tee_tz

So I took my car in for service this morning while in a rush to get to the office; the service manager asked me a million questions about what I'm there to do (like I didn't provide enough information on the phone), and finally, I'm ready to borrow a loaner car and rush to work when they say -- 'Sorry, we just realized we can't give you a loaner since you're not 25 years old'.... ???

What? Has anyone else encountered this problem? I don't understand how that even makes sense. Well, I do, because they told me that if the car is fully wrecked insurance doesn't cover the car if the driver is under 25 years old. But what sense does that make -- so if I wreck my car they're willing to cover, but if I wreck my replacement car they aren't willing??

Don't know if this is all Mercedes-Benz dealerships or just this one (Larchmont Mercedes, New York)...



Tee_Tz.

GDawgC220

Its a insurance liability thing. Most rental companies won't rent cars to people under 25 and those who do charge surcharges daily to cover any incidents with the car.

Buellwinkle

For my 16 year old, I bring the car in for her and give her the loaner, no biggy.

///AMG4EVER

I've heard of this before... what I do is I usually call the dealer and make arrangements to pick my car up from work and to drop off their loaner (and viceversa when is ready)... stealerships are expensive so at least try to use their services as much as possible. I'm not sure if they have this kind of service in NY. Also, try to be friendly with key people: the service manager, the parts guy, your SA and the 'pretty girl' that process the loaners... this technique has been my power weapon in a lot of things.

Oh, and by the way, I just turned 23...

Good luck!

GDawgC220

oh, forgot to add in. its independent of each dealer. some have their own fleets, some use rental counters stationed inside the dealer. so each dealer has their own set of rules regarding loaneres.

tee_tz

///AMG4EVER - That's a pretty good idea, I guess that'd probably work. I'm very cool with the parts guy, but this is the first time I've taken the car for service there so it was a little shocking.

GDawgC220 - Yeah, I've heard about the rental car companies that don't lend to under 25 year olds, but I never imagined Mercedes to do the same. The worst part about this is perhaps I could have been warned, instead of waking up extra early to get there and have to leave with my car (because I simply had to get to work).

Buellwinkle - I could ask my brother to get the car for me, but wouldn't it be questionable that the car is in my name yet he is picking up a loaner? I mean, doesn't the person who picks up the loaner have to be the guy registered to the insurance and to the car? Then again, I'm sure your daughter's car is in your name.

Anyway, this was never a problem with BMW. Also, they didn't even have a car to at least take me to the train station with!


Tee_Tz.

bloodyhands

i hate those people at MB dealers they are so arrogant.when i went there to look for a car by myself they didnt even look at me just because im young,i had to go ask them for help and they gave me an attitude like get the f**k outa here.the next day i went with my mom and the same guy with an attitude ran up to us and was like hiiiiii how can i help you(all marry and gay) and i just said no...then i went to another sales person and ask for help.test drove and bought the car the same day.

arcwelder

I get the same looks and I'm 34! When I go in to my dealer thay make me feel like I'm putting them out! Like it's my fault the car is broke or needs waranty work. I had to get a new service adviserbecause my last one was such a dick to me. He eventually got fired. But it took a looong time for them to figure out he was a dick.

tee_tz

That sucks, but at least you got a new service manager. It's things like that which leave impressions -- I mean, granted my issue was 'policy', but I felt they could have handled the situation better. These thing accumulate to making me not want another Benz.

bloodyhands - You're from NYC, where do you get your car serviced? And do you get a loaner?

Yeah, usually when I walk in and nobody gives me service, I mention it when someone finally comes to attend to me. While most sales guys might just say sorry (in their head thinking -- yeah whatever), I like to stress the point that they messed up.


Tee_Tz.

nlpamg

weird. I used to go in and take my C280 for service when I was 16 and they'd give me a loaner Mercedes all the time. perhaps it's b/c of the switch to Enterprise handling most of their loaners.

sirenebekim

lmao im only 22 and i get one at mercedes of tampa, call them out on it please I HATE THAT DEALERship, read my previous posts about my experiences with them...


