RENTAL CAR/ Will DUST get me a penalty? How/Where to clean?

GAMBOSITY · Post by **GAMBOSITY** » Fri Aug 22, 2008 10:24 pm

Guys --

I'm renting a car at the Reno Airport, but, of course, the rental agreement says that you cannot take the car OFF of official paved roads.

Based on the large amount of dust this year, I expect the car to be covered. This will, of course, give me away.

If I go through a Reno Car Wash, will this do the trick? I've heard stories of them penalizing people monetarily and/or not honoring the insurance when they believe you've been to the playa.

Anyone have knowledge/experience with this?

I guess I could park it in Gerlach and hitch a ride in with others... but I'd really rather not. How serious an issue is this?

THANKS!

theCryptofishist · Post by **theCryptofishist** » Fri Aug 22, 2008 10:36 pm

First off, you may be fubared no matter how well you clean it, because it may have some sort of web tracking.
2nd, clean, clean, clean some more.
3 prevention. Take everything out and lock the car and don't go back in until you leave. Leave those doors closed. And don't use the ac on the way in or out. Do a search and you'll find some other hints, but that's the basics.

hollywallydoodle · Post by **hollywallydoodle** » Fri Aug 22, 2008 10:46 pm

why no ac...overheating problems?

also, what do you think about putting a tarp or something over the grill?

DoriumLux · Post by **DoriumLux** » Fri Aug 22, 2008 11:22 pm

hollywallydoodle wrote:why no ac...overheating problems?

also, what do you think about putting a tarp or something over the grill?

The AC will bring even MORE dust in the car... I agree, keep the car closed. Get a cheap car wash from on one of the Indian reservations on the way out and then again once you hit reno in a car automated wash. The dust has a way of staying on. Bring some windex, some wipes, and some Q-tips for cleaning the crevices. Vacumn at a car wash place. You should be fine...

Just stay out of that car during the burn! Unpack it and pack it as fast as you can. Try to dust off your belongings when you repack the car.

gyre · Post by **gyre** » Sat Aug 23, 2008 12:07 am

Best to vacuum first.
Cover the air intakes for the ventilation.

Some people lubricate the black plastics and rubber that seem to hold the dust really well.

It's said that dry pickup works better inside.

I use a sponge and a brush to clean things.

It is best to get your own insurance if possible and much cheaper.

nocturnal_steve · Post by **nocturnal_steve** » Sat Aug 23, 2008 4:35 am

The rental company employee's aren't too fastidious when it comes to inspecting a return. This from personal experience. First of try to rent something that is neutral beige or off white playa-dust colored (no black cars!). Try to limit the number of times you open the doors of the car once out on the playa, especially in any whiteouts. Don't lay any dust encrusted gear directly on the seats, run it through a regular car wash with quick interior clean when you return the car and you should be fine.

EB · Post by EB » Sat Aug 23, 2008 9:27 am

nocturnal_steve wrote:The rental company employee's aren't too fastidious when it comes to inspecting a return. This from personal experience. First of try to rent something that is neutral beige or off white playa-dust colored (no black cars!). Try to limit the number of times you open the doors of the car once out on the playa, especially in any whiteouts. Don't lay any dust encrusted gear directly on the seats, run it through a regular car wash with quick interior clean when you return the car and you should be fine.

I second this post. Twice I've rented cars for the burn and each time I sweated the return only to be met by an over-worked check-in person who barely had time to check the mileage and the gas before beeping me out a receipt and moving on to the next car...

This was pre-GPS, however. I can't speak to how aggro they are about taking the car off paved roads, though, it seems you could always claim the unit malfunctioned or something. Maybe a lawyer could speak to this, but it seems a small claims judge might throw out this kind of evidence.

nocturnal_steve · Post by **nocturnal_steve** » Sat Aug 23, 2008 9:59 am

If you cover the entire car and your skull with aluminum foil and drive like that the evil rent a car rays can't penetrate and take over your mind, make you do their bidding.

hollywallydoodle · Post by **hollywallydoodle** » Sat Aug 23, 2008 9:53 pm

[quote] Twice I've rented cars for the burn and each time I sweated the return only to be met by an over-worked check-in person who barely had time to check the mileage and the gas before beeping me out a receipt and moving on to the next car...[quote]

and I am renting it from an airport and will be returning it on labor day...ha they should be nice and distracted. hey, look over there..

gyre · Post by **gyre** » Sat Aug 23, 2008 10:02 pm

You should still clean a rental car so that next time you'll be able to rent one and so can other burners.
And maybe just because you should.

If you're too nervous about it, get two girlfriends to have a spectacular fight while your car is being checked in.

gyre · Post by **gyre** » Sat Aug 23, 2008 10:09 pm

hollywallydoodle wrote:
Twice I've rented cars for the burn and each time I sweated the return only to be met by an over-worked check-in person who barely had time to check the mileage and the gas before beeping me out a receipt and moving on to the next car...
and I am renting it from an airport and will be returning it on labor day...ha they should be nice and distracted. hey, look over there..

If you enable bbcode on your profile, the quotey stuff works.
It should work in preview.

RENTAL CAR/ Will DUST get me a penalty? How/Where to clean?

RENTAL CAR/ Will DUST get me a penalty? How/Where to clean?

My experience....

Re: My experience....

GPS

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Re: My experience....