Over $9.00 per gallon for gas!

[patty57]

We always opt to fill our rental cars before we return them. We rented from Dollar at the Wyndham near DTD, and were returning the car to Fort Lauderdale airport. The 7 day rental was an extremely reasonable $119. Well, we got caught in really bad traffic on Rte. 95, apparently some lane closures, and the 40 minute trip to the airport took over two hours. We were afraid we would miss our flight, so we foolishly chose to just have Dollar fill the car with gas. Our $119 rental cost us over $250! Dollar charged over $9.00 a gallon to fill the car. I'm sure it's probably listed in the contract somewhere, but we always fill the car up before returning, so didn't look at it.
That's some serious price gouging.

 

[DVC California]

That's unfortunate but that's the price for "convenience".

For future reference, there are typically three options for refilling:
1. Return at same level as check out. (Most economical if you have time.)
2. Pre-pay for full tank at competitive cost. (Good if you're going to drive a lot and can return the tank almost empty.)
3. Do nothing and allow rental agency to refill at higher cost per gallon. (Best only if you have to top off).

But on the bright side, you were able to make your flight and not incur really exorbitant costs related to rebooking.

 

[sam_gordon]

That's unfortunate but that's the price for "convenience".

For future reference, there are typically three options for refilling:
1. Return at same level as check out. (Most economical if you have time.)
2. Pre-pay for full tank at competitive cost. (Good if you're going to drive a lot and can return the tank almost empty.)
3. Do nothing and allow rental agency to refill at higher cost per gallon. (Best only if you have to top off).

But on the bright side, you were able to make your flight and not incur really exorbitant costs related to rebooking.

Not that I rent a lot, but I've noticed a couple car agencies are having you fill the tank (of course, then you get one that's full, so it still evens out), but they have told me to "fill" it, not "match" it.

ETA: Another tip is to fill up the tank the night before. Then, if you have to hit a gas station close to an airport with a high price OR you're running late and have to skip filling up the tank, the "hit" isn't as bad.

 

[buckeev]

Not that I rent a lot, but I've noticed a couple car agencies are having you fill the tank (of course, then you get one that's full, so it still evens out), but they have told me to "fill" it, not "match" it.

ETA: Another tip is to fill up the tank the night before. Then, if you have to hit a gas station close to an airport with a high price OR you're running late and have to skip filling up the tank, the "hit" isn't as bad.

This is a great tip! I know lots of folks...(our family included), that almost always are cutting it close to get to the airport in time!

 

[DVC California]

Not that I rent a lot, but I've noticed a couple car agencies are having you fill the tank (of course, then you get one that's full, so it still evens out), but they have told me to "fill" it, not "match" it.

ETA: Another tip is to fill up the tank the night before. Then, if you have to hit a gas station close to an airport with a high price OR you're running late and have to skip filling up the tank, the "hit" isn't as bad.

I would dispute that every time. If I was only given 7/8, I ask them to update it before I leave. It's usually the same screen where they update the odometer reading.

However, some rental agents are too lazy to go into the contract and update. Its easier to stick it to the customer and tell us to bring it back full than to do it right.

 

[Shelly F - Ohio]

Yes because if it is under full they charge you for an full tank even though they probably only had to put in an gallon or two.

 

[supersnoop]

Most cars these days have an economy readout. I always reset the economy and trip counters. Then, when I fill up, if the amount of fuel I have to put in doesn't compute, I make sure to let them know when I return the car. If the car says I averaged 20mpg and drove 60 miles, I should have to put in 3 gallons. If the car takes 5 gallon, I let them know. That usually results in some sort of credit or refund.

 

[DebbieB]

Typically you get a full tank at the airport but if you rent locally, they go by the reading on the gauge. If they record it as 1/2 when you take it, it should be on 1/2 when you return it.

I would contact Dollar, that is ridiculous.

 

[bumbershoot]

It sounds like Dollar charged to fill the entire tank rather than $9/gallon of what you left. I'd check documents carefully to make sure you didn't accidentally agree to this (doing that option is good if you KNOW that you will be coasting in on fumes and at the last minute with no time to stop at a gas station), and then contact them about it.

