Alamo report

[Pembo]

We are just home after 8 days in WDW. I rented from Alamo at the airport, did online check in and we were out of the airport in no time. I had reserved a mid-size SUV. We had about 5 to choose from and picked a Suzuki.

I was able to add an additional driver 3 days later at the Car Care Center and it was free with my Insider rate.

I filled up on gas at Hess at DTD and was charged for 2 gallons by Alamo at the airport. I didn't realize I had the charges until we got home and I looked at the receipt vs my original ressie.

 

[Donna M]

Does Alamo require a receipt and fill up within a certain distance from the airport? We're renting from them in 2 weeks.

 

[Lewisc]

The Hess station by DTD is about 21-24 miles from MCO. Probably 25-30 miles if you got gas the night before and drove back to your resort.

Even if Alamo doesn't require a receipt the policy is to return the car with a full tank of gas, not with a gauge which shows full. You probably used 1-2 gallons of gas. Charging you for 2 gallons sounds about right. You understand you didn't return the car with a full tank of gas.

I always figured it was OK to fill up at the Hess station, I assumed the previous renter probably did the same thing. I would never complained if the agency charged me a couple of gallons. To be fair you either tried to "steal" a couple of gallons of gas from Alamo or from the next renter. Of course that assumes Alamo either topped of the tank or the next renter gassed up near MCO.

 

[Pembo]

OP here - DH rented at the airport from National on a Sunday night, drove to Pop, drove to the car care center the next day and never added gas. He drove 27 miles and wasn't charged for gas.

How could Alamo know it was 1-2 gallons short? We've always filled up near WDW in the past and have never been charged. I filled up at WDW and then drove straight to the airport.

I'm not complaining about the charge, I understand it, I'm just confused by it. We've never had that happen before with other rental companies.

 

[Horace Horsecollar]

At the rental car return, the rental car employee glances at the gas gauge along with the odometer reading. The employee may also ask, "Did you buy gas?"

Unfortunately, many gas gauges don't budge until a car has gone around 20 miles.

If the gas gauge shows full, the rental car company does not add gas. The next renter gets the car with a "full tank," even though the tank might have been last filled 20 or more miles ago.

If the gas gauge is even slightly down, the rental car company is likely to add gas and charge the person who returned the car that way.

I've rented cars that show "full" but are really a gallon or two down. The gas gauge drops quickly, right after leaving the airport. That means I have to pay an extra $4 to $8 for gas during my rental. It's not the end of the world, but it's annoying.

After driving a 100 miles in a car that should get 25 mpg, it should not take 6 gallons to fill up.

I'm sure there are people who think they're outsmarting the rental car company when they return a car with a tank that appears full, but really isn't. In reality, they're just taking money from the next person who rents the car.

The normal rule is to refill the gas tank completely within 10 miles of the rental return. Anything less is not really a full tank.

 

[gmeh1]

Does Alamo require a receipt and fill up within a certain distance from the airport? We're renting from them in 2 weeks.

No, they don't require one.

 

[gmeh1]

At the rental car return, the rental car employee glances at the gas gauge along with the odometer reading. The employee may also ask, "Did you buy gas?"

Unfortunately, many gas gauges don't budge until a car has gone around 20 miles.

If the gas gauge shows full, the rental car company does not add gas. The next renter gets the car with a "full tank," even though the tank might have been last filled 20 or more miles ago.

If the gas gauge is even slightly down, the rental car company is likely to add gas and charge the person who returned the car that way.

I've rented cars that show "full" but are really a gallon or two down. The gas gauge drops quickly, right after leaving the airport. That means I have to pay an extra $4 to $8 for gas during my rental. It's not the end of the world, but it's annoying.

After driving a 100 miles in a car that should get 25 mpg, it should not take 6 gallons to fill up.

I'm sure there are people who think they're outsmarting the rental car company when they return a car with a tank that appears full, but really isn't. In reality, they're just taking money from the next person who rents the car.

The normal rule is to refill the gas tank completely within 10 miles of the rental return. Anything less is not really a full tank.

They generally top off the tank in the prep area. Obviously, sometimes they miss that little step. I often saw gas gauges that did not show full and I adjusted the level on their contract (in the computer).

 

[gmeh1]

OP here - DH rented at the airport from National on a Sunday night, drove to Pop, drove to the car care center the next day and never added gas. He drove 27 miles and wasn't charged for gas.

How could Alamo know it was 1-2 gallons short? We've always filled up near WDW in the past and have never been charged. I filled up at WDW and then drove straight to the airport.

I'm not complaining about the charge, I understand it, I'm just confused by it. We've never had that happen before with other rental companies.

Easy, when they prep the car, they top it off (they are supposed to).

 

[Lewisc]

Easy, when they prep the car, they top it off (they are supposed to).

Curious. How much gas before they charge the previous renter. One gallon? Two gallons?

I agree with HH. It is mildly anoying when you realize the previous renter didn't completely fill the tank, the rental agency didn't top off and we're paying for the some of the previous renters gas.

 

[gmeh1]

Curious. How much gas before they charge the previous renter. One gallon? Two gallons?

I agree with HH. It is mildly anoying when you realize the previous renter didn't completely fill the tank, the rental agency didn't top off and we're paying for the some of the previous renters gas.

Lewis, I don't have an answer to that, I just know they are supposed to top it off. I do understand how annoying your scenario can be, especially now with the gas prices being what they are (thankfully they are dropping).

 

[Fire14]

I don't remember what rental co it was but I was charged for gas once and I had filled it up exit prior to airport. I called and had gas charged dropped after faxing proof of gas filling and my rental contract. I was charged at time I dropped car off so within 5 min of pulling into airport and it was in prep area yet.