National Car Rental

National Car Rental

 3.8/5 (633 reviews)
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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.

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Page 1 Reviews 0 - 10
Resolution In ProgressRated with 1 star
Verified Reviewer Verified Buyer
Original review: 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.

National Car Rental response

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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Rated with 1 star
Verified Reviewer
Original review: Feb. 9, 2023

In early January I arrived just after midnight after a long trip to pick up my vehicle from National, who I've been renting with exclusively for many years as an Executive member. I was informed by the attendant that I had been put on the Do Not Rent list with no explanation. I was barred from renting a vehicle and given that it was 1 in the morning, I had no rental options. I'm a business customer, and this obviously was extremely disruptive to my client visit the next morning.

After half a dozen phone calls to National customer service I was able to finally learn that I had an unpaid parking ticket from 2021 and a charge of $265 that landed me on the DNR list. Not once was I contacted regarding this ticket-- not via phone, email or mail. All my contact information is up to date. Upon finding this out, I paid it promptly. I paid the ticket and customer service forwarded me to an extremely sketchy phone number where the person who picked up told me my father had died and hung up. WTF?

After several weeks and several inquiries, no one has been able to tell me why my name hasn't been removed from the DNR list, and at this point, I'm not sure it matters. It's good to have options, but National is clearly no longer suitable for business use. The irony is that with the number of trips I've had to rebook with different agencies, it's already paid for the $265 fee 10x over. Interesting business practice on the part of National/Enterprise/Alamo, and several of my colleagues have had other "interesting" experiences with National recently. What a joke.

National Car Rental response

Thank you for your review, David. Please be assured it is never our intent to inconvenience our customers and we strive to provide the best possible services. We'd like to pass your information along to someone who can best address your concern. Please email care@nationalcar.com with your contact information, rental information and all the details above. Thank you. – Chad

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    Rated with 1 star
    Verified Reviewer
    Original review: Feb. 7, 2023

    I rented a car in October, which had a rock hit a windshield. I turned it in to my insurance which paid it on January 27th; however, due to the slow process, I can not rent a car with National. I called the damage recovery unit number listed on the paperwork but immediately hung up. The only time the number works is after the center is closed. I am trying to handle business, but the center ignores the phone and wants to handle this process only through emails due to the volume of calls. This is extremely unprofessional! I apologize for the curtness of this message.

    National Car Rental response

    Thank you for your feedback, Brett. 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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    Rated with 1 star
    Verified Reviewer
    Original review: Feb. 5, 2023

    They are robber. Never REnt Car with National or Enterprise. They charge too high and robbing renter and only forwarding "overspeed ticket" to my @mail, they do nothing, then charge my credit card € 30. Ticket cost € 20, they forwarding @mail and charge € 30. I told them not, but they still charge my credit card. This is a very bad car company. Robbing people from all side. Never make a deal with this company and Before they refund my € 30, I will warn all people not to rent from this company. Reference number: **. Date of experience: December 18, 2022.

    National Car Rental response

    Thank you for your feedback, Muliadi. If you’d like assistance reviewing this in more detail, please email care@nationalcar.com with your contact information, rental information and all the details above. Thank you. – Chad

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    Rated with 2 stars
    Verified Reviewer Verified Buyer
    Original review: Jan. 27, 2023

    As an Emerald Club member and a long standing customer of National Car Rental. My last experience at Piarco airport Trinidad and Tobago, was both disappointing and disturbing. The car that was given to me was 29 days past the service day. I did not see the service message until I started the car the next day. The wiper blades were useless and worse while driving in the rain, it was very unsafe and I don't know why they allowed a car in this condition to leave their fleet. On returning the car I mentioned it to the rep and he advised that he will look into it.

    Days after I returned to the US I saw a missed call from Trinidad but no voicemail was left. I called several times, before getting a live person. I spoke with Nishael, (hope I spelt his name correctly) we discussed the condition of the car and the lack of consideration for my safety, both mechanically and visibly. There was also something going on in the front end of the vehicle because on the highway, when the brake is applied there was a noticeable vibration. Trinidadians can be very forward. He told me I should have brought the car back to the airport.

    Yes I could have, the airport is 2 hours from where I stayed and my aunt's 100 birthday celebration was the next day. How about you give me a car that is safe from the inception of my rental, because am paying you for it, am not asking a favor. I told him am an avid review writer and I will be writing a review and I will be contacting corporate here in the US. He asked me to hold off and give them the opportunity to investigate and address the situation. It has been three weeks since we spoke and I have not heard a squeak out of National at Piarco airport, Trinidad and Tobago. I have never experienced this level of disregard from National before. I am now leery if my rental has to come from National while visiting Trinidad.

    I believe they knew something was wrong with the car because they kept whispering to each other and eventually tried to put me in a SUV, but the trunk was smaller than the Elantras, so I refused the so called upgrade. I have photos of the service light and the distorted wiper blades. In the photos it looks very good there but in the actual rain and at night you can hardly see with those wipers. It is a darn SHAME.! Also, it is over 3044 miles past due for service. National your customer's safety should be your number one priority. I have rented Yukons etc., from National for years while my son was in college, never have I seen this. I wish I could have posted the photos here.

