Hurricane Irma Advisory

• Hurricane Irma may impact travel in parts of the Southeastern United States, including Florida, Georgia and the Carolinas.  Here are the the procedures that Dollar Rent-A-Car will apply in areas affected. 

• Hurricane Irma was downgraded to a Category 4 storm early Friday morning; however, it remains a significant threat to areas in its path. Both coasts of Florida expect damaging rain and wind. Landfall is expected late Saturday or early Sunday as a category 4. 

Update as at 12 Sep

The  following Airports in Florida are now open:

• PBI (Palm Beach)
• MLB (Melbourne)
• MCO (Orlando) 
• FLL (Fort Lauderdale) 
• RSW (Fort Myers): Open, Inbound flights to resume September 13. 
• MIA (Miami)
• SRQ (Sarasota-Bradenton) 
• JAX (Jacksonville)
• Gainesville
• Tallahassee
• St. Petersburg/Clearwater
• Panama City

Airports still closed:

• TPA (Tampa): Closed (May open late 9.12/ early 9.13)
• Florida Keys: (TBD)

All the Florida locations listed below are now open

Update as at 11 Sep

• Disaster policy remains in effect for closed locations and impacted areas. I’m listing a few of the major airport locations below.
  • West Palm Beach airport location closed until 1700 today.  
  • Miami and Orlando airport closed until 0001 on 9/12.
  • Ft. Lauderdale airport will not take any vehicle returns, effective immediately, and running through 4 a.m. Tuesday, September 12^th.  The offsell message lists closed until 9/12 at 0800 for bookings.
  • Melbourne, Sarasota, Tallahassee, Gainesville and St. Petersburg currently list closed until 0800 on 9/12.
  • Tampa airport lists closed with expectation to reopen at 0001 on 9/13.
  • Jacksonville airport remains closed and we are waiting on an update as there is lots of flooding and no power in this area.
  • Puerto Rico is open and fully operational.
  • St. Thomas is still closed and a meeting later today to determine reopening.  The airport tower was severely damaged and it could be a week before the airport reopens.
  • The local edition/off-airport locations are listing the same offsell messages as the airport locations.  Again, please check the individual location for the up-to-date information.

• For customers on-rent we are allowing a change from local return to a one way drop without intercity fee and honoring the original rate.  
  • Customers with rentals originating in Florida, Georgia or South Carolina may drop up to 500 miles away if their scheduled return location is in the impacted area.  There will not be an intercity fee and the original rate will be honored.

• If the customer is on-rent and their scheduled return location is closed, they are under a ‘no charge’ grace period.  The customer has up to 24 hours after reopening of the location to return the vehicle without additional charge.  Use Excalibur to check if the location is open or closed, you will see the information in the Offsell line.
• Customers that advise they need to abandon their vehicle will be unable to return their vehicle and plan to abandon it due to the conditions must be advised the following:
  • In the U.S., you will transfer the customer to your Roadside Service department so a case can be created and records tracked.
  • For rentals outside of the U.S. you will provide your customer with the appropriate number listed . The two most common requests have been for Puerto Rico (787-200-2761) and Virgin Islands (330-774-1879).

Please review the following information below as Dollar prepare for Hurricane Irma, and accommodate customers affected: 

• Disaster policy is in effect for Puerto Rico, St. Maarten, Florida, Georgia and South Carolina through Monday, September 11^th.  
• For customers on-rent we are allowing a change from local return to a one-way drop without intercity fee and honoring the original rate.
  • Customers with rentals originating in Florida may drop up to 500 miles away from original drop off location.
  • Customers with rentals originating in South Carolina and Georgia may drop up to 200 miles away from original drop off location.
• Due to a state-wide possible shortage of fuel we will provide a half tank of fuel upon rental for Hertz, Dollar and Thrifty.  FPO prices are frozen in price and will remain while the ‘State of Emergency’ is active.  In addition, some of the locations have discontinued the sale of FPO.
• The FSC price has been lowered to match the FPO price, effective immediately.  The pricing will be evaluated daily and is subject to change based on current conditions.

• The debit card policy has not been waived; renters must have a return trip ticket (airport locations) or CDP number (off-airport) on the reservation, must pass credit authorization and show 2^nd form of ID.
• Prepaid cancellation fees are being waived for rentals in Florida or residents of Florida with travel plans that included a prepaid reservation.
• Tolls are being waived in the state of Florida and for anyone dropping into another state.  This is in effect as of Tuesday, September 5^th at 5 p.m. and until further notice.  This would also include people going one way from Florida and dropping at another location, i.e. dropping in Atlanta.

• Customers who are unable to return their vehicle and plan to abandon it due to the conditions should contact the Roadside Service department so a case can be created and records tracked.  The number is 800-235-9393 and is also on the customers key fob.
• The 24-hour Emergency Roadside Service (ERS) and Roadside Service (RSS) phone numbers are as follows:  

• Dollar (U.S.) 800-235-9393

• If you wish to contact Dollar for assistance visit  Contact Dollar  page or call 1-800-800-4000.   

Rental locations in storm-affected area may operate under reduced hour or temporarily close for safety of our customers and employees.

