Dollar Fee For Pre-Paid Gas Refill?

[PSUGuy]

I assume Dollar will offer us a 'deal' so that, for some fee, I won't have to top off the tank on the way back, I took this offer years ago but forget with whom and how much. Anybody know?

Bill From PA

 

[seashoreCM]

Nowadays you pay up front something like $40-$60 depending on the size of the tank.

You pay for the tankful of gas when you take the car out. There is no specific fee.

Always a bad deal money wise. (Of course if you would rather save time ...)

You can never use up all the gas in the tank without danger of stalling by the side of the road so at return time you will make a gift back to the rental company of what remains and that you paid for.

 

[PSUGuy]

Nowadays you pay up front something like $40-$60 depending on the size of the tank.

You pay for the tankful of gas when you take the car out. There is no specific fee.

Always a bad deal money wise. (Of course if you would rather save time ...)

You can never use up all the gas in the tank without danger of stalling by the side of the road so at return time you will make a gift back to the rental company of what remains and that you paid for.

Thanks, I realize this is to their benefit, but we're milking the last day at WDW, not returning the car until as late as 11 pm. We got the Marriott for $63 on Priceline the last night and the MCO Hyatt for nothing the first night there on Credit Card points, so we might be willing to splurge a little for the sake of convienience.

Bill From PA

 

[Lewisc]

You'll break even if you return the car with a few gallons left in the tank. Maybe when the low fuel light comes on. You might even need to use up a gallon after the light comes on.

It would be great to drive around the airport and run out of gas while you're in the car return area. Please pull up. Sorry I just used up the last of the gas I paid for.

 

[PSUGuy]

You'll break even if you return the car with a few gallons left in the tank. Maybe when the low fuel light comes on. You might even need to use up a gallon after the light comes on.

It would be great to drive around the airport and run out of gas while you're in the car return area. Please pull up. Sorry I just used up the last of the gas I paid for.

I figure there's no way we're not going to burn off $25 worth just getting from MCO to the BoardWalk and going to AK and MK twice each and DTD at least once, so even if I over-pay by $25, it's worth it to me not to have that hassle late on the last night. Our flight home the next day isn't until after 2 pm so we want a lengthy Happy Hour in the hotel lounge and a fill-up will mean one less round.

Bill From PA

 

[Lewisc]

Do the math. You might be better off not buying the pre-paid gas plan and just paying the inflated per gallon price for not returning the car with a full tank.

Return the car with 3/4 of a tank. You should be charged for 3 or 4 gallons. Check the high price and compare it with the cost to pay for the entire tank of gas.

 

[PSUGuy]

Do the math. You might be better off not buying the pre-paid gas plan and just paying the inflated per gallon price for not returning the car with a full tank.

Return the car with 3/4 of a tank. You should be charged for 3 or 4 gallons. Check the high price and compare it with the cost to pay for the entire tank of gas.

I didn't know of this option, only the fee up front. Thanks, we'll look into this when we get the car.

Bill From PA

 

[Lewisc]

It's not an option so much as the amount you'll be charged if you don't return the car with a full tank. The amount will be specified in your contract. My memory is the per gallon price is about 50% more then the local pump prices.

 

[prncess674]

Do the math. You might be better off not buying the pre-paid gas plan and just paying the inflated per gallon price for not returning the car with a full tank.

Return the car with 3/4 of a tank. You should be charged for 3 or 4 gallons. Check the high price and compare it with the cost to pay for the entire tank of gas.

Agree that this is usually a better option. I would stop and fill up at a point that is convenient for you. It doesn't have to be on your very last day just before pulling into the rental facility. It sounds like you are spending your last day at an airport hotel and leaving at 2pm that day. Did you check what the costs were to keep the rental till noon that day? It may not be anymore expensive than turning it in the prior day.

 

[Buzz's Buddy]

I rented a car from National from 12/28 to 1/5. I pre-paid for gas because I knew we were going to do a lot of driving. I ended up paying a price that was lower (by 2 or 3 cents) than any gas station we saw during our visit.

The gas light came on as we were leaving OKW and we made it back to the airport without filling up. Did I leave a gallon or so in the tank that I paid for? Probably, but I didn't have to worry about refilling the tank at a gas station close to the airport.

If I wasn't planning on driving much, I wouldn't have paid in advance. But if I'm doing a lot of driving, I don't have any problem paying for the gas up front.

 

[OrangeCountyCommuter]

You'll break even if you return the car with a few gallons left in the tank. Maybe when the low fuel light comes on. You might even need to use up a gallon after the light comes on.

It would be great to drive around the airport and run out of gas while you're in the car return area. Please pull up. Sorry I just used up the last of the gas I paid for.

And that's the ONLY way you are not being RIPPED OFF! LOL!

Sorry, but pumping gas takes what??? five minutes... so unless you plan to drive enough to get that fuel light on then the "convience" comes at a high cost IMHO


Even driving to visit a family member about 40 minutes away from Disney I have never seen that light. I have never used more then about $25 of gas driving around Disney. It's just not worth paying double for the rental car company to make $$$$. I fill up at Hess in Disney and have never had an issue!

As for returning with it less then full and paying...

1. They don't look at the gauge, they go by "milage"
2. Thier MPG is somewhat LESS then the car's EPA!
3. Looking at the receipt I have in front of me for my expense report it would have cost $6.99 a gallon.

Having had to do this for business assume that if the take holds 16 gallons and you return it with 1/4 used you will be charge for around 6 gallons at $6.99 or $42!

 

[dioxide45]

You'll break even if you return the car with a few gallons left in the tank. Maybe when the low fuel light comes on. You might even need to use up a gallon after the light comes on.

It would be great to drive around the airport and run out of gas while you're in the car return area. Please pull up. Sorry I just used up the last of the gas I paid for.

If you leave even one gallon in the tank when you return it, you have overpaid for your gas. Say a tank holds 12 gallons. Their fee is usually based on a price that is about 5 cents less than the average price of $3 a gallon at local stations.

Prepay option 12 gallons at $2.95 = $35.40
Buy yourself 11 gallons at $3.00 = $33.00 (use prepay and you just paid $35.40 for 11 gallons or $3.22 a gallon)

Pay the rental company to fill it at the end and you may think you are only paying for 1 gallon at $7 a gallon. Well in your contract you will probably find that they can charge you for a minimum of 5 gallons. That would be $7 a gallon or $35.

These gas options are a bad deal and a big money maker for the rental agencies any way you look at them. Buy them for convenience only.

 

[seashoreCM]

You did not succeed in bringing it back on fumes unless it is sputtering.

Returning to airport via I-4 East to 528 (Beach Line) east (traffic jam rare at 11 PM)
Watch for the "exit ramp" needed to pay the toll using cash.
Get off 528 at its exit 9 (Tradeport). Left and cross under.
Nice cheap gas station to top off at is right there on your left and you are 2 miles from airport.
Have the gas station at your left as you get into middle lane (take a left turn if you were on the skinny side road).
Required right onto McCoy (becomes Frontage).
Next light is 436 (Semoran). Turn right to enter the airport.