For those who want to “be like Mike,” seen all over town in a sport-utility vehicle, they’re available by the day or week at Chicago-area car rental agencies.
But be advised–some summer weekends are booked, and vehicle supplies are dwindling rapidly. The same is true for mini-vans, popular with vacationing families.
According to a Chicago-area agent for Avis Rent A Car who asked not to be named, mini-vans for the Memorial Day weekend were sold out in early March. She said the 4th of July weekend is almost booked at her west suburban location. But sometimes the company brings in additional vehicles in a crunch, she said.
“Mini-vans are the hottest item in summer, especially in the Midwest,” said the Avis representative. “Other than holiday weekends, August is the busiest month because it’s peak vacation time and also parents are bringing kids back to college.”
Sport-utility vehicles are in greatest demand in fall and winter, she said, especially in places such as Arizona, Utah and Colorado because of the terrain. Rates vary by location, according to the Avis spokeswoman, but all Avis rentals have unlimited miles.
In the Chicago area, a weekend rate for a sport-utility vehicle or mini-van at Avis is $85 a day for a minimum two-day rental, $100 for a mid-week daily rental and $450 for a weekly rental. Taxes and optional insurance charges are to be considered, but special rates are available, such as discounts for members of the American Association of Retired Persons. Most rental agencies offer reduced rates for seniors.
“People don’t realize that it costs more to rent a tux than it does to rent a car these days. Especially when you consider that this is a $20,000 vehicle we’re talking about,” the Avis spokeswoman noted.
At Budget Rent A Car’s Elmhurst location, manager Andrea Lemick said many of her customers want to tool around in a four-wheel-drive vehicle or mini-van before they buy. Add that to the increased summer demand and she said her agency’s almost booked for every weekend this summer. Budget requires reservations two weeks in advance for holiday weekends.
Rules for rental of mini-vans or sport-utilities are the same as car rental and they are fairly standard in the industry, said Lemick. “Generally, you must be 25 years of age or older, have a major credit card to secure authorization for credit and a valid driver’s license.”
Lemick says each Budget office may vary in price, but she quotes a mini-van daily rate of $69.99 with 100 free miles and a weekly rate of $399.99 with 1,000 free miles. For a Ford Explorer, expect to pay $64.99 a day and $359.99 for a week with the same miles. After that, miles cost 30 cents each. Then add the ubiquitous taxes, gas or optional insurance. Plan on paying about 6 percent tax anywhere in Illinois. “There’s an additional 6 percent tax in Cook County for the McCormick Place expansion,” said Lemick.
If you’ve always wanted to rent a pickup, Michael Kinney, manager of Best-Rate Car and Truck Rental in Elmhurst, has one, so get in line. This pickup has automatic transmission, and it’s available to those 21 or older for $35 a day with 25 free miles and 25 cents for each additional mile.
“Customers use it to move an oversized piece of furniture that might not fit in a mini-van but only when rainy weather isn’t predicted,” he added.
“We’re going to be adding more pickups to our fleet because of the demand,” said Kinney. He charges $3 daily for optional insurance and $2.50 a gallon for gas, if you return the truck without a full tank. “That’s pretty standard for most rental agencies,” he said.
At Best-Rate’s three Chicago area locations, customers must confirm registration and complete the paperwork in person. “Walk-ins are welcome. You never know if we might have a cancellation.” They don’t have sport-utility vehicles, but mini-vans rent for $50 a day with 150 free miles. Weekly rates are $300 with 1,500 free miles. In both cases, extra miles are 22 cents each.
Pickup trucks are nearly as trendy as four-wheel-drive vehicles, according to Enterprise Rent-A-Car spokesman Bob Klaskin, who said pickups are available at many Chicago-area locations. Mini-vans and mid- and full-size sport-utilities are also available, he said.
“Most of these vehicles are rented by our customers as replacements while their vans and trucks are in shops for repairs,” Klaskin said. He noted that customers also use them for weekend trips and hauling. For specific rates, Klaskin suggests calling Enterprise’s toll-free number.
Hertz doesn’t cater to the pickup truck crowd, but it does offer mini-vans and sport-utilities.
At its O’Hare International Airport location, the daily rate for a Ford mini-van is $64.99 with unlimited miles, according to a spokesman. To keep that van for a week will cost $384.99 with 700 free miles and 29 cents per mile after that. If you rent a sport-utility vehicle, expect to pay $74.99 each day or $409.99 for the week with unlimited miles. Rates vary by location, the spokesman said.
Dollar Rent A Car Systems rents Jeep Cherokees from its Midway Airport location at $89.99 a day, including 150 free miles, or $444.99 weekly, with 1,000 free miles. In both cases, tack on 20 cents a mile after that. For customers age 21 to 24, rentals cost an extra $15 per day, said Dollar spokeswoman Terri Willson Snow.
“Based on national statistics, individuals in this age group are at higher risk. This additional charge will assist in recovering increased cost and exposure,” Snow said.
For a Dodge or Plymouth mini-van at the Midway location, the rates are $63.99 per day with 150 free miles and 20 cents for every additional mile. Weekly rates for mini-vans are 339.99 with 1,000 free miles and 20 cents for each extra mile. An unlimited mileage plan costs $399.99 per week. These rates do not include surcharges, tax or optional insurance.
The operative phrase is repeated by Dollar and echoed throughout the industry–rates are seasonal and regional.
Advises Snow: “With travel and tourism expected to reach record levels this summer, there is a good chance these specialty vehicles will be sold out at certain locations.”
