can be easily confused as a means of help if stranded.
If you read the fine print carefully, the National Rental Agreement Terms and Conditions specify that driving “off paved roads” negate the terms of the contract. I would bet that this rental agreement condition is common among the major ...
Pros: Emerald Aisle, consistent cars, good service. Ease of renting. Cons: Occasional high-mileage smelly car, small airport inaccessibility.
National Car Rental is my car rental company of choice. In my 10-year career as a traveling consultant, I have had occasion to rent through Hertz, Avis, Enterprise, Budget, and Alamo as well as National.
Pros: Unique pick your car option, good service Cons: Comparable to Hertz in price, Hertz' #1 Gold program is better than National's Emerald
National is one of the preferred providers for my former company, so I have rented from National using the Emerald service. Hertz is the other provider. When I look at National I compare them to Hertz and specifically the two preferred programs,...
My husband and I had the experience to rent a car a year and a half ago when we had a family emergency, and had to travel to Florida. Our car was not running well enough to make the trip, so we called National. It was a company with good prices, and...
Pros: Constantly improving, less expensive than others Cons: Not all locations are "up-to-speed"
I have rented from National twice in the past three weeks. Once in Reno then later in Albuquerque both rental were very satisfactory. Emerald has made some changes that are actually beneficial for the customer. One is available at many airports, you...
Pros: Nice, clean cars, Emerald Aisle, Cons: Can be pricey
I travel often for both personal and business purposes and National Car Rental is my car rental company of choice. National Car Rental boasts competitive pricing, the National Emerald Aisle, clean stylish automobiles for any rental situation.
My fiance rented a car from National at the Orlando Airport. We booked our vacation through Walt Disney travel and this is who they use. Had we known then what we know now, we would NOT have used National.
My fiance had never used them before, and...
Pros: None. Cons: Intentional attempt to rip-off a customer
I make 50+ trips a year utilizing airlines and rental autos. I had rented from National about 20-30 times a year with no major complaints until late summer, 1999 when I found out about an activity that National apparently regularly engages in that is...
Pros: Great Service, Great Price Cons: None that I have found
I have used National Car Rental because I need a car when I fly to Philadephia, Pennsylvania or Ft. Myers, Florida on vacations or on business. I have found that they offer unlimited miles and this really helps when your destination is a lot further than...
Heh, this is a rather funny story, but it really is a bad mark on National's record.
While on vacation in Florida, I had to rent a car to get around. Now, this is one of the few times that I've rented a car, so of course I didn't know much...
Pros: Special Online Discounts Cons: Must Reserve Online
Here's a little known hint that may come in handy. You can find rates for the cars you like at companies like National, but you'll get a substantial break by using this handy little site -- BreezeNet.
Pros: Pick your Own Car, Great Customer Service, Cons: Spotty Service by Franchise Locations
I've been a National Emerald Club Member since 1995. National offered membership to me for free because I was a Northwest WorldPerks member. As long as I rented once a year, they renewed my membership automatically. Starting in 1999, their membership...
Pros: Great Cars, Rates, A+++Service Cons: That old bus from the terminal to the lot.
I started traveling more and more for work about five years ago and my needs for rental cars increased. Most of the time I guess we shop for rental cars based on price and the kind of car we are likely to get. On leisure travel, price becomes even more...
Pros: Reasonable prices, Great Service, Car selection at customer's discretion Cons: None in our experience
My husband and I just returned from a trip to New England and Nova Scotia. We flew into Hartford and rented a car from National Car Rental. This is the second time we have used this company for our rental needs. We reserved the car that we needed online,...
Pros: Price. Cons: Poor customer service experiences for me. Poor customer communication.
I was disappointed with the service provided by National. I will likely avoid this company in the future. I think I am willing to pay a little more to get better customer service. If I had to pay a lot more for better customer service, ...
We travel to Florida every year. Every year I look into renting a car. I always take the car where I'm given the best quote. I have a membership to Entertain Rewards so I always have some kind of coupon. This time, National was the cheapest quote. I ...
