Before You Rent GPS With a Rental Car

Hertz takes its GPS services one step beyond other rental car companies with its "NeverLost" system. In addition to renting you a GPS receiver for $10.95 per day, Hertz offers an online trip planning utility that lets you plan and save trips online, then transfer your plan to a USB flash drive that you simply plug into your Hertz (made by Magellan) GPS. Your trip plan is then instantly in place in your rental GPS. Among the NeverLost features we like is a "Hertz airport return" command that will guide you directly back to the airport.

Avis's where2 system uses Garmin GPS receivers that include hands-free calling capability if your phone has Bluetooth capability. Avis's Garmin units also feature text-to-speech, providing you with spoken directions to your destination.

National offers rental GPS units based on the popular Garmin StreetPilot c330. This receiver features a simple touchscreen interface with automatic route calculation to any destination. Text-to-voice provides spoken directions. The navigator includes detailed maps including points of interest such as hotels, gas stations, restaurants, ATMs and tourist destinations. The receivers also include a one-touch rental return directions feature for easy car return.

Budget uses the Garmin where2 system (same as Avis per above) and charges $10.95 per day, or $54.75 per week.
Alamo offers a Garmin StreetPilot for $10.99 per day, or $49.75 per week from its airport locations only.