How to get around car rental return fees...

[Elacklen]

We're flying in and out of TPA, we arrive Sun at 1:30 and depart Friday at 6. So we're reserving our car from 2 pm and returning at 4 pm. When we try and reserve a car, we're being hit with an extra day charge instead of an hourly charge, for the two hour time difference. Suggestions? Is it better to pick it up earlier than requested, or return later?

 

[bradisgoofy]

If you pick up early or drop off late outside your reserved times they WILL charge you extra. Did you try a different company? We use national and Budget and have been very happy. You could just get to the airport early?

 

[Shelly F - Ohio]

I find that if a rental is only an hour difference that you get an extra hour charge but two hours means a whole day. I would either pick it up at 3 with a 4 return or a 2 pick up with a 3 return

 

[nacho113]

Try playing around with the 1/2 hours like PU 2:30 or drop at 3:30. Some companies like Budget/Avis allow intervals of 15 minutes even.
You probably just need to get the time difference to less than 2 hours. Might be worth getting to the airport a little early or dawdling a little on the pick up end to save an extra day charge.
You could also try using a different rental company to see if the rates improve.

 

[OrangeCountyCommuter]

Playing around with the times on your reservation will ONLY work if those are the times you actually rent. So if you change your pick up and drop off to get it down to an hour and don't have the extra day charge on your reservation then that is when you have to pick up and return. Your charges are based on actual time not reservation time.

 

[supersnoop]

The hourly rate isn't just 1/24 of the daily rate. The daily rate may very well be less that the charge for two hours. You'll be charged based on when you're u pick it up and turn it in.

 

[bumbershoot]

Is it better to pick it up earlier than requested, or return later?

What works better with your plans? Are you likely to be hungy on arrival? If so, check out the airport's website and see if any restaurants appeal to you. Maybe you can have a late lunch and then go pick up the rental closer to 4. Or maybe it's the reverse and you would rather eat before getting on the plane on the way home.

Renting two hours into a day = that whole 24 hours. It's not really a fee. So you have to get the actual rental down by those two hours.

 

[jkelly86]

Our flight home changed and we are now returning 4 hours later than anticipated. I would love it if they would merely add a day's rate onto our rental. We have a reservation with Budget for $300 all in (mini-van) and to add the day it will be $796 all in. Any suggestions? I cannot assess what a late return will cost me since it will be the rate on that specific day and time that I will be charged. I am assuming I will be price-gauged if I do this. Does anyone have any experience extending a rental for a day while on vacation? We are traveling during a peak time.

 

[sam_gordon]

I don't know if it will help anyone, but I just went through AAA to do a one day rental here at home. I'm picking up at 10am tomorrow and returning at 10:30am Sunday. They charged me one day + 1 hour. This is with Hertz. It might be worth calling your rental company and see if they'll charge you by hour after your day. The charge for the extra hour was 25% of the full day rate (but since the full day rate was only $15, I'm not complaining).