Do Rental Cars Offer Trailer Hitches in the U.S?
In the United States, vehicle rentals with a trailer hitch are not typically offered by the standard rental agencies. However, some providers do offer it through pick-up trucks and SUVs. You should read the rental contract to understand the rules, insurance requirements, and other relevant aspects.
Remember, unauthorized towing with rental cars can lead to voided insurance and even legal consequences. Therefore, check everything to avoid penalties and other issues.
Do All Rental Cars Agencies Offer Trailer Hitches?
Not every car rental company provides trailer hitches with the vehicles in the country. However, there are some specialized companies that offer rental vehicles with a tow hitch.
Enterprise Truck Rental
Budget Truck Rental
United Rentals
Herc Rentals
U-Haul
Hitch and Haul LLC
Note: There are many other prominent rental agencies in Los Angeles and across the nation that offer vehicles with a towing hitch.
What are the Key Aspects of Rental Vehicles with Towing Trailers?
Before you rent an SUV with a hitch, it is necessary to understand the rules followed by leading service providers. Here are some important points to have in mind:
Standard Car Rentals: No company offers towing facility with the standard vehicles, such as minivans, SUVs, economy cars, and others.
Truck Rentals: When it is not possible to have a trailer hitch with standard vehicles, you can opt for specialized services, such as Enterprise Truck Rental, to get approved and easy vehicles.
Unauthorized Towing: If you tow with a standard car, it will be considered unauthorized towing, which is not permitted. Even if you do this, it will damage your insurance benefits and waivers.
Permission Before Using Hitches: Even if the rented vehicle has a hitch attached, you cannot use it until you have permission from the service provider.
Tip: Company-to-company rules and policies may vary. So, read the rental agreement carefully to avoid hefty penalties and expensive repairs.
Why Do Standard Car Rental Companies Not Allow Towing?
Standard car rental companies do not provide vehicles with hitches. There are many reasons for not letting people use towing hitches with their standard economy cars, luxury cars, and others. These include the following:
Safety and Liability
Improper connections and trailer sway can lead to higher chances of accidents. Since they pose serious safety issues, using them with normal cars can also result in lawsuits.
Depreciation and Maintenance
Towing hitches can put heavy stress on the rental vehicles. As a result, transmission failure, quick depreciation, suspension wear, and other issues are common. To prevent these, standard companies do not offer hitches with normal cars.
Insurance-Related Instructions
Standard rental auto insurance hardly covers the accidental and mechanical damages while towing. It makes it riskier for rental agencies to give a standard car for towing or with trailer hitches.
Operational Ease
Not offering vehicles with hitches will avoid the requirement for having specialized tools, such as wiring. This makes sure that the vehicle is only used for light luggage and traveling of passengers.
Final Thoughts,
When choosing a car rental with a tow hitch, make sure you read all the terms and conditions well. Since not every provider offers it, opt for a specialized service provider. This will help in avoiding legal issues, penalties, and insurance-related disadvantages.
