I m a lifelong nonsmoking. But, while I m not not particularly sensitive to cigarette smoke, like mo

Whether they smoke or not, most travelers are used to the fact that smoking is no longer an option in the air. But, while it s received less publicity, most rental car companies rental cars cheapest miami in the U.S. have quietly followed suit. Avis-Budget, Alamo-National-Enterprise and most recently Dollar-Thrifty, have all moved to a non-smoking fleet.
Now, this is a policy that makes sense in a lot of ways, not just health-related. It saves rental car companies a lot of cleaning costs to have non-smoking rental cars cheapest miami fleets. (Indeed, companies with a non-smoking rental cars cheapest miami policy now charge up to $250 to clean the car if they determine a renter has violated their rule.)
I m a lifelong nonsmoking. But, while I m not not particularly sensitive to cigarette smoke, like most travelers I do have a couple memories rental cars cheapest miami of renting cars where it was particularly noticeable. (One PT Cruiser from Dollar rental cars cheapest miami a few years ago was like driving in an ashtray, although by the time after a late arrival that I realized just how bad it was, I decided it wasn t worth the time to go back to the airport.)
Avis-Budget and Dollar-Thrifty are very specific about their non-smoking policies and fines. Although with Alamo, National, and Enterprise, all owned by Enterprise Holdings the simply policy states, All vehicles are considered non-smoking. Additional cleaning fees may apply if a vehicle is returned in a condition where it needs to be extensively cleaned and deodorized due to smoking.
My sense is that for most travelers these policies are a good thing. Nicotine addicts rental cars cheapest miami certainly have the option with a rental car, unlike on a plane, to stop the car at their leisure and take a smoking break. Although, I am not without some sympathy for smokers on long evening highway drives.
What do you think, Consumer rental cars cheapest miami Traveler readers? Would you like the whole rental car industry to go smoke free? Or, would you like companies to keep smoking cars around as an option, possibly for an additional cost. For that matter, what do you think about the scented deodorizer rental cars cheapest miami many companies use? Some travelers complain that they smell worse than smoke.
I have very little empathy for smoking, and am revolted by the smell of tobacco rental cars cheapest miami smoke. I loathe walking down wind from someone smoking on the street and it was a very happy day for me when indoor smoking was practically banned in NYC. I love the fact that Marriott is non-smoking and am glad most rental cars are too (even though Hertz is my preferred car rental company, I have never noticed tobacco smoke in one of their cars). Most smokers I know don t smoke inside their own homes or cars, so probably wouldn t in a rental either.
rental cars cheapest miami I disagree with Matthew only in that while he says he has very little empathy for smoking I have absolutely none at all. Smokers (1) pollute the air with their smoke, (2) pollute the ground with their butts, and (3) run up the health insurance premiums for all of us with the long-term effects of their self-destructive habit.
Why can t y all just get along? Have a few cars for smokers and the rest of the fleet smoke-free. If you hate cigarette smoke, then you can rent a smoke-free car. End of problem. (By the way, I don t smoke, and don t allow people to smoke in my house or car. I just don t understand all the vitriol.)
Wow Alex! I can tell you re a big time smoker. You strategy doesn t work and someone used to a smoke free environment will smell the smoke even if you had the windows down and the vent open. What a shame. You probably aren t aware that the smoke sticks in you hair and on your clothes and that everyone who comes in contact rental cars cheapest miami with you can tell you ve been smoking. Smokers don t notice it because they are around it all the time. It s a shame really.
I feel this could be a way for rental companies rental cars cheapest miami to extract additional $$ from their renters. After the rental return, rental cars cheapest miami who performs rental cars cheapest miami the inspection and makes the determination that smoking has occurred? And, was it done by the most recent renter or a previous renter? How can the renter refute the accusation? During rental cars cheapest miami the Olympics in Salt Lake City we stayed in a B B and our friends (non smokers) were accused by the owner of smoking in their room. Neither was a smoker and there was no smoking done, but the accusation was still made and made for a rather nasty situation. There was no fine but, if there was such a policy, how would the proof be made?
You can smoke all you like, believe me, they won t know. You buy some paper towels, Windex and Febreeze. You wipe down the car (where you see ashes) with the Windex and then squirt a lot of Febreeze everywhere. Bring your own little ashtray. End of story. I ve never been caught and don t intend to be. These rules are ridiculous. I smoke in non-smoking hotels, also there ARE ways to get away with it. :)
Next thing you know you won t be able to take a crap in public because someone will be complaining about the smell. There are things in life we just have to deal with. I m not even a smoker, but all of this exercising control over the lives of others is starting to get a bit out of control.
I smoke while I drive, I tend to have serious PTSD related issues in cars. I m taking a trip in a few days and renting a car I don t really have a choice we have to go farther than is economical or practical for a taxi or public rental cars cheapest miami transport. I think we might be stopping a lot so I can pull over and smoke .
This is a ridiculous policy.  All of the other non-smoking rules were to protect the health of non-smokers a very flimsy argument to begin with.  Now they re going to protect the smell too?  I can understand charging for cig burns in the upholstery, etc.  However, each day I run into people wearing heavy cologne, some of which literally makes me gag.  Should we ban cologne as well?
For the record, I didn t smoke in the motel, but I did smoke in the car.  Luckily it was summer, so I drove with the windows down.  Before returning the car, I sprayed Febreeze rental cars cheapest miami throughout the car, and vacuumed the front and back seats, floors, and crevices.  They didn t say anything when I returned it, and they did inspect it inside and out.  Seems to me that if they tried to charge me for smoking, they d need a LOT more proof then someone s sniffer as evidence.  After all, I know my clothes smell like smoke, so they d have to prove that it wasn t actually my clothes they were smelling.
I think it s a bunch of CRAP!!! I m so sick of being told when n where you can smoke! There need s to be more laws passed regarding drinking! People still get to drink their beer, etc., everywhere! I smoke, but I don t drink! Yes, there should be smoking, and non-smoking rental cars!
I do the same although I don t use an ashtray. I always keep the windows down (regardless rental cars cheapest miami of outside temperature), clean up well and spray the air freshener before returning the car. I ve never had a problem not been charged extra. I DO NOT smoke in hotels. I try to stay where I have an outside entrance or balcony.
Because, some customers might find this policy rental cars cheapest miami to be stupid (for lack of a better word) I think it s the drivers choice especially depending on how long the drive is maybe they don t have the time to stop every 35 mins for 10 mins to smoke. Some customers might not use rental cars as much with that policy. I think it s a good idea to not smoke in the car when the drivers have children with them, but other than that, I think it should be optional.
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