Investigating hiring a car in Spain. The usual suspects, and some other, unknown brands.
The latter are somewhat cheaper. But a little investigation shows such delights as:
"possible extra charge, inquire on collecting the car". Well, that's not going to be cheap, is it?
"car provided with full tank; return empty." which sounds a bit rubbish until you realise that "fuel supplied locally with additional fuelling charge" so it's completely rubbish.
Europcar seem to be the best value - particuarly as they don't surcharge for taking the car over the border into France.
Is obfuscation really the best way to build customer loyalty?
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>> "car provided with full tank; return empty." which sounds a bit rubbish until you realise
>> that "fuel supplied locally with additional fuelling charge" so it's completely rubbish.
Return it full. You expect them to spend time filling it up for nothing?
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That would be "car provided with full tank; return full" and would be perfectly reasonable.
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standard clause here - and the charges ain't cheap either!
However, a friend of mine has just come back from UK, where he rented a car in Cambridgeshire, and it only came with a quarter tankful. Apparently this was on police advice to the hirer, after the local scum broke into his yard several times and siphoned off the petrol!
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Last two car I hired abroad were " leave the same amount of petrol as you found" Both were local companies and both were no xs deals. One in La Palma and one in Zakynthos Greece. I prefer to use local companies if I can. Only book in advance in peak periods - you can usually find a better deal locally than on-line.
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Supplied full and return empty is pretty standard, indeed mandatory with some companies, in the US. They charge pretty much the going rate for the initial tank of fuel.
The problem I have with this method is that if you do need to buy more fuel during the hire period then you're anxious not to leave too much in the car, so I tend to choose companies where I don't prepay for the gas and can return full. However fail to refill the car and you get really gouged on the refuel cost - it's typically 2-3x the normal price.
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Pre pay is not always mandatory, merely badly explained. Most of the time (as its a one time charge to the daily charge) there is a way to refuse.
Was certainly the case when I last hired a car in the US last year. And its the case when I hire a car in jersey next week.
Thats Hertz and Avis.
Last edited by: Zero on Thu 7 Jun 12 at 16:30
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www.hertz.co.uk/rentacar/misc/index.jsp?targetPage=RY_MFP_new.jsp
Mandatory Fuel Purchase Charge
All rentals for Spain that are 5 days or more (120 hours) will be subject to mandatory fuel purchase charge for your convenience.
Where a mandatory fuel purchase charge is applied to your rental, your vehicle will be provided with a full tank of fuel which will be charged when you pick-up your vehicle. You should aim to return the vehicle with as little fuel as possible because there will be no refund for unusued fuel.
This charge should amount to approx. EUR 40.00 - EUR 80.00 (excluding tax) depending on the vehicle model and price of fuel at the time of hire and will be in addition to the Approximate Total Price quoted for your rental.
Please note that by paying this fuel purchase charge you do not need to refuel the vehicle prior to your return and will not be charged any refuelling service charges by us.
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All I can say is I have never paid it.
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Mandatory Fuel Purchase Charge
If your rate is quoted with a mandatory fuel purchase charge, your vehicle will be provided with a full tank of fuel which will be charged when you pick-up your vehicle.
Where a mandatory fuel purchase charge is applied to your rental you should aim to return the vehicle with as little fuel as possible because there will be no refund for unusued fuel.
This charge should amount to approx. EUR 47.00 - EUR 80.00 (including tax) depending on the vehicle model and price of fuel at the time of hire and will be in addition to the Approximate Total Price quoted for your rental.
Please note that by paying this fuel purchase charge you do not need to refuel the vehicle prior to your return and will not be charged any refuelling service charges by us.
Just tried to book a car, Hertz, Malaga for 14 days. NO FUEL SURCHARGE. Not the term at the top
*IF YOUR RATE* Mine wasn't. As I said I don't pay it.
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All rentals for Spain that are 5 days or more (120 hours) will be subject to mandatory fuel purchase charge for your convenience.
The "if your rate is.." bit refers to sub-120 hours rentals.
The terms I quoted state that this charge is made when you pick the car up - which is why you haven't seen the mandatory charge yet.
Maybe it won't be charged... but I'll be going with Europcar who clearly state their fuel policy is full-to-full (but that you can return it less than full, but it will cost you which as Zero pointed out in his first post is perfectly fair).
Last edited by: Mapmaker on Thu 7 Jun 12 at 17:39
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>> All rentals for Spain that are 5 days or more (120 hours) will be subject
>> to mandatory fuel purchase charge for your convenience.
