Silly question about gas in rental car!

[KerriMc]

Hello ... this is probably a silly question, but I just wondered if you pay for a full tank of gas or no? Are all of the cars with a full tank anyways and you just bring them back full? If you pay for the tank you can bring it back empty correct? What do you do? In the past I have paid for the tank of gas, but wonder if that is actually not a good thing to do.

Someone help me figure this out ... obviously I just can't seem to wrap my head around it !!

Kerri

 

[kat08]

I don't pay for it in advance. Sometimes they will charge you more than what you can buy gas for at the station around the corner. Plus, you don't know if you are going to return the car on E or not. Why pay for a full tank when you are returning it with a 1/2 tank? I just fill it up before I return it.

 

[bavaria]

Buying the tank at time of rental is a way for the rental agencies to make money. It only works for you if you manage to calculate perfectly.

I never buy the tank. I return full. If the tank was not full at pickup, I make sure that they mark the level on the contract, and I return the vehicle at that level. For instance, last week my Hertz car was 3/4 full; I reported that at the security booth, and returned it 3/4 full.

 

[cslittle999]

When you pickup a rental car its tank is full. The rental agency will give you three options. The first is to buy the gas in the tank from them. Second is to return the car with a full tank. Third is to just return the car and let them fill it. You don't want the third option because they charge you twice the retail price for the gas. If you pay for the tank then you just have to return the car.

So the choice between buying the tank and filling it depends on how much you intend to drive. If you think you will use most of the tank then buy it and only if you do need to buy gas then only put in just what you need. If you are only going to use part of a tank then fill it before returning it. There is also a convenience factor too. If you will be in a rush when dropping off the car you may choose to buy the tank to save some time.

For me we always fill the tank. That way I'm only paying for the gas I use and not giving extra profit to the rental company.

 

[DebbieB]

Be sure to check the gauge before you leave. I rented a car in California a couple weeks ago from Avis (Glendale Hilton location) and didn't notice until I was on the road that it only had 1/8 tank. I returned it at John Wayne Airport, I put in a few gallons so that it would be at 1/8 and then explained it. The attendent said I should have called right away, but he let me go.

At Disney, I always fill up before leaving WDW property, it's still on full at the airport.

 

[Geoff_M]

When you pre-pay for a tank of gas you are basically making a lopsided "bet" with the rental agency. You are betting them that you'll be able to return the car with the tank on, or close to, "E". If you "win" your "prize" is that you don't have to full the tank up yourself before returning the car. The agency is betting that you will return the car with the fuel gauge somewhere north of "E". If they win, that means they win more of your money (they sold you a complete refill, but it will only will cost them a partial tank if they win). On top of that they are sell you gas at retail but only paying wholesale, so they they're making money from you in either case... it just a question of how much they will make!

Disney is close enough to the airport that you'd be hard pressed to burn a full tank if you're mainly limiting your driving to the Disney area and from/to the airport. We usually top the tank off as we leave Disney and go straight to the rental return. We've never been hit with a fuel surcharge.

 

[CarolA]

Paying for it in advance so you can bring it back empty is usually a losing proposition. Remember the rental car company is charging you for an ENTIRE tank. So if the car holds 16 gallons you pay for 16 gallons. When was the last time you got your car that low?

Most of the time at Disney I use less then a quarter of a tank.

Unless you can return on fumes figure this deal with cost you.

 

[manning]

Here's the situation

You take a car out with a full 20 gallon tank.

You bring it back and used 15 gallons, five left in the tank

The rental company will charge you for 20 gallons, the size of the tank.

Bring the car back with 18 gallons in the tank, you get charged for 20 gallons.


Your better off filling it up yourself.

 

[CarolA]

Here's the situation

You take a car out with a full 20 gallon tank.

You bring it back and used 15 gallons, five left in the tank

The rental company will charge you for 20 gallons, the size of the tank.

Bring the car back with 18 gallons in the tank, you get charged for 20 gallons.


Your better off filling it up yourself.

Almost right. Bring back the car with 18 gallons, you get charged for two at $8 or $9 a gallon. I don't think anyplace charges you for 20 if you bring it back with 18.... (But you are better off filing it yourself)

 

[TAKitty]

I, on the other hand, plan to prepay. I am driving from Fort Myers to Orlando (dropping the car off at MCO). I don't want to get turned around while stopping for gas. I don't want to determine how close I am to the airport before I need gas, and what if I don't find a gas station in time.

For me it is much easier to just prepay for the gas. I can drop if off and not worry about it.

 

[seashoreCM]

Buying the tankful is worry-free -- no determinations, no turn arounds -- only when the gauge is visibly above E at all times. Almost always there will be at least ten dollars of gas left in the tank when you return the car.

When you don't buy the tankful, the Hess gas stations in WDW are still among the cheapest. Cram it full the night before. Then only a small amount (or no) gas will be charged to you at exorbitant rates.

Then return to the airport using I-4, I-4 east that is, and get onto 528 (Beach Line; Bee Line). Get off 528's exit 9 Tradeport, left and cross under, and nice cheap gas station to top off is right there 2 miles from airport. No turnbacks, no out of your way to find a gas station.

Leaving the gas station get into middle lane facing away from 528. Required right onto McCoy, return Payless cars beside the 528 tollbooth (no toll for anyone) or continue on to 436 (Semoran). Left for Hertz and Thrifty, right for airport north entrance.

Disney hints:
http://members.aol.com/ajaynejr/disney.htm

One of my bad driving habits -- If the credit card activated gas pump fails to give me my receipt, I leave the car right there while I go inside to get the receipt. Saves gas too.

 

[manning]

Almost right. Bring back the car with 18 gallons, you get charged for two at $8 or $9 a gallon. I don't think anyplace charges you for 20 if you bring it back with 18.... (But you are better off filing it yourself)

When I was presented with that plan I was told I would be charged for the full tank.

 

[CarolA]

When I was presented with that plan I was told I would be charged for the full tank.

Who do you rent from? I want to avoid them!!! I genereally rent from Hertz and often return the car less then full when on business. I have NEVER been charged for a full tank. That's a RIP OFF!

 

[nordkin]

When I was presented with that plan I was told I would be charged for the full tank.

I was told the same thing by Hertz. You pay for the capacity of the tank, at a much higher rate than you would pay at a station, regardless of the number of gallons left in the tank. As a matter of fact it is my company's policy not to pay the rental company for gas, we must fill it at a regular station prior to turning it in.

 

[CarolA]

I was told the same thing by Hertz. You pay for the capacity of the tank, at a much higher rate than you would pay at a station, regardless of the number of gallons left in the tank. As a matter of fact it is my company's policy not to pay the rental company for gas, we must fill it at a regular station prior to turning it in.

I am looking at a Hertz receipt right now. I was charged for 4 gallons of gas at NINE dollars a gallon. I was not charged for the entire tank and if any of them ever tried to pull that stunt I would be demanding a manager.

 

[seashoreCM]

They usually take a look at the gas gauge and charge you in terms of eighths of a tank rounded up when you neither buy the tankful nor top off prior to return. Rarely des the rental jockey go to a pump in the middle of the return staging area and fill up while you watch, although I have seen this happen.