The terms "fuel" and "gas" are often used in place of each other in rental agreements. Both the terms refer to the gasoline or diesel that powers the car. It is good to follow Alamo’s fuel policy to avoid additional charges.

Starting with a Full Tank

When you rent a car, it will have a full tank of gas. You can choose how you want to handle the fuel costs. Here are your options:

• Pay at the Time of Rental: Pay at the Time of Rental means you can pay for a full tank of gas when you get the car. You can then return the car with even an empty tank. The amount you pay in advance is calculated based on current gas prices and the size of the car's tank, so the actual cost might change in the future.
• Pay Upon Return: If you go with Pay Upon Return, you can either bring the car back with a full tank or pay for the gas you used but did not refill. The price for gas at the end of the rental will be higher than local gas station prices.

So, choose the option that works best for you, and remember to refuel the car before you return it to avoid extra charges.

The Avis fuel policies are easy and clear, but you must understand these if you are renting a car from Avis.

• Full-to-Full: With most Avis rentals, you need to bring the car back with a full tank of gas.
• Pre-Purchase Option: Not all but some locations offer a pre-purchase option where you can pay for all the gas you will need in advance, rather than paying for it later. This can save you time and make it easier when you drop off the car as you will not have to stop and refuel before you return the car.

Tip: It is good to return the car with the same amount of fuel as when you picked it up so you do not have to pay extra charges.

Fuel Service Option

You can save time and avoid the hassle of refuelling if you choose Avis's Fuel Service Option. Here, you pay in advance for a full tank of gas when you book your rental. When you return the car, just bring it back empty. There is no need to fill it up yourself. This option is priced similarly to local gas station rates. Remember, you will not get any refund for unused fuel if you do not use up the entire tank.

Self-Service

If you prefer to handle refuelling yourself, do not choose the Fuel Service Option. Simply buy fuel before you return the car, making sure the tank is full. If you show Avis a receipt for the gas, you will not be charged any extra for refuelling.

EZFuel and Fuel Service Charge

For shorter trips under 75 miles, you can use the EZFuel® service. Customers pay a small fee of $15.99 ($17.99 in California) when they rent the car, and return it without refueling. If you fill up the tank yourself and show Avis the receipt, the EZFuel fee will be removed.

Note: This option might not be available at all locations, so check with Avis beforehand.

Budget gives you a few choices for refuelling your rental car. You can either handle it yourself or let Budget take care of it. So, let's check its fuel/gas policy deeply.

Prepaid Fuel

Prepaid Fuel means you pay in advance for a full tank of gas. When you return the car, you can bring it back with any amount of gas left in the tank. The cost is almost the same as local gas prices. Just remember, you will not get any money back for gas you did not use, so try to use up the whole tank.

EZFuel

EZFuel is a fee you pay if you do not fill up the gas tank before returning the car. If you drive 75 miles or more without refuelling, you will pay for the gas you used, either per mile or per gallon. If you drive less than 75 miles without refuelling, there is an automatic charge of $15.99 ($17.99 in California). You can avoid this fee by showing a receipt that proves you bought gas while you had the rental car.

Gas Service Option (GSO)

If you choose Gas Service Option (GSO), you pay in advance so you do not have to fill up the gas tank before returning the car. You can bring the car back either empty or with any amount of gas left. Also, the cost is approximately the same as local gas prices.

Self-Refuelling

The self-Refuelling option allows you to fill up the gas tank yourself before you return the car. You must bring the vehicle back with a full tank and show a receipt for the gas you bought. If you do this, you will not have to pay any extra refuelling charges.

Refuelling Service

Under the Refuelling Service, Budget will fill up the gas tank for you. You can return the car with less fuel than it had when you picked it up. Just you will pay a service charge for the fuel they put in.

So, be wise and choose the option that best fits your plans and driving needs.

Dollar gives you a few choices for dealing with fuel during your rental journey. You can choose how you want to handle the fuel things. So, here we have the options mentioned under Dollar's fuel policy.

• You Refuel: This option says that you fill-up the gas tank at any gas station within 10 miles of where you return the car. Also, you need to show the receipt to avoid a refueling charge. If you do not want to refuel the car yourself, you can pay for the fuel upfront.
• Prepay the Fuel: Prepay the Fuel means you pay for a full tank of gas when you pick up the car. You do not have to refill the tank before returning the car. The price you pay is similar to local gas station prices. However, you will not get any money back for gas you did not use.
• Dollar Refuels: Choosing this option means you can return the car with any amount of gas left in the tank. They will refill the gas for you. Remember that you will pay for both the gas and the refuelling service.

Note: In Canada, Doller uses kilometres and litters instead of miles and gallons for these calculations.

When you rent a car from Enterprise, you can choose how to make the fuel payment.

At Non-Airport Locations

When you rent a car, you need to bring it back with the same amount of gas as it had when you got it. If you do not fill it up, Enterprise will charge you for the gas. Their price is usually more expensive than at a regular gas station. Also, remember that the car might not come with a full tank of gas when you pick it up.

