Rental Car - ever happened to anyone?

[markey]

We had a car reserved for $30.26 to go from the port to MCO last Saturday. This is the rate which showed at the office at the port upon pick up. When we dropped the car off, three hours later, our bill went to $75. I was told I had to go to the rental window inside. The girl, very rude, finally subtracted a $9.50 gas fee which is added to everyones total now at Budget. If you drive 75 miles or less you do not have to fill up. We drove 50 miles and filled up because it was cheaper. She said the rate difference was because we returned the car early, had reserved a 1 day rental. Never heard of anything so dumb in my life, a late fee maybe, but a higher rate for returning the car early? I tried to tell her that the rate on line was the same for 3 hours or 1 day when I reserved. The reason I used 1 day is because we live in the Northeast and if there were any weather delays I wanted to keep the car and not sit at the airport. Just wondered if this every happened to anyone, and if not to beware of the practice.

 

[Tigger_Magic]

Rental car companies will charge a higher rate if the car is returned early. This is designed to prevent people from renting a car for a lower weekly rate but returning it after only 3 or 4 days. This seems a little extreme for a 1-day rental, however, your rental contract may specify that you have to keep the car a set amount of time to qualify for the rate quoted.

Your rental contract specifies the rental start and end times. Most companies will give a 59-minute grace period, so you could return it a little early or be up to 59 minutes late without incurring extra fees or a higher rate.

Also most rental car companies will tack on additional fees, recoupments and taxes. I've never had a rental where the estimated price quoted was the final price. Typically, the quotes do not include things like taxes and some additional fees that might be based on a % of the rental fee.

 

[CarolMN]

...(snip).... I've never had a rental where the estimated price quoted was the final price. Typically, the quotes do not include things like taxes and some additional fees that might be based on a % of the rental fee.

FWIW, I've never had an estimate that wasn't the same as the final price (as long as we returned the car on time). All taxes and fees were included on the confirmation. We've rented mostly from National, but also from L & M and Dollar.

For example, last week my 8 day estimate from National was for $118.35, and that was the exact amount on the receipt when I returned the car as well as the exact amount posted to my credit card.

Best wishes -

 

[dvc guy]

Never heard of a gas fee. either you pre pay for the tank or bring it back full.
Sounds like a scam to me

 

[Tigger_Magic]

A new fee ("gas fee") doesn't surprise me. There are recoupments now for batteries, oil changes and licenses among other things. Tack on another fee of $9.00 to re-fuel the car makes sense -- in the warped logic of rental car world. This will be followed by a $3 fee for washing the car, $1.50 to vacuum it, and a 50 cent windshield wiper replacement fee.

 

[dvc guy]

A new fee ("gas fee") doesn't surprise me. There are recoupments now for batteries, oil changes and licenses among other things. Tack on another fee of $9.00 to re-fuel the car makes sense -- in the warped logic of rental car world. This will be followed by a $3 fee for washing the car, $1.50 to vacuum it, and a 50 cent windshield wiper replacement fee.

The fee that you list here are mandated by the goverment. I don't think the state has added a gas fee.

 

[safetymom]

I have never heard of a fee on a one day rental for bringing it back early. I know they do that on rentals where you get the cheaper weekly rate.

I would call the head office and take it up with them.

The gas charge seems to be a new way to make money. I had that happen with Hertz in ATL several weeks ago. I told the attendant I put so much gas in the car that it spilled out. He said he smelled it but charged me anyway. I walked instead and had them take it off. In the past when they tried that I just called Hertz and they took the charge off.

 

[thegales]

I did one way rentals with Budget both ways in November going from MCO to the port, then back after our cruise.

In both cases, the agent renting me the car said if I drive less than 75 miles, and do not fill the tank, I will be charged $7.50 (could have been $9.50, or they could have raised it since we rented). Both people also indicated if I drive less than 75 miles, and fill the tank, be sure to present the receipt showing the gas I purchased, or I may be charged the gas fee.
My guess is that you did not have as informative person who did the paper work at the time of rental.

If you are going to right to the corporate office with your experience, I would suggest that they might make sure that this gas fee is more prominent so that people who buy gas present their receipt at return. Or for the person checking in the car to ask if gas was purchased, and does the renter have a receipt. This would help prevent the problem of the gas fee you experienced.

 

[tinkwannabe2]

If you put in the dates and times when you made the reservation, that I'd be super peeved at the charge. Grrrr I hate when companies take advantage of people! Please push the issue with the company cause that's just WRONG!

 

[goofyforlife]

My DH travelled alot on business last year. He said that Budget did this to him a couple times with 1 day rentals that he only needed for a few hours...

They told him it was some kind of extra fee for returning early (something to do with lot space or something)

When we did the one way rentals at the port we kept overnite so didn't have any problems.....