Hertz MCO Orlando installing scanners today

[sam_gordon]

How will that prove you filled the tank?

Time stamp of putting gas in vs time stamp of returning the rental. Smaller time means less mileage can go on the car.

When returning, I try to take a picture of the gauge showing 'full' (as well as current mileage) and if they try to say "it's not full enough", then they better point to the language in the contract that defines "full enough".

 

[katallo]

Between airline prices and this mess with hertz rentals, it’s not even worth flying.

 

[VGCgroupie]

Time stamp of putting gas in vs time stamp of returning the rental. Smaller time means less mileage can go on the car.

When returning, I try to take a picture of the gauge showing 'full' (as well as current mileage) and if they try to say "it's not full enough", then they better point to the language in the contract that defines "full enough".

This is very smart.

 

[LAS2AMS]

Luckily I don’t fly LAX. So problem solved.

LAX is the newest car rental facility in the country, and every agency opted to equip it with AI. Doesn’t matter if you’ll ever rent a car there, my point is that the technology will soon be everywhere. MCO is building a consolidated facility (will they ever stop spending money needlessly l?!?) but I’m certain incumbent facilities will be retrofitted long before it opens.

 

[LAS2AMS]

Between airline prices and this mess with hertz rentals, it’s not even worth flying.

Even with the high fees MCO charges, it has so much capacity that if you’re flexible with your dates you’ll get a deal.

We just flew JetBlue LAS-MCO-LAS for RT$50. In October, we flew MCO-LAX on Delta for $80. My friend flew American ORD-MCO -ORD for RT$58 in mid-August.

 

[gottalovepluto]

Between airline prices and this mess with hertz rentals, it’s not even worth flying.

With biggest asterisk ever- remember, many don’t live within a day or even 2 of driving. What it ultimately means for those of us in that bucket is we now have to put some more liability risk in the car rental column when comparing to rideshares.

 

[ruadisneyfan2]

Between airline prices and this mess with hertz rentals, it’s not even worth flying.

I don't think I could ever say that. Driving is 20+ hours.
Flying is 2.5 hours.
Even if I were retired and had all the time in the world, it's an exhausting way to start and end a vacation.

 

[MillauFr]

Time stamp of putting gas in vs time stamp of returning the rental. Smaller time means less mileage can go on the car.

When returning, I try to take a picture of the gauge showing 'full' (as well as current mileage) and if they try to say "it's not full enough", then they better point to the language in the contract that defines "full enough".

But the gas receipt doesn't say which vehicle was filled. Yes the picture showing a full gas tank while showing it matches the vehicle you were driving should be proof enough.

 

[MillauFr]

With biggest asterisk ever- remember, many don’t live within a day or even 2 of driving. What it ultimately means for those of us in that bucket is we now have to put some more liability risk in the car rental column when comparing to rideshares.

Flying though is far safer than driving your car.

 

[MillauFr]

Even with the high fees MCO charges, it has so much capacity that if you’re flexible with your dates you’ll get a deal.

We just flew JetBlue LAS-MCO-LAS for RT$50. In October, we flew MCO-LAX on Delta for $80. My friend flew American ORD-MCO -ORD for RT$58 in mid-August.

Not from Seattle. Alaska is often charging over $1,000 round trip. Of course they know residents here will pay it and not ask any questions. Delta might be cheaper but people here tend to avoid Delta.

 

[MillauFr]

One would hope! I didn’t know they scanned on the way out but makes sense. Guess there is no avoiding being screwed by Hertz…

Yes there is. You just don't rent from Hertz.....

 

[LAS2AMS]

Not from Seattle. Alaska is often charging over $1,000 round trip. Of course they know residents here will pay it and not ask any questions. Delta might be cheaper but people here tend to avoid Delta.

You can travel Alaska nonstop most weeks for RT$250 to $350 (midweek departures). You can find lower airfares on other airlines, and when AS is running/ matching a fare sale. If you need to travel peak dates (Sat-Sat during Easter), it’s still less than $600. And one-stop options on other airlines around half of that.

MCO is a very cheap place to fiy into. Most people on here either buy their tickets too early, too late, or limit themselves to specific flights on a specific airline in a premium assigned seat. Unfortunately, pretty much every industry will change for convenience and premium services.

 

[jimmymc]

How will that prove you filled the tank?

It depends on the rental terms, but most rental companies won't charge for small amounts of gas if you show a receipt from a nearby station. This won't work if the tank is half full, but if the needle is close to full then it normally covers you.