At Airport Locations

You can fill up the car with the same amount of gas it had when you rented it. If you are unable to do so, you have to pay for the gas as per the Enterprise price, which is usually higher than actual local rates. Another option is to pre-pay for fuel. If you choose it, you get a few benefits:

• You will not need to fill up the car before returning it.
• You pay a discounted price per gallon compared to local rates.

Note: If you buy gas in advance from the rental company, you have to buy a full tank. This gas is cheaper, but prices can be different in various places.

Europcar Rental offers various options for refueling your rental car when you return it.

Full Tank Option

With the Full Tank Option, you can buy a full tank of gas when you get the car. You can bring the car back with any amount of gas left, even an empty tank. If you return the car with a full tank, you will get a refund for the gas you did not use.

Traveling Up to 60 Miles

If you drive up to 60 miles and return the car with a full tank and a recent gas receipt from a nearby station (within 15 miles), you will not have to pay extra. If you do not have a receipt or the tank is not full, they will charge you based on how many miles you drove.

Traveling More Than 60 Miles

If you drive more than 60 miles and return the car with a full tank, you do not have to pay extra. If the tank is not full, you will be charged for the missing fuel. If it takes more than 7 liters to fill the tank, you will also have to pay an extra £18 fee.

Note: Fuel rules can vary by country and rental type. Always check the specific rules for your rental.

Let's take a quick look at the fuel/gas policy that you need to follow if you rent a car from Hertz.

Prepay for a Full Tank

When you rent a car from Hertz, you have the option to pay in advance for a full tank of gas. This means you do not have to worry about refuelling the car before you return it. However, if you do not use all the gas you paid for, you will not get any money back for the unused fuel.

Hertz Refuelling Service

When you return the car to Hertz, they can refill the gas tank for you. You will pay for the gas they fill and also an extra fee for their service. If you prefer, you can refuel the car yourself and return it with the same amount of gas it had when you picked it up. Hertz’s fuel prices are quite the same as local gas stations, so you do not need to worry about extra costs.

When you rent a car from National, you have a few choices for paying for fuel. These options help you handle fuel issues during your rental. Check out how the National fuel policy works.

Refuel Yourself

You can refill the car with the same amount of fuel it had when you picked it up. By doing this, you only pay for the fuel you use.

Prepay for Fuel

You can choose to pay for a full tank of gas when you pick up the car. If you do this, you can return the car with an empty tank, and you do not need to refill it yourself. The price you pay for a full tank of gas is an estimate and might change based on the current fuel prices and the size of the car's gas tank.

Pay for Fuel When You Return

You can also return the car with a full tank or pay for the fuel you used when you return it. Remember that the price per gallon or liter will be higher than local fuel station prices if you choose this option.

Before returning the car, you need to check the vehicle whether has the same amount of fuel that was in it when you picked it up.

• Prepaid Fuel Option: You can choose to prepay for fuel when you book your car. This lets you return the car with an empty tank too. The SIXT offers a discount on fuel with this option, and it is available when you book online, before pick-up, or at the station.
  Note: You will not get any refunds for any unused fuel.
• If You Do Not Prepay for Fuel: If you do not pay for fuel in advance, you need to fill up the tank yourself before you return the car. If you return the car without a full tank and have not prepaid for fuel, you will be charged for the gas you used plus an extra service fee.
• Electric Vehicles: When you return an electric vehicle, it should have the same battery charge as when you picked it up, according to your rental agreement. If the battery is lower than agreed, you will have to pay for the cost of recharging. The cost will be based on the rate in your rental agreement.
• Rewards for Refuelling or Charging: If you return the car with more fuel or charge than it had when you picked it up, you can earn a voucher for future rentals. You get 1€ for every 10% increase in fuel or charge, but in the Netherlands, it is 1€ for every 20% increase. For example, if the car had 36% fuel when you started and you returned it with a full tank (100%), the difference is 64%. This rounds to 60%, so you would get a 6€ voucher. The voucher can be used for up to 3 years.
  Note: This reward is not available in the USA.

Renting a car from Thrifty provides a few fuel options as per its fuel policy. Come and explore the option given below:

Refill Requirement

When you return the rental car, you need to refill the gas tank at a station within 10 miles of the return location. You must also show a receipt for the fuel if you want to avoid an extra refuelling charge.

Prepaid Fuel Option

If you choose to pay for fuel in advance, you do not need to refill the tank before returning the car. You will pay a set amount for fuel when you pick up the car. This amount is based on how much gas is needed to fill the tank. The fuel price per gallon will be the same as listed in your rental agreement.

Fuel Estimation

Thrifty finds out how much gas is needed by either checking the fuel gauge or looking at how many miles you drove. They might use different methods to calculate this, but they are based on how much gas the car’s tank can hold and how many miles the car can travel per gallon of gas.

Note: If you are renting a car in Canada, the measurements will be in kilometres and litters instead of miles and gallons.

So, learning the fuel policies of car rental companies can help you save money and avoid unexpected charges. Most companies have three main options, including full-to-full, prepaid fuel, and refuelling service. The full-to-full option usually costs less but means you need to refill the tank yourself. Prepaid fuel is convenient but can be more expensive. And refuelling service is the easiest but costs the most. Select the car rental with the suitable fuel policy that best matches your travel plans to make your rental experience smooth and easy.