Mercedes Benz of Tampa

arcwelder

I go to Mercedes Of Sarasota...About an hour south of there.

samuel003

i just turned 25 in Oct.
I bought the car in feb, 06,
brought car in in May for 3,000 mile service and
Aug for tire rotation
they gave me loaner and I was 24 at that time.

Helms Brothers, Inc. (Bayside, NY)

jgsx

Hmmm, I thought that New York was the only state that legally had to rent cars to anyone 18 or over (with a per day surcharge).

Cappa26

Penske motorcars in West Covina is age 21 I believe

b3d_sage

Enerprise doesn't like to loan me cars because of my age (22). However, the Enterprise at Park Place Mercedes has never given me any trouble. Even better, if I drop the car off after the Enterprise guys have left for the day, I just get one from Park Place's fleet. Otherwise, they would stick me with the Nissan or something since I didn't buy the car from PPlace.

AndySays

I think its because of the Enterprise service that they have. I never had a problem with loaners from Penske West Covina or Fletcher Jones in Newport Beach and i'm 22 years old. Both dealerships have Enterprise.

dalazernet

It definately is each dealership's policy regarding insurance coverages, etc etc. I specifically asked about the loaner issue when I was getting my car because I was 23 at the time - Never had a problem getting a loaner and now that I'm 25 (as of last week -- yay!), I'm looking forward to the many perks of being that age -- cheaper insurance, the ability to rent a car if needed and.. uhh, I guess thats it.

Truth be told, whenever possible, I prefer to wait for my car. I munch away on the free food and hot cocoa at the dealership and watch TV/surf the web on my laptop. Plus, when else can you try out the new cars in the showroom? If something is going to take a long time, then I'll hassle for a loaner.

- Eric

pmb600

The first time I brought my car in for something was a few months after I got it in August. I am 20 and they didn't give me a problem at all. I go to Globe in Fairfield, NJ. The loaner contract I signed said no one under 21 should be allowed to drive the loaner, but the loaner manager didn't seem to care since he saw my license anyway. I know that they own all of their loaner fleet.

When I was buying a car I went to a bunch of dealerships, including Millennium in Bridgewater, NJ. They wouldn't let me test drive the car because I wasn't 21. I told them that I had been to various dealerships and had no problems, and they said that it is a corporate rule and that there was nothing they could do. So I left, called corporate (found out its not a corproate rule as I suspected, the MBUSA girl stated that dealerships are independently owned and they set their own policies), then I filed a complaint with customer service. The next day Millennium had someone follow up (its their policy apparantly to have some secretary follow up on all appointments). I gave her a piece of my mind and then she put on the sales manager. He apologized, and I told him that his policy was outdated and rediculous and that I had no need for their services.

BlackLiquorish8

I'm 22 and they always give me a loaner no questions asked. My stealership is Rallye in Long Island, NY.

white_w203

i've encountered this problem!!! i hate it!!! it makes me want to go back and get a lexus again. i just had to be 20 to get a loaner car from lexus. i received es 330 and rx330.

at my local mb dealer i have to be 25 and im not even for sure to get a mb loaner....i would most likely get a car from enterprise that isn't a mb...probably a GM vehicle WTF?!?!?

things like this make me want to go back to lexus.....

vraa

I'm 18, I don't get a loaner at the Lexus dealer (gotta be 21), not a loaner at the BMW dealer (gotta be 21), but I get a loaner at the mercedes dealer (gotta be 21, but I know the advisor well -- I wonder why.. haha).

No offense to anyone though, the C230's are kinda crappy considering the car you are giving up. I sure did like that BMW (when I did get a loaner) gave the new 3er, or Lexus giving us various choices.

moose1021

Whats a loaner? just kidding being over here in Germany they don't give out loaners but you can rent a car if its in the shop. With that said last week i got lucky. i took my car into he shop becuase of a rattle and was able to get a 07 CLS 550. I was really shocked when my saleslady told me she'd give me a car and had almost passed out when she said yes to the CLS.

yeuchau

i don't know about MB, but BMW dealer won't give this problem

b3d_sage

You're only 18? Please tell me you're still in highschool and planning on going to SMU! We need more kids that like to mod like you for our club!