Cheap Car Hire in Columbia City, Seattle from $7

When we arrived, there were no cars available (zero in the lot) and we were told there was no visibility into what cars should be returned that day. We were also told that since we had booked our Electric SUV through Kayak, Hertz was unable to make any changes and they said if we tried to get a car from them at a different Hertz location, the Kayak rate would not be honored. Further, the manager whom we got on the phone was originally saying she would not be able to offer us a gas-powered car if one came in. We were told we might have to wait 5-6 hours for a car, not to mention we were fourth in line waiting for a car. Fortunately, after waiting about an hour someone dropped off an electric sedan and all the people ahead of us had given up, cancelled, and went elsewhere, so we received a car. The car was not clean and one of the windows still had yellow writing on it, but we feared complaining because we were glad to have a vehicle at all. The young customer service agent took a lot of vitriol from other customers and I know it as not his fault. He held up admirably. I could not call Kayak except for a customer service number I found on Google, and that number proved to be more of a message explaining that no help could be given for any bookings at all and did not offer a Customer Service Rep to whom I could speak. Based upon that, I'm presuming this complaint may not be read anyway . . . joke's on me I guess. I still haven't received an email receipt that was promised after the car was dropped off on time, but I have been charged $25 extra dollars (I assume charging fees). I better get my $200 damage deposit back.

Hertz did not have enough rental cars for the reservations they took and because I reserved through a 3rd party (Kayak), they would not return my money. They had a few cars saved for "private citizens" (meaning, folks with higher incomes?) but not for this private citizen nor others who had reservations that day either. The agent and his supervisor were either lazy or inept at securing any cars that were returned to other nearby Hertz rental offices. There were lines of folks waiting to pick up their rentals of which Hertz had no plans as to how they would fulfill these agreements. AT one point the agent said, we won't be getting any cars in until 3 or 4pm if then. It was 9:30am. As far as I saw there was no problem solving happening nor any real movement to change the situation or help customers. This was a terrible rental experience and I will not be using Hertz or Kayak in the future.