Memorial Day Travel Tip - Avoid Hidden Rental Fees

You’ve been there. You’re wrapping up your vacation or business trip and rushing to the airport with no time to fill up the tank in your rental car. And when you return the vehicle, you realize the fee you’re charged for the “convenience” of having the rental car company refuel for you could be as much or more than the cost of the rental itself!

Seriously – $7 or $8 per gallon?  When a gallon self-serve only costs about $2?  It’s just not right.

As Memorial Day and the busy summer travel season approaches, consumers should compare these costs or risk sticker shock. Enterprise Rent-A-Car, National Car Rental and Alamo Rent A Car (all owned by the Taylor family of St. Louis) charge their customers only about $3 per gallon when they bring the car back to the airport without a full tank of gas (depending on market pricing). From Boston to Phoenix, that’s roughly 65 percent less than what some of the other big car rental brands charge their customers. Check out this recent price comparison.

          Average Car Rental Refueling Fees at Major U.S. Airports ( April 2009 )