Why You Should Never Prepay for Gas in a Rental Car

You get to the rental car company and need to decide: Should you prepay for gas in a rental car?

You never want to pay more than you have to for a rental car—and that includes gasoline. The agent at the rental car companies will likely try to sell you on their prepaid gas program. That’s where you get charged for a tank of gas at a cheaper-than-average per-gallon price. Sounds like a good deal, right?

Of course, there’s a catch.

Why Prepaying for Gas is a Car Rental Rip-Off

Here are six reasons to think twice about prepaying for that tank:

You have to return a completely empty tank. When you prepay for the gas, you’re paying for the full tank. If you bring it back a quarter full or even 90 percent full, there’s no refund for the gas you left in the tank. If you don’t use every last drop, you’re paying for gas you didn’t use. Bringing it back with more than fumes is a higher average price per gallon for you.

Unfortunately, it’s not uncommon to be erroneously slapped with an automatic fuel-service charge even when you properly refill the tank. That’s because “connected car” sensors are notoriously fickle, and often read the tank as being shy a gallon or two even when they have been filled to the brim. We always recommend taking a photo with your cell phone of the dashboard, showing both the mileage and fuel level as you return the car. Also, take a photo of the fuel receipt from your pre-return fillup. Being armed with these proofs is your best protection against getting overcharged.

The tax man wants his share. Every state, county, city, and airport has staked their claim over rental car revenue, and gas is no exception. If you buy the prepaid gas, that 10-cent-per-gallon “cheaper than pump price” rate can get inflated by 50 cents per gallon or more—just from rental taxes. The price you see at the pump includes all taxes but the prepaid fuel they’re selling you as a “deal” usually does not. Of course, they won’t tell you that little tidbit. Suddenly, it doesn’t look like such a good deal.

Prepaid prices don’t include credit card rewards. Some credit cards, like the Costco Anywhere Card by Citi, offer a very generous bonus on fuel fill-ups, be it a nice 5-percent rebate at the pump or double or triple points when filling up. If you buy the gas from the rental company, you won’t earn those bonus rewards.

Don’t trust and verify.

Gas might be cheaper where you’re dropping off. If you’re doing a one-way rental, be sure to check gas prices in your drop-off area. Prepaid gas prices are based on wherever you pick up the car, so don’t overpay if you’re picking up in an expensive gas locale.

You have to trust them on the tank size. Tank sizes vary—sometimes even within a given make and model. When the delivery truck rolls in with a load of new cars, the fleet manager loads all the information about that car into the computer—often quickly, and sometimes making assumptions about the car’s specifications. If they are lazy or make a mistake, you can be overcharged for extra gallons if you prepay.

The “pump price” might be a lie. That sign on the rental counter showing current local gas prices might be out of date. Or it might have used the closest gas station to the airport (which rarely has a competitive price, for obvious reasons), or the station with the highest prices in the area. It’s rarely the cheapest gas available, especially if you have a warehouse club membership. Instead, check GasBuddy for a true comparison.

When Prepaying for Gas Makes Sense

If you’re the kind of person who dashes for the airport at the very last minute, or you know you’ll be rushing right from a meeting to your flight, then prepaying for gas is often a better deal than risking that you can’t refill the tank before you return the car. In that case, the rental car company will fill the tank at a punitive rate (which can sometimes be $10 per gallon), even if you’re only three or four gallons short of a full tank.

Rental car sales agents are highly incentivized to sell you on the benefits of prepaying for gas. Convenience comes at a price, and unless you return the car literally on fumes, you’re likely throwing a significant sum down the drain. Budget in an extra 10 or 15 minutes to fill up your car and pocket those extra dollars.

Frequently Asked Questions

Do European rental cars have automatic transmissions

Yes. Renting vehicles without automatic transmissions is not allowed by rental agencies because they are costly to replace if they are damaged while being driven around. It would be far too costly to replace all these parts every time you drive away with dents in the bodywork.

