San Francisco to Los Angeles Car Hire

[Rowie]

I want to hire a Corvette or similar for the above two week trip next August. I did a search and it seems no one will do a one way hire. Anyone know of any car hire companies that will do this?

Cheers,

[davepoth]

All the big names will do a one way, special cars might be harder though. It will probably be best to actually ring the rental locations involved in the States, they can be a bit more accommodating than the internet.

[Matt..]

Hertz will do it i'm sure. You might have to phone them though.

I had the Challenger R/T for SF to LA a few months ago.

[car_era]

I am also interestested in these replies, we too fly to LA in August, I fancy a convertible mustang or similar to do the triangle from LA to Vegas, to SF and then down to LA. just under 3 weeks.

[AdeTuono]

Avis did me a Camaro between two different points a couple of years ago.

[chazola]

I recently did a search for similar 1-way hire from AZ-CA, I think Hertz came out cheapest, Avis loaded it for different drop-off to pick-up. That was just for a boring econo-box though, if you want something interesting you'll probably need to phone them up like the previous poster said. I can't see it being too much of a problem with one of the big companies if you're dropping off at a large depot like an Airport in the same state.

Edited by chazola on Thursday 1st December 09:39

[sjg]

I was wanting to do the same earlier this year but the other way (LA to SF). Couldn't find anything interesting to hire on a one-way - plenty of good stuff offered if you could bring it back to the same place though.

[Matt..]

I had my Challenger R/T in September this year, and when i originally booked it through the website it did allow for one way trips between SF and LA. It doesn't appear to allow this anymore. So i do think you'd be wise to try calling if you want something fun.

[Kenty]

Go on the US sites for better deals not the UK ones.
I have done several trips in the Western USA, several on a one way basis, I have found Dollar to be the most accomodating and quite good cars.

[Matt..]

Kenty said:

Go on the US sites for better deals not the UK ones.
I have done several trips in the Western USA, several on a one way basis, I have found Dollar to be the most accomodating and quite good cars.

If you do this, remember that UK sites will give you additional insurance that you will either have to forego, or make extra payments for.

It is also not always the case that the US sites will be cheaper.

You are crazy if you pay full price for car rental though!

[davepoth]

Also, never collect from an airport. For a speciality car, a $20 taxi to the town centre location could save you a hell of a lot of money.

[Roo]

I've done several one way rentals out there and always booked through carhireagency.com as it's always worked out cheaper than booking direct.

[The_Doc]

I booked with Shmalamo last year, paying extra and specifically booking a convertible

I queued for two hours in 40degrees at the pickup office in SanFran and they said they only had a Ford Explorer for me

Not happy.

Complained. Got squat back from them

Happy to bad mouth them to all and sundry.

Faceless, large, intercontinental, money sucking, profit driven, organisation that survives on repeat bookings not quality service.

Nuke from orbit would be too kind.

[chrismcg1]

Carhire3000 - booked with them San Fran to Vegas one way - great price and no added taxes, insurance etc

[mudster]

The_Doc said:

I booked with Shmalamo last year, paying extra and specifically booking a convertible

I queued for two hours in 40degrees at the pickup office in SanFran and they said they only had a Ford Explorer for me

Not happy.

I queued for a similar length of time in possibly the same office. I'd booked an intermediate coupe 2.5 V6. Ended up with a 1.6 Focus saloon as Alamo consider the Focus an intermediate (even though it's the same dimensions as a compact). Was fed up of waiting and just took it.

[Matt..]

If you book Adrenaline collection with Hertz, then you go to the gold(?) desk, with no queues

[smack]

Matt.. said:

If you book Adrenaline collection with Hertz, then you go to the gold(?) desk, with no queues

Yup, loads of Vettes at LAX Hertz when I was there last. We only got a Stang as my (PH) mate killed off my idea of a Vette. He deserves a ban for that one!

[The_Doc]

chrismcg1 said:

Carhire3000 - booked with them San Fran to Vegas one way - great price and no added taxes, insurance etc

They are just an agent though, you still end up with Alamo/Dollar/National/Thifty/Hertz and the same faceless-nobody corporate service as before....

oh and I forgot to add to my previous post that Shmalamo stiffed me for a tank of fuel when I got back to the UK

included this in the complaint, never heard a thing...

[Project C]

chrismcg1 said:

Carhire3000 - booked with them San Fran to Vegas one way - great price and no added taxes, insurance etc

I used them recently and very pleased with the price and service - I made some phone calls and exchanged emails and the people I dealt with where extremely pleasent & helpful.

I booked a big car instead of a muscle car and got a Mercury Grand Marquis - the upmarket version of the Ford Crown Vic as seen on pretty much every US TV show as they are used by the cops and taxi drivers - which was 18ft of V8 powered wafty, barge like american metal!

[Robatr0n]

Matt.. said:

I had my Challenger R/T in September this year, and when i originally booked it through the website it did allow for one way trips between SF and LA. It doesn't appear to allow this anymore. So i do think you'd be wise to try calling if you want something fun.

Back in July I hired a Corvette, my brother hired a Mustang GT and my best mate hired a Camaro SS and we drove from San Francisco to LA without any problems.