Alamo fuel charges at airport

[The Charmed One]

Hi,

How much do alamo charge to fill up an F4 at the airport, (mco) my insurance doesn't include fuel?

Then I can take it back empty.

Thank you.

Love Wendy xxx

 

[Disneyjosh229]

Insurance will NOT cover fuel for the vehicle. For the most part, Alamo is going to charge you quite a bit more for fuel if you wait and return it empty, unless you have indicated on your reservation that you would like to pay for your fuel upfront. Your best bet is to catch an exit right before the airport and just top off your tank enough to pass the "test"

 

[lost*in*cyberspace]

Never ever return a rental car without a full fuel tank. Rental car agencies charge a fortune for gas.

What in the world would make you think that insurance covers gas for a rental car which you apparently are renting for a Disney trip?

 

[Disneyjosh229]

Never ever return a rental car without a full fuel tank. Rental car agencies charge a fortune for gas.

What in the world would make you think that insurance covers gas for a rental car which you apparently are renting for a Disney trip?

Just an example, Hertz is often around $5.65 per gallon if you return it empty. They just dont want to be bothered with filling them up!!

 

[Lewisc]

You can pre-pay for the gas BUT you pay for the entire tank with no credit for unused fuel. Even if you return the tank with the guage on E the few gallons of gas in the car you'll be paying more than if you just fill the car near the airport. Rent the car with a full tank and return it with a full tank.

The OP is from Manchester ( I assume England). Some of the foreign travel agencies include insurance and full tank of gas in the package.

 

[kaytieeldr]

It varies by tank size; if that's what you want to do, Alamo will pre-sell you a fill-up. You pay for the ENTIRE tank in advance - so if it holds, say, fifteen gallons, you pay for the entire fifteen gallons at the time of the rental, no matter HOW much or little gas you actually use, and there's NO refund for unused gas.
It's cheaper to do this than to pay for the gas when you return the car, but cheaper still to refuse the tank of gas and fill it yourself as close to the airport as possible.

 

[The Charmed One]

Thank you for the replies.

The insurance I booked is called Fully Inclusive, the other insurance they offer is called Gold Insurance which include's additional driver's and a full tank of fuel. I don't have addition driver's so didn't take the gold cover, so I have to pay locally for fuel and return it empty. I booked it in the UK where I live. This is what the company say I have to do, or upgrade over here before I go to the gold cover, but it isn't worth it, I might as well pay locally.

 

[Lewisc]

Thank you for the replies.

The insurance I booked is called Fully Inclusive, the other insurance they offer is called Gold Insurance which include's additional driver's and a full tank of fuel. I don't have addition driver's so didn't take the gold cover, so I have to pay locally for fuel and return it empty. I booked it in the UK where I live. This is what the company say I have to do, or upgrade over here before I go to the gold cover, but it isn't worth it, I might as well pay locally.

FYI--full tank of fuel and insurance aren't bundled together in the United States. It might not even be legal.

The cheapest option is to rent the car full and return it full. Pre-paying for the tank of gas and trying to return it empty is more expensive.

Your original question wasn't answered, the rental agency bases the cost of pre-paid gas on the manufacters listed capacity of the gas tank (you can look it up on the auto makers website) times a per gallon price that's just under the local price of gas/gallon. That way you think you're getting a good deal but you're not. They will give you a total dollar amount but that's the way it's calculated.

 

[Lewisc]

Sorry for giving you misleading information in my prior posts.


You might re-post this in the UK board. Alamo says:

United Kingdom
Rentals will require a fuel deposit at time of rental.

If you book the rental in the US you have to pre-pay for fuel. You're probably better off just pre-paying for the fuel and returning the car as close to empty as possible (figure around $3 /gallon if you want to see if your insurance option is cheaper) rather than try to get a refund of your fuel deposit from Alamo when you return the car. What kind of car are you renting?

Some of the car rental policies aren't the same for UK residents, and most of us don't really know the differences.

 

[bavaria]

Lewis (and other readers), as an FYI it's the same in Germany - when you pick up the car, you need to sign a 'fuel deposit' chit which comes to well over 150 Euros for a small car. It's essentially a waiver stating that if you don't return the car full, you will be charged that amount to refill the tank.

I can't speak for all of Europe, but it is rather different to rent a car there vs in North America when it comes to insurance and fuel deposits.

To the OP - the infromation you were given here regarding fuel in North America is correct. The closest filling station is offsite from the airport - follow the Hertz return signs (large billboards) to Semoran Boulevard and you will be able to fill the tank in that area, as well as return to the airport easily.

 

[seashoreCM]

The insurance I booked is called Fully Inclusive, the other insurance they offer is called Gold Insurance which include's additional driver's and a full tank of fuel. .

