Smoke-Free Rental Car Options

First it was smoke-free restaurants and hotel rooms; now there is such a thing as smoke-free rental cars, so here’s what you need to know….

Avis and Budget are the first major rental-car companies to impose a fleet-wide smoking ban in North America.

If you break the rules, you’ll be charged a whopping $250 fine. Now the real deal is that companies don’t implement rules unless they think it will help their bottom line.

According to them, a smoke-free vehicle is their number-one customer request.

So what are your options if you want a smoke-free car but don’t book with Avis or Budget?

Some rental-car companies are made up of a decentralized network, so policies are made by individual locations.

That’s the case with Enterprise, which also operates the Alamo and National brands, so your best bet is to call different offices to see which ones have no-smoking rules.

Some companies, like Hertz, allow you to choose your smoking preference when you sign up for its loyalty club. There’s no guarantee, but it’s a step in the right direction.

And lastly, make your preference known when you book your car, which should be done over the phone using the location’s direct number—not the central 800 number.

Call again on the day of the rental to confirm that they can set aside a car that fits your preference.

Learn more in our Driving & Car Rental section.

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