Fuel Replacement fee question

[Jeafl]

If you return the car with say, 3/4 full tank, do they charge you for just the gas you are missing, or the amount it would cost to fill the entire tank? I just talked to someone who said he was charged for a full tank even though he returned it half full. That seems like a ripoff to me. Has anyone had any experience with this?

[Lewisc]

It depends. One option is to pre-pay for the tank of gas, you get no credit for any gas left in the tank. Another option is to rent with the tank full and return it full. If you don't return it full you're charged a per gallon fee which is usually about 150% of the local pump price.
Nation EC has a new plan which you are charged for the gas you use based on the average self-service price.

[Ralph&Pam]

I just dropped off a car at National in Las Vegas yesterday. We had used just less than 1/4 tank (Toyota Camry for two days). I was charged for 4 gals of gas at $1.69/gal plus the state sales tax. This was approximately the same as the pump price (which includes the state tax) at the gas stations we passed on the way back to the airport, which is what National claims. I considered it very fair, since being charged for only 3 gals would probably be too little. I really like not having to work in a gas stop on the way back to the airport.

Ralph

[AllanJ]

Some rental companies have a minimum charge for "replacement" gas if you don't buy the entire tankful up front and also don't bring it back full. Check the rules that come with the rental car.

If they charge by the gallon or by the eighth of a tankful, it is a good idea to top off every now and then during your vacation. Then if you fon't have time for a gas stop on the way back to the airport, it isn't far from full. (Assuming you did not buy the tankful up front.)

Note that buying the tankful is usually more expensive than not buying the tankful and filling up before return. Cars seldom come back with less than two gallons that the rental company can resell to the next renter. It is not worth the anxiety of running out of gas to try to bring it back really empty.

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[CarolA]

There are basically 3 rental car gas options

1. Buy the fuel option when you pick up this car. This charges you for a FULL tank of gas at local rates (or lower) when you pick up the car and you can return it empty. The problem here is that they do a full tank as all the gas a car holds. So if it is a 16 gallon tank, they charge you for 16 gallons. If you can return the car on empty, this is a probably a good deal.

2. Return the car without refueling. For all but National EA members, this is going to be very expensive. My Hertz contract for this week indicates that I will pay $4.50 for gas if I let Hertz refill it. So your best bet is to fill up before you turn the car in!

3. National's EA program allows members to bring the car back and they charge you the going local rate to fill it up. I think they are the only company doing this and only for EA members!