Fox Rent A Car - your experience/tips?
Posted by theherpetoculturist@reddit | Shoestring | View on Reddit | 58 comments
Hey guys, this is going to be my first time renting a car and I want to hear what everyone’s experience is surrounding Fox. I’ll be renting out of SFO and found their rates to be the most affordable (along with unlimited mileage). Pros/Cons? Anything I should look out for?
Just a bit nervous as it’s my first time renting one, so I’d like to hear what everyone’s thoughts are surrounding Fox.
Thanks!
Robbieflyer@reddit
The worst customer service.
Set a same-day reservation over the phone. Drive to the airport to get the car and they would not honor the reservation even though it said today as the start. Very rude lady kept saying it was on their website and I should have seen that.
The worst ever.
AquariumsW@reddit
I tried to do some kind of 'same day' reservation with fox. I was at the bust stop and had not finished my care rental screen. It either 'clicked off' or disappeared, and few minutes later, it would not let me make a reservation for later that day. I think someone on the phone helped, but I got my car at a fair price.
NoNameFudge@reddit
I'm in Miami quite often and rent every time. I've used many companies. However, there's something up with Fox's vehicles. For example, the fuel range will be 365 and the tank shows full. When I fill up to return, if I'm putting the range back to 365 and the tank shows 3/4 full. This has happened about 4 times since I've started noting and taking video before leaving. Recently I rented an SUV receiving it at 347, I put it 415 and it still was at 3/4. Something is definitely up.
Bama750GS@reddit
Oh my God. the car’s range varies from driver to driver. it calculates the current mpg to how much gas remains in the tank. if I drive faster and driving up and down mountains, I’m going to have much lower fuel range compared to someone living in totally flat terrain and driving slowly.
all cars have a gas tank gauge on the dashboard for a reason. Use that, and only that, to determine how much gas is in your tank. Fuel range is never ever, never, used to determine fuel level. it is only guessing at how far you can go with what remains in the tank.
surprised no one has ever told you this before.
NoNameFudge@reddit
I use the gage as well, duh. For example, one of my cars range on FULL is constantly at 485. No matter if I'm going up and down mountains or on a flat terrain, when I fill up, the gage is at Full and the range is at 485. Now whether I get the 485 range depends on city vs highway miles. So receiving the Fox car rental showing a gage at Full with a 360 range vs me refueling to a range of 400+ and the gage is at 3/4 tells me something is wrong. I'm a frequent traveler and renter and no other rental company has this issue. That includes hertz, budget, dollar, enterprise, thrifty and sixt.
I'm surprised you lack comprehension.
AquariumsW@reddit
I don't think they are that sophisticated. I don't think they alter the fuel gauge. Why are you talking about range anyway? If a tank shows full, and you drive X miles, that is how much gas you use. I presume if you then fill the tank, the next guy can drive about that far.
Chidlish_Nava@reddit
It wasn’t bad but I feel like they don’t tell you all the rates. I did a prepay for it for $285 for 3 days using Expedia but once I got there they charged me another $900 for the fees, insurance and such which was like wtf.
Mean-Solution8105@reddit
I just used Fox for the first time at TPA. I usually use Enterprise or Budget, but Fox had cheaper rates. I was hesitant because I’ve read people that have had terrible experiences. Honestly, I have to admit, they were great. I had a car with 7k miles, clean, excellent condition, and I wasn’t nickeled and dimed when checking in for the vehicle. I was at the counter, and in the vehicle and on my way in maybe 10-15 minutes.
Mean-Solution8105@reddit
I should also add that I had a 10 day vehicle rental and it was $430. Every other rental company wanted $700 or more.
bryceblair@reddit
I paid about that much for a 3 day rental in Denver with all of the add ons. The price in the Expedia package was good but don’t think for a second that’s all you will pay for that rental.
GlassStick2208@reddit
Did you have to do credit card or could you also use a debit card
Ok-Web-4971@reddit
A little late but I think you can use a debit if you are traveling and can prove your travel by showing the return flight. The reason why most companies prefer credit card and make debit card very difficult is because there’s usually a deposit hold. It’s easier to authorize and then clear via credit than with debit/cash. From my experience, FOX usually has the highest deposit hold. But might not be as much if you’re renting for travel and some times they might waive it but I think that’s rare.
Mean-Solution8105@reddit
I used a credit card, but thats because it was my preference. However I think it is required but you may need to check their website or give them a call to confirm.
