LA - Grand Canyon - Route 66 - Hoover Dam - Vegas - LA

Very good

The car was in good condition, but the pick-up process took about one and a half to two hours with very low efficiency. The store staff continuously tried to upsell car upgrades and insurance, even after I clearly said no. It didn’t stop until I firmly refused at the end. After using my credit card and reaching the hotel, I found out that the agreed pre-authorization of $200 turned into $650. I’ll only know the exact amount after a few days when the charge is clear; if not, I might need to contest it. Overall, Dollar is slightly cheaper and the car is fine, but the store service is terrible. Comparing it to the neighboring Hertz is like night and day (Note: Dollar was acquired by Hertz, maybe to emphasize the contrast?).

I hadn't been to LAX in a long time and forgot how to find the shuttle, so it took me a while to locate it. The store wasn't very busy in the late afternoon around 6-7 PM. It shares the premises with Hertz. I waited in line for about 10 minutes before enquiring what cars were available. They offered me a Nissan Armada and a Ford Expedition, and recommended the Ford because it was a newer model. They suggested additional insurance, but I declined. The car was okay, though not exceptionally clean. There were some residual spots in corners not easily visible, but it was acceptable.

I booked an MPV, but they gave me a small car. I had my kid with me and was in a hurry, so I let it go this time. Never again!

The staff added two extra insurances without notifying me, which made the costs higher than the rental fee. If I hadn't checked my credit card record, I wouldn't have noticed. The worst part is I had to drive 150 kilometers back to cancel it, and they still charged me one day's insurance fee!