Pre-paid gas option how does it work?

[SNOWBOARDER]

Is the "Pre-paid gas" option worth it? We typically rent a car, this time it'll be a compact, as we favor driving over Disney Transportation. Do the rental companies,(we're gonna try Dollar; we signed up for FASTLANE)charge an obscene amount for this option? We'll be at WDW for a week and figure on burning more than 1/2 a tank, and don't want to be bothered with gassing up on the last day. Thanks!!

 

[Beverly Lynn]

there is a gas station right before you hit the airport. you can gas up there or on disney property or even on your way to the airport. you can prepay an ungodly amount for what you've used or fill it yourself. I know national charges you now what it would at any gas station. on the 6th of aug it was 1.36 a gallon. and it was shy 2 gallons when I returned the car.

 

[Lewisc]

NOT WORTH IT, You get no credit for the gas you leave in the tank (you have to return the car very empty to be worth it). Fill up when you leave Disney, top off the tank and the gauge will be full when you return the car.

 

[safetymom]

It depends on how much driving you are going to do. If you don't take this option, the gas charge for not filling up is expensive. Sometimes my time is more valuable than gassing up at the last moment so I do prepaid and don't worry about it.

 

[Minybear]

I agree with safetymom. We just reserved a renta car through Alamo and decided to prepay for gas due to its more convient to do so and you know that there is no more out of pocket when you return the car.

 

[AllanJ]

I do not recommend the prepaid gas option. The car may be almost empty and you will be worrying about whether you will have enough to get back to the rental station.

Instead fill it yourself the day before the end of your vacation. Then if you forget to, or can't, top it off on the final day, the charge for filling the car after the fact won';t be that big, and maybe the rental comapny might even overlook it if the gauge is still pointint to full..

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[R4racing]

I don't think we have ever used the prepay option, but at the rate the gas charges are going up around here if we were renting and driving quite a distance I would definately consider it. As It is usually either a few cents over or under current pump prices, granted no refund for any left in the tank, but our gas prices have gone up 30+ cents in one week. Just overnight it went up 10 cents. If we had rented a car and their rate was $1.56 last week and we took it that is what we would pay, not $1.79 like it is at the pump today. Although it can be a gamble as the prices could come down or you may not use most of the gas.

 

[seashoreCM]

If the car holds 12 gallons and you prepay for gas 1.56/gal., it'll cost you $18.72. Then if there were two gallons left (not easy to know exactly how much) when you returned the car, the final fuel cost is $1.87 per gallon -- ten gallons actually used for $18.72.