National Car Rental

National Car Rental

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Overall Rating2.8 out of 5
See all 371 reviews & ratings

About National Car Rental

National Car Rental offers SUVs, cars, vans and trucks at more than 1,500 locations worldwide. Drivers can purchase roadside protection and supplemental liability protection for an extra cost. The Emerald Club program lets drivers enjoy an upgraded vehicle selection, free rental days, priority service and easy check-in and checkout.

National Car Rental Reviews

ConsumerAffairs has collected 371 reviews and 930 ratings.

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Customer Service

Reviewed Sept. 8, 2023

After many phone calls and being driven around for three hours and having to go back to the airport to get a new car. Biggest complaint is after returning car can not get a manager to return my call to discuss my complaint. Have called four times over a week customer service with promise of a manager call back that never happened. If this is the way they disrespect a customer be careful renting from them if something goes wrong.

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Customer ServiceStaff

Reviewed Aug. 30, 2023

While trying to book a rental vehicle online, it would only let me use 1 of my 3 reward days. National informed me that 2 of the rewards days will expire on the weekend that I wanted to rent the vehicle although, I was never informed that they would expire prior to the phone call. According to the customer service rep, they had already extended 2 of my reward days as a courtesy. But I guess not courteous enough to extend them for 2 more days. Good customer service!

Since I would only be able to use 1 reward day, I told them that I would make 2 separate reservations so I could use all of my reward days (one reservation for 2 days and the other for 1 day). They said that I could but I would have to return the vehicle to the same location for both reservations due to a lack of vehicles at the original location. This would require me to drive 5 hours from my vacation location to return the vehicle to the original location, start the second reservation, and then drive another 5 hours to get back to my vacation location! I guess it's the customers' fault that they don't have vehicles (...and they are in the car rental business :))

Nothing but problems with the Emerald Reward program over many years! Time to find a better rewards program. After some research, I will provide my recommendations.

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National Car Rental
Response from National Car Rental

Thank you for your feedback, Rob. If you’d like to discuss this further, please email care@nationalcar.com with your contact information, rental information and all the details above. Thank you. – Chad

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    CoverageOnline & App

    Reviewed July 16, 2023

    The company I worked for had me work in Atlanta every other week for six months. For eight day periods, sometimes seven days, they paid for our National Rental car and hotel. Unfortunately I downloaded their Emerald Club app onto my phone so I could get the member points (which equates to free rental days). I did the same the hotel I stayed at. When you join you must include a credit card number. DO NOT join their Emerald Club.

    At one point I had $2,100 of fraud charges on it. I still have $471 on my credit card which is two weeks of car insurance from National. They say the cars are completely uninsured and these two weeks I requested insurance on the cars. I did not know the cars were uninsured until noticed the two odd charges totaling $471 on my credit card and started investigating. Why would I ask for insurance only for random two weeks long before I learned the cars were uninsured? I repeat - DO NOT join their Emerald Club. Once they get your credit card number thru the app or website they will start charging you randomly (for insurance in my case) hoping you don't notice.

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    National Car Rental
    Response from National Car Rental

    Hi Jeff, we would like to look into your billing concern. Please email care@nationalcar.com with your contact information, rental agreement or reservation number and the information above. Thank you. – Chad

    Punctuality & Speed

    Reviewed July 13, 2023

    After receiving many referrals to use National Car Rental for my first trip alone for a destination wedding I was in, I was extremely disappointed in the service actually received by National Car Rental. I reserved my selection for the reputable "Emerald Aisle" through them and received an estimated invoice for my reservations. I felt extremely satisfied through their reservation process and enlightened to know that there would be NO extra, hidden, or added fees after the return of my rental. (Keeping in mind there would most likely be a slight difference between the reservation receipt and the actual invoice receipt.) But much to my dismay, there were extra charges added to the invoice after all.

