Help me find a one-way car rental from San Francisco to Davis
February 21, 2023 10:56 AM Subscribe
I had a beautiful SF weekend, thanks AskMeFi, but I must ask your help for another thing! I caught COVID while I was here, and now I need to find a one-way car rental to go directly back to Davis to continue quarantining, can you help me? I need to leave by noon tomorrow.
I need to drive home by myself so I don't expose anyone else, because I'm super contagious, but now I'm physically well enough to at least be able to drive 90 miles home.
I'm currently in a hotel in Union Square, so anything that's nearby would be great, and ideally not too expensive. I'm only aware of Zipcar, but I'm a little confused because I can't figure out info on the website whether it is one-way or not, but I also am extremely fatigued from this new COVID strain that I really could use all the help I could get. Thank you! I have a roller luggage, a backpack, and some other stuff. Thank you, please help me get. home!
Please do not recommend that I stay longer in the hotel until I test negative, that is not possible right now.
I need to drive home by myself so I don't expose anyone else, because I'm super contagious, but now I'm physically well enough to at least be able to drive 90 miles home.
I'm currently in a hotel in Union Square, so anything that's nearby would be great, and ideally not too expensive. I'm only aware of Zipcar, but I'm a little confused because I can't figure out info on the website whether it is one-way or not, but I also am extremely fatigued from this new COVID strain that I really could use all the help I could get. Thank you! I have a roller luggage, a backpack, and some other stuff. Thank you, please help me get. home!
Please do not recommend that I stay longer in the hotel until I test negative, that is not possible right now.
Response by poster: If there is no results generated when I put in the two end points, then what do I do next? I was checking KAYAK but it looks like there are no direct options from San Francisco to Davis...
posted by yueliang at 11:16 AM on February 21, 2023
posted by yueliang at 11:16 AM on February 21, 2023
Poking around on kayak.com it seems like finding a rental in San Francisco is no problem, it's dropping off in Davis that is the limiting factor. If you can drop off at Sacramento airport you've got loads of options (not sure how you're going to be getting around once you're in Davis, but maybe you have a recently-recovered-from-COVID friend who could pick you up at the airport and drive you home with masks on and windows down?).
Enterprise is the only company that has a location in Davis (and they have multiple locations in San Francisco), so it might be worth calling Enterprise and seeing if they can hook you up.
Or rent a car for a longer period than you need and return it when you're less contagious.
posted by mskyle at 11:19 AM on February 21, 2023
Enterprise is the only company that has a location in Davis (and they have multiple locations in San Francisco), so it might be worth calling Enterprise and seeing if they can hook you up.
Or rent a car for a longer period than you need and return it when you're less contagious.
posted by mskyle at 11:19 AM on February 21, 2023
Zipcar is a no-go -- even their "flex" rentals need to be dropped off in the same zone where they originated, so you can't leave them in another city at the end of the trip.
posted by mekily at 11:26 AM on February 21, 2023 [2 favorites]
posted by mekily at 11:26 AM on February 21, 2023 [2 favorites]
Please do not rideshare while actively knowingly contagious with COVID. Rideshare drivers are human.
It looks like some shit is going on with car availability in SF right now (or maybe it's too late today to rent online for tomorrow), but I would recommend calling Enterprise customer service 1-855-266-9565 (because they have a Davis drop-off location) to see if they can figure out where to get a car close to your hotel. Everything online is coming up as zero inventory.
You're still going to have a last-mile problem, as you'll need to get home from the dropoff location, so you really should try to rent for several days so you are hopefully low in viral load by the time you have to figure out that part.
posted by Lyn Never at 1:31 PM on February 21, 2023 [1 favorite]
It looks like some shit is going on with car availability in SF right now (or maybe it's too late today to rent online for tomorrow), but I would recommend calling Enterprise customer service 1-855-266-9565 (because they have a Davis drop-off location) to see if they can figure out where to get a car close to your hotel. Everything online is coming up as zero inventory.
You're still going to have a last-mile problem, as you'll need to get home from the dropoff location, so you really should try to rent for several days so you are hopefully low in viral load by the time you have to figure out that part.
posted by Lyn Never at 1:31 PM on February 21, 2023 [1 favorite]
To elaborate on the rideshare idea - I definitely agree that you need to disclose to the driver before you get in, but I would push back gently on the idea that this can't be done safely.
The rider can wear an N95 mask, bring an extra N95 mask to offer the driver, and request the windows down. The rider can also give the driver the option to cancel without penalty upon arrival if they aren't comfortable, but it really is minimal risk when N95 masks are used in a well-ventilated area.
Risk mitigation is always tricky to balance, but planning to operating a motor vehicle when one is incapacitated by illness arguably carries more risk to others.
posted by veery at 2:11 PM on February 21, 2023
The rider can wear an N95 mask, bring an extra N95 mask to offer the driver, and request the windows down. The rider can also give the driver the option to cancel without penalty upon arrival if they aren't comfortable, but it really is minimal risk when N95 masks are used in a well-ventilated area.
Risk mitigation is always tricky to balance, but planning to operating a motor vehicle when one is incapacitated by illness arguably carries more risk to others.
posted by veery at 2:11 PM on February 21, 2023
I found that Enterprise has vehicles in downtown Oakland that you can take one way to Davis. That's the closest to Union Square...
posted by hydra77 at 3:50 PM on February 21, 2023
posted by hydra77 at 3:50 PM on February 21, 2023
Response by poster: Update: Thankfully the organizers have told me I can stay as long as I need past Wednesday for my hotel room, but the SF car rental situation is genuinely a problem, I also have brilliant friends who are helping coordinate a last mile drive so I could probably drive my own car back from the last leg, but I will rest up and keep this thread updated with additional questions, if any folks are kind enough to pay attention. Thank you for all the help so far!
posted by yueliang at 4:10 PM on February 21, 2023 [3 favorites]
posted by yueliang at 4:10 PM on February 21, 2023 [3 favorites]
Alternate idea, if you can’t find a rental: do you have two friends in Davis who could drive to you in separate cars, leave one of the cars and drive back together, and you could drive back the second car?
posted by madcaptenor at 5:25 PM on February 21, 2023 [5 favorites]
posted by madcaptenor at 5:25 PM on February 21, 2023 [5 favorites]
I've been able to rent cars from Hertz picking up and dropping off in separate locations.
posted by brujita at 9:31 AM on February 22, 2023
posted by brujita at 9:31 AM on February 22, 2023
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If you don't have your own car insurance it was around $125 for a week of full coverage last time I had to do that.
posted by Narrow Harbor at 11:11 AM on February 21, 2023