Ask for an automatic transmission if you are looking to rent a car in Europe.

Is Chase Sapphire covered for car rental insurance in Ireland

Yes, you can purchase additional EUR15 per day to insure your vehicle. A wide variety of optional extras are available, including breakdown assistance and theft insurance as well as personal accident insurance.

Where is the most convenient place to rent car?

The most common places to rent cars are airports, rental agencies, hotels, etc.

Use online travel sites such Expedia and Priceline to find the closest airport location.

If local rental companies have locations near where you live, they might be worth your consideration. These are often less expensive and easier to use that booking directly via an airline site.

If renting a car for less than two weeks, you might consider taking public transportation instead. The city-wide bus passes allow unlimited travel within a specific area.

If you are traveling with children, you may be able to rent a convertible. People prefer convertibles because they offer more protection for their children.

Can I rent an Italian car and drop it off at France?

Renting a car from an Italian company and driving it across Europe may not be possible. However, you could use a service such as Europcar, which offers rentals all over Europe. For more information about renting cars or dropping them off in Italy, contact Europcar directly.

How old are you to rent a vehicle in Europe?

To drive legally in most European countries, one must be 21 years of age. While you cannot rent a car if your age is below 18, it may still be legal to do so from an adult (usually over 25). The age limit for renting cars, however, varies from country to country. You may be allowed to rent a car in some countries without having to be older than 15.

Can I rent a car in the US if I am from another country?

You cannot rent a car in the United States if you aren’t an American citizen. This may include waivers for certain countries. In addition, you must also meet several requirements, including having valid documentation such as a passport and proof of insurance. Further information can be found on the DHS website.

Statistics

For canceled trips two days or shorter, a guest is charged 50% of one day’s trip cost. (insider.com)
In 2019, the most crucial factor is the cost and fees of the rental (accounting for 28% of overall satisfaction with the rental experience), followed by the rental car itself at 25% and the pick-up process at 23%. (cnet.com)
I’d say 70% of the time, we have a hassle-free encounter, but there have been certain companies that we prefer not to use anymore. (theworldpursuit.com)
Automatics are more expensive (usually about 50 percent more) and may only be available if you upgrade to a bigger, pricier car. (ricksteves.com)
If you’re a member of AAA, you might also be able to snag discounts of 10 percent at Thrifty, and 8 percent at Dollar. (afar.com)

External Links

How To

How to report an incident in a rental automobile

If you rent a vehicle to travel in, there is always the possibility of something happening while driving. You can get in an auto accident, your luggage may be stolen, or someone could be hurt. This is why you need to be able to file a complaint against your insurance company to make sure you don’t lose money.

In the United States, if you were involved in a car accident, it should be reported right away. By reporting the accident immediately, police can record the details and notify you of their findings. The police will issue you a ticket, or take a note at the scene. Then they’ll take care of filing a claim against your driver’s license.

After you are involved in an accident, call 911 immediately. A dispatcher will ask basic questions regarding the situation and whether anyone was hurt. Afterward, he/she will tell you where to go and who to talk to next. In most cases, you will exchange information with the other party when dealing with an injury. You will likely get the name and number of the other party. Next, you’ll make sure everyone involved is okay. You will help anyone who is injured or unable to walk on their own.

You should document all incidents, even if no one was injured. It is important to record everything, including the date, location, weather conditions and road conditions, type, severity, injuries, and names of anyone involved. If someone was injured, you’ll want to provide medical attention. You will also need to keep track and record your damages, which may include damage to your car or the vehicle of the other party.

After that, you will need to follow up with the insurer. First, fill out an online form to file a claim. Most insurance companies will offer to pay the deductible before they pay the rest of your claim. You and the other driver must sign the release agreement once the claim has been paid. Finally, the insurer will mail you a check.

Now that you’ve filed a claim, you’ll want to stay within the guidelines set by your insurer. Follow these rules if you are allowed to use another car or have someone else drive your rental vehicle.

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