Unable to downshift Hertz’s upgrade

At the airport, a Hertz representative upgraded us to an SUV, which sounded bigger, but was not.

Hertz claimed that I ruined the clutch.

[...] when I turned in the car, I was charged an additional fee of $881 for damage to the Opel Mokka’s clutch, so my total cost was much more than the $295 that I had been quoted.

Hertz was generous to upgrade you to an SUV.

[...] the company also should have offered you a working car, and I’m not sure if it did.

The transmissions on European cars don’t always work the same way as they do on American vehicles.

If you don’t believe me, try putting that European rental into “reverse.”

My point is, Hertz should tell its American customers about any idiosyncrasies with its cars’ transmissions before they drive away.

Ireland is among the countries that more or less require you to buy the car rental company’s expensive insurance option.

Christopher Elliott is the ombudsman for National Geographic Traveler magazine.

Find travel tips at www.elliott.org.