Pros: Quick, friendly, caring. Cons: No Rental Car is cheap!
My husband was temporarily employed by National Car Rental in Cincinnati, OH. I am not going to sit here and tell you that all National Car Rentals are excellent, because everyone has their own opinions and experiences.
Pros: Great rewards program Easy to rent (if you are in the Emerald Club) Cons: Could use better cars in the Emerald Aisle (PT Cruiser is soooo boring to drive)
I have rented from National quite a few times in Hawaii (for fun) and Boston (for business) and have had a great experience from them each and every time. I have determined that the secret to having a great experience is two-fold:1) ...
Pros: - Excellent customer service
- Good cars
- Fair price Cons: NONE!
A few weeks ago, I was preparing for a trip to San Diego and had mad all the plans, except a rental. As I usually do, I checked several different sites, looking for a good deal. I needed a larger car, as I knew there would be times when I'd be having 3 ...
Pros: Fast check-in, check-out; Good rental deal; car clean inside and out. Cons: I have absolutely no complaints about National at the Tampa Airport.
I checked the websites of all the car rental companies serving the Tampa, Florida airport. National offered a great special that suited my situation exactly: rent at a Florida airport, more than five days, over a Saturday. The rental fee was ...
I rented a car from National to drive from Montreal to Vancouver last April. On the day I was to arrive in Vancouver I called the office where I had arranged to drop the car and asked if it would be OK to drop it at a different location, just outside of...
Used National in Jacksonville, FL airport. Reserved the car online via Orbitz.com and I chose them because they were only minimally more than the cheapest option available. And the ratings they got on epinions seemed substantially good. It was ...
Pros: Competitive pricing Cons: Poor customer service
I rented a vehicle through National in Santa Barbara. The entire process of booking the vehicle and getting a good price was relatively easy through their website. I had a full size Ford Taurus for about $39 a day which is very reasonable. I arrived ...
I had a terrible experience with National and could never get the situation resolved. The story is long and complicated but if I help one consumer, I will be happy. In July, 2005, I rented a car for pick up in France through emietwagen based in ...
Pros: New Cars, Friendly and Fast Service Cons: none
I only needed to rent a vehicle only a few times. I rented from budget once after a flight to Spokane, Washington, to go down to Idaho. I had no problems with budget. I used National 3 times once to go to Virgina, and a nother time to go to...
Pros: You get to choose your car, usually clean late model vehicles, fast checkin/checkout Cons: Emerald Lot is a joke, dark location at night. Not much selection at night.
I just had a day rental from the Philadelphia Airport. I am a member of the Emerald Club (its free so I suggest you sign up) I arrived at the arrival terminal and within 2 minutes a bus arrived to take me to the National/Alamo location. The driver was ...
Pros: Best deal of the day at PHL Cons: Indifferent staff, first car I chose was dirty and stank.
Overall decent experience. Shuttle ride from airport terminal to rental car area was brief and uneventful. The driver did not offer to assist me with my bags. Counter staff was merely OK, lot staff was truly unfriendly when I left, much nicer (different) ...
Pros: nice car (Toyota corolla) only 12k miles Cons: Very deceptive pricing. Double the original "only $41 a day"
I had my wife book a car to go from Seattle to LA last week. She called several companies and said National had the best price at $41 a day. I was shocked when 4 days turned out to be #341.56 or $85 a day. We did purchase supplemental liability ...
Pros: Choose your specific car; nicely equipped fleet; Emerald Club MIGHT be free for you Cons: Somewhat confusing for first time Emerald Isle renters
A few months ago, I rented a car from Avis. Nothing special, just your typical intermediate size car. The agent asked me to choose a color and after showing a credit card, license, and going through the whole "initial-here-to-decline-insurance" thing, I...
We rented from National for our rent trip to Orlando, Florida. We rented from the Car Care Center 3 by Magic Kingdom. Our pick-up service was fine, however the lady we dealt with at the counter was horrible. She was very rude, gave us a free upgrade...
Pros: Good service + benefits Cons: Offers only GM cars
I've rented from quite a few rental car companies and they all seem to be good. However, I was particularly pleased with National's rental service and highly recommend it if you haven't tried them out yet.
