Seeing as Singletrack is the oracle of all obscure information...I've always wanted to know why, even after you've input every possible detail about yourself when making a web booking, do car rental agents need to spend half an hour typing on the computer when you go to collect a car from the desk?
What information are they inputting that isn't already there, and why do they have to hammer the enter key so many times?
They dont. If you're a member with Hertz or avis (and probably others) you can pre register once, and it's all done. At most airports I just turn up, find my name on the board, go to the space, get in the car and drive off, showing my license and credit card to the person on the gate. I can even just get in a different car (from a designated row) if I dont like the one i was given and drive that off instead. Lush.