How long do rental car places give you to return your car?

[punkin]

My plans changed and I need to pick up the car an hour later and drop it off two and a half hours later. When I tried to change the reservation, the price goes up about $50. How long of a grace period do I have to return it?

 

[safetymom]

You have 59 mins. After that they start charging you from the time the car was due to be returned. Sometimes a few hours will cost as much as another day would.

 

[MinnieGirl33]

Rent a car companies charge based on 24 hour increments so the price differential might be because you are now being charged for an extra day ex. you pick up at 11a on a Sat & drop off at 12noon on Sun you would be charged for 2 days because you are beyond 24 hours.

 

[punkin]

Rent a car companies charge based on 24 hour increments so the price differential might be because you are now being charged for an extra day ex. you pick up at 11a on a Sat & drop off at 12noon on Sun you would be charged for 2 days because you are beyond 24 hours.

No. It doesn't come out to an extra day. It's 10:00 am to 2:00 pm now and I want to change it to 11:00 am to 4:30 pm.

 

[CarolA]

Hertz just changed and you now get 30 minutes. After that you are charged. So check with your rental car company.

Also, the deal is you are charged an hourly rate until that rate equals a daily rate... So if the hourly rate charge is $15 an hour and the daily rate is $45... then three hours after your pick up time you are basically paying for an extra day. Keep in mind the daily rate may not be the same as your discounted rate.

 

[salmoneous]

No. It doesn't come out to an extra day. It's 10:00 am to 2:00 pm now and I want to change it to 11:00 am to 4:30 pm.

With most car rentals, here's how the system works. The times on the reservations don't really matter. The clock starts when you pick up, and ends when you return (days do matter, times don't). If you return the car less than 59 minutes (30 for some) later than the time you got your paperwork, no extra charge. If you return the car later than the grace period, but 60 minutes or less, you get charged for 1 hour at the hourly rate. If you return it 61-119 minutes late, you get charged 2x hourly rate. 120-179 = 3x hourly rate. Continue until the hourly rate > daily rate, then charge daily rate. Most of the time the daily rate is about 3x the hourly rate.

While your case may be unusual, there is usually no price difference between 10 - 2 and 11-4:30. Both would get charged for a full day.

 

[seashoreCM]

Rental companies reserve the right to refigure your entire rental on a higher rate if you overtly keep the car past the due back time.

The only way to prevent unexpected surprises is to sign a revised contract or a new contract. This means reporting back to the rental agency if your plans changed halfway through your rental.

Rental companies will usually follow a "flat tire rule" for last minute problems, honoring your contracted rate, although you still pay for the extra hours or extra day (and also the tire if it really went flat).

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

 

[punkin]

Thank you for your replies. I have made another reservation (rates have gone down) and will cancel my original.