Pros: Good Service, Choose your own car color Cons: costs a bit more in some cases
National takes pretty good care of my rental car needs. More often than not, of the national chains, their prices are best for my needs. They also provide me with Continental Onepass miles which I enjoy earning. I believe they provide miles for most...
Pros: good location on airport property Cons: always runs out of cars, no choice on Emerald Aisle, high mileage cars
I am a very regular business traveler. Keep going out to the Emerald Aisle San Jose mid week and find absolutely no cars or the option to rent a van or economy car. I prefer mid or full size and can't drive a van at all. I am very disappointed with this...
Pros: Good prices, great locations Cons: Uneven service
National is often the least expensive car rental company with airport parking. This is a bigger consideration that it might seem at first. Going off site to pick up a car doesn't sound all that bad until you get off an overbooked, delayed, turbulence...
Pros: Offers more discounted rates than other car rental services Cons: Does not always have the available size vehicle requested.
I have found that with National Car Rental that they offer more discounts more often than other car rental services. I have always had courteous customer service reps whenever I have called. They have advised me about discount rates when I was not even...
I was on the Wheel Of Fortune last October and I won really big. One of my prizes was an all expense paid trip to Oregon, this included $250 for a car rental.
Four days before we left to Oregon, I decided to make my car rental reservations...what a...
Pros: Clean cars, extremely helpful service Cons: nope
Recently I went out of town and had to rent a car, and it so happens that national is the place I went. when I got there I was promptly greeted, and shown around the lot at the cars, then when asked what type of vehicle I was to rent I told the man...
When I was in Chicago on an interview I had to rent a car. I'd never rented from National, but the taxi got stuck in traffic (easy to do at O'Hare) and National was the easiest to get to and they still had cars available. The people at National were...
Pros: National Emerald Aisle. Clean cars. Professional Service. Cons: Prices not always the lowest of the major chains.
My favorite rental car company is National. I have rented from many chains...Avis, Budget, Dollar and so on, but of all of them, I've had the most positive experiences with National.
Their cars are usually newer, and clean (although I had a...
Pros: Quality, Price, Service Cons: None that I can think of!
I have done business with National Car Rental in many cities throughout the US and Canada and have never had one minute's worth of difficulty. The prices are good, the service is excellent, the vehicles are well maintained. I have strayed a handful of...
Pros: Quick,cheap&efficient Cons: Watch over billing
I recently used priceline.com to rent a car for a short vacation to flordia. When you use priceline it chooses the car rental agency,but you chose location and times. This worked out smoothly I took about twenty minutes and I had a car at a very good...
We were looking for Car Rentals and I decided to use priceline as they haven gotten me good prices in the past.....
Well....
We flew into Orlando Florida and we were delayed as the weather cancelled alotof flights and one was the one we were...
I have rented from National probably about 4 or 5 times and have been very happy everytime. I was able to get a free Emerald Aisle membership through my Continental OnePass account, and its been really great. Having the membership entitles you to...
Pros: Great customer service Cons: a little spendy (but worth it)
We had used National with our Disneyland package a year ago. With our vacation package, we got a voucher for 2 free upgrades on our rental car. We chose the Buick Regal. Fantastic ride!
The customer service at the John Wayne Airport branch was...
My rental reservation with National in Puerto Vallarta was supposed to a mid-size automatic a/c car (Pontiac Grad Am or similar)with National . The clerk at the counter in PVR immediately commented on the good rental rate that I had received online. ...
Pros: None Cons: Couldn't care less about the customer.
This is hard to write. The degree of callousness towards disabled people and poor service by the staff and Customer Service representatives from Canadian Air Miles and National Car Rentals left me wanting to write up every gruesome detail. I had done ...
Pros: cleanliness of vehicle, very reasonable price Cons: pushiness of insurance sales pitch
We had an excellent experience with National. We reserved a compact car a couple weeks prior to arriving in Maui. When we got off at the cruise ship terminal, the shuttle to the car rental agency was waiting just a few steps away. The driver took us ...
