Rental Car Safety


Introduction

I do not believe that Advantage Rent-A-Car tried to kill me, but they sure made that outcome a distinct possibility.

My Advantage Rent-A-Car misadventure caused me to realize that no agency regulates or inspects rental cars. No federal or state elected official will go on record as giving a damn about rental car safety.

This is the one part of a business trip or a family vacation where you're truly on your own.

And if luck's not on your side, very bad things can happen...



1. The Reservation

    If I bear any responsibility in this nightmare, it is this: I travel inexpensively.

    If you travel on the cheap, sometimes you get burned. Twice now, I've stayed in hotels rated "3 stars" by hotels.com. Twice now, I've slept in fleabags (once without a telephone).

    But normally, I trust Orbitz.com. So, when I needed a rental car to drive from El Paso, Texas to Artesia, New Mexico and back—about 400 miles total—I was happy to find a $16.50-a-day unlimited mileage deal on Orbitz.