    National Car Rental response

    Thank you for your review, Lisa. Please be assured it is never our intent to inconvenience our customers and we strive to provide the best possible services. I'd like to pass your information along to someone who can best address your concern. Please email care@nationalcar.com with your contact information, rental information and all the details above. Thank you. – Chad

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    Rated with 1 star
    Verified Reviewer
    Original review: Jan. 7, 2023

    In planning to travel for the Christmas holiday I reserved round-trip fare with Amtrak from 30th St. Station - Philadelphia. I noted that car rental was available with National Car Rental within 30th Street Station. I reserved a vehicle to drive to my family in South Jersey. I was traveling from the south coming north. I called National Car rental to inform them that my train would be late arriving... 5:35 pm.

    I was not able to get anyone on the phone using the local number at that location, however, the greeting stated that the location closed at 9:00 pm. I thought that was perfect as again...my train would arrive late. The National Car Rental...national number did answer and I was told that I would have to come in the next day to pick up the vehicle... THAT was not possible as my destination was an hour away and I didn't have anywhere to stay overnight.

    I was baffled as the local number to the 30th St. Station office of National's office greeting stated closing at 9:00 pm. Yes, the website said 5:00 pm, yet their telephone voice greeting stated a 9:00 pm closing. I made two calls to the 800-number...1st agent stated she would contact the local office in the 30th street station and ask them to call me. Never received a call!!! The 2nd call I got a male agent who became irritated with me and told me to check the website, even though I told him the telephone message stated 9:00pm. What I don't understand is with the reality that trains don't always arrive on time...why there is even an office in the train station. I was just about left stranded after traveling from 1:00 am to 5:35 pm. This was my first time attempting to rent from National...it is also my last time. Never again!!!

    National Car Rental response

    Thank you for your review, Donna. Please be assured it is never our intent to inconvenience our customers and we strive to provide the best possible services. I'd like to pass your information along to someone who can best address your concern. Please email care@nationalcar.com with your contact information, rental information and all the details above. Thank you. – Chad

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    Rated with 1 star
    Verified Reviewer
    Original review: Jan. 3, 2023

    They are very quick in charging me $30 for "processing" a ticket or an $800 fee for a scratch on the bumper. Meanwhile, they charge you the price of a luxury car, do not honor the reservation, give you an economy. Then, they lie to you saying the price difference will be paid back in the next few days, which never happens. Thank you for your service, I would not be needing it anymore.

    National Car Rental response

    Thank you for your feedback,Semih. 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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    Rated with 1 star
    Verified Reviewer
    Original review: Jan. 2, 2023

    On top of your rental fee there is a $400 security deposit required. They don't tell you that it cannot be in cash, or debit or split between 2 credit cards. I had cash to pay for my rental and a credit card for the security deposit (my limit is not high enough to put it all on my card) and they said no. I had cash on my debit card for all of it, they said no. I had a CC in my partner's name to put it on, they said no. It can ONLY be ONE CC and has to be in my name. I have no car. I now can't work. They make it impossible for a lower income person to rent a car and they only tell you this in the fine print. No heads up. Paid for a ride to pick it up and they had to pay for a ride home. Good job large corporation that doesn't actually care about their customers.

    National Car Rental response

    Thank you for your feedback,Michele. 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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    Rated with 2 stars
    Verified Reviewer Verified Buyer
    Original review: Nov. 16, 2022

    Story: I rented a midsize car from National using a corp. code posted on a blogger's site as a University of Michigan code for fraternity members. When I got to the take the vehicle the manager let me take a minivan as I was a Excutive member as well as add an additional driver for free. For a total of around $1300. Well.. the vehicle had damage and after returning it I got an email from the location saying my account was frozen onto the DNR list and they were adjusting my rental to a total of $4000 for the increased rate, upgraded vehicle and additional driver. I tried reaching out to National, no one was able to help me. All they can do is ask for a call back but no one called me back. I tried disputing the extra charge with Chase all without success. I would like to get this resolved without going to small claims court.

    National Car Rental response

    Thank you for your feedback,.Solomon. 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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    Rated with 1 star
    Verified Reviewer
    Original review: Nov. 9, 2022

    I rented a car from them and paid for it even though I had the confirmation on my phone and it told me to go to the 2nd floor which I did however when I get there they told me I had to go to the first floor to get paper work even though online it told me to go to the second floor. Went back to the first floor to get the paper work and the the person who checked me in said they are charging me a 400 hold because I had an Illinois drivers license and I ask why is that. He said that is their policy that anyone with an Illinois license has to pay a 400 deposit but it's not state that on their website and it took 3 days to get my deposit back.

    I returned the car and the next day I realized I left my cup phone holder in the rental so I couldn’t talk to anyone at the Midway location. Called the number on line and they said I have to put in a claim and someone will call or email me in 48 hours which never happened. On day 9 I went back to the drop off location for them to tell me that the car was cleaned out but nothing was turned in which leads me to believe that the person who cleaned it out kept my item. But what pissed me off the most is the manager told me that if they find it they will let me know. I said, "What you mean it’s been 9 days since I’ve returned the car so if it’s not in your list and found one of your worker took it."

    National Car Rental response

    Chantell, I am disappointed to hear about this experience. Please email Care@NationalCar.com with the location of rental, rental agreement number and the details of your concern so we can look into this more closely. Thank you! –Chris R.

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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, also called The Car Coach, is an automotive and auto finance expert. Her understanding of vehicles has made her the “go to” person on TV, radio, print media and the Internet. She has authored multiple books and writes a column for several outlets, including Parade Magazine, NewsMax and Car Coach Reports. She is a regular guest on major news and morning shows, discussing the latest updates on cars and car financing that will help drivers make smart decisions when buying, maintaining and financing cars.

    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