Pros: The car was clean and ran well. Cons: Horrible service, GPS system is a complete joke.
I recently rented a car from National because I had a last minute trip and couldn't get the type of vehicle I needed on the spur of the moment from Hertz (my preferred rental company). When I landed at LAX, I took a bus to the National rental car ...
Pros: Good at offering insurance no questions asked Cons: Honoring the policy
I have been renting from National for over ten years. Not all locations around the world are very good when it comes to minor problems with the cars. My first negative impression was in Kuwait. I had taken the extra measure of paying for additional insura ...
Pros: Well kept, new equipment. Airport location nice. Cons: Overcharging, bordering on dishonesty.
Rented a Vauxhall station wagon from National, in Manchester U.K. September 2007. Two week rental was booked on the internet at about $700 for the two weeks we needed the car. Got to the counter at Manchester, they seemed a little upset that while we ...
Pros: Has been good in the past Cons: Fraudulent billing & poor bus service to airport
At LAX - LA airport, I (with my wife) returned our rental car at 445AM, parked the car very close to the National office, got my car OK'd by the National folks (who came out to greet me), was given the receipt by the lady and left for the airport.
...
Pros: Great 1-800 Road Side Assistance people, the only good thing! Cons: 6hr wait,Customer service only open on weekdays (duh!), counter people rude, dishonest, completely indifferent
I was rear ended in California (LA) while giving a tour to my brother. It was his rental from National. Anyways, to get right to the point, we were hit at 4:15, Saturday in the afternoon while stopped at a red light. First thing that was done by my ...
Pros: none Cons: appalling customer service despite ruined holiday
Be aware of Argus Car hire and their supplier National Car Hire. Despite them promising that they 'search the net for the cheapest prices so you don't have to' we had an appalling experience with them and National Car Hire at Carcassonne Airport at ...
Pros: Emerald Club experience, clean cars Cons: can be incredibly expensive for short rentals
I usually use Hertz, but the last couple of trips I started to use National. I was pleasantly surprised. Both times the cars I rented were spotlessly clean inside and out, and the tires were inflated to the proper pressure (two pet peeves of mine!)
...
Pros: New cars, clean Cons: Might not have a car when you arrive, higher price than some alternatives
I couple of months ago I arrived in Houston intercontinental airport and got on the bus going to the National Car Rental lot. I arrived at the lot in the Emerald Isle, which is where you can pick up a car without standing in line at the counter. There...
I live in Virginia and booked a National rental online in Boston in order to help my cousin drive to Virginia where she is relocating. There was wording online about how they will only take a debit card if there is a return airline ticket. But underneath ...
Pros: Great rates if you do the research! Cons: Don't have any
I've used National at 2 major cities, one in NYC and the other one at LAX. I have to say, it's always good to compare prices along side with other major rental companies first before you rent. ALWAYS COMPARE. One website that I can tell you ...
Pros: Select any car you want Cons: Never enough busses - at any location
In my experience, at O'Hare, La Guardia, JFK, LAX, and others, there are never enough busses running between the lot and the terminals. I used to think that this problem was limited to O'Hare, but as I traveled to other airports I realized the National...
After you check rental rates, try Priceline.com for a better deal. You bid on the price you want to pay for your rental per day.
I recently placed a bid for $15 a night for a minivan, which was rejected, then tried $20. They accepted and I...
Recently, my family and I had to run down to Los Angeles, so naturally the search began. First the Plane tickets and then the dreaded Rental Car game. You know what I'm talking about, call all of the companies that have some sort of "special...
Just recently my girlfriend and I had taken a vacation to Florida. When we arrived at the rental place,the clerk at the desk did not seem to enthoosed to serve us. She was rude,and did not know exactly what she had available. We had told her we wanted...
Pros: Some locations let you pick any car on the lot Cons: Prices are like other rental agencies
I'm a consultant, which means I spend a fair amount of time on planes and airport terminals. Recently, I discovered a nice perk about renting from National, at least for some of their locations. For the same price, you get to pick any car available in...