Mean-Solution8105@reddit
Also since it’s been a while since I originally posted… I have used Fox 3 times at TPA and have had good success. The last time I used them, had a minor hiccup with a Dodge Durango that was a little shaky when at higher speeds. Called them up, and had the vehicle swapped with no problems.
Milfs_At_Your_Area@reddit
I think you're probably better off using a rental comparison tool instead of just sticking with one company. Fox is usually pretty good, though.
Academic-Big2346@reddit
[ Removed by Reddit ]
streetxjustice@reddit
WORST RENTAL EXPERIENCE OF MY LIFE.
Prepaid $582 for a rental only to arrive at the rental counter, wait over an hour, and then be told that no cars were available. If a car is reserved for a specific date and time for pickup, especially when paid for, how is it not ready?
Finally, myself and several people in line ahead of me, were walked over to Dollar rental BY THE FOX EMPLOYEE because they had a few cars left. I was told that Fox would reimburse the difference, which I double checked with the Fox employee about before heading to the garage with my new rental agreement from Dollar for $948. Once the car was returned to Dollar, I called Fox to follow up on the reimbursement process only to be told that (A) there was no record in the Fox notes about running out of cars nor the employee promising reimbursement and (B) I should have been given an 'upsell agreement' by Fox which I was not.
Now it appears that I am out of luck with reimbursement after paying more than DOUBLE to a competitor under the promise of being made whole by Fox. Not only were the Fox representatives at the SEATAC counter not helpful, they were also incompetent. Calling the customer service line has been just as maddening an experience with no help or guidance given at all. I would sooner walk barefoot to my destination than to rent a car with Fox.
judyvla@reddit
Alarming! I used Fox in Denver several times years ago—they weren’t the fastest or closest but the rates were good. I’m going to Seattle for six weeks this summer, and Fox rate is at least a thou cheaper than the next best. Sheesh. Thanks for your input, i hope my experience is better!
Super-Walk-1741@reddit
Did you end up using Fox in Seattle? How did it go?
NoBoysenberry5726@reddit
https://www.courthousenews.com/class-outraged-by-rent-a-car-gimmick/#:~:text=SEATTLE%20(CN)%20%2D%20A%20consumer,of%20automatically%20charged%20highway%20tolls.
Regular-Department57@reddit
It really depends on the place—experiences can vary. My recent experience with Fox was terrible. I rented a car at Austin Airport in Texas for $249, but when I returned it, I was charged nearly $950. They added all kinds of extra fees, including insurance, prepaid fuel, and tolls. For example, I used less than $10 worth of tolls, but they charged me over $110 in advance. Maybe if I had spent an extra hour asking about all the details before renting, I could’ve avoided this experience—but unfortunately, I just didn’t have the time.
cunmaui808@reddit
Bare-bones rates for a POS company and service.
Traveling for funeral - got to Fox counter for reservation, employee runs credit card 3X in quick succession and cc denies charges all 3 times.
Called credit card fraud dept to authorize, success.
Fox employee says she CANNOT accept the same card: "policy is I can only run the card 3x"
Goodbye Fox, hello Avis.
editor-in-mischief@reddit
Well, always carry >1 car esp when traveling. That's a no-brainer.
Masesucksatreddit@reddit
My family and I went to florida for Miami and Key West. We rented a cherokee from fox. During the drive to key west, we saw roaches but we thought they were a different bug, and the next day (at Key West) i spotted a roach while I was getting in the car. I just saw 3 roaches lol, so right now they’re coming to pick up the car and give us a new one
OliveTest_001@reddit
Ugh. Did you get the new car?
Masesucksatreddit@reddit
yes still felt dirty tho
NoNameFudge@reddit
Had the same experience about a month ago. Lol. Was it the black Cherokee?
