Right Cars / Discovercarhire.com - DO NOT USE

Question

I DO NOT recommend renting from Right Cars, or booking through DiscoverCarHire.com. Not a good experience at all.

We arrived at the airport in Fort Lauderdale on a Saturday afternoon to pick up the vehicle which we had reserved online, and although it was stated on the booking that it was at Fort Lauderdale Airport, the rental kiosk was actually a 20 minute drive from the airport. We waited for the shuttle for almost half an hour and with 3 kids it was a really unpleasant situation.

When we finally got to the Right Cars desk, we were informed that there were none of the model we reserved available, so they said we would be getting a similar car. We were also told we could not opt out of their insurance, which was an additional $20 a day, even after we proved to the agent that we did not need it as we were covered through our credit card and travel insurance. They wouldn't budge on this.

We were given keys, but when we went to get into the vehicle, we saw that it was filthy inside and out. Mud and dirt in the back seat, and all over the outside. At this point we decided to cancel the booking and rent a car elsewhere.

The agent assured us that a refund for our $50 deposit would be given, we just had to contact the office. Upon returning home and emailing them, after several days of back-and-forth, we were told that since we didn't take photos of the vehicle we were given, a refund was out of the question. Very disappointed as we wasted $50 and had to go elsewhere to get a last minute rental at a higher price.

Answer

It sounds like your experience with Right Cars and DiscoverCarHire.com in Fort Lauderdale was extremely frustrating and disappointing. Unfortunately, situations like this are not uncommon with third-party rental booking sites, especially when dealing with smaller or off-airport providers.

Key issues from your experience include:

Misleading location information: The rental was advertised as being at Fort Lauderdale Airport, but the actual pickup required a 20-minute shuttle ride. This can be very inconvenient, especially with children and luggage.
Vehicle availability: The car you reserved was not available, and the offered replacement vehicle did not meet expectations. Booking through third-party sites can sometimes result in overbooked or mismanaged fleets.
Mandatory insurance: You were not allowed to decline their insurance even though you were already covered via credit card and travel insurance. This added $20 per day in unnecessary costs.
Vehicle condition: The car provided was filthy, inside and out, which is unacceptable for any rental.
Refund issues: Despite assurances, the $50 deposit was effectively lost due to their refusal to accept your complaint without photos, even though the condition of the car was clearly unacceptable.

Lessons and recommendations for others:

Be cautious when booking through third-party rental platforms like DiscoverCarHire.com. Check reviews and consider booking directly with major rental companies at the airport.
Verify pickup location details in advance to avoid long waits or unexpected shuttle rides, particularly when traveling with children.
Document everything — take photos of the vehicle before driving off. This protects you in case of disputes over deposits or damage claims.
Consider calling the rental office directly before arrival to confirm the car model, insurance policies, and any additional fees.
If something feels off, canceling and choosing a reputable company, even at a slightly higher price, can save a lot of stress and hassle.

In summary, Right Cars and DiscoverCarHire.com provided a poor experience with misrepresentation, mandatory fees, and unclean vehicles. Your decision to cancel and rent elsewhere was the safest and most reasonable option. For future rentals, sticking with well-known, airport-based providers with transparent policies is highly recommended to avoid similar situations.

Right Cars / Discovercarhire.com - DO NOT USE

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