Pros: Very clean well maintained cars. Cons: Extra insurance is very high, gas prices are also high.
If your looking to rent a car, either a luxury sedan or compact car, National has a car to suit your needs. They have booths in all the major airports as well as offices in most cities across the United States. The quality is very high and as for the...
Pros: efficient, friendly service Cons: long lines
I'm not big on travel. And I'm particularly not crazy about flying. But when I recently found myself stranded without a car for a week, I wound up inside a National Rental car hub in Fort Lauderdale amidst dozens of world-travellers and rental car...
Pros: Quick, professional, price Cons: airport location to pick up/drop off
I picked National car rental for my past summer travel needs, a SUV for the mountains, a sedan for the amusement park and wedding in another state... in all occasions it was a pleasure to use National.
I found it easy and quick to price and...
Pros: Regularly has upgrade coupons, good prices Cons: poorly cleaned car, too long of a wait to get car
Although I like National, I would have reservations about recommending this branch unless they do something to improve service and the cars. We waiting for almost an hour while one clerk checked in drivers. It was 4:30 in the afternoon and there should...
Following a rental from National Car Rental at the Rochester, Minnesota airport, in which my husband drove only to the hotel and back- a whopping 8 miles, he returned the car without incident. Soon after, letters began arriving demanding payment for...
Pros: Clean car Cons: Don't damage it or you will pay!
I rented a car in Barcelona last September. I was required to deposit the amount of 250 E in case of damages. Prior to getting the car, I reviewed the defects and made sure that they were marked in the rental agreement.
Unfortunately, I had a small...
Pros: Great service. No unexpected charges. No credit card holds after the car returned. Cons: None.
I flew into Colorado this last weekend to surprise my in-laws for their 50th anniversary. I only needed a one day rental. I went with National due to price and after reading poor reviews for the cheaper companies. My rental experience went great! When I ...
Pros: car was nice, except brake light flashed the entire trip Cons: do not rely upon what agents tell you, only rely on paper!
I have used National many times in the past to travel long distances across the U.S., each time taking advantage of the unlimited mileage feature and have had great experiences. Enter Charleston, WV. I am not without some blame here as I made a hurried ...
Pros: Fast, easy, and less expensive Cons: You don't own it!
My wife and I rented a car for our latest vacation to Orlando. I did some checking around before we booked it and found that National was a good choice. With my Magic Kingdom Club (MKC) membership provided through my employer, the discounted rate came...
Pros: The French girls at the counter were pretty. Not much else positive to say. Cons: National/Citer was arrogant/inefficient, and possibly fraudulent by using the old "Windshield Damage Scam".
Despite a recent decision by The State of Arizona vs. PCR Venture of Phoenix, LLC dba Payless Car Rental (Case No. 2009-016742), in a similar case, the Paris airport affiliate of National (National/Citer), is trying to scam me almost $1000 for ...
National car rental does have good rates, apparently at the expense of good service. In retrospect, it was almost funny. After we finally found the agency in Paris, we approached the counter to find a young lady on the phone. After a blank stare from her ...
will never rent from national car again by vasn ,Jan 02 '07
Pros: In the past I have found National easy to deal with. Cons: I relied on a promise made by 2 different National agents that was breached.
National car rental gave me misinformation over the phone twice about the cost of a Florida rental. I was told my 23 year old daughter could be on my contract as an additional driver as long as she lived at the same address as her parents. I specifically told two agents her age and was told as long as she wasn't the primary driver there would be no charge. When picking up the car the agent said it would be an additional $30 per day. When we questioned this the agents were rude and of no help. Later we called National headquarters and spoke to 3 people. The first person said there should have been no fee, the second person said there was a $30 a day fee, the third man said not to rely on lower paid help for information and the fee was $25 a day. I've always felt National to be one of the better rental companies, but they have seen the last of my business. I had started out with a less expensive rental, but switched to National so my daughter could be an additional driver for no extra fee. Never again!