Masesucksatreddit@reddit
yes
No-Jellyfish8859@reddit
DO NOT USE FOX CAR RENTAL - the worst - Ive been renting cars for years so I do not know how I fell for the 'we will only charge you for the gas not used' scam. I knew I would be in hurry on the return so when the clerk assured me that they would only charge me for the gallons needed to fill the tank I said ok. I reviewed this policy several times with the clerk - but on the return ... they told me that there was no such policy and charged me a full tank. Also, on one occasion I had a car stall on me - so I called road side service , road side service never answered so I called the support line and asked them what I should do - they told me to take it to the nearest FOX rental car - then they charged me a 216.00 drop off fee! when I attempted to get a refund on the drop off fee they told me I damaged the car - which is just a lie - NEVER RENT FROM FOX
NoNameFudge@reddit
I'm in Miami quite often and rent every time. I've used many companies. However, there's something up with Fox's vehicles. For example, the fuel range will be 365 and the tank shows full. When I fill up to return, if I'm putting the range back to 365 and the tank shows 3/4 full. This has happened about 4 times since I've started noting and taking video before leaving. Recently I rented an SUV receiving it at 347, I put it 415 mile range and it still was at 3/4 tank. Something is definitely up.
Purple-Tadpole6465@reddit
Used them at Denver airport (DIA), some staff very rude at counter. Used them again at Tampa Airport (TP)A, drop off attendants looked angry at everything, had a toll road notice sent to me 5/3 (Saturday), toll was $3.28, they charged $33.38, and if I didn't pay by 5/5 (Monday) would charge my CC on file. Couldn't pay through their website and couldn't send a message through the Contact Us link on website. Cars were overall clean.
Overall, not happy with their service and no loyalty from me.
Upperhand9978@reddit
Ask ten different people you'll get ten different answers about their experiences at car rental places. Most the complaints in this thread are common with any rental car company, and a result of people having no clue or doing any planning ahead of time whatsoever. Go with the rental car provider that has the lowest rates, unless you enjoy wasting your hard-earned $$$. Know ahead of time where the rental car provider is located (if you're picking up at an airport, locations can vary), and plan ahead. Call the rental provider a few days before your trip to ensure they're not dealing with inventory problems. Rental rates are often lowest when you book closer to your trip. If you book too far in advance, you'll pay higher rates. Know that almost any rental company puts a "hold/deposit" onto your credit card, usually $200-$500, and they refund that deposit after the car is returned. Make sure your rental vehicle is inspected for damage inside and out before you leave the lot. If you carry auto insurance in your home state, you may already be fully covered by your own insurance with a rental...check with your auto insurer. It's often a waste to pay for the rental-provided insurance, but up to you whether you need it or not. Fox's rates are generally lower than their competitors, and I haven't had any issues with Fox beyond what I've experienced with any rental car company.
itsmeMr-C@reddit
Renter beware. Cant get any more shady. I pre-paid for my rental car about $220 for 8 days. I drove it a total of 22 miles in the 8 days and even topped of the tank before returning. They added over $280 in junk fees to my credit card when I returned it. Full tank of gas, no toll road fees or anything like that. Just random fees that literally made no sense. Dont walk, run from this shady company! (Fox Miami airport)
gimgumm@reddit
Hi! Same thing just happened to me from the Fox Fort Myers airport. Do you think it would be worth it to file a claim with my credit card company? Just looking for some other people in similar situations and their take. I'm pretty livid right now with them
financialbeatmaker@reddit
Same thing happened to me. What did you end up doing?
Key-Explanation8212@reddit
Recently Rented from FOX for 15 hours. Charge was $33, unlimited miles, all fees included for my son. Not mentioned was the $25 underage driver fee but all rental car companies charge this so…when my son arrived at the counter, they also ran a refundable $535 charge. Not sure why because We have insurance. It was a clean car. The $535 charge has been since reversed back to his account. I would rent from them again.
Thord197@reddit
Hey, did you end up renting from Fox? I've been considering this service for my next trip but would love to hear your experience first!
Appropriate_Virus_97@reddit
Had an awful experience out of LAX. Shuttle never came, after 30+ minutes, the shuttle came, after and we got to the rental company, only to in line for the next 1hr, there were very few employees and even those were taking breaks to smoke even though there was a huge line, if cost is the only factor , then u can consider this company, else it is very frusterating, the car was ok, again , for tolls I have only been charged actuals, but fax has like a $90 or so for activation whether u use it or not. the car was not bad, but not something , I would be joyful about. on the whole , things worked out and I rented for 9 days, wasted a lot of time on the arrival. I will be very hestant to rent form them again
Careless-Nail2830@reddit
Fox is garbage - Beware!
Butit2003@reddit
Have you decided on Fox or another option? Is it worth using a rental aggregator or just trusting a specific company?
ZestfulZoey@reddit
Chuck your dates into this site. Most likely there will be better regarded companies that are similar or even cheaper than Fox.
