Convertible car rental issues

Question

Travelling to California from the UK in April. I made a car rental booking for a convertible but have made a mistake - I booked for pick up and drop off at LAX when in fact we are flying into LAX but flying out of San Francisco ( free cancellation fortunately) Our trip starts with 5 days in Palm Springs then on to JTNP, Santa Barbara , Pacific Grove and Napa. I can’t find a single rental company offering convertibles with our required pick up and drop off . But I can find companies with convertibles from LAX dropping off at Santa Barbara. Would this be worth doing ie breaking the rental into 2 and having the convertible for the first half? Just out of curiosity why am I not able to rent a convertible for the whole trip?

Answer

Renting a convertible for a one-way trip from LAX to San Francisco can be challenging because most rental companies have limited availability for specialty vehicles like convertibles on one-way rentals. Convertibles are often considered “premium” or “luxury” vehicles, and many locations prioritize these for local returns rather than cross-state drop-offs due to fleet management and logistics.

Given your itinerary, breaking your rental into two separate bookings can be a practical solution:

Book a convertible from LAX to Santa Barbara for the first portion of your trip. This allows you to enjoy scenic drives along Palm Springs, Joshua Tree, and the Pacific Coast Highway with a convertible experience.
Return the convertible at Santa Barbara, then pick up a standard car or SUV for the remaining leg of the journey from Santa Barbara through Pacific Grove and Napa up to San Francisco. This will give you flexibility and likely more availability with one-way rentals.

Pros and cons of splitting the rental:

Pros: You get to drive a convertible on the most scenic portion of your trip, likely with fewer logistical headaches. You can also adjust the second car to be larger or more practical for longer drives and wine country visits.
Cons: You may have to deal with two separate rental agreements and pick-up/drop-off logistics, which can add some time and possibly extra fees. Check for any drop-off fees for the first rental.

Reasons why convertible rentals are limited for the whole trip:

Fleet management: Rental companies need to return specialty cars to their home locations for maintenance and balanced distribution.
Limited supply: Convertibles are less common than standard vehicles, so availability for long one-way trips is restricted.
Higher risk: Convertibles may be more prone to damage, and rental companies often avoid long, multi-city one-way rentals for these vehicles.

Overall, splitting the rental is a reasonable and practical approach. You’ll enjoy the convertible experience along the most scenic portion of your journey, while still ensuring reliable and available vehicles for the rest of the trip.

Convertible car rental issues

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