 

[sam_gordon]

It sounds like Dollar charged to fill the entire tank rather than $9/gallon of what you left. I'd check documents carefully to make sure you didn't accidentally agree to this (doing that option is good if you KNOW that you will be coasting in on fumes and at the last minute with no time to stop at a gas station), and then contact them about it.

It's quite possible the tank was nearly empty. Who knows how much driving they did during the rental, plus they spent a lot of time sitting in traffic (a 40 minute commute became 2 hours). At $9/gallon, the overage would have been 14.5 gallons.

 

[sam_gordon]

I would dispute that every time. If I was only given 7/8, I ask them to update it before I leave. It's usually the same screen where they update the odometer reading.

However, some rental agents are too lazy to go into the contract and update. Its easier to stick it to the customer and tell us to bring it back full than to do it right.

I would not consider 7/8 "full" either. But if you're given a full tank (which is what I said), I don't see the problem.

 

[patty57]

Hi Everyone,
Good tips and comments.
Yes, the tank was pretty much empty when we returned it. Our plan was to stop along Rte. 95 to fill up since we had a 40 minute drive to the airport. We wanted to make sure that we filled up shortly before the drop off. After the traffic jam, and the two plus hours travel, we ended up bringing the car back almost empty.
As I mentioned in the first post, it may very well have said that's what the charge would be if you bring it back empty. We always fill up right before we return it, so didn't bother to look. We were just surprised that the gas cost that much. We were thinking maybe $5+ per gallon.
It does feel like price gouging though to charge that much. In any case...one expensive lesson learned!

 

[supersnoop]

I think some of that may be other charges and taxes. With today's gas prices, I'd expect something in the $7/gallon range.

When you rent a car, they should present you with three options:
1. Return the call with the same amount of gas as you were given (usually full)
2. Pre-pay for an entire tank of gas at local market rate (pay for 15 gallons even if you only use 2)
3. Pay an outrageous price per gallon to replenish the fuel.

Remember, there are lots of laws around storage of gasoline, so it's not easy nor cheap for a company to store gas, or to send an employee out to fill up the tank. It feels like gouging, but they do have some extra costs associated with refilling the car.

 

[patty57]

I think some of that may be other charges and taxes. With today's gas prices, I'd expect something in the $7/gallon range.

When you rent a car, they should present you with three options:
1. Return the call with the same amount of gas as you were given (usually full)
2. Pre-pay for an entire tank of gas at local market rate (pay for 15 gallons even if you only use 2)
3. Pay an outrageous price per gallon to replenish the fuel.

Remember, there are lots of laws around storage of gasoline, so it's not easy nor cheap for a company to store gas, or to send an employee out to fill up the tank. It feels like gouging, but they do have some extra costs associated with refilling the car.

That's possible, although all the car rentals are returned to one central location at FLL. I believe they have gas pumps on site.
As I said, we had never been in that situation before, and were surprised by how much it was. Our fault for not filling up ahead of time, but we had some extenuating circumstances. Truthfully, my guess is that it was nothing more than a money grab. Whatever the reason that Dollar charged us $9.00+ per gallon doesn't even matter at this point...we ended up paying it. It didn't leave us feeling all warm and fuzzy about Dollar though.

 

[wilkeliza]

We always just take the prepaid option. The one time we didn't in MCO we learned the hard way even if you don't get screwed by the rental car company the gas stations by the airports will get you. Some rentals require a receipt with proof that gas was put in with in a certain milage of the airport. I noticed all the gas stations with in that radius of MCO charge double sometimes triple what the gas is worth because they know the people renting are stuck using them if even for only a top off amount.

 

[richmo]

I didn't realize they charged $9/gallon to fill it. I thought it was in the $5-$6 range, but that may vary by agency.

