Car Rental Question - Drop off fees

[KCmike]

Is there anyway to avoid a huge drop off fee when renting a car? We would love to fly into Lake Tahoe or San Francisco, rent a car, and then have it with us when we end our vacation in Los Angeles but have noticed that most places stick you with a one way drop off fee. Anybody done this?

 

[tinka-belle]

There are "one way" rates for most rental companies, some with no drop fees, but they are higher rates overall than returning the car to the original pick up location.

Look for car companies that have a "corporate" owned location for both the pick up and drop off cities, not a location that is franchised or otherwise separately owned. Those don't rent that car out and must return it to the original location, thus the high drop fees, while the corporate owned locations can usually rent that car if both locations are in the same state and have an agreement. Note I say "usually", not always the case, can depend on season or demand for vehicles.