Rental Policies
Everything you need to know before you book — age, license, insurance, deposit, fuel, returns, and what's not allowed. Plain English, no fine print.
We try to keep renting from us as straightforward as possible. These are the rules you'll need to know before you book — written the way we'd explain them in person at the office. If anything here doesn't match what you need, just call us at (216) 504-1700 — most things we can work out.
For the formal contract version, see our Terms of Service.
01Who Can Rent
Age
You need to be at least 21 years old to rent from us. If you're between 21 and 24, there's a small daily young driver fee — we'll always tell you the amount at booking, no surprises.
Driver's License
Bring your valid U.S. driver's license (the physical card, not a photo on your phone). Make sure it isn't expired, suspended, or restricted. International licenses can sometimes work — call us first.
Additional Drivers
Want a friend, spouse, or coworker to drive too? No problem — they just need to:
- Be present at pickup with their own license and insurance
- Meet the same age and license requirements
- Be listed on the rental agreement before they drive
Anyone not listed on the agreement isn't allowed to drive the car. That's not us being strict — it's an insurance thing.
02What to Bring to Pickup
Three things, every time:
- Your driver's license — the physical card
- Proof of insurance — a photo of your insurance card on your phone is fine
- The card you booked with — credit or debit, in your name
03Insurance & Coverage
Your Personal Insurance Comes First
You need active auto insurance in your name with at least Ohio's state minimums for liability and collision. Your personal policy is the primary coverage — meaning if anything happens, your insurance handles it first.
What "Full Coverage" Means
If you carry full coverage on your own car (liability + collision + comprehensive), that protection generally extends to a rental. If you only carry liability, you'll be on the hook for damage to the rental — so we'd recommend asking us about supplemental coverage.
Credit Card Coverage
Some credit cards offer rental coverage as a perk (Visa Signature, Amex, etc.). That's between you and your card issuer — we can't confirm or guarantee what your card covers. Check with them before you rent if you're planning to rely on it.
Supplemental Coverage at Pickup
If you want extra peace of mind, ask about our optional supplemental coverage at pickup. It's an additional daily fee and we'll walk you through exactly what it covers and what it doesn't.
Bottom line: Bring proof of your active auto insurance. If you don't have it or your coverage is light, call us before you book — we'd rather figure it out beforehand than turn you away at pickup.
04Payment & Deposit
How Much Does It Cost?
$50/day across the fleet. Multi-day rentals get a better rate per day — just call us if you're renting for a week or longer and we'll work something out. The total you see at booking includes everything: rental, taxes, applicable fees. No hidden charges at pickup.
Payment Methods
We take major credit and debit cards — Visa, Mastercard, American Express, Discover. The card has to be in your name (the renter's name). No cash, money orders, or gift cards as the main payment method.
Security Deposit (Authorization Hold)
At pickup, we'll place a temporary hold on your card for a security deposit. The amount depends on the rental length and vehicle — we'll tell you exactly before you sign anything.
This isn't a charge — it's a hold against your available balance. The hold is released after you return the car in the same condition you picked it up in.
05Pickup & Return
Where
Our office: 2261 East 14th Street, Cleveland, OH 44115. Just south of downtown, easy to reach from I-77, I-90, and the Innerbelt. Parking right out front while you finish paperwork.
When
7 days a week, 8 AM to 8 PM. Need an after-hours pickup or return? Call us — we can sometimes make it work.
The Pickup Process
Plan for about 15-20 minutes. Here's what happens:
- We verify your license, insurance, and payment
- You sign the rental agreement
- We walk through the car together and document its condition with photos
- You check the fuel level and current mileage
- We hand you the keys
Returning the Car
Bring the car back by the date and time on your agreement. We'll do a quick walk-through together and release your deposit. Three things to check before you bring it back:
- Fuel: Same level as pickup, or we'll refuel at $9/gallon
- Condition: No new damage beyond reasonable wear
- Interior: Reasonably clean — vacuum needed is fine, deep cleaning isn't
Running Late?
We give you a 59-minute grace period. After that, late fees kick in ($25 + the prorated daily rate). If you know you're running late, just call us — we'll work with you when we can.
06Fuel Policy
Our fuel policy is simple: bring it back with the same amount of gas you got it with. If the tank was at 3/4 at pickup, it should be at 3/4 at return. We'll note the exact level on your agreement.
If You Don't Have Time to Refuel
No big deal — we'll do it for you at $9/gallon. That covers our cost plus the trip to the gas station. It's not a profit center for us; it's just easier for everyone if you can fill up yourself.
What Type of Fuel?
All our cars take regular unleaded (87 octane). Don't put diesel or premium in them — wrong fuel can damage the engine, and that comes out of your deposit.
