Leeway for car rental drop off times?

[hsmamato2]

I am wondering.....if I drop a car rental off any later than I booked, do they charge? I am thinking Alamo,any experience with this?

 

[seashoreCM]

If you bring the car back late (after any grace period that varies but is typically from 30 minutes to an hour) without advance permission then the rental company may do funky things with your charges.

The worst case is refiguring the entire rental using a different, higher, rate structure.

Normally if you get permission in advance then you are charged additional time according to rates printed on your rental papers. Usually by the time you go over 3 hours you have reached the cost of an additional day.

Whether you succeed in getting permission can depend on whether the car is needed back right away for the next renter. Usually if you are already on the way back and call for permission because you are stuck in traffic they will charge you no more than the extra hourly rate.

Shoot to return the car by the original deadline, not by the end of the grace period.

 

[gmeh1]

I am wondering.....if I drop a car rental off any later than I booked, do they charge? I am thinking Alamo,any experience with this?

Alamo/National has a grace period of 29 minutes. no charge
30-120 mins - hourly charge
121 mins and more - daily charge at current rate.

 

[lost*in*cyberspace]

Yes, you will very likely be charged an additional fee for a later drop off. When I have known my drop off will be late, I just call, so I know in advance how much the charge will be.

 

[hsmamato2]

ok thanks! I wasn't going to plan on being late, but my return is a tight time schedule, so I know I have at least 29 minutes leeway...