Penalty For Early Car Rental Return?

[Disneyhappy]

I have a rental for 1 week + one day. I am paying a weekly rate plus $41 for the extra day. I now have to return a day early. As expected, it is costing $75 more when I tried to update my reservation on line to drop a day. I know there are early return penalties but does anyone know how it will work in this situation?

 

[Ranger111]

I have a rental for 1 week + one day. I am paying a weekly rate plus $41 for the extra day. I now have to return a day early. As expected, it is costing $75 more when I tried to update my reservation on line to drop a day. I know there are early return penalties but does anyone know how it will work in this situation?

I would try to make a completely new rez without doing anything about the new one and see what you get.

NOTE, I said completely new, not modify.

If happy, reserve, cancel old and be on way.

If not happy, call the agency directly and ask them what the rate would be -- say you are unsure, but MAY have to return it a day early and what would that do to your rate.

If they start to say lots higher, etc., hmmm/haaa a bit and then say, that gosh you probably should just cancel all together. You may get a special "retention rate."

 

[lost*in*cyberspace]

I have a rental for 1 week + one day. I am paying a weekly rate plus $41 for the extra day. I now have to return a day early. As expected, it is costing $75 more when I tried to update my reservation on line to drop a day. I know there are early return penalties but does anyone know how it will work in this situation?

You aren't really paying a penalty for turning in the car early, you're just paying a different rental rate. Weekly rates are almost always cheaper than rates for less than a week.

If I were you, I'd price out a new reservation and see if you can find something cheaper than the rate for changing your reservation. You can always cancel your original one.

 

[gmeh1]

You aren't really paying a penalty for turning in the car early, you're just paying a different rental rate. Weekly rates are almost always cheaper than rates for less than a week.

If I were you, I'd price out a new reservation and see if you can find something cheaper than the rate for changing your reservation. You can always cancel your original one.

Weekly rates begin at the 5 day mark.

 

[gmeh1]

I have a rental for 1 week + one day. I am paying a weekly rate plus $41 for the extra day. I now have to return a day early. As expected, it is costing $75 more when I tried to update my reservation on line to drop a day. I know there are early return penalties but does anyone know how it will work in this situation?

If making a new reservation does not work for you, call the company and see if they can help.

 

[seashoreCM]

I have a rental for 1 week + one day. I am paying a weekly rate plus $41 for the extra day. I now have to return a day early. As expected, it is costing $75 more when I tried to update my reservation on line to drop a day. I know there are early return penalties but does anyone know how it will work in this situation?

When you tried to update or change your reservation you may well have been quoted today's rate for what the changed reservation would consist of.

Since you want to change from 8 days to 7 days, you would still qualify for a weekly rate.

I would suggest shopping around and booking with a different company, and, a few minutes later, cancelling the previous reservation. Repeat in succeeding weeks as desired.

For those eavesdropping I cannot come up with any logic for my opinions (only opinions):
1. If you booked for 8 days and returned it after 7 (without telling them in advance), you should get a refund for the 8'th day as originally quoted/billed.
2. If you booked for 7 days and returned it after 6, there should be no surcharge or refund.
3. If you booked for 5 days and returned it after 4 (assuming a week is at least 5 days), you should be upcharged or refunded based on the rate that would apply for 4 days as of the time you booked.

 

[Horace Horsecollar]

I agree that the way a typical airport car rental works is that you pay the daily rate for the first 5 days (with a day defined as a 24-hour period). At that point, you're on the weekly rate for 5, 6, or 7 days, which is equivalent to 5 daily rentals. After that, the daily rate kicks in for the next 5 days days above the weekly rate, and so on.

There are some exceptions for promotional and weekend rates. For example, if your promotional rate requires keeping your rental car over a Saturday night, but you return the car before you've done so, you may be subject to a higher rate. Or if your weekend rental is only valid from noon Thursday to noon Monday, but you keep your car beyond that time window, you may be charged a higher rate. With reservations booked through Priceline or other discount brokers, early or late returns can be quite expensive.

In the OP's case, the two choices are to modify the reservation or simply to return the car early. If the original rate is no longer offered, modifying the reservation may result in higher total, even if the rental period is shorter. With the contract rate I usually use, returning the car early is not a problem, but it could be with some rates.

I would recommend to the OP simply call the rental car company's 800 number to ask the question, "What would I be charged if I return the car the day before it's due back?"

 

[gmeh1]

I agree that the way a typical airport car rental works is that you pay the daily rate for the first 5 days (with a day defined as a 24-hour period). At that point, you're on the weekly rate for 5, 6, or 7 days, which is equivalent to 5 daily rentals. After that, the daily rate kicks in for the next 5 days days above the weekly rate, and so on.

There are some exceptions for promotional and weekend rates. For example, if your promotional rate requires keeping your rental car over a Saturday night, but you return the car before you've done so, you may be subject to a higher rate. Or if your weekend rental is only valid from noon Thursday to noon Monday, but you keep your car beyond that time window, you may be charged a higher rate. With reservations booked through Priceline or other discount brokers, early or late returns can be quite expensive.

In the OP's case, the two choices are to modify the reservation or simply to return the car early. If the original rate is no longer offered, modifying the reservation may result in higher total, even if the rental period is shorter. With the contract rate I usually use, returning the car early is not a problem, but it could be with some rates.

I would recommend to the OP simply call the rental car company's 800 number to ask the question, "What would I be charged if I return the car the day before it's due back?"

Weekend rates at some companies start on Thurs and go through Monday with no set times. National, for instance, starts Thurs 12 am and ends on Monday at 11:59pm.