If you put the wrong fuel in: Don't start the car. Call us immediately at (216) 504-1700. The longer the wrong fuel sits in the system, the more expensive the repair.
07Mileage
Standard rentals include reasonable daily mileage for around-town driving and short trips. We don't nickel-and-dime renters who use the car normally.
Long-Distance Trips
Driving to Columbus, Pittsburgh, or somewhere further? Tell us when you book. For trips with significant mileage, we may apply a per-mile rate above a threshold — we'll always disclose the rate upfront so there are no surprises.
08Where You Can Drive
Ohio — Yes, Freely
You can drive anywhere in Ohio without asking. Cleveland, Columbus, Cincinnati, Toledo, the whole state.
Surrounding States — Yes, With a Heads Up
Just let us know at booking and we'll approve travel to:
- Pennsylvania
- Michigan
- Indiana
- Kentucky
- West Virginia
- New York
Other States, Canada, or Mexico — Call First
Going further? Call us at (216) 504-1700 and we'll talk through it. Some trips we can approve, some we can't. What we can't do is approve it after the fact — if you cross a line that wasn't authorized, it counts as unauthorized use and a $250+ fee applies.
09What's Not Allowed
Most of these are common sense, but we have to list them so we're all on the same page:
- Use the car for daily driving
- Take a road trip (with notice)
- Bring it on errands and outings
- Drive in any approved state
- Add an authorized driver
- Use it for work commuting
- Drive impaired (drugs or alcohol)
- Let unauthorized people drive
- Use it for Uber, Lyft, or delivery
- Tow another vehicle or trailer
- Take it off-road
- Race, drift, or stunt drive
- Smoke or vape inside
- Transport pets without approval
- Sublet or re-rent to someone else
- Carry illegal substances
Why we care about this: Violating these rules voids the insurance coverage on the rental. That means if something happens, the cost falls entirely on you — including repair costs, towing, and lost rental income while the car's in the shop. We're not trying to be the fun police; we just want everyone protected.
10If Something Happens
Accidents, breakdowns, theft, fender-benders — they happen. Here's what to do:
If There's an Accident
- Call 911 if anyone is injured or the car can't be driven
- Stay at the scene until it's safe to leave
- File a police report, even for minor accidents — the insurance company will need it
- Take photos of damage, the scene, and other vehicles
- Get info from the other driver: name, phone, insurance, plate number
- Don't admit fault at the scene — let the insurance companies figure it out
- Call us at (216) 504-1700 within 24 hours
If the Car Breaks Down
Call us first. If it's a mechanical issue that's not your fault (something on our end), we'll coordinate roadside and get you into another car at no charge. If it's something like a flat tire, dead battery from leaving lights on, or running out of gas, you cover the service call.
If the Car Gets Stolen
Call the police first to file a report. Then call us right away. Don't wait — the sooner we know, the better the chances of recovery.
11Cancellation Policy
24+ Hours Before Pickup
Free cancellation. No fees, full refund of anything paid. Just call us at (216) 504-1700 or email [email protected].
Less Than 24 Hours Before Pickup
Late cancellations may forfeit any deposit paid. We get it — stuff comes up — but our cars sit on the lot when last-minute cancellations happen and we can't always rebook.
No-Show
If you don't show up at all and don't call, the reservation is forfeited and any deposit is non-refundable.
Need to Change Dates?
Call us. Most modifications we can accommodate based on availability. Just don't wait until the last minute.
Real emergencies? Call us. Family emergency, hospital visit, severe weather — we're not in the business of penalizing people who are having a bad day. We'll work something out.
12Cleanliness Expectations
We're not expecting the car to come back detailed — normal use is fine. We vacuum and wipe down between every renter.
What's Normal
Some dust on the dash. A coffee cup sleeve in the cup holder. A few crumbs in the seat. Light shoe prints on the floor mats. All fine — that's just renting a car.
What's Not
What gets charged a cleaning fee:
- Trash piled up inside — fast food bags, bottles, food containers
- Stains on seats from spilled drinks, food, or other
- Pet hair throughout the interior (unless pre-approved)
- Sand, mud, or dirt requiring shampoo/deep cleaning
- Strong smells — smoke, fragrance, food
Smoking & Vaping
No smoking or vaping inside the car. Ever. This is a hard line for us — smoke smell is nearly impossible to remove and takes the car out of service. If we detect smoking, there's a $250 minimum cleaning fee and we may charge for lost rental income while the car is detailed.
13Common Fees
So you know what to expect, here are the most common extra charges:
For the complete fee schedule and legal terms, see our Terms of Service.
Have a Question We Didn't Cover?
Call us — that's the fastest way to get an answer. We'd rather talk it through than have you guess.