Hertz Rent A Car

As I was driving between Newport News and Virginia Beach on a Friday evening, the «low oil engine pressure» light illuminated, so I pulled over and called Hertz. Upon explaining my situation, I was transferred to roadside assistance and re-​explained explained what was going on. The Hertz representative then suggested I pop the hood and check things out and maybe add some oil to see if that would help.
Ummm hell no. I’m paying you to provide me a car that works. I’m not paying you for ME to be a mechanic and I’m especially not paying you for me to be a mechanic in the middle of nowhere Virginia at night in the dark. Sorry!
I explained the above, so he suggested I keep an eye on the car to see if there’s anything that «seems odd.» I said — Can you please give me a few ideas of what I should look for? A smell? The temperature gauge? Something visible? A sound? Throw me a bone here, dude! Not surprisingly had no answer to this question, so I said forget it, I’ll figure this out and hung up.
As I was in the middle of nowhere, AKA nowhere near an open Hertz location, did a quick Google search and found a few mechanics. Luckily one was open and even more lucky, after explaining my situation, he was willing to check the car out. I drove the car over to the guy’s shop and he did a full-​on diagnostic test. Wasn’t able to find anything glaring, so he said it should be ok long enough for me to get to my destination that evening. He didn’t even charge me, which was amazing, as this went down during his last hour of business on a Friday night. Really impressed with his generosity and service.
I returned the car to Hertz the next day at the Norfolk airport location. When I explained what happened, the lady said «Sorry to hear about your experience.» …and that was it. I certainly don’t feel entitled to anything, but if I were in her shoes and a customer came to me with this situation, I would certainly do something to try and make up for the experience.
Now that I think about it, her reaction doesn’t at all surprise me and is the precise reason that will be my last time renting with Hertz. Good riddance!

Easy to check out a car. No lines. Good service. Cars are parked right outside the terminal. Two gas stations right across from the airport, so don’t get duped into pre-​paying.

I’d like to thank Laura, the manager at the Hertz Roanoke and Lynchburg airport locations. With bad winter weather being so unpredictable, I had accepted an upgrade to a Mercedes C250 not knowing it was going to snow 6 inches before my drive to Danville, VA and back home to VA Beach. This is a rear wheel drive, very light car and was very dangerous to drive in the snow/​ice. Laura actually brought me a 4wd suv to my dental/​oral surgery office where I was working in Danville, so that I could safely get back to VA Beach, where the weather had been even worse. Unfortunately there is no Hertz close to Danville, so Laura actually drove there from the Lynchburg airport personally to swap the 4wd suv with me. Such a lifesaver and a great lady! Thanks again Laura.