    Now I made my reservations in sync with my flight arrival and departure times. I picked the vehicle up and returned it in less time than I reserved for, but then I got charged for an EXTRA DAY. Also, I waived the gas charges and implemented filling the tank prior to return. Guess what! I was charged for a SECOND FULL tank of gas in my final invoice. NOW--I had the vehicle from Thursday morning through Sunday morning, I drove a TOTAL of 47 miles--in 4 days. The vehicle was used to get me to and from the airport ONLY. It was returned with a full tank of gas. But I still got charged for a tank of gas and an extra day I did not receive. BEWARE before trusting National Car Rental. As this was my first and only experience with them, it will most likely be my very last also.

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    National Car Rental
    Response from National Car Rental

    We're listening and would like to know more, Jennifer. At your convenience, please email care@nationalcar.com with your contact information, reservation or rental agreement number and the details above. Thank you. – Chad

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    Customer ServiceStaff

    Reviewed July 1, 2023

    Our rental car has a flat tire 30 min away from Charleston. National sent a tow truck but did not sent a vehicle for us. They said call Uber but Uber does not service here. Tow truck said they cannot pick us up leaving us 3 people stranded on the side of the road at 90 degrees with little water. All National call service people hang up on us.

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    National Car Rental
    Response from National Car Rental

    Thank you for your review. If you can provide a few more details, we would be able to investigate this further for you. Please email review@ehi.com with your contact information, your reservation or rental agreement number and the details of your experience stated above. Thanks. – Chad

    Price

    Reviewed May 31, 2023

    I have been using National for years, however, I booked a car and received a confirmation #. When I showed up at this location, no one was there and the branch was closed. No **! Seriously! Also, started looking at past bills and noticed $2 - $9 charges for fuel even though the car was returned full. Wonder if they know how bad it is for our environment to overfill vehicles just so they can charge customers $5.00 a gallon? Long story short, I was able to retrieve these funds for this bogus fuel charge but they had no sympathy for the trip that they destroyed because of their unannounced closed branch. Therefore, renting with Avis now. So far, no issues.

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    Response from National Car Rental

    Thank you for your feedback, Johnny. If you’d like to discuss this further, please email review@ehi.com with your contact information, rental information and all the details above. Thank you. – Chad

    Customer ServiceStaff

    Reviewed May 9, 2023

    My Driver's License expired while I was out of state. I went online and had it renewed. Wanting to rent a car I called National Car Rental and explained the situation. Very nice lady. I was told that I could print a copy of the receipt and proof of updated credential from Department of Licensing and submit along with my expired license to rent a vehicle. I was assured that this would work and to have them call her back if there were any issues. I took an Uber to the site. There they said I needed an OFFICIAL copy printed by the Dept of Licensing.

    The lady behind the counter seemed to sympathize with me. The Manager acted like she had had enough for the day and said that the lady on the phone was wrong and she refused to call her to verify. (While this was going on, there were two separate irate customers at the counter.) Either the manager didn't care or National Car Rental Policies don't really consider customers in bad situations that they helped to create. (or both?) I went to Hertz down the street. They were Very Hepful. : - )

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    Response from National Car Rental

    Thank you for your feedback, Sean. If you’d like to discuss this further, please email care@nationalcar.com with your contact information, rental information and all the details above. Thank you. – Chad

    Staff

    Reviewed May 7, 2023

    My experience with the National Car Rental was very personal and helpful staff from the beginning to the return. I think her name was Terry, she was kind, very efficient and informative. Jay was the same, when I return the vehicle, also kind and polite. The vehicle was shining and clean from the front to the back. I would recommend National Car Rental to family and friends.

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    Response from National Car Rental

    Hi Angelena! We really appreciate your kind feedback and are happy to hear you had positive experience with our team. Thank you! - Chad

    Reviewed April 25, 2023

    After forgetting an item in my rental car at the Kona airport, I called to see if it had been found. I was told I needed to make a claim on their website. I have done so. A few items fitting the description of my item have been found. I have not been able to confirm if one of those items is mine or not. All I get are automated emails saying my item has not been found. I need to speak with somebody at the Kona airport national rental. Every time I call the customer service number dedicated to Hawaii I get sent automatically to voicemail. When I call the national rental company, I keep getting pushed off to another service agent. I asked to speak to that specific rental office, and I am unable to because I was told “it is an airport so they don’t answer their phones”.

