additional charges on rental

[brooker]

Can anyone give me a cost of the additional charges with a Dollar rental after the base price you get quoted on the website? We already would have collision waver insurance by using our credit card. Is there anything else?

 

[mumzie2three]

Let's see.....I got whacked an APT CONC RECOV FEE of $23.58, STATE TRANSACT TAX of $28.42, STATE TAX of $19.36, and last but not least, a VEHICLE LICENSE FEE of $6.58. All this brought my "base" rate from $217.98 up to $295.92.
If anyone can explain 3 out of the 4 to me, I'd love to hear it. The only one I understand is the State Tax.

 

[CanadianGuy]

Let's see.....I got whacked an
APT CONC RECOV FEE of $23.58

Airport Concession Recovery Fee - A fee charged to cover the 'extra rent' costs of being at the airport. Most airport locations of car rental companies have a similar charge. It's a cash grab basically.

STATE TRANSACT TAX of $28.42

State Tranaction Tax = Never heard of this one. Sounds like a cash grab at the state level. But could be a computerized way of collecting 'county' tax.

STATE TAX of $19.36

State Tax

VEHICLE LICENSE FEE of $6.58.

This one is fairly standard. It's a fee to recover the cost of licensing the vehicle. Supposedly it covers the annual licensing for the period of the rental. Car rental companies like to parcel this out separately from their rates because licensing fees vary from state to state. But in all likelihood they make a profit on it because it no doubt includes a fee for administering and collecting this fee.

So the only one I've never really heard of is the State Transaction Tax. I'm betting that's a county tax or some kind of a special tax on car rentals that is poorly itemized in the rental companies computer system.

Works out to about 35% of taxes on the base rate.

Not the worst I've ever seen. Ft. Lauderdale Airport has what amounts to 50% taxes on a rental. A 300$ rental is 450$ after fees and taxes.

Personally I like the Alamo website because it itemizes all fees for a specific location up front prior to you booking the rental. Not all car rental websites do.

Hope this helps.

Knox

 

[mumzie2three]

Thanks Knox. It helps but it still hurts...if you know what I mean.
I should hunt down my rental car info from my last trip and see how Alamo itemized the "extras". For some reason I felt less "taxed" last year.

 

[CanadianGuy]

You're not dreaming. Here's what Alamo lists for taxes on a 206$ / 7 day rental in Orlando at the airport...

Concession Fee Recov Chrg 9.8 % $20.48
Florida Surcharge 2.00/day $14.00
Tire/battery Fee .05/day $0.35
License Recoupment Fee .39/day $2.73
Sales Tax (6.50%) $15.82
Subtotal $53.38

Which works out to a much more reasonable 26% taxes & fees rate. (roughly)

 

[mumzie2three]

Wow!! Should I call Dollar to find out why they charge so much more? Or will I be wasting my time?
I feel like I can't complain too much because my base rate is pretty good for April vacation and it's for two weeks.

 

[CanadianGuy]

Well .. since you're unlikely to cancel that reservation..

I'd leave it be. Right now Alamo for April is NUTS. And they aren't discounting very much or accepting coupons (at least on the website) for bookings in April at MCO. Who cares if they have lower fees if the rental for your trip is 450$?

Personally, now a days I try to only tilt at selected windmills. I'm getting old and tired.

Knox

 

[brooker]

Heres what I get when I booked my ressie...
Base Rate: $98.99

Taxes, Surcharges And Fees:
STATE TRANSACT TAX: $12.18
STATE TAX: $7.41
VEHICLE LICENSE FEE: $2.82.

So even though I am not picking up the car at the airport but I am returning it there, I guess the only one i am not seeing is the Airport recovery tax. So my credit card insurance covers me for collision damage on the vehicle, so I guess I would still need to purchase some type of liablilty insurance to cover me against claims by others (if I ever needed it).

 

[OhMari]

Here is my total bill from Dollar. I plan on taking proof of insurance along. I heard if you don't have it, they charge you. Hope this helps.

Here is my bill for April 8-12.

YOUR RATE IS: 4 Days at $22.99 per day. Unlimited mileage.

Base Rate: $91.96

Taxes, Surcharges And Fees:
STATE TRANSACT TAX: $8.12
STATE TAX: $6.63
VEHICLE LICENSE FEE: $1.88

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Total Estimated Charges: $108.59