Incompetent, Rude and Racist by rimasawaya ,May 18 '06
Pros: None whatsoever Cons: Everything above
I arranged for a car rental to drive from Syracuse airport to Montreal airport 3 weeks in advance. The customer service agent assured me there would be Canadian fleet in the Syracuse location, and that I would be able to do a 1-way drop off in Montreal. Not only was Syracuse an hour away from where I lived and had to go out of my way to get there, but when I arrived there were no Canadian fleet reserved for me. Not only was the service agent rude and racist and tried to put the blame on the "Indian person" whom I had made the reservation with, but the manager was equally incompetent and useless, not offering me any alternative solutions or trying to check with other neighboring car rental companies.
I have never come across a more poorly trained staff of employees. I ended up going to Hertz myself and arranging for a car, needless to say they were professional and I got an even better price than National - with a GPS system.
Pros: cheap Cons: terrible customer service. miscommunication of company policies. hidden extra charges
I don't usually have loyalty (or disloyalty) when it comes to rental car companies. I simply look for the best rates. But my recent experience with National has changed my mind. My boyfriend reserved a van for a Labor Day weekend getaway with friends. He lives in Brooklyn, NY but works in Connecticut, so that's where he arranged for pickup. He called ahead to make sure they accepted debit cards since that's all he has. The customer service rep assured him it was fine. Once he got there, the woman at the rental office said they only accept debit cards if you have a flight itinerary. I can't even begin to understand the logic behind that. Despite the fact that the misunderstanding was initiated by their customer service rep, they refused to waive this restriction. My boyfriend was stuck in Connecticut and our weekend plans were in jeopardy. In the end, he found a Hertz down the street. Their rental office was happy to oblige AND they even price-matched the discount that National had offered. Sometimes the cheaper rate isn't worth the cheaper service.
Former National customer by normoremrld ,Mar 29 '07
Pros: Choose your own car - at least the color. Cons: 1 shuttle for every 3 Hertz or Avis
I've been an Emerald Isle member of National for over 12 years. Bypassing the rental counter is a real time saver, and getting to pick your own car is nice.
Except when the choice is one of three identical GMs.
Except when the wait for the airport shuttle and the loooong trip off-airport consumes 30+ minutes.
Except when the shuttle driver barks "Airline!" at each customer, then stops the shuttle in the middle of the road at the far end of a long terminal with 3 shuttle stops and announces "everybody off!"
National's service has been deteriorating for several years and my last rental was intolerable. I'm going to try other companies.
Best Price, Best Car, Best Service by erat76 ,Jan 05 '07
Pros: Pick-up and return was easy. New cars. Choose your own car. No hidden charges. Affordable. Cons: None!!!
This was my first time using National and it will not be my last. I paid much less than other companies were charging. I returned the car at a different city, no one-way charge. I even used a $25 dollar coupon for my one-way rental. I was very impressed with the selection of cars. All of them were new. I chose a 2007 Chevy Monte Carlo with 13 miles on it. The car was non-smoking, which was great. The rental process was very quick, about 10 minutes with a reservation. A little longer without a reservation. Returning the car was even easier. Drove into the parking garage, the attendant scanned the car back in and I was finished. I hope National is the least expensive the next time I need to rent a car. I'm not very loyal to one company. I usually choose the company that is the least expensive, but if the price is close I'll probably use National again. Do yourself a favor and give them a look. You won't be sorry you did.
Avoid National Car Rental in SF Bay Area by a-nguyen ,Oct 07 '04
Pros: Great prices; multiple in town sf locations. Cons: In different to reservations; indifferent service.
I Travel a lot and have rented many cars. Actually I have rented from National quite often.
The offices in the Bay Area need much to be desired. I rented a car from the location in San Francisco on Union
Square and I was shown too a dirty car which had not even been fueled. When I told the clerk about the car being under full it was disputed. Much work needs to be done at that station.
A second time I rented from the location at Mission and Van Ness. This time they did not have my car. I was told that since I had made a web booking the company did not take my reservation that seriously. That because I was paying a lower price my reservation had a lower priority.
Well, I certainly won't be using those locations again and I would not recommend them. Which is a shame since service at National has been exemplary.
