The short version
You book on our own system, so there is no marketplace sitting between you and the car and no protection plan waiting to be upsold at checkout. The person answering your questions is the person who owns and cleans the car. What you give up is a big brand’s call centre and airport counter — which for some trips genuinely is the better option, and we’ll say so below.
| Direct with us | Airport rental counter | |
|---|---|---|
| Who you talk to | The owner, by call or text | A call centre, then whoever is on shift |
| Pickup | We meet you, or we deliver | Queue, shuttle, off-site lot |
| The car you get | The exact vehicle in the photos | “Or similar” |
| Upsell at handoff | None — there is nothing to sell you | Coverage, fuel plans, upgrades |
| Longer trips | Ask and we’ll quote it | Published rate card |
| Delivery | Airport, hotels, Smokies cabins | Counter only |
What actually makes it cheaper
Not a promotion, and not a cheaper car. The savings are the things a counter adds that we don’t have: no airport concession fee, no facility charge, no coverage upsell at handoff, and no “or similar” vehicle swap. Your price is the daily rate plus Tennessee tax and the state rental surcharge — all of it shown before you confirm. Longer trips get a better daily rate automatically.
When a rental counter is the better call
We have six cars, not six hundred. If you land at 1am with no reservation, need a one-way to Nashville, need to put six people on separate rentals, or your company books through a corporate account, a counter will serve you better and we’ll tell you so on the phone. We’d rather send you somewhere useful than take a booking we can’t do well.
Good to know before you book direct
- You’ll sign a rental agreement. Straightforward, and you’ll get it before you pay, not at the curb.
- A 20% deposit books it. It goes toward your total; the balance is collected at pickup, and a refundable $500 hold is placed on your card at the start of the trip.
- Tennessee taxes apply. 9.25% sales tax plus the 3% state rental surcharge are added at checkout, the same as at any rental counter.
- Minimum age is 21, with a valid US-issued licence and your own auto insurance.
- Mileage: 200 miles a day included, $0.45 per mile after that.
- Ask about long trips. A week or a month is a different conversation and a much better rate — see monthly rentals.
Questions we get
Is it the same car in the photos?
Yes — the exact vehicle, not “or similar.” Same six cars, same photos, cleaned between every trip.
What if something goes wrong mid-trip?
You call or text us at (865) 309-4897. Being able to reach the owner directly is most of the reason people book this way twice.
Can I still book last-minute?
Usually. There’s a short advance-notice window so we can get the car cleaned and staged — if you’re inside it, call and we’ll tell you honestly whether we can make it work.