    So I was told I would have to put in another claim. I don’t want to put in another claim. I want to speak to somebody who can put their eyes on the lost and found. Or maybe the lost and found website for National Car Rental should include photos of items, or follow through with customer service like they say they do. Very unhappy with the lack of service I have received. Then I was asked to stay on the phone and fill out a survey about my satisfaction level. Only 1 question was asked “please rate the service you received today from 1 to 5.” That was it. Nothing more. No asking how they could improve their service!

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    Response from National Car Rental

    Thank you for your review, Karen. If you can provide a few more details, we would be happy to look into this further for you. Please email care@nationalcar.com with your contact information, your reservation or rental agreement number and the details of your missing item (brand, color, etc.) stated above. Thanks. – Chad

    Verified purchase

    Reviewed Feb. 27, 2023

    On the 19th of Feb 2023 I arrived on time at TWF (Twin Falls airport) Idaho to collect the car I pre-paid many weeks in advance. When it became apparent there were no staff at the counter (lights were off too) I called customer service to seek help. I was advised that cancellation was my only option unless I was willing to wait 7 hours for the evening staff to arrive. It being a business trip I was left little alternative but to rent from Avis at the adjacent counter - a move which cost me an additional $346.38. Despite multiple follow up calls to seek a resolution the promised communication from National's management has never materialized. This company believes the customer is an irritation that should be dismissed, lied to and generally treated with disdain. After I post additional negative reviews, I shall reach out to our local TV news station (I play darts with one of their anchors) so they can do some reporting on my experience.

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    Response from National Car Rental

    Thank you for your review, Shannon. If you can provide a few more details, we would be happy to look into this further for you. Please email care@nationalcar.com with your contact information, your reservation or rental agreement number and the details of your experience stated above. Thanks. – Chad

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    National Car Rental author review by Lauren Fix

    National Car Rental was the first company to offer one-way rentals, computerized reservations and a loyalty program. The company is now owned by Enterprise Holdings.

    • Executive travel: National Car Rental focuses on providing white glove services to executive travelers, with Emerald Club options to skip the counter, choose any car from the Emerald Club Aisle and be on your way.

    • Loyalty program: Customers who enroll for free in the Emerald Club enjoy benefits such as skipping the counter, choosing any car from an Emerald Aisle and applying rewards points to rental days or other travel rewards. Choose Free Rental Days or your favorite frequent traveler program.

    • Convenient communication: With email, online, telephone and app connections, customers can make reservations more quickly than ever.

    • Pay tolls electronically: Drivers pay a small daily fee plus the cost of tolls to use the TollPass electronic toll payments program, thus avoiding long cash lines and unpaid toll violations.

    • Business programs: The National Business Rental Program for any size business offers travelers even more value, speed and convenience. The On The Go Meeting & Convention Program is for car rentals dedicated to the success of your meetings. They also offer Government programs, Military programs and association programs.

    • Age: National will rent cars to drivers as young as 18 with a major credit card.

    by Lauren Fix Auto & Finance Advisor

    Lauren Fix, The Car Coach®, is a nationally recognized automotive expert, sector analyst, journalist, author, keynote speaker and television host. A trusted car expert, Lauren provides an insider’s perspective on a wide range of automotive topics and aspects, energy, industry, consumer news and safety issues. Her analysis is honest and straightforward. Lauren is the CEO of Automotive Aspects and the Editor-in-Chief of Car Coach Reports, a global automotive news outlet. She is an automotive contributor to national and local television news shows including Fox News, Fox Business, CNN International, The Weather Channel, Inside Edition, Local Now News, NewsMax, The Daily Flash show and more.

    National Car Rental Company Information

    Company Name:
    National Car Rental
    Year Founded:
    1947
    Address:
    600 Corporate Park Dr
    City:
    St. Louis
    State/Province:
    MO
    Postal Code:
    63105
    Country:
    United States
    Website:
    www.nationalcar.com