ConsciousDiamond3236@reddit
Rented through Fox at Denver Airport
Wasn't too bad. The Toyota Camry was in fair condition and ran well it was worth the 300 for 5 days I denied all the additional add ones just as fuel and insurance and all.
Bycuba@reddit
After 2 months of renting a car today I started to get charged on my credit card 5 times in 5 min, each 140$ . Scam. While talking to the bank they were still trying to charge non-stop. Stay away from scammers.
oxycontin_raised@reddit
They’re shady at least.
LuminousLayla1@reddit
Fox is fine, as are most of the bigger companies, but it's hard to predict which one will have the best prices on a given date. If you plug your dates in this site you'll get a clearer picture. This is a better way to find a rental car than choosing a specific company IMO.
blakewantsa68@reddit
frequent traveler here. Fox at SFO is about third from the bottom in my worst all time rental car experiences. yes, it's cheaper. there's a reason for that.
your mileage may vary
theherpetoculturist@reddit (OP)
Ooff, got it. I’ll plan on avoiding them. Which rental company would you recommend? Alamo any good?
blakewantsa68@reddit
also avoid Sixt
Alamo is good, Budget is good. Enterprise is great but does not have pickup at the terminal so you have to leave extra time on drop-off.
Glimmer_III@reddit
It isn't about "who is good" but "who is not bad".
ACE and FOX = Bad.
Others = Balancing the interests of service level with cost.
Example: Alamo is owned by Enterprise. You're getting the same technicians and cars, but a different front end interface.
So be careful "swearing off" any specific agency. Be agnostic. Find the best deal with a good company, and understand inventory management constraints.
Best thing you can do to make your car pick-up easy with any of these agencies is:
1 - Fill out their rapid-pick-up program info.
2 - Make your reservation at least 24h prior to pick-up. (This allows them to create your rental profile and pre-pull your car.)
That's ^ how you skip the line. You don't need to have "elite status"...you just need to complete the paperwork in advance.
Good luck.
crevicecreature@reddit
Never had an issue with Fox, U Save or Sixth at LAX. As a matter of fact Budget, Avis and Hertz have tried to screw me with trying to tack on insurance or prepaid gas after I declined it, or claimed I hadn’t returned the car after hours with a full tank when I had.
-Smarty-Pants-@reddit
Fox at SFO is one of their better locations. It is not the most convenient agency but can be worth it if there are good savings.
Check https://carrentalsavers.com/fox-car-rental.html for Fox coupons and discounts and to compare prices.
Make sure you review terms and conditions. This is what catches most people out with smaller agencies.
yosemitelover11@reddit
I recently used Fox at SFO, it was surprisingly a good experience. They didn’t have the SUV I requested, however that was because my flight had delays. They were very apologetic, the worker offered me a different car and checked in with me a couple of times to make sure I was ok with getting a sedan. They were very patient with me asking questions on 18 hours of travel and 4 hours of sleep. I didn’t feel pressured to buy extra’s.
DocLibido@reddit
My daughter rented a car from Budget for a one way trip from Austin to DC. $150. I was shocked!
Impossible_Basil1040@reddit
Back in the days when I was younger than 21 we used to rent from them at LAX several times. It was fine, eventhough the price in the end never matched the ones online.
LFahs1@reddit
I have rented from Fox before and it was fine.
HealthLawyer123@reddit
Had an awful experience out of LAX. Shuttle never came, after 30+ minutes I got in a different agency’s shuttle that went near Fox and walked the rest of the way. Once there, lines were atrocious and you could tell they were trying to add things on to increase the rental cost.
Glimmer_III@reddit
Simply not worth it.
Both ACE and FOX approach insurance differently. If you do not take their insurance, and there is an issue -- any issue -- they will not work with your car insurance company. They will only work with you as an individual.
Which basically means you get dragged through the ringer with an asymmetry of experience and information. They basically turn the screws on you to take their insurance.
Once you put those insurance costs into the mix, neither ACE nor FOX is as competitive cost-wise as they first seem.
Do yourself a favor and become familiar with www.autoslash.com.
Look into renting something just outside the airport radius. You'll pay off-airport prices and can still return to the airport (usually) without one-way drop fees.
Takes a little more research, but once you get the hang of it, your costs will drop.
hydra1970@reddit
I think they charge extra to get a shuttle to their location which is next to Costco? I will rent from them if I am in the local area and take a bus to pick up the car.