If Gold whatever grants you (reimburses you for or pays the rental company for) a tankful of fuel up front every time you rent, it is really a benefit package as opposed to plain insurance and it is perfectly legal to sell as a package deal or as an annual membership.

If you book the rental in the US you have to pre-pay for fuel. Some of the car rental policies aren't the same for UK residents, and most of us don't really know the differences.

Are you sure this is a required up front purchase of fuel (a standard procedure when optional) versus a refundable deposit for fuel usage (an esoteric practice)?

If you are required to actually purchase a tankful of fuel, that may depending on how much driving you do be a terrible ripoff as opposed to just a noticeable ripoff. Consider renting from a different company.

Historically, that was more than 15 years ago, Alamo used to have a required up front fuel purchase for everyone, it went like this: X dollars fuel service charge for approximately a half tankful, no need to refuel, no credit for unused fuel.

If your company requires that you rent from Alamo, it should pay the entire minimum rental charge and that includes the first tankful of fuel if required along with any mileage charges if the rental company does not have unlimited mileage to the geographical location you are going for business.

Caution. There are some extremely expensive gas stations on Semoran (the north airport exits). Instead, left at first light (Frontage) after leaving airport north entrance, go to end (just over a mile), take a left and a nice cheap gas station is right there. If you came back from Disney on I-4 east (northeast) to the Beach Line (Bee Line; 528) and took 528's exit 9 Tradeport, then left and cross under and that is the gas statiion you will see. Continuing back to airport don't cross back under 528 but instead face north, get into middle lane and take required right (McCoy becomes Frontage) and next light is Semoran and airport entrance.

Disney hints:
http://members.aol.com/ajaynejr/disney.htm

 

[bavaria]

I can attest to the fact that Alamo DOES treat foreign residents differently at MCO, or they did a few years ago. The terms and conditions and/or contract may be different, in regards to inclusions, etc. I had a rental booked on a European site, and carry an EU passport. They were quite difficult about honouring the rental as my drivers license is from North America. (It is certainly not uncommon for residents of one country to hold a passport from a different company)

It did take almost an hour to complete the rental and as a result I don't use their services anymore (or would only book off a North American site)

I rent 2x month from Hertz and while the rental process is different in North America and Europe I don't have issues like I did with that one Alamo rental.

 

[Lewisc]

I'm from NY so I don't have any personal experience.

The Alamo website says Europeans have to pre-pay for fuel but guests from the UK just have to pay a deposit. It seems like many of the guests from Europe have a full tank of fuel included with the package that also includes insurance.

I suggest the poster take the pre-paid fuel option, or get the equivalent with the insurance package, rather than having to fight with Alamo to get the deposit back.

I'm cynical. I think the rental agent will write it up as a pre-paid fuel and not a deposit and it will be next to impossible to get it corrected either when returning the car or when the OP gets back home. The guest may wind up paying for pre-paid fuel and pay to fill the tank.

At best Alamo will probably claim the tank wasn't full and will keep part of the deposit.

Are you sure this is a required up front purchase of fuel (a standard procedure) versus a refundable deposit for fuel usage (an esoteric practice)?

If you are required to purchase a tankful of fuel, that may depending on how much driving you do be a terrible ripoff as opposed to just a noticeable ripoff. Consider renting from a different company.

Historically, that was more than 15 years ago, Alamo used to have a required up front fuel purchase for everyone, it went like this: X dollars fuel service charge for approximately a half tankful, no need to refuel, no credit for unused fuel.

Disney hints:
http://members.aol.com/ajaynejr/disney.htm

 

[bavaria]

I suggest the poster take the pre-paid fuel option, or get the equivalent with the insurance package, rather than having to fight with Alamo to get the deposit back.

I'm cynical. I think the rental agent will write it up as a pre-paid fuel and not a deposit and it will be next to impossible to get it corrected either when returning the car or when the OP gets back home. The guest may wind up paying for pre-paid fuel and pay to fill the tank.

At best Alamo will probably claim the tank wasn't full and will keep part of the deposit.

No, you're not cynical - just realistic!!! I am currently battling with Hertz over how full a tank was at pick up and drop off at a European location!

I would also hazard a guess that you are correct, Lewis, in that the agent is probably not quite as familiar with international practices and the difference between a deposit and pre-paid.

 

[Lewisc]

I would also hazard a guess that you are correct, Lewis, in that the agent is probably not quite as familiar with international practices and the difference between a deposit and pre-paid.

or the agent knows the difference, gets a bonus on selling pre-paid fuel and thinks a foreign customer won't know the difference until it's too late.

It's probably easier to return the car as close to empty as possible and spend the few extra dollars. If the poster has time to kill drive around the airport until the gauge is below empty. The goal is to run out of gas in the middle of the car return area.

 

[bavaria]

aaaah memories of driving around the countryside near the airport in Amsterdam while my father tried to 'win' the gas game..... Saw lots of windmills as a child!