Yesterday we just landed in LAX after a vacation trip. I've booked online for a car with Deluxe Car Rental. When we showed up at their counter, they said they can not rent me a car since I have a local(southern California) address. Their new policy recently changed was for out of state residence only? Is this even legal?

Yes, a company may serve only those customers that they wish to.
They can rent to people that only have credit cards, and even have special rates for certain types of customers

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Originally Posted by JudyKayTee

Sure, it's legal - it's their company so they get to make the rules. Their website says they are not set up (their words) to service or insure local drivers.

Their website addresses LAX - appears you can be local and rent from other locations, just not at LAX.

Must be an insurance thing.

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My wife said someone else showed up later with a local address and was able to rent a car with proof of insurance. I was at Budget rentacar to rent another SUV to get home. I suspect that the rate I got was too low at $15/day for a full size rental. I even made another test today by booking another car on their website with a Pasadena address and nothing was quoted of being blocked from making reservation? Even tried looking up on their policy as they claim to have and was not able to find any such policy?

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Originally Posted by ScottGem

So what to you want to do? If you believe you were discriminated against report it to the CA consumer affairs dept.

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It was just a very frustrating experience from a red eye trip and whole family was tired. This may be the best way to go. Lots of little things went wrong during the trip and this was the last straw that... \

Thanks

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Originally Posted by SIESTACCASKME

My wife said someone else showed up later with a local address and was able to rent a car with proof of insurance. I was at Budget rentacar to rent another SUV to get home. I suspect that the rate I got was too low at $15/day for a full size rental. I even made another test today by booking another car on their website with a Pasadena address and nothing was quoted of being blocked from making reservation? Even tried looking up on their policy as they claim to have and was not able to find any such policy?

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Directly from the Deluxe Rent A Car site - (Deluxe Rent-A-Car of LAX : Rental Policies)

"No Local Renter Policies
Deluxe Rent A Car is an Airport Only Car Rental Company. NO LOCAL RENTALS.
Renters must have a valid return Airline ticket in their name departing from LAX.
Our company is not insured or set up to service the local customers.

There will be absolutely no exceptions to this policy."

So Judy found the policy. Also, their software may not be setup to detect local addresses. So it still accepts the reservation. But you have to produce a return ticket at the counter otherwise they won't give you a car. Maybe this other person had a return ticket.

They can indeed choose to rent to travelers only. It may be because for insurance reasons it might be possible to lower their insurance cost because the likelihood of people stealing the vehicle or abusing the system is reduced when you have a ticket to go home somewhere.

But consider yourself lucky. This company has a bad history. When ever you question a company check the local Better Business Bureau and check out their ratings and what the complaints are. Start With Trust -- Start With BBB

Also use your favorite search engine and look for reviews and complaints on independent sites like Yelp - Deluxe Rent A Car of LAX - Westchester / LAX - Los Angeles, CA . If you found them on sites like carrentals.com ignore whatever their "Reviews" say as they are a booking agency and only post positive or made up reviews.

The DCA would probably not do anything as this does not violate the law... it's a more of a moral issue. However a complaint to the BBB @ Better Business Bureau of the Southland may affect their accreditation as business practices are in question here.

This particular company is not even allowed to pick up from the Airport and have been exploiting a loophole by using Johnny Park's shuttle. They have been illegally adding a 13.3% ACRF fee that they don't pay according to the LAWA. They have been targeting travelers online that would not be aware that they and LAX were both being "bilked" out of this thus allowing the posting of lower fares than the 10 companies actually allowed on airport property. The City Attorney is curently investigating this abuse.

Count your blessing because you could have ended up like the people on Warning : Do not trust

But the answer is yes they have the right to have the policy... And yes they should have a system in place that protects people from inadvertently booking with them who lives in L.A... its not that hard.

You disabled ratings? What a loser!

You too are a loser as you do not stand behind your answers with facts, only referrals. And you chastish anyone who does

You are the biggest loser of all & I feel for those who come for help only to see you would like money in return. Ughhhhhhhh

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Originally Posted by Consumeradvocat

Count your blessing because you could have ended up like the people on Warning : Do not trust .

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This is a personal website - I don't believe it is appropriate here.

I have no problem with the government-sponsored sites.