On an earlier comment: my experience with Orlando agencies is that you are supposed to fill it, not match what you started with. (The only exception that I'm aware of, besides the prepay option, is with the local Enterprise agencies that tell you to give it back with at least what you started with. I don't know if that's the case with the on-airport MCO Enterprise agency).

I usually leave WDW from Epcot and stop at the Hess station just before the entrance to the SR-417 Greeneway that takes you to the MCO South entrance. Very reasonable prices. The WDW on-site Hess stations are also very fair.

There are at least a few "be carefuls". There's a Shell station on Vineland Ave near the Marriott complex. When I was there last year, the price was a good $2 a gallon higher than you'd be used to. I think it was $5.69 at the time. There's also a station at the I-4/SR-535 intersection that had similar prices (it used to be Chevron...might be Mobil now, but not sure). I also saw one on SR-536 that was reasonable for cash, but had a 95 cents/gallon credit card markup.

 

[kamik86]

I rent cars all the time for work (my job is an hour from the nearest airport so they give us a rental to get to the airport, when we arrive, and one from airport back) we do so much business that we get cars dropped off and picked up from our office.

What I do is fill it at a convenient time for me. So ones to the airport are most of the time not filled or are filled a bit early and just get topped off by them so not a big hit (as I only drove it an hour). Cars when I'm on site I will fill when I leave the location I was working in. Generally that means I"m a bit down before I get to the airport but most of the locations the airport is just off the highway and I don't want to go looking for a gas station.

When I bring it back to the office its always full. Because then I'm home and know where the gas stations are.

$6 for gas is about what I'm normally charged for a gallon when they fill it for me. So with the little top offs the price is generally less then that 6. Which is worth the convenience.

by the prices you gave it looked like it needed a good 15 gallons to fill the car (which BTW is more gas then my cars tank holds so I'm assuming the car was pretty empty) so it doesn't surprise me that tht price was so high.

 

[supersnoop]

That's possible, although all the car rentals are returned to one central location at FLL. I believe they have gas pumps on site. As I said, we had never been in that situation before, and were surprised by how much it was. Our fault for not filling up ahead of time, but we had some extenuating circumstances. Truthfully, my guess is that it was nothing more than a money grab. Whatever the reason that Dollar charged us $9.00+ per gallon doesn't even matter at this point...we ended up paying it. It didn't leave us feeling all warm and fuzzy about Dollar though.

I only rent from Avis or Hertz, but, at most airports, they both have big signs at the rental counter showing the three different options with prices listed; local average; refill per gallon; and price for a whole tank. Like I said, i'm used to seeing prices in the $7 range. It's more of a convenience charge than a money grab; they don't want to spend the time and effort to refill the car. I'm still curious if there were other charges in there, or if it was actually $9 per gallon.

 

[patty57]

I'm still curious if there were other charges in there, or if it was actually $9 per gallon.

We were pretty stunned when the rental went from $119 to over $250 and asked what was up. The girl from Dollar who took our car said they charge $9.00+ per gallon of gas. I'm writing + because I don't remember what the change amount was, or if she just said over $9.00. We had to run from there to check our bags and get through security. We did make our plane, but not by very much.
Now, if that's just what they say to their customers, and there is actually a "convenience" fee, or whatever...it really doesn't matter. After all the debate, the point is that we were very much caught off guard when our rental more than doubled in price because we were caught in a nasty traffic jam.

 

[kamik86]

We were pretty stunned when the rental went from $119 to over $250 and asked what was up. The girl from Dollar who took our car said they charge $9.00+ per gallon of gas. I'm writing + because I don't remember what the change amount was, or if she just said over $9.00. We had to run from there to check our bags and get through security. We did make our plane, but not by very much.
Now, if that's just what they say to their customers, and there is actually a "convenience" fee, or whatever...it really doesn't matter. After all the debate, the point is that we were very much caught off guard when our rental more than doubled in price because we were caught in a nasty traffic jam.

However you could also look at it that you were lucky and only had to pay the extra on the rental car and didn't have to worry about flights because if the traffic jam was just a little worse you may have missed your flight.