I had an incredibly disappointing experience with Thrifty (part of the Hertz group) at the LAX airport. I booked and prepaid for a rental in January 2025, for 1 day. When we arrived to pick up the vehicle, we spent 1.5 hours at the counter due to vague "issues" with our reservation—something you don’t expect after paying upfront. Eventually, we were offered a Ford Escape 2021 as an "upgrade" for the inconvenience. The agent repeatedly asked if I had coverage through my Visa—at least five times—which felt excessive and left me uneasy. Exhausted from the long wait, we skipped the vehicle walkaround (which, unfortunately, turned out to be a mistake), especially since the gated, heavily monitored parking lot gave me the impression the vehicles were secure and pre-inspected. Due to the LA wildfires during our trip, we barely used the car; it was parked in an underground garage most of the time. The next day, before heading for a cruise, we returned the car. That's when things got worse. I was told there was damage to the front fog light area—damage that looked old and in a place that made no sense based on how I parked (front-in). When I requested pre-rental photos or inspection reports, I was sent a damage report that showed mileage 5,000 miles lower than when I returned the car (66660 vs my actual 71590). When I asked for clarification about this huge discrepancy, I was completely ignored. To add insult to injury, they charged me over $6,100 USD, claiming repairs for the front bumper, grill, fender, lamps, radiator, cooling system, AC/heater, diagnostics, and miscellaneous fees. The actual damage they cited was minor and clearly unrelated to things like the radiator and AC system. Thankfully, my Visa insurance covered this, but the experience left a terrible impression. Needless to say, I won't be renting from Thrifty or Hertz again. Renters beware—do your own inspection no matter how tired or rushed you are, and be cautious of questionable damage claims.
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Thrifty Car Rental is a subsidiary of The Hertz Corporation with headquarters in Estero, Florida.