 

[sam_gordon]

Has anyone looked close at a rental agreement to see if they define "full"? I know I haven't.

 

[Lewisc]

Rental agencies are using the cars on board computer to determine the number of gallons of gas in the car coming and going.

 

[Mackenzie Click-Mickelson]

On my last visit, I was surprised to see that Sixt had these scanners. I didn’t understand what the device was when I exited with the vehicle but clearly understood on return. So far no problem but I made careful videos on pickup and return.

We just rented from them in the UK back in September and they had the scanners in Manchester, England airport rental car return.

At first we got the all clear then a month later my husband got an e-mail that there was damage and we needed to contact them. My husband looked over the photo sent showing the damage which was reported to be the mirror on the passenger side (which would be the driver's side here in the U.S.). He was like uhhhh that's the sunlight glare on the mirror. He had a photo he took of the car when we picked up the car in Heathrow airport which also you can see how the glare from the sunlight can affect a picture, sent that in, sent in his explanation that it was clearly the glare from the sunlight and that was the last we heard of them, no charge was assessed to his CC.

In theory the process is designed to make it quicker so a person doesn't have to inspect each and every vehicle. In reality it's a flawed system being used not only in what people are reporting as being charged for damages but also the process for after if something is shown as damaged.

 

[Mackenzie Click-Mickelson]

For gas fueling it used to be (and admittedly I haven't looked at the terms and conditions in a long time) that you had to fill up the tank within X amount of miles from the return location and a receipt was often required. If you couldn't prove this you were charged the rate the rental car agency charged.

It could be a problem for places where there was no gas station within the mileage or when the only gas station around would take advantage of it and charge a fortune.

I just know that we've always left the receipt in the car or ensured we had proof of it with exception to when my husband was at his prior company and they had a deal with Avis where they never filled up the tank, Avis would take care of that, even then we would run into Avis employees every now and then asking for proof of refueling and he would have to wait a moment for them to go into the account to see that we didn't have to.

 

[sam_gordon]

Has anyone looked close at a rental agreement to see if they define "full"? I know I haven't.

Here's Hertz (I'm renting today)...

REFUELING OPTIONS
Most Hertz rentals come with a full tank of gas, but that is not always the case. There are three refueling options:

1. IF YOU DO NOT PURCHASE FUEL FROM HERTZ AT THE BEGINNING OF YOUR RENTAL AND YOU RETURN THE CAR WITH AT LEAST AS MUCH FUEL AS WAS IN IT WHEN YOU RECEIVED IT, You will not pay Hertz a charge for fuel. In some instances, in-vehicle technologies and telematics devices, including global positioning technology, may be used to confirm that the level of fuel in the Car is at least as much as it was in it when You received it.

2. IF YOU DO NOT PURCHASE FUEL FROM HERTZ AT THE BEGINNING OF YOUR RENTAL AND YOU RETURN THE CAR WITH LESS FUEL THAN WAS IN IT WHEN YOU RECEIVED IT, Hertz will charge You a Fuel and Service Charge at the applicable per-mile/kilometer or per-gallon rate specified on the Rental Record.

ETA: I'm going to try to remember to take a picture of the fuel level when I pick up as well as return. I know their "telemetry" will be more exact, bit I don't have access to it.

I do try to fuel up within a gallon (so 20-30 miles) of the airport, AND "top off" the tank. So any difference SHOULD be less than a gallon.

 

[Genie+]

I don’t like the change but whatcha gonna do Last year a rental company tried to bill us $500 for a tiny little windshield chip on passenger side.

Fortunately I had taken pictures of the car when we picked it up.

Unfortunately I hadn’t noticed that bit of damage.

Fortunately I did notice about 2 hours later and took a pic from inside vehicle.

Unfortunately it was 2 hours later, so not exactly proof it existed at pick up.

Fortunately my original pics captured the damage, even though I was unaware at the time.

It sucks I could’ve still been left holding the bag, even after doing my due diligence.

 

[Mackenzie Click-Mickelson]

I do try to fuel up within a gallon (so 20-30 miles) of the airport, AND "top off" the tank. So any difference SHOULD be less than a gallon.

Dang 20 to 30 miles! wowza that's a long distance, in the past rental agreements were like 3-10miles and it seemed usually 3-6miles was the designated distance. The intent was for you to fill the car without using gas after that. If you're filling up too far away yeah you'll eat into the level it was filled up at. I think less of the companies have a strict distance these days but most advice says keep within 5-10 miles (I saw 15 miles a few times though from people's advice).

You really shouldn't be going 20 to 30miles out of your return destination