National car rental refueling charge

[Tink415]

Have always filled up at the Hess station by the Boardwalk and driven straight to MCO leaving via the road by Pop. Never charged any refueling charge in over 20 years of car rentals. Been renting from National for last 10 years or so. Our rental this time was a Chevy Spark, the one before this was a Town & Country minivan in April. Anyway, I turned the wrong way leaving Hess this time and had to turn around at Blizzard Beach to get back to the road by Pop. Didn't think it would make a much of a difference but apparently it did! I'm not complaining, just thought it was interesting that a little more driving was noticed so much on a more fuel efficient car.

 

[Jarmo]

A quick google says the Spark only has a 9 gallon gas tank... doesn't take much to put a dent in that!

 

[Tink415]

Good point! Nissan Versa can make it to MCO without refueling charge but that tank is a little bigger. The Spark was a nice little car!

 

[bumbershoot]

A 9 gallon tank? Wow. (our car has a nearly 17 gallon tank so that's mindbogglingly small to me)

 

[ParrotBill]

With a 9 gallon tank the needle is going to be visibly under the "F" line when you return... that stinks!
When I return a car I usually fuel up at the 7-11 where you cross FL 535 just before getting on the FL417, or off the FL417 at exit 14 (Landstar Blvd.)

 

[MIChessGuy]

I actually own a Nissan Versa sedan as my personal car. I believe the gas tank is 10.7 gallons, something like that, still pretty small of course. When I rent from MCO next month, my plan is to refuel at the new Wawa station a mile or two north of the airport exit -- never had the courage to refuel at the World before turn-in.

 

[Horace Horsecollar]

For the gas to be considered full at return, car rental companies expect renters to fill the tank before returning the car -- typically near the airport, but within 10 miles in any case.

Many cars can go a considerably further, with the gas gauge still showing full. So people get away with returning a car that's actually down a gallon or two. However, this cheats the next person renting that car.

 

[Jake]

Find a gas station closer to the airport. Just jump off the highway get gas and jump back on.
I stop on Landstar blvd. Turn left Racetrack, right Mobil gas. Just make sure,, you have two quarters to pay the tole

 

[kamik86]

ONe thing I recently heard about from work. Hertz is now going to require that anyone that drives under 75 miles will have to produce a receipt showing they bought gas or else be charged $14.

This sucks. Most of the time I have bought gas but haven't to have the receipt is a pain. Half the time I forget to get one.

I know this is because people would not fill the tank (I have done this myself. Got a rental car near the airport after being dropped off at a nearby hotel by family. I had a 6 AM flight the next day. Drove less then 10 miles total so didn't bother putting in the 1/2 gallon of gas.

 

[grumpytx]

I know that Dollar has printed something to the effect "gas must be purchased within 10 miles of airport/return location" on the rental contractor or sleeve for paperwork. I've just got in the habit of getting gas close to the airport. Having said that I think I've been ask once to show a receipt once.

 

[Jon84]

I know that Dollar has printed something to the effect "gas must be purchased within 10 miles of airport/return location" on the rental contractor or sleeve for paperwork. I've just got in the habit of getting gas close to the airport. Having said that I think I've been ask once to show a receipt once.

Dollar have big signs at MCO when you leave the garage at the barrier.

I once missed the turn to refuel, the first time I rented from there. Ended up in the garage, was late so they wouldn't let us out to refill, risked a late return and an empty tank charge. The guy took pitty and waived all extra charges.

Last time I just filled up at the Hess at the MK exit, got all the way to MCO with no charges.

Both times big cars, a Mustang and a Chevy 7 Seat SUV

 

[MIChessGuy]

I saw an interesting article about car rental companies' increasingly aggressive policies on fuel charges. If this starts to affect cars rented from MCO or SFB, it would be wise to always get a receipt from the station upon refueling.
http://elliott.org/advice-you-can-take/save-those-gas-receipts-heres-why/