Theft, IDs, Deposits, Oh My!

This month, we asked members about their rental policies—who do they rent to, what IDs are required from renters, are deposits or prepayments required, etc—and their businesses' experience of theft. If you have additional ideas for surveys for CRA members, please email CRA at Info@CalRental.org.

1. What type of Rentals do you have?
General Tool: 53% (10 responses)
Party: 32% (6 responses)
Both General Tool and Party: 16% (3 responses)

2. How many forms of ID do you require for new rental customers?
One ID (10 responses)
Two IDs (4 responses)
Additional responses:
1. Driver’s License (1 response)
2. Local Driver’s License and Major Credit Card (1 response)
3. 1-2 IDs (1 response)
4. Driver’s License and Credit Card, and both names have to match (1 response)

3. What forms of ID do you accept? Check all that apply.
Valid Drivers License: 95% (19 responses)
State Issued ID Card: 40% (8 responses)
Passport: 30% (6 responses)
Credit Card: 40% (8 responses)
Vehicle Registration: 10% (2 responses)
Library Card: 0% (0 responses)
Other (please specify): 20% (4 responses)
1. Passport (very rarely).
2. Credit card.
3. Driver’s license required if towing out.
4. Military ID.

4. Do you accept of out of state driver’s licenses?
Yes: 35% (7 responses)
No: 35% (7 responses)
Depends (please specify why): 30% (6 responses)
1. Close state or a good reason for renting from us.
2. We are a border state with Washington IF LOCAL.
3. New renters need more ID.
4. Have a local address where they are working with proof.
5. If new resident to the state.
6. Only if customer has a local address.

5. Do you require a mandatory jobsite address?
Yes: 50% (10 responses)
No: 50% (10 responses)
Additional comments:
1. On some items, like larger generators.
2. Depends…. A location that is close (some have no physical address yet).
3. We should, but they just lie about it if their intentions are bad.
4. On certain equipment.
5. We are flexible with repeat customers.
6. Only if accounts require it.

6. Do you collect a deposit?
Yes: 89% (16 responses)
No: 11% (2 responses)
Additional comments:
1. Non-account customers are required to leave a deposit. Once an account is established then a deposit is no longer required.
2. Deposit for reservation, payment in full on delivery.
3. On first time rentals and sometimes more.
4. Pre-authorization on credit card.
5. We imprint a credit card.
6. Depends on what is rented.
7. In about 25% of our contracts, only if they are new or infrequent clients.
8. New customers with no history leave a deposit between $500-$1500, depending what is being rented. Existing customers pay the estimated rental up front along with a fuel deposit if applicable.
9. Thinking about it. Would like to know others’ thoughts.

7. What forms of deposits do you accept? Select all that apply.
Cash: 78% (14 responses)
Check: 50% (9 responses)
Credit Card: 100% (18 responses)
Other (please specify): 11% (2 responses)
1. Blood of their first born (JK).
2. Cash for small items (less than 500.00 value).

8. Comments:
1. For most of our equipment we require a credit card for the deposit.
2. We are 20 miles from another state…. which we consider. We strive to ask questions when it doesn’t make sense to rent from us.
3. Select equipment requires a credit card pre-payment.

9. Have you ever experienced theft?
Yes: 95% (19 responses)
No: 5% (1 response)

10. What type of theft have you experienced? Select all that apply.
Conversion: 84% (16 responses)
Stolen from Jobsite / Customer: 63% (12 responses)
Stolen from Rental Center: 79% (15 responses)
Additional comments:
1. We’ve been in business since 1945, so we have seen it all.
2. No help from police or DA in Portland, Oregon.
3. Very infrequent, but for over 45 years in business, it’s bound to happen.

11. Are you aware of the CRA Alert and Crime Prevention Programs?
Yes: 95% (19 responses)
No: 5% (1 response)

12. Do you enter information that you receive about thefts into your system as undesirable?
Yes: 63% (12 responses)
No: 37% (7 responses)
Additional comments:
1. In Portland we are out of the loop somewhat.
2. Sometimes.

13. Would you be interested in learning about Cyber Liability?
Yes: 68% (13 responses)
No: 32% (6 responses)

14. Survey Ideas
1. Repeal the minimum wage!!!!!!!!!!!
2. Where and how companies train their employees. Where do they get their training material from?
3. Reducing GPS costs.
4. Truck Rentals, who does them? RV campout location ideas.