Information on Airport Closures *subject to change: (as at 8 Sept)

• West Palm Beach airport: closing today at 3:00 PM until further notice
• Fort Myers (RSW): last flight is at 3:00 p.m. today (September 8). 
• Key West Airport: Closed until further notice
• Orlando Airport: Will close September 9. Last flight leaves at 5:00 p.m. Airport will close through Monday, September 11. 
• Tampa: TBD-- no decision based on last flight 
• Miami: TBD (Last flight September 8)
• Sanford Airport: Closed September 10 & September 11
• St. Petersburg/Clearwater Airport: Closed through September 11
• Fort Lauderdale Airport: FLL closing 9/8 at 745 PM
• Jacksonville Airport: TBD
• Daytona Airport: Closing September 8 at 1800; Opening September 11
• Melbourne Airport: Closing September 10; Opening September 11 

FAQ

The location I am due to return my vehicle is closed.  Can I return my rental to another location?
Customers who were originally scheduled to return their rental to an affected city may return the vehicle to another Dollar location within 100 miles/160 kilometers as a direct result of the hurricane at no extra charge.

I prepaid for my rental, and my flight has now been cancelled due to the weather. Can I get a refund?
Yes. You need to contact Cheap-Car-Rental team by email to cancel  your reservation and begin the refund process.  Please note the refund will take up to 10 business days to process.

Do I get a refund if I return my car early?
A policy has not yet been announced by Dollar and so we can not be certain refunds will be given, please check again.  However if you do return the car early please advise Cheap-Car-Rental  by email and attach a copy of the return rental agreement and we will apply for a refund on your behalf’

How do I contact customer care?
Please contact Cheap-Car-Rental's care team who are ready to help with changes to your reservation or rental. For further assistance it is best to email us but you can also phone our US number during office hours +1 866 800 3169 

Your Safety is Paramount

•  Always wear your seatbelt
•  Never drive through floodwaters
•  Slow down during high winds
•  Be aware of your surroundings – watch for other vehicles, downed power lines, and debris
•  Turn on headlights in the rain and low light conditions
•  Treat intersections with inoperative traffic lights as stops

 For hurricane preparation and safety tips, please visit  AAA. Dollar have set up a page about Hurricane Irma and this can be found at https://www.dollar.com/TravelCenter/TravelTools/TravelAdvisories/Hurricane_Irma.aspx

For Dollar'r latest information see https://www.dollar.com/TravelCenter/TravelTools/TravelAdvisories/Hurricane_Irma.aspx 

GPS/Satellite Check Navigation 

     Existing Dollar GPS Satellite Navigation units will be replaced with Neverlost Magellan, Neverlost Navigator+ (NN+), and TravelTab Adventurer. These will begin to be phased into vehicles from May 2017 through August 2017. Schedule is subject to Change.

• Neverlost Magellan will retail for a fee of $13.99 USD per day with a 14-day maximum per month
• Neverlost Navigator+ (NN+) will retail for a fee of $16.99 USD per day with a 14-day maximum per month.
• Customers can buy 60 phone credits on the device for $8.95 USD per day.
• Customers can buy the unlimited data that can serve as a hotspot for up to 2 devices for $5.95 USD per day.
• Customers will pay our 3rd party vendor directly.
• TravelTab Adventurer will retail for a fee of $21.99 USD per day with no maximum days. 
• TravelTab Adventurer will only be at locations with Neverlost Navigator+.
• Customers will get 60 phone credits per day (30 international minutes or 60 domestic minutes.); plus unlimited data that can serve as a hotspot for up to 5 devices
• All Locations will have either Neverlost Magellan or Neverlost Navigator+, not both devices. 
• Customers will not be able to upgrade from Neverlost Magellan to Neverlost Navigator+ because a rental location will only have one unit or the other, not both.
• Top Airport locations will have Neverlost Navigator+. Choice locations (e.g. SFO), and select Off-Airport locations (e.g. SF Downtown locations).
• All other Airport locations and the majority of Off-Airport locations will have Neverlost Magellan.
• Missing accessories or broken/lost/stolen units will the responsibility of the renter and will be charged at the current replacement rates
• Customers may also purchase GPS inclusive rates.

DOLLAR / THRIFTY ONE WAY UPDATE – new fees applicable as of 7 March 2017

The below details are the One Way Fee amendments that are being implemented by Dollar/Thrifty brands in USA.  These will apply to bookings made after Tuesday 7^th March 2017.

The main changes are:

•  Northern California (San Francisco) will have a one way fee, year round.

• Arizona is no longer free of charge.

• Free one ways to Chicago. 

• Some changes to the distance and the amounts of the drop fees.  Previous matrix was 0-200 miles @ $75.00 now only $50.00 plus up to 250 miles.  Tax is applied to these fees.

The main features are:

No drop charge for one-way rentals at corporate locations for the following scenarios:

• Pickup in Florida and dropped off in Florida

• Pickup in Nevada and dropped off in California

• Pickup in Southern California (Los Angeles, San Diego, Palm Springs, Anaheim, or Orange County) and dropped off in California or Nevada

• Pickup up at any continental US airport location and drop off in Chicago

• No drop charge for Car Classes ECAR/EDAR, CCAR/CDAR, ICAR/IDAR, SCAR/SDAR, FCAR/FDAR, PCAR/PDAR, LCAR/LDAR, SFAR, IVAR/MVAR, and IFAR between JFK Airport (JFK), LaGuardia Airport (LGA) and Newark Airport (EWR).

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