Rental Car Gas: Prepay, Fill Up, or Get Taken for a Ride

Posted May 4, 2011 in Consumer Law by Arthur Buono
 Comments

I just returned from a fly/drive vacation, having paid possibly the nation’s highest average gas prices for the privilege. So USA Today’s piece on rental car companies’ refueling policies seemed a good way to ease back behind the wheel. But I can’t be "irk[ed]" by these policies.

     
  • Rental car companies charging $9 to top off your tank
  • Filling up your least costly option, prepaying most convenient
  • Loss of use insurance a costly and doubtful item
  • Copy this link to share with friends: http://bit.ly/inrlTb

 

Gas Irksome, Insurance a Bigger Rip-Off

We had plenty of time to fill up the car by the airport before returning it, so it was no hassle. It’s pretty obvious that prepaying for a full tank is the most convenient option, but probably the most expensive one. Then there’s the top-off price, which has some travelers "irked."

Eight or nine bucks a gallon is sticker-shock material. But it might even save money over the prepay option. If you prepay for gas but leave half a tank, it might cost you more than paying $9 for a gallon or two in top-off refueling. But let’s leave it to the mathematicians. If you think you’ve been gouged, call the state’s attorney general’s office, They love to investigate gas-gouging claims.

A potentially more costly extra is the optional insurance. Unlike gasoline, this is a real profit center for rental car companies. Before you decline coverage, including the scary-sounding, so-called "loss of use," make sure your own auto insurance provides coverage. Most provide at least some property damage and liability coverage, though not loss of use. But your credit card issuer may, if you use the card to rent the car.

Related Apps for Your Smartphone*

- GasBuddy – Find and price refueling options. Free
- TripTik – Refueling options plus maps and much more, all from AAA. Free

*Please note that these apps are for informational purposes only, and neither LexisNexis nor Lawyers.com endorses these apps or accepts liability for their use.

Related Links:
Discussion

Arthur Buono