I always am really cautious about this and have returned a car due to the spray they use. Ask to see if you can get a car that has sat on the lot for a while. They are not safe for birds to breathe-- just like air fresheners or glad plugins
That would only apply if the rental agent was using an after-market spray to 'freshen' a vehicle that had been either smoked in or other use that has left an unpleasant smell. The new car aroma is no toxic. The enhanced 'agent add' can be depending on how much and when applied.
I just rented the other day from Enterprise and I have used many other as well. They all spray some nasty "freshener" in there (bc even when they say they don't, they use heavily scented cleaners to make the car seem "fresh") --I asked Enterprise and they said they didn't use freshening sprays, but that their cleaner has a "slight smell" *cough cough* SLIGHT is an understatement. It was like stepping into a middle-school girl's locker room after PE when all students are trying to overcompensate... If you have never experienced this, just picture Axe body spray in a closed space....Many birds have died from scented air tags and air-vent inserts (as well as from things like fabreeze etc). These scented products are too similar to be safe.
I'm sure they think I'm crazy, but I (remorsefully) ask to smell the car before I rent (due to my bird) lol! This tactic has actually worked incredibly well, as they always end up finding something for me (even if they say they have really high turnover there). I tried airing out the scent but it takes days. While the scent may be "non-toxic" I would like to know how that was determined, and I am guessing mammalian studies were the basis. Perfume is (kind of....) safe for humans, but not parrots...Glade fresheners and air fresheners are considered semi-safe for humans (despite the evidence that they contain serious carcinogens etc), and the fragrance industry in the US is extremely dangerous because of "trade secrets" and under-regulation. That having been said, before I had a bird, I was fine with all of that stuff. Obviously we (as humans) have a higher tolerance for these types of things.
If it smells like a cleaner or a perfume (even a pleasant one..) and you do not know EXACTLY what is in it and how that impacts parrots specifically, ask for a car that has sat longer. I rent multiple times yearly and just had to a few weeks ago--- they always act like they aren't sure, but they ALWAYS have made it work for me. It is embarrassing and may seem high-maintenance, but it's for the life of your best friend, so make it work.
The COVID disinfection procedures rely heavily on toxic cleaners with a "fresh" scent...Not non-toxic...Toxicology testing is conducted on humans and mammals-- not parrots/canaries in the coal mine.
ALWAYS apologize profusely and explain the situation to the clerk...they will tell you "we have been very busy so we cannot promise that there will be a car that has sat" but get yourself a mini-van and I bet you win lol! I have found that SUVs and mini-vans sit longer.
An all-leather interior can also reduce the risk of cleaners, as leather has a somewhat restrictive cleaning requirements, but they can still use the "new car" scent, so you do have to ask...and TRUST YOUR NOSE (no matter what the sales-clerk tells you). They are not trained veterinarians and they are repeating a script...Heck, even a regular vet would not be able to adequately comment on parrots' respiratory systems.
