Built in GPS? Intermediate SUV Alamo

[jb-s]

Hi all

Just wondered if anyone has any recent experience of renting an Intermediate SUV (looking at Alamo) and if any of these cars have a GPS/satnav built in.

Not a deal breaker as happy to use my phone for directions but a sat nav would be slightly easier and interested in any recent experience.

Am I right that I can choose from a row at MCO and in theory could check which ones have GPS (if any) before selecting.

Thanks in advance

[Mr Tom Morrow]

Hi. With Alamo you pick from the row you have booked. Sometimes you can strike lucky as well so if you find a Standard SUV there then take it.

Some have Sat Nav some don't. Some that dohave it you will find it doesn't work as the licence has expired and they are under no obligation to supply it.

In theory you can check if it works but in practice it wont as the garage is under 4 floors of concrete and rebar and you would be lucky to pick up the satellites sorry.

What would I do in your situation? Pick what I fancied then start the engine. If it has Sat Nav then grab it. But to get a better chance of it working look for a newer car. The giveaway is little or no rear bumper damage (caused by poor reversing and cases being dragged in and out) also check the tag for the date of renewal. All these things lead to a younger car that is more likely to be in licence for sundries.

[wanye]

bear in mind that even if it has GPS built in, they may (or may not) have removed the SD card so it doesnt work (or crippled it in some other way)

why give it for free when they can blag an extra £150 out of you to hire one! :p

[Gryff]

I picked up a brand spanking new Jeep Compass trailhawk on Wednesday the SD card had been removed though

[Lodgey82]

I am looking for the same info but for the Standard SUV. I figure a least if I know which Makes/Models may have a Sat Nav vs ones that probabaly won't if gives me somewhere to start when I get there. Last year we had a Pacifica which has Sat Nav (Minivan). Have a look through the Photos on the Car Hire stickies. Most people note if they had a Sat Nav or not.

[PPM]

As Tom says it doesn’t matter if a Sat Nav is fitted, as it may or may not work.
The ones that use SD cars may have had them removed, the others use satellite systems which are subscription based, so if the car is not nearly new, then the chances are that the free subscription you get with a new car will have run out.
So pick the newest car with a sat nav that you can find will increase the chance of getting a working system. If you must have one use a phone app or use your own sat nav ( I take mine each year )

Hope this gives some background.

[RickT]

Pick a car which supports apple car play or Android auto.

Then just use Google maps in offline mode downloading florida maps before you go.

[Bads]

Originally Posted by RickT

Pick a car which supports apple car play or Android auto.

Then just use Google maps in offline mode downloading florida maps before you go.

See more...

Nice tip...Anyone got any tips on finding out which car supports android auto or Apple car play ? Or is it a case of starting it up and checking at the garage

[welshmum]

Originally Posted by Mr Tom Morrow

Hi. With Alamo you pick from the row you have booked. Sometimes you can strike lucky as well so if you find a Standard SUV there then take it.

Some have Sat Nav some don't. Some that dohave it you will find it doesn't work as the licence has expired and they are under no obligation to supply it.

In theory you can check if it works but in practice it wont as the garage is under 4 floors of concrete and rebar and you would be lucky to pick up the satellites sorry.

What would I do in your situation? Pick what I fancied then start the engine. If it has Sat Nav then grab it. But to get a better chance of it working look for a newer car. The giveaway is little or no rear bumper damage (caused by poor reversing and cases being dragged in and out) also check the tag for the date of renewal. All these things lead to a younger car that is more likely to be in licence for sundries.

See more...

Tom where are the tags located and what would I need to look for?

[jb-s]

Thanks for your advice guys. I have a dumb follow up question and didn't want to open a new thread. If I end up without a GPS and use my phone, can I take my UK adaptor which I use in the car cigarette lighter to charge my phone in the US car? What do people here do when they use their phones for GPS? Thanks again