Enterprise Rental Charging Customer $47k for Mustang stolen from Enterprise Lot

[Boblobla]

I don't really see why this is news. As others have said, this just seems like the first step in an insurance company battling with enterprise...

I am also not surprised that you are liable for the vehicle until it is logged in by the company.

[mykalberta]

I read this story a few days ago, Enterprise has every right to go after this person.

Until the car is returned and the paperwork done the car is still in the persons possession no matter where its parked. How is Enterprise to know if she kept the doors locked when she parked the car?

Until Enterprise opens in the morning the car is still under the possession of the renter of the vehicle. I recently rented an SUV from Budget over Christmas and they told me the vehicle was considered in my possession until it was checked in with Enterprise. They have a drop off location for after hours but until they checked it in I still assumed liability.

They even circled it on the contract so I am sure Enterprise has a similar contract with similar terms.

[rayne008]

My issue is how was this vehicle stolen if the keys were in the drop box??

Only answer is a spare set of keys or it was towed away, because it certainly wasn't driven...

Modern vehicle have been virtually impossible to steal (drive away) for the past 10+ years!

[killer_carlson]

Originally Posted by mykalberta

I read this story a few days ago, Enterprise has every right to go after this person.

Until the car is returned and the paperwork done the car is still in the persons possession no matter where its parked. How is Enterprise to know if she kept the doors locked when she parked the car?

Until Enterprise opens in the morning the car is still under the possession of the renter of the vehicle. I recently rented an SUV from Budget over Christmas and they told me the vehicle was considered in my possession until it was checked in with Enterprise. They have a drop off location for after hours but until they checked it in I still assumed liability.

They even circled it on the contract so I am sure Enterprise has a similar contract with similar terms.

While you are of course correct in the bolded part above, the people who rented the car has every right to take this into a court of public opinion. How do you think that is working out for Enterprise?

[undercoverbrother]

Originally Posted by killer_carlson

While you are of course correct in the bolded part above, the people who rented the car has every right to take this into a court of public opinion. How do you think that is working out for Enterprise?

I don't this they care to be honest. The company are not idiots, they would have thought about the public reaction.

[Wormius]

Originally Posted by killer_carlson

While you are of course correct in the bolded part above, the people who rented the car has every right to take this into a court of public opinion. How do you think that is working out for Enterprise?

I think this is an isolated enough case that it doesn't hurt Enterprise at all. I would still rent from them, because they have a number of things going for them (at least from the last time I rented from them) such as price, and the whole "pick you up / drop you off" convenience.

This case only really suggests that the service that Enterprise was too "generous" for providing the opportunity for after-hours drop offs. It should be dropped altogether in lieu of something else - maybe a gated lot with access codes, or something else. The unsecured lot just screams for somebody to stalk it, knowing the car will be left alone for hours until the business opens.

But yeah, Enterprise can't just claim it on their insurance, if at least they don't try to recover the costs some other way first. I assume it's like co-ordinated health benefits. Go through one first, and then you can claim the rest on the other.

[Tron_fdc]

Originally Posted by pylon

Whenever I travel now, I bring a PDF copy on my tablet of my actual insurance policy, like all 8 pages, that shows it pays for all perils, theft, etc in the case that the car rental person gets pushy on the insurance. To double the coverage I always pay with my Visa Avion to be doubly safe.

If you do not have 3rd party on your personal car insurance it is ridiculously cheap, like $30 or $40 bucks a year to have full coverage, including theft, on a rental. Less than you would spend for 3 days of their coverage.

Also, I always leave rentals unlocked (if I have nothing in them of course). That way the car isn't going to get mangled by someone breaking into it. In fact some rental places in Hawaii suggest you do that.

All that being said, if I didn't have a credit card, or personal car insurance, I definitely would pay for their premium insurance coverage.

A quick note here: check with your insurance company to see if they cover cars in Mexico or Central America (if you are going there). Avion doesn't. Avion also states that you have to decline ALL coverage or it voids theirs, including the mandatory 3rd party that a lot of central american countries require you take.

I learned the hard way after rolling a vehicle in Costa Rica. Thought I was covered, but because I took the mandatory 3rd party insurance I ended up paying 10K in damages.

[GoinAllTheWay]

Originally Posted by mykalberta

I recently rented an SUV from Budget over Christmas and they told me the vehicle was considered in my possession until it was checked in with Enterprise. They have a drop off location for after hours but until they checked it in I still assumed liability.

Well that's an odd arangement.

[GGG]

Originally Posted by Tron_fdc

A quick note here: check with your insurance company to see if they cover cars in Mexico or Central America (if you are going there). Avion doesn't. Avion also states that you have to decline ALL coverage or it voids theirs, including the mandatory 3rd party that a lot of central american countries require you take.

I learned the hard way after rolling a vehicle in Costa Rica. Thought I was covered, but because I took the mandatory 3rd party insurance I ended up paying 10K in damages.

There are a few different kinds of insurance. Most credit cards state you must turn down LDW/CDW. Loss damage waiver or Collision Damage Waiver. Most Credit cards don't cover 2nd/3rd party liability.

In Mexico, 2nd/3rd Party Liability is Mandatory and has to be included in all rental car rates. They then add the options of CDW,LDW, and Tires and Glass. It is these coverages that generally need to be declined for credit card insurance.. In Mexico they will try to tell you that the LDW/CDW is mandatory but it isn't. Although if you decline it they usually a large credit card hold to cover potential damages.

Obviously each credit card is different but most specifically exclude Mexico. The best one I have seen is AMEX which provides very good insurance in Mexico if you pay a $20 fee to activate it.