# What to expect in a rental car these days? **URL:** \ **Category:** In My Humble Opinion\ **Created:** [March 17, 2012, 4:34pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/what-to-expect-in-a-rental-car-these-days/616058 "2012-03-17T16:34:34Z")\ **Posts on this page:** 10\ **Page:** 1
**Author:** ![dalej42](https://avatars.discourse-cdn.com/v4/letter/d/67e7ee/32.png) [@dalej42](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/dalej42)\ **Post date:** [March 17, 2012, 4:34pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/what-to-expect-in-a-rental-car-these-days/616058/1 "2012-03-17T16:34:34Z")
I haven’t rented a car in almost ten years. I was quite surprised and happy to get satellite radio in the car, which was new at that time. What amenities should I expect in a typical full size car from a major rental car company? Satellite radio? Ipod jack? GPS? ---
**Author:** ![Rick](https://avatars.discourse-cdn.com/v4/letter/r/9f8e36/32.png) [@Rick](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/Rick)\ **Post date:** [March 17, 2012, 4:42pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/what-to-expect-in-a-rental-car-these-days/616058/2 "2012-03-17T16:42:19Z")
Rental cars are usually the bottom of the line version of what ever model you are renting. So if the car has a standard iPod jack so will the rental. I can’t speak for all cars but all 2011 and later Hyundais have iPod jacks standard, and I am sure many other car makes do also. There probably won’t be a cable so bring your own. ---
**Author:** ![DCnDC](https://sea3.discourse-cdn.com/straightdope/user_avatar/boards.straightdope.com/dcndc/32/2842_2.png) [@DCnDC](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/DCnDC)\ **Post date:** [March 17, 2012, 4:53pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/what-to-expect-in-a-rental-car-these-days/616058/3 "2012-03-17T16:53:11Z")
**Rick** is correct, it’s almost always a base or near-base model. The good news is these days even the base models of most cars (the models that are popular with rental car companies, at least) come with things that years ago would be considered luxury options, like air conditioning, power windows/locks, remote entry, and AUX jacks. On a full-size sedan you might even get power seats. Maybe even a sunroof! GPS is almost always an additional charge, even if it’s already built into the dash (it won’t be turned on unless you pay the extra fee). ---
**Author:** ![chappachula](https://avatars.discourse-cdn.com/v4/letter/c/d2c977/32.png) [@chappachula](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/chappachula)\ **Post date:** [March 17, 2012, 5:06pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/what-to-expect-in-a-rental-car-these-days/616058/4 "2012-03-17T17:06:55Z")
> [@DCnDC](#): > > GPS is almost always an additional charge, even if it’s already built into the dash (it won’t be turned on unless you pay the extra fee). they really screw you on the GPS—I think I paid $15 a day for it in New York.. For that price,if you’re driving for 4-5 days, you could buy a Gps of your own . But when you’re in a new place and dont know where you’re going, GPS is vital. And the rental places know that…so they stick it to you . ---
**Author:** ![Martin\_Hyde](https://avatars.discourse-cdn.com/v4/letter/m/47e85d/32.png) [@Martin\_Hyde](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/Martin_Hyde)\ **Post date:** [March 17, 2012, 5:31pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/what-to-expect-in-a-rental-car-these-days/616058/5 "2012-03-17T17:31:32Z")
Yeah, I’d never get GPS from the rental company. I just bring my personal Garmin if I need one for the trip. ---
**Author:** ![blondebear](https://sea3.discourse-cdn.com/straightdope/user_avatar/boards.straightdope.com/blondebear/32/1022_2.png) [@blondebear](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/blondebear)\ **Post date:** [March 17, 2012, 7:09pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/what-to-expect-in-a-rental-car-these-days/616058/6 "2012-03-17T19:09:35Z")
A year ago I rented a Jeep Grand Cherokee from National. It was a base model but had an iPod port and a satellite radio with a basic subscription, which was pretty nice. ---
**Author:** ![dalej42](https://avatars.discourse-cdn.com/v4/letter/d/67e7ee/32.png) [@dalej42](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/dalej42)\ **Post date:** [March 17, 2012, 8:13pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/what-to-expect-in-a-rental-car-these-days/616058/7 "2012-03-17T20:13:54Z")
It seems like rental car companies are now making money off the GPS because people have become aware they don’t need all the extra insurance the car companies used to do a hard sell on. ---
**Author:** ![msmith537](https://avatars.discourse-cdn.com/v4/letter/m/d9b06d/32.png) [@msmith537](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/msmith537)\ **Post date:** [March 18, 2012, 9:21am UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/what-to-expect-in-a-rental-car-these-days/616058/8 "2012-03-18T09:21:51Z")
It depends on the car and the rental company and how much you’re willing to pay. Usually I’m supposed to rent the cheapest bare-bones radio and AC compact for work. But they do run specials and last time I rented a Lincoln MKS with satellite radio, iPhone jack, rear camera, collision warning and other ammenities for not much more money. GPS is always extra. I just use my Android phone with Google Navigation and a power adapter. I’d bring your own iPhone cable. Sometimes they have them in the car, but sometimes not and sometimes they don’t work. ---
**Author:** ![Reply](https://sea3.discourse-cdn.com/straightdope/user_avatar/boards.straightdope.com/reply/32/15952_2.png) [@Reply](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/Reply)\ **Post date:** [March 18, 2012, 9:34am UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/what-to-expect-in-a-rental-car-these-days/616058/9 "2012-03-18T09:34:19Z")
FWIW, my experience with Enterprise has been that they’re usually willing to accommodate requests for an AUX jack whenever they can (within the same car class). Usually I call the day of the reservation to request that it be put in the vehicle notes, and specifically ask the agent at the counter at pick-up time to see if they have any vehicles with one. They’ve been able to accommodate me multiple times so far, moving me to a similar vehicle with one instead of the one they initially assigned me. ---
**Author:** ![Mdcastle](https://avatars.discourse-cdn.com/v4/letter/m/958977/32.png) [@Mdcastle](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/Mdcastle)\ **Post date:** [March 19, 2012, 12:38am UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/what-to-expect-in-a-rental-car-these-days/616058/10 "2012-03-19T00:38:26Z")
Some of the cheaper ones don’t have cruise control, a full sized car probably does. I never bother with a GPS- just something else to tempt someone to break in- I still use road maps.