CHARGED FOR SOMEBODY ELSE'S ACCIDENT by uglycatface ,Jul 20 '04
Pros: Airline discount offered Cons: Indifference of rental sales associate in PR;
Poor exterior condition of the car
Back in May, I rented a car in Puerto Rico to get to my parents home and back to the airport, so the use was minimal. I noticed lots of scratches in the car, it was not the usual in very good condition car that one usually gets in a rental car. But since I had not made a reservation and it was hard to get a car that week-end I settled for it. On the check out, I wondered how they kept track of all of the scratches, but assumed that they knew what they were doing. BIG mistake. When I went back to return the car they asked me if I had had an accident. I thought "here we go, I should have listened to that little voice". Today I got my MC bill and, of course, National Rental Car is charging me $340.00 for the scratches on the car. I called them in Puerto Rico, and the sales rep simply does not care. My advise, DO NOT rent a car in less than perfect condition.
National-Orlando International by skipgaynor ,Nov 26 '04
Pros: Excellent service and employees. Cons: Need better directionals to the parking lot.
The first thing I found wrong with National was the signage to the parking area for National cars was poorly placed. I had to ask at the counter. I was helped immediately because no one was in line.
That was the last thing I found wrong with National. Check- out was smooth and hassle free. The car performed flawlessly. Check-in was smooth with minimal wait time. All employees were courteous and helpful.
Frequent Flyer Mileage Program by jeeikhs ,Nov 21 '06
Pros: Emerald Club Cons: Frequent flyer program is poorly managed.
I rented from National Car Rental for years and despite multiple calls and half a dozen e mails to their customer service, the company has still not credited my frequent flyer account. They send me in circles saying it is the airlines fault. The only issue is National Car Rentals computer systems.
After going in circles for a year, National took the easy route by saying that the window for crediting the miles has closed.
Lesson for frequent travelers: Rent from Avis and Hertz if you want your frequent flyer miles.
Pros: None Cons: Impossible to make an insurance claim when the company will not provide repair details.
I have hired small cars from Priority Car Rentals in Auckland on several occasions. Their prices are reasonable and I have had no complaints about the cars. However, in Jan 2006 I returned a car to them with a damaged mudguard and I have paid since paid their bill of NZ$559.29 for the repairs. I carried my own travel insurance and now need a detailed invoice from them in order that I can make an insurance claim. I have telephoned them repeatedly and have visited their office on two occasions in attempts to obtain such an invoice and while they have said every time it will be made available it never is. They are, in fact in breach of NZ Goods and Services Tax (GST) regulations in failing to provide an invoice but still refuse, apparently, to provide me with one. Unless I can obtain an invoice I cannot make an insurance claim and what was a reasonable hire charge now becomes an expensive one.
Pros: Nice car Cons: Over sell of unneeded extras,low choice of cars
Don't purchase roadside assistance. Friends visiting from India rented a car from National because they had received a coupon for a 5 day rental for the great price of $128. By the time they left the rental counter the bill was $358. Being from a foreign country the purchase the additional insurances for piece of mind. They were also sold a roadside assistance policy at the rate of $5 per day ($25)total. When engine light came on while in Yellowstone they called for assistance. They were told that it was not available where they were, instead they were told that the light probably indicated low antifreeze. Without the additional roadside policy I'm sure they would have received the same help. After talking to the local manager, who was not in the people business (kinda snooty) he agreed to refund the $12 paid for the refill of antifreeze (which if the car had been properly maintained before rental would not of been required). So buyer beware of roadside assistance additions. It's not worth it.
Hawaii Rental Experience by hootjunior ,Jan 02 '04
Pros: Pickup and drop-off vans were efficient. No time waiting Cons: no car was available at time of reservation
wasted alot of time
Rented with National twice in Hawaii. One time at Honolulu Airport and Kuhului (Maui) Airport. Both times, the full-size cars that were reserved in advance were not available. In Honolulu, the clerk has to leave her station to claim a returning car for rental; she then quoted a price 100 dollars higher than the agreed rental price and have to adjust the rate since we have the doc to prove price agreed on. We then have to wait another 30 minutes before the car is cleaned and washed. In Maui, no full size is available, so tried to rent us a convertible. Since the luggage won't fit, we have to switch car again and finally the agent was able to find a car that was just sitting on the lot. Wasted alot of time.
