Can I really bypass the National rental counter (First time renter)
05-19-2018, 05:04 AM
#1
Senior Member
Thread Starter
Join Date: Jan 2005
Location: SC
Posts: 10,219
Can I really bypass the National rental counter (First time renter)
I thankfully don't have to travel much these days (as in hardly at all), but likely going to have to start just a bit. Got an upcoming trip, and getting all my reservations in place. Local customer recommends using National. So I go online, make my reservation, and get to reading about their Emerald Club. Everything I'm reading says just to reserve a mid-size, pick out my car, and go. I get that concept completely, just find it odd I don't have to shop up anywhere particular and show my CC/DL the first time I rent. Mainly just making sure I don't go half way across the airport to pick up my rental and be in the wrong place.
05-19-2018, 05:18 AM
#2
Senior Member
Join Date: May 2014
Location: Wendell, NC
Posts: 2,147
Originally Posted by autobaun70
I thankfully don't have to travel much these days (as in hardly at all), but likely going to have to start just a bit. Got an upcoming trip, and getting all my reservations in place. Local customer recommends using National. So I go online, make my reservation, and get to reading about their Emerald Club. Everything I'm reading says just to reserve a mid-size, pick out my car, and go. I get that concept completely, just find it odd I don't have to shop up anywhere particular and show my CC/DL the first time I rent. Mainly just making sure I don't go half way across the airport to pick up my rental and be in the wrong place.
just did exactly this up in grand rapids.
05-19-2018, 05:19 AM
#3
Senior Member
Join Date: Feb 2017
Posts: 1,747
Not sure about National, but some just have kiosks where you stop and scan your DL, insert your card and it spits out your agreement, then you just walk to the car.
With my AVIS card, I can just walk to the car and the agreement is sitting on the seat.
With my AVIS card, I can just walk to the car and the agreement is sitting on the seat.
05-19-2018, 10:18 AM
#8
Senior Member
Thread Starter
Join Date: Jan 2005
Location: SC
Posts: 10,219
Originally Posted by Flot
Usually they make you stop at the counter the very first time. Just went through that with hertz a month ago.
05-19-2018, 11:00 PM
#10
Admirals Club 
Join Date: Feb 2014
Location: Marco Island FL, N Canton OH
Posts: 441
I use national at least 20 times per year. When you arrive go to the ‘emerald’ row of cars and pick one. The keys are already in it so just get in and drive towards the exit. They will have a booth at the exit and you will hand them your credit card and drivers license. It is that simple. As others have mentioned at small airports you still have to go to the counter and they give you the keys like a normal car rental.
