Rent a car taxes in LA are @#$%@#$

[Odelay]

Visiting LA for two weeks in February, but am truly despondent over the cost of a rent a car. The cheapest compact for a week is $144, but the taxes and fees push it to over $400! That's like 250% increase due to taxes alone. LA isn't alone in these highway robbery tax rates as most cities pay for their fancy schmancy baseball/football stadiums by gouging the tourists. But I think this tax rate is the highest I've seen.

I'll probably just shuddup and bite the bullet but if anyone has any ideas about how to get economical transportation in the wider LA metropolitan area, legal or illegal, please share. I'm open to any suggestions.

- Odelay

[last_stop]

That doesn't sound right. What company are you using? I don't recall LA's rental costs being much different than other locales I've travelled to. Certainly nothing approaching NYC (through the roof) or Boston (due to their wacky insurance laws). I just priced a compact car at LAX for 275/week with Enterprise - taxes and everything included and no discounts.

I typically use Enterprise or Hertz. Avis is the worst. Also, if you can get a hold of any corporate discount codes(just Google 'em), it will help tremendously - trust me. The people at the counter don't bother to verify either.

[bricktop]

that's about right & it's not just la... $144/week is great until you include taxes, ins, sat radio, gps, gas & more taxes. it will get much worse. welcome to the ussa!!!

[TatianaSummer]

I always get a discount of 30% off on Enterprise, just have to tease the guys and Poofff 30% off. wink!

[Odelay]

Yeah, I use Enterprise a lot in the midwest. Problem is, when you input LA and all that into the Enterprise site, you get a price, but below the price they state the dreaded: "Additional surcharges, local taxes, etc. may apply."

Anyway, I might have jumped the gun. Tonight I found out some info which leads me to believe I might not be visiting LA after all. To be continued...

[ed_jaxon]

plot thickens

[bobvela]

You either signed up for too many extras... or picked a bad company to rent from... be thankful you aren't renting overseas... such as in Ireland.

Some credit cards offer free rental car insurance (so you can pass on what is offered by the rental agent)... the fine print though says it isn't available in just a couple countries... one of which is Ireland where when you got into rent a car, the more or less mandatory insurance (and different types) will more than double your daily price on an already expensive rental.

Alas, this is not the sort of thing most are aware of until they walk up to the rental counter in Dublin or Shannon.

[runround04]

By a car for a Grand and sell it when ya leave, worked for TopGear....

[BiBoyinBeantown]

Politicians love taxes on things like rental cars and hotel rooms because typically the people who pay them are tourists and can't vote in that district.

That said it's also easy to get signed up for a whole lot of extras when you pick up the rental car, sometimes without being aware that you're buying them. You have to be pretty firm about saying "No" to all manner of stuff.

[Willie Escalade]

Well we DO need SOMEONE to pay for that new stadium...