We are flying into Denver next week, renting a car and driving to Vail. From what I can understand, rental cars do not automatically meet the requirements for the law- you have to ask for it. I booked through AVIS and can't get a local person on the phone, and the national line keeps telling me I have to speak to the local office. What happens if we get to the counter and they don't have any compliant cars?? I guess we're stuck then? Or have to take the shuttle??
Should we rent an SUV instead?? Do they have a better chance of meeting the requirements?
Not CO local, but we flew into Denver a few weeks ago and rented a car through Budget. We booked a full size SUV because we needed the room for skis and luggage, and were given a 4WD Pathfinder. We definitely needed the 4WD on some of the roads. If you do end up with a sedan without 4WD you'll have to stop and buy/rent chains anyway. I'd pay for the upgrade.
From what I read of the traction law I think you needed chains in the vehicle even if you have 4WD? I doubt our rental had chains. I guess we through caution to the wind?!
We make that drive about 20 times a winter. Rent a car with AWD or 4WD. Navigating the Vail Pass is very challenging in bad weather. Our car has AWD and even it slid a couple times coming out of the tunnel a few weeks back.
I was trying to go through Costco for the rental cause it's usually cheaper, but there's no option to select 4WD or AWD vehicles. I'll look at the rental websites directly.
Post by InBetweenDays on Feb 24, 2020 16:51:17 GMT -5
Not Colorado, but we're flying to Big Sky, Montana next week and rented an SUV through Costco (at the Bozeman airport). We also opted to get the ski rack on top because we weren't sure how the seats folded and if our skis would fit inside.
We were also just in Utah skiing last week and rented a Suburban and a van (we were a group of 18). If you're considering chains just be sure to read your rental contract - some contracts say the use of chains is a violation of the contract and you'll be responsible for any damage caused by the chains. We still bought some and kept them in the van just in case (rather damage to the car than sliding off the road) and then we returned the unused chains at the end of the week.
Post by InBetweenDays on Feb 24, 2020 17:17:41 GMT -5
So I just double checked our reservation for next week. Does Avis have a chat option on their website? I chatted with Budget and they said they can't guarantee AWD or 4WD but they can put a note on our reservation that states we request/require 4WD.
From what I read online is that nobody guarantees 4WD, but your odds of getting one at a ski resort destination (SLC, DEN, Montana) is probably pretty high.
So I just double checked our reservation for next week. Does Avis have a chat option on their website? I chatted with Budget and they said they can't guarantee AWD or 4WD but they can put a note on our reservation that states we request/require 4WD.
I did a chat with Avis, and they said all their cars are compliant. Not sure I believe it 100% though, I'm going to keep trying to get someone at the counter.
Not Colorado, but we're flying to Big Sky, Montana next week and rented an SUV through Costco (at the Bozeman airport). We also opted to get the ski rack on top because we weren't sure how the seats folded and if our skis would fit inside.
We were also just in Utah skiing last week and rented a Suburban and a van (we were a group of 18). If you're considering chains just be sure to read your rental contract - some contracts say the use of chains is a violation of the contract and you'll be responsible for any damage caused by the chains. We still bought some and kept them in the van just in case (rather damage to the car than sliding off the road) and then we returned the unused chains at the end of the week.
I'm not even considering chains, I'm from the south and wouldn't know what to do with them 😂
So I just double checked our reservation for next week. Does Avis have a chat option on their website? I chatted with Budget and they said they can't guarantee AWD or 4WD but they can put a note on our reservation that states we request/require 4WD.
I did a chat with Avis, and they said all their cars are compliant. Not sure I believe it 100% though, I'm going to keep trying to get someone at the counter.
Did he say which option that they comply with? I can't imagine that every Ford Escort they have in their fleet is compliant.
From what I read of the traction law I think you needed chains in the vehicle even if you have 4WD? I doubt our rental had chains. I guess we through caution to the wind?!
chains are required for all commercial vehicles not passenger vehicles. you don't need chains if you have 4WD/AWD
the best site for weather/road conditions is cotrip.org
slow and steady is your best bet when driving in the mountains.
