Returning Rental Car Early - extra charges?

[Mom2OandElle]

I originally reserved a car with Budget with a return time of 12:30 p.m. My flight was changed and now I will have to return it at about 9:30 a.m. Of course when I try to re-do the reservation, it comes up about $100 more! Can I just leave it as it and return it early or am I looking at some sort of fee for doing so? Does anyone out there have any experience with this?

 

[DebbieB]

If returning it early changes it from a weekly rate to a daily rate, you will be charged the daily rate. For the weekly rate, you usually need 5 full days.

 

[Mom2OandElle]

It is just a four day rental (10:00 a.m. Sunday morning until Thursday) so I never had a weekly rate.

 

[DebbieB]

It is just a four day rental (10:00 a.m. Sunday morning until Thursday) so I never had a weekly rate.

Then you'll probably be OK. Be sure to bring a print-out that shows the daily rate.

 

[tonyrocks922]

Don't change the reservation, you can always bring back rentals early.

 

[Waseller77]

Don't change the reservation, you can always bring back rentals early.

You can always bring rentals back early, but you may be charged more. If you have a weekly rate and bring it back early changes it to a daily rate, you'll be charged extra. Also, if there is a coupon or discount code used that requires a certain length of time, the coupon may become invalid and you'll be charged a different rate. I have had this happen in the past with National, so beware!

 

[jlewisinsyr]

It is just a four day rental (10:00 a.m. Sunday morning until Thursday) so I never had a weekly rate.

You actually did have a weekly rate I think. Starting at 10:00 AM Sunday you have 4 days through 10:00 AM Thursday. Then you have 2.5 hours until the original return time of 12:30 PM, or really 3 hours rounded to the nearest hour. This means you have a 5 day rental, qualification for a weekly rental.

Changing your return time earlier, even 30 minutes will result in your rental becoming a 4 day plus 2 hour rental, which will be most likely more expensive then a 5 day/weekly rental.

Bringing your vehicle back early, even if you do not adjust your return time can result in your contract being repriced as you failed to meet the rate requirements provided originally. Now you may have no issues and the return agent will give you the weekly, but there are no guarantees.

 

[FINFAN]

I had an emergency trip to Sarasota 2 weeks ago due to DD emergebcy illness. I booked a car thru Dollar for a weekly rate...needed to get back home 1 day early for DS...and was charged $15 for returning a day early. First time that has happened to me.