Thanks for the tips. I have been wanting to "try on" a hybrid through the rental option before committing to buying one.

Posted By Tom B. on August 26, 2009, 12:39 PM

Step 5: Reserve a regular car and then ask if they have a hybrid on the lot when you arrive. If they do, you can probably get it.

Posted By Lorenzo on August 27, 2009, 2:34 PM

We've been offered a Prius once in FL and have had our request for one honored once in FL through Enterprise. It's a different story in Charlottesville, VA where none of the rental agencies would guarantee a hybrid of any sort the last fe...w times we've tried. Supply & Demand or some such ECON 201 nonsense. ;-}

One note of caution for those not used to driving a Prius:
Pedestrians are not able to hear your hybrid vehicle and will step in front of you if they aren't facing you. Can't tell you how many times this happened to us in parking lots in FL. I suggest that Rental Agencies remind customers of this and/or place a stickerwith this warning in their hybrid vehicles. (p.s.Disclaimer: No pedestrians were injured in the rental of our hybrid(s))Read More

Posted By K. Hamilton on August 28, 2009, 2:10 PM

Why not other Hybrid makes IE Lexus, Chevy etc A-Z estd hybrid models out now.
& why doesnt the Eco movement lobby for more to Rent anyway.
I urge they contact Lexus, Infiniti, BMW etc for thier Hybrids to Rent them & Prius.
Who else will?
When.
& we wonder why we have no jobs etc in this country.

NO rental agency dare Say We rent Hybrids 2?
Is someone hiding something or is this 'rigged'.
Bias.
Hybrids should be acessable Nationwide.
If NOT, why NOT.
Whose blocking the Rental marketplace.

Posted By stephen russell on August 28, 2009, 8:51 PM

I've also had luck asking for a hybrid when a regular car had been reserved - it was a $5/day upgrade from a deeply discounted (hotwire) rate. Car rental companies should also be challenged on their high prices for the hybrids, which are not appreciably more expensive than the full-sized cars they rent, usually for $10-$20 per day less.

Posted By Morris on August 31, 2009, 3:48 PM

Sheesh. Who cares? Just rent the nicest car you can, perhaps one with a big engine, and move on. All this green crap is for the birds.

Posted By lendtolease on August 31, 2009, 5:50 PM

lendtolease is right on. I can't you how many idiots I see driving a Prius at 75 mph. With a 9 gallon tank, they're not getting very far. The mileage on a Prius at 75 mph is not very good. How green is that.

Posted By Craig on September 1, 2009, 12:53 PM

I hope this IS monitored! This comment is for the monitor/author/website creator. The video on renting a green car quit and reset before any tips were given. This happened when the article was first aired as a feature article, and also when I accessed the "in case you missed it" link in this edition. Surely my computer is not the only one which could not play the entire article. Perhaps it could be looked into? and repeated when the whole could be watched?

Posted By Carole on September 1, 2009, 2:24 PM

Craig is right in that no car gets as good mileage at 75 as at 55 mph. However, my Prius gets 49mpg+ at 75 mph on the highway. There aren't many other cars that can do that.

Posted By GiGi on September 14, 2009, 2:40 PM

No problems renting a Prius from Hertz. My problem with them it they charge a premium price for a stripped down Prius without all the goodies that a normal Prius has. What a rip off.

Posted By Ernest Barger on June 9, 2011, 11:12 AM

No problems renting a Prius from Hertz. My problem with them it they charge a premium price for a stripped down Prius without all the goodies that a normal Prius has. What a rip off.

Posted By Ernest Barger on June 9, 2011, 11:13 AM