Can't change a Canadian prepaid car rental reservation from Hertz

August 13, 2018 12:36 PM

I made a reservation to rent a car in Halifax, Nova Scotia for August 24-26 from the Hertz website. I want to change the drop off date to August 25, time and location remain the same.

I wasn't able to do it on the website. I called the 1-800 Hertz number and they couldn't make the change online for me because it's a prepaid Canadian reservation (wtf?). They told me to call the location - I did, and they weren't able to change it either for the same reason. They said that when I pick up the car, to then let them know that I want to change the drop off date.

In your experience with renting cars, will there be any issues with doing this? I don't want to go there the day of and I say that I want to change the drop off day and they end up saying that I can't. (I don't understand why they can't make the change online but they can do it when I go in person?)

Basically I just want reassurances that what they suggest will actually work, based on your experience, and if it didn't work for you, what I can do now to avoid it, or what you had to do afterwards to make sure you got your money back.

Thanks all.

posted by foxjacket to Travel & Transportation around Nova Scotia (3 answers total)

In your experience with renting cars, will there be any issues with doing this?

I have done this with Hertz in the US. We were at a big airport location that had a bunch of these video phone kiosks to ostensibly speed things up, and the people on screen were unable to make any changes to reservations and did not seem to even know how such a thing would be possible. After speaking to an a live person physically at the location we were able to adjust things easily.

I would maybe call back again and get a name/title for whoever claims this is possible, just to avoid any potential issues once you arrive, but I think you'll be ok.


I don't understand why they can't make the change online but they can do it when I go in person?
Any chance that this is prepaid or otherwise non-refundable or something you can't cancel for free? I'm sure in all cases the are happy to take the car back early but I could imagine cases where you wouldn't save any money.
posted by Nonsteroidal Anti-Inflammatory Drug at 12:41 PM on August 13, 2018

In my experience there is not any issue with doing this. The people in the actual rental location can usually do stuff that everyone else tells you is impossible.

I'd give it 50/50 on you actually getting any money back. In all likelihood they'll take the car a day earlier but if it's prepaid they won't rebate you for the day you didn't drive it.
posted by GuyZero at 12:42 PM on August 13, 2018

You'll certainly be able to drop it off whenever you want (ensure the location is open at the time you return it or determine where the dropbox for the keys is located). It's unlikely that you'll receive a change in price. You've paid for the rental already.

Prepaid rentals give you a better price in exchange for pre-paying and giving you no change options. Hotels are doing this too.
posted by hydra77 at 1:09 PM on August 13, 2018