Renting a car in Orlando - look somewhere else. by jedwardsphoto ,Dec 28 '07
Pros: NONE. Cons: High price and Orlando airport gas rip-off scam.
I had to call twice to confirm my rental, and when I showed up to pick up my car they did not have any record of the reservation, and they did not have the Camry that they promised they would have for me. They did not offer or explain the pre-paid gas option, and when I returned the car the gas charge was $95.00 which brought the total price for a one day rental to $252.00. As the tank was not empty, I tried to negotiate with the manager who was extremely rude and would not give me any break on the charge. Note: when returning a car in Orlando, be sure to fill up the tank 10 miles from the airport because there is NO place to fill up the car once your near Orlando International. My advice: skip Orlando and don't rent cars from Alamo/National.
Pros: The person at the counter is most often nice. Cons: I hate that they contract with only one car company.
I have had repeated problems with National when renting for business travel. I get cars that were smoked in when I specify non-smoking, I get cars that aren't clean, I have no service when I return the car. For example when I return with many other different car companies there is someone there to meet me with a little wireless device and a printer to print me a receipt right then and there. Not with National. If I have to shuttle... I will watch Budget, Hertz and Avis drive by 10 to 15 times before I see a National shuttle. This is true of Dollar too.
Pros: Price, although they charge customers for employees' abuse. Cons: Very poor customer service.
Awful experience with these guys in Paris. Chose them to avoid local, unknown companies, but my decision proved wrong.
Returned the car on time, but somebody -an employee, I Guess- decided to have a ride on it. They charged me for an extra day and extra fuel when I returned the tank completely full. Their records showed that I returned it half a day after my airplane took off from Paris. After several days I got my extra day back, but ended up financing the gas for a long, long ride of an employee.
I had a great experience with National. They had a discount for premium vehicles at $30/day. DEAL! They offered me a Lincoln Towncar, but said I could wait for Cadillac. I opted to wait 15 minutes for delivery. What a smooth ride. Outstanding cornering. GREAT CAR! I had a blast.
Pros: Excellent service, great online pricing and really nice vehicles. Cons: Only two choices in vehicles at time of rental.
SJ, CA airport last week. Online pricing is soooo much better than counter/walk-in pricing. At the counter the price for a compact car for one week was around $189. Reserving online, I paid $107!!! Walked to counter, they were very quick. Within 5 minutes I was told, "here's your paperwork, go out that way and pick your car!" There were only two cars to choose from but at least one was real nice, the Pontiac Sunfire. The other choice, a Chevy Cavalier. I Took the Sunfire for one week. A little over 2300 miles on it. Still smelled brand new. When I returned the car I was handed a receipt in the lot. Unfamiliar with their process, I went to the counter. The guy told me that I was already all set since I had that receipt. WOW! What a concept! No paperwork, no bs. Return the car and your on your way. Boy I liked this service! - Would've liked to keep the car too!
I made a reservation to pick up a rental car in Lubbock, Tx and return it at Midland, Tx. My rate was to be $63.00 per day. When I turned in the vehicle at 7:30 am on Saturday there was no one at their counter or any other rental counter. I left the information required and proceeded to catch my flight. On sunday I received my statement via e-mail for $361.02. This was $100.00 more than expected. Today I called the customer service number and after a 10 min wait I finally talked to a representative. He told me that I was being billed according to my contact. I asked to speak with a Supervisor and was transferred to a FAX NUMBER!!! I then called customer service again and asked to speak with a supervisor. The lady told me that I had to give her an opportunity to correct my problen and also that there were no supervisors available. expressed my disbelief and insisted on speaking with a supervisor she hung up on me. I will never rent from National or their sister company, Alamo. I travel frequently and use rental much of the time. BUYER BEWARE OF NATIONAL CAR RENTAL
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