Traction Law
During winter storms, or when conditions require, CDOT will implement the Traction Law. During a Traction Law, all motorists are required to have EITHER: 1.4WD or AWD vehicle and 3/16” tread depth 2.Tires with a mud and snow designation (M+S icon) and 3/16” tread depth 3.Winter tires (mountain-snowflake icon) and 3/16” tread depth 4.Tires with an all-weather rating by the manufacturer and 3/16” tread depth 5.Chains or an AutoSock®
From what I read of the traction law I think you needed chains in the vehicle even if you have 4WD? I doubt our rental had chains. I guess we through caution to the wind?!
chains are required for all commercial vehicles not passenger vehicles. you don't need chains if you have 4WD/AWD
the best site for weather/road conditions is cotrip.org
slow and steady is your best bet when driving in the mountains.
Traction Law
During winter storms, or when conditions require, CDOT will implement the Traction Law. During a Traction Law, all motorists are required to have EITHER: 1.4WD or AWD vehicle and 3/16” tread depth 2.Tires with a mud and snow designation (M+S icon) and 3/16” tread depth 3.Winter tires (mountain-snowflake icon) and 3/16” tread depth 4.Tires with an all-weather rating by the manufacturer and 3/16” tread depth 5.Chains or an AutoSock®
Totally agree with the bolded above (slow and steady) and just keep in the back of your mind that if there's a really good storm going on, stay down in the city for a day or two. Trust me, mountain driving in a storm when you're not used to it is scary, stressful, dangerous, and slow. What you think will take 4 hours can easily take 8. Or more if something is closed and you're just stuck, sitting on the highway.
Rent AWD or 4WD to be sure. Unfortunately, it may be too late as those cars usually sell out this time of year.
We just moved away from CO and the passes are no joke this time of year. I had my (traction compliant) Honda Odyssey on I-70 near the Eisenhower Tunnel a few years ago during a snow storm and it was TERRIFYING. My car was useless in that weather. My husband's 4WD truck was the only way to go between November and March and even in that vehicle I would white knuckle it some days.
I did a chat with Avis, and they said all their cars are compliant. Not sure I believe it 100% though, I'm going to keep trying to get someone at the counter.
Did he say which option that they comply with? I can't imagine that every Ford Escort they have in their fleet is compliant.
Post by basilosaurus on Feb 25, 2020 10:15:45 GMT -5
Are you only going to be in Vail/BC and skiing/riding most of the time? Honestly I'd just take the shuttle and then use the local shuttles from wherever you're staying. Even though I lived in CO for years as well as other really snowy places (seriously, one place doubled Buffalo NY's annual snowfall), I still hate driving in snow even with awesome subarus. Plus parking is either expensive or far away and difficult to find. Even when I drove up from Denver to ski, if I were staying overnight, I'd just use the shuttles to get to and from the mountain. There's not much need for a car IMO.
Post by thedutchgirl on Feb 25, 2020 13:07:58 GMT -5
I first rented with Silvercar, which is Audi's own rental agency, in Denver, and it was great. All the A4s and Q7s they rent are AWD, so you know you are guaranteed AWD. (We wanted that for driving to Breck.) It looks like they now also have Q5s, which may not be AWD (Audi calls it Quattro), but they are so easy to deal with, I'm sure you could confirm.
They call it Silvercar because, drum roll, they are all silver cars.
We just used it again in SFO, and I totally love it. Leather seats, moon roof, free WiFi in all the cars. It's awesome.
Are you only going to be in Vail/BC and skiing/riding most of the time? Honestly I'd just take the shuttle and then use the local shuttles from wherever you're staying. Even though I lived in CO for years as well as other really snowy places (seriously, one place doubled Buffalo NY's annual snowfall), I still hate driving in snow even with awesome subarus. Plus parking is either expensive or far away and difficult to find. Even when I drove up from Denver to ski, if I were staying overnight, I'd just use the shuttles to get to and from the mountain. There's not much need for a car IMO.
This. We live in Denver and have stayed in Winter Park several times this season. Once we park we don’t move the car till we leave. The kids love riding the bus and it’s easier/cheaper than driving around town.