Economy Rent A Car

• Locations at Most Large Airports
• Roadside Assistance

Locations at Most Large Airports

Economy has locations at most major airports throughout North America, including New York, Miami, Chicago, Los Angeles, etc. This makes Economy a prime option if you're traveling from out of town by plane and need to rent a car right when you get off the plane. This is on par with most car rental companies, who have counters at the majority of large U.S. and Canada airports.

Roadside Assistance

Economy offers a roadside assistance option for rental customers for an additional $5 a day. This service helps customers in case they get a flat tire or some other unexpected issue while driving. This price is mid-range, since some competitors offer the same service for an average of $3.95 a day but still affordable.

• High Economy Price Range
• Available in Only 10 states
• Strict Cancellation Policy
• Limited Instant Return
• No Toll Prepay Option
• No Online Check-In
• No On-Site Fuel Discount

High Economy Price Range

Economy cars prices are average to high in the industry. The price is dependent on the class of car and rental area.

Available in Only 10 States

Economy locations can be found in approximately 10 states. This is low in the auto rental industry. Most companies average at approximately 23 locations or more in the U.S. This lack of location availability increases the chance customers will not be able to use Economy.

Strict Cancellation Policy

If you have to cancel your reservation, Economy requires you contact them at least 72 hours in advance. Otherwise, you will be charged a cancellation fee of $50. This is not beneficial for situations that occur last minute that force you to cancel. Other companies offer free cancellations regardless of how close it is to the reservation time. The good news is that the amount of time Economy requires you to cancel in advance (to avoid fees) varies depending on the state you're in. For example, New Jersey only requires a 24 hour notice, which is much more reasonable. Overall, Economy's cancellation policy falls short of its competitors, many who offer free cancellations.

Limited Instant Return

After hours, Economy allows customers to return the car and drop off the keys in their drop-off box. Economy will inspect the vehicle the following day when the office opens and will email your invoice to you. If you return your vehicle during office hours, you need to drop off the keys to the front desk. This is not an advantage for customers, who typically return cars during business hours.

No Toll Prepay Option

Economy doesn't appear to offer a Toll Prepay option that is available on their website. Inquiring of them directly is the best way to learn about any toll prepay options. This is inconvenient and time-consuming for customers trying to book an online reservation. The majority of rental car companies have this information readily available on their website during the booking process. Economy falls short in this regard.

No Online Check-In

To check in, you have to go to the rental counter and finalize everything before getting the keys. This can take time with waiting in line. All customers will be required to provide their e-mail address at the time of rental to be used as an alternate contact source during their rental period. Customers who refuse to provide their e-mail address are subject to being denied their reserved car. This works for anyone who has an email. If a customer does not have an email address, this option will not be viable or convenient for them.

No On-Site Fuel Discount

There are no on-site Fuel Discounts. Economy offers customers 3 refueling options based on their needs:

1. FUEL NOW - you may purchase a tank of gas at the time of rental and return the vehicle with as little gas as you like. This eliminates the need for you to refuel the tank prior to returning. but they won't issue a refund for unused fuel.
2. FUEL LATER - You let Economy refuel the car for you. You pay for the fuel required to replace the fuel you used and for the service and convenience of refueling the tank.
3. SELF SERVE - You have to return the car with the same amount of fuel as when picked up. If not, fuel charge will apply of $8.00 per gallon.

Customers can save money if they choose the option best suitable for their situation. If you use FUEL NOW, you won't get a refund for any unused fuel. Self-serve may be more cost effective if you are not planning on doing much driving. Otherwise, there is a charge of $8 per gallon.