is there a penalty for returning a rental early?

[redmomof4]

I ask because I have a decent rate on an Full Sized SUV for $321 (inclusive of fuel service option) for 6 days in June from MCO. Using some recently posted codes, I can get a minivan for $258 (not fuel inclusive) but the code requires a Saturday night rental. Has anyone ever booked a full week and then dropped their car off early? Are there penalties associated with that? Should I just keep our SUV? I supposed that tank of gas is equivalent if not more than the price difference. Thoughts?

 

[dmunsil]

If you return it early, they can (and often will) refuse to honor a coupon or special rate if the conditions are not met. Otherwise people would constantly book leisure rates with Saturday stay restrictions or multi-day requirements and then just return the car early. The requirements are a way of trying to separate leisure travelers (who usually will keep the car over a weekend) from business travelers who typically rent during the week.

Sometimes, though, they won't bother to change the rate. It's a mystery as to why; in some cases perhaps it's not worth hassling over. In other cases you're within what they consider to be a "normal" return window.

Ultimately if you do it, just be prepared to have to pay the full rate or to argue with them. It might not happen, but you should know it could.

 

[HoosierDisneyDad]

If the special rate requires a Saturday overnight and you return it before Saturday night, then there's a good chance they won't honor the rate. But I noticed that the minivan rate without fuel is only $63 less than the SUV with fuel. $63 to fill up a full size SUV is a pretty good price.

 

[gmeh1]

I ask because I have a decent rate on an Full Sized SUV for $321 (inclusive of fuel service option) for 6 days in June from MCO. Using some recently posted codes, I can get a minivan for $258 (not fuel inclusive) but the code requires a Saturday night rental. Has anyone ever booked a full week and then dropped their car off early? Are there penalties associated with that? Should I just keep our SUV? I supposed that tank of gas is equivalent if not more than the price difference. Thoughts?

If there is a Sat. night requirement and you return it without staying a Sat. night, you will incur a much higher rate. It may not always happen, but, do you really want to chance it? Check the price for the amount of time you would need the vehicle against the price with a Sat. night stay. The price without the Sat. night is what you will end up paying 99x out of 100.
However if you book without a Sat. night requirement for 6 nights, it is considered a full week (anything over 5 days gets the week rate). Check the prices by altering your dates.