AP Photo/Tom Gannam
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Nowadays, you can rent a hybrid car at many major car rental companies. Whenever I’ve rented a car in the past, I always tried to book the most fuel efficient, low-impact vehicle, but when I arrive at the rental depot, bedraggled and worn, they always try to stick me with a sports car or a minivan.
Rental car companies tend to overbook and hand out the gas-guzzling leftovers. They act as if they are bumping you up, but they are really sticking you with extra gasoline expenses. Don’t prepay for gas, btw. That’s one of the ways they trick you. If you can return the car exactly on E, you can break even. Other than that, you’ve just given the rental car company free gas upon you return. The next time you travel, you might be able to rent a hybrid instead of a standard sedan. Some major car rental companies have put hybrids in their fleets. This is great news for the environment and the commuter.
Avis, Hertz and Enterprise all offer hybrid cars. I went on their website as a prospective renter looking to rent a car from the 20th of December to the 27th. I admit this is a popular time to travel and this test may have been skewed by this. Of all these companies, the only one that had hybrids available at LAX was Enterprise. They offered both full-size and mid-size hybrids. Most hybrids are a bit more expensive to rent than a standard sedan. Having to fill up less could offset the higher cost. Also, two words: Carpool lanes.
Hertz, Fox Rent a Car and Avis have hybrids in their fleet. They just have fewer of them with plans to add more. No matter what company you rent from, you’re probably better off calling the rental company instead of booking online. Making a fuss on the phone goes a long way. This will ensure that if a hybrid is available and if you’ve specifically booked it, they’ll have it ready for you when you arrive. Keep in mind, the less populous an area is, the less likely they’ll have a hybrid. At that point, just go for fuel efficiency.
More on Hybrids:
Buy Green: Hybrid Cars
How to Go Green: Hybrid Cars : Planet Green
Hybrid Cars: By the Numbers
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