Rental Car Fuel Charge

[mickey4ver]

I'm trying to get this straight in my mind....about fuel charges etc. when booking a rental car.

Online, with National, it has a box to check for prepaid fuel at a certain price. When checked, this adds it to your confirmation for the amount of whatever tank fits the car. My question is, do you then get to return the car with less than a full tank, or do you still have to return it with the tank full in order to avoid them filling it for you? Just what is that prepaying doing for you? and should one do it in the first place?

I've not rented with National before and I'm not quite getting their FAQ's explanation of all of this. Any help will be appreciated.

Thanks

 

[dudspizza]

If you choose the pre-paid fuel charge, you do not have to return it full. You actually return it as empty as possible.

I would recommend not doing it. We only used less than a half tank on our whole trip and ended up saving a lot by filling at Disney and returning it full.

My father in law did the pre-paid fuel and it cost him a lot more.

Just my opinion.

duds

 

[mickey4ver]

Thank you for the reply...I was thinking it was the way you explained it, but reading the National FAQ's just wasnt' sinking in...LOL...

For us, we will be renting for a 2 week period and driving a lot, so perhaps it will be easier to return it almost empty. I guess I would have to weigh what the cost of gas is in the area compared to what they are quoting me to get it prepaid. I will think on it a little more.

Thanks again..........

 

[dudspizza]

The hardest part is having to worry about your gas on your trip. If you prepay, you want to run it down by the end of the trip. If you don't prepay, you simply fill it when needed. By prepaying, you may end up putting 5 bucks in here or there because you don't want to fill it since the entire tank was prepaid.

Whatever you decision is, have fun! I can't wait until our trip in June!

Duds

 

[inkkognito]

The price they quote you for pre-paying is very deceptive, as it typically doesn't include tax etc. We did it once...never again. We do much better by simply filling up at the Circle K on Boggy Creek Road.
Barb

 

[getbak]

Also, keep in mind that you are paying for a full tank of gas, whether you return it empty, 1/2 full, or totally full. If the car has a 16 gallon gas tank, you pay for 16 gallons, whether it needs 2 gallons or 14.

It would literally have to be running on fumes as you roll into the return lane for it to actually be cost effective.

 

[safetymom]

It may not always be cost effective but if you have an early morning flight you don't have to worry about stopping for gas.

That sometimes can be worth a few dollars of gas left in the tank.

 

[Disfreek]

We have done both actually. ON this trip in Feb, we don't plan on pre-purchasing the fuel... we will only be there Thurs -Mon--and really don't plan on driving much away from the parks.

 

[seashoreCM]

If you prepay for a tankful of fuel you will either worry about running out of gas on the way back to the airport or leaving behind several dollars' worth of gas for which there is no refund.

Selling the tankful up front is a high profit item for rental companies because of the "leave behind" therefore by definition this is a less desirable option for most renters.

Since the gas stations on site are near the low end of the price scale, fill up the night before so you only have to top off a little at higher prices on the way back (you may even omit the latter if the gauge still reads full and the rental company does not require a gas receipt).

Rental hints:
http://members.aol.com/ajaynejr/carrent.htm

 

[DebbieB]

I've always filled the tank myself before leaving for the airport. I never use more than 1/2 a tank. I usually use the Boardwalk Hess, their prices are lower than some of the off property stations. It's always still on full when I get to the airport. If I have a morning flight, I fill up the night before. National has never asked for a gas receipt.

 

[dvc guy]

Never a good deal to prepay. They will charge more per gallon and as posted you have to return the car at empty to even break even. I always fill up at the Boardway station and just return the car , never had a problem

 

[belle1627]

Question for those who fill up on the way back to the airport?
If taking the south route back to the airport (417 I think it is), where is the easiest gas station to fill up at, that isn't too far out of the way?

 

[Jcricket Fan]

I filled up at a station right near the Beach Club Villas the night before we left and when we returned it to National we still were at full and no extra was charged. We went the 417 Greenway to the airport as well.

Oh and once we were charged for National to fill the tank...it was over $4.00 a gallon
I thought I would pass out!

Colleen

 

[Dan Murphy]

I always fill up by the Boardwalk (I think that is the one) on my way to the airport. I would never do the prepay option.

 

[DVC-Don]

Question for those who fill up on the way back to the airport?
If taking the south route back to the airport (417 I think it is), where is the easiest gas station to fill up at, that isn't too far out of the way?

On the way back to the airport, at the bottom of the ramp, Boggy Creek, instead of going left to the airport, turn right. There is a Circle K gas station about 1.5 miles down the road. I fill up there and then there is only about 3 or 4 miles back to the airport.

 

[JudithM]

We rented a car at the Orlando airport this week. If we wanted to return thecar as empty as possible, the charge for fuel was $1.99 9/10. We filled up last night at the Hess Station near the Boardwalk for $1.75 9/10 which was the same price we had seen around town during the week. We chose to fill up & return the car full.

 

[inkkognito]

We use the Circle K on Boggy Creek road all the time too. Very convenient.
Barb

 

[dudspizza]

On the way back to the airport, at the bottom of the ramp, Boggy Creek, instead of going left to the airport, turn right. There is a Circle K gas station about 1.5 miles down the road. I fill up there and then there is only about 3 or 4 miles back to the airport.

Check this map out. It shows a bunch of gas stations around MCO. You can put your cursor over an icon to see which gas station it is. The Circle K on Boggy Creek looks close. Thanks for that info.

http://maps.yahoo.com/maps_result?z...&compass=&pan_x=0&pan_y=0&panable=1&BFKey=gas

Duds

 

[safetymom]

That is correct. It looks like you are going into the back country but there is a gas station that is great to fill up at.

 

[dudspizza]

Here is a printable version of that same map with station names and addresses.

http://maps.yahoo.com/pmaps?csz=Orl...zY-&zoomin=yes&BFKey=gas&resize=l&mag=4&trf=0

Duds