>>
>> The "if your rate is.." bit refers to sub-120 hours rentals.
>>
>>
>> The terms I quoted state that this charge is made when you pick the car
>> up - which is why you haven't seen the mandatory charge yet.
I tried to book a 14 day hire. thats more than 120 hours. My terms said this charge wasn't made. Mine said *if* - It wasn't. All the possible pick up charges were listed. It wasn't there.
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It all depends:
Eg. Barcelona, hire via HolidayAutos
1. Spanish fuel policy: full to full (you pay for the fuel that you use) and full to empty (you'll pay for a full tank of fuel regardless of usage). Please click on car details/further information tab.
2. Select Opel Corsa (or similar)Economy 4dr and the fuel policy says: "Your car will be full of fuel and must be returned full. If vehicle is not brought back full you will be charged a surcharge of 16.80 eur plus missing fuel at local fuel prices."
3. Select Ford Focus (or similar)Compact Diesel 4dr and the fuel policy says: "all cars are delivered with a full tank of fuel. The car must be returned empty. There will be no refunds for unused fuel. For 3 days or less, you will be asked to pay half of the tank and to drop the car off empty."
4. Select Ford Focus (or similar)Compact 4dr and the fuel policy says: "Upon picking up your vehicle you will be charged for the cost of fuel, the charge will be between EUR 41-131 depending on the brand/model of the car. The vehicle will be supplied with a full tank and must be returned as empty as possible. No refund will be given for unused fuel. The only exception to this is for rentals of 3 days or less, where the cost of the remaining fuel will be refunded back to the card you paid with. Please allow 1 billing cycle for this to appear on your statement."
Now take the USA (as Bill Payer has brought that in to the equation here):
Eg. Califronia with USCarHire
www.uscarhire.com/terms.aspx
"Fuel Policy:
Silver Option
Dollar: Collect with a full tank and return as empty as possible. Dollar will charge you for a full tank plus tax, at a rate up to around 2 times the current pump price
Alamo and National: If you are collecting on or after 1st April 2012: Collect with a full tank and return full to avoid refuelling charges. If you are collecting before 1st April 2012, collect with a full tank and return empty. Pay for the tank at approx the same price as the pump, plus tax.
Gold Option
Dollar, Alamo and National: Collect with a full tank and return empty. You will not be charged for the tank of fuel as this is included in the price. In New York only, Alamo and National Gold option does not include the cost of the initial tank of fuel."
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Interesting.
I *HATE* playing fuel roulette and will almost never let the car drop below a quarter.
Anyway. Going through Ryanair's website makes Hertz about half price, so I'll chance it.
What to choose: BMW 1 series; Opel Astra; Ford Focus, Ford C Max or Seat Ibiza (all at £110 for the week). (Of course, they're all "or similar" and also at risk of upgrade to a thirsty Tank, but anyway...) Insignia worth £150? Ibiza worth saving as only £88? And a Hyundai i10 for £180 - bonkers....
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>> Anyway. Going through Ryanair's website makes Hertz about half price, so I'll chance it.
>>
One thing I've found from US rental's which probably applies elsewhere andn adds further confusion to the whole thing, is the T's & C's vary depending on who you book through.
The snag with all these things is that if the rental agent digs their heels in then you either have to pay or you aren't getting the car, and the less well known companies have no incentive to respond to complaints.
I've probably rented 50 times in the US with no problems until the last two times and they were both with Hertz. However both times it was sorted out with a couple of emails and not too much hassle.
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>> 3. Select Ford Focus (or similar)Compact Diesel 4dr and the fuel policy says: "all cars
>> are delivered with a full tank of fuel. The car must be returned empty. There
>> will be no refunds for unused fuel. For 3 days or less, you will be
>> asked to pay half of the tank and to drop the car off empty."
>>
That ones a bit weird - it implies you're welcome to use the whole tank of fuel but you only have to pay for half of it!
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>> . For 3 days or less, you will be
>> >> asked to pay half of the tank and to drop the car off empty."
>> >>
>>
>> That ones a bit weird - it implies you're welcome to use the whole tank
>> of fuel but you only have to pay for half of it!
>>
What it means is that they will give you a half-full tank to begin with (I have read it differently worded elsewhere). Which really is fuel roulette depending on how this is measured. On my Honda the half-way mark is reached after about 75% of the miles that can be done on a tank; half-full is the point at which to fill up.
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Just come back from 2 weeks on the Costa Blanca - booked a hire car through a broker - doyouspain.com
They dont tell you who the car is booked with, just if its on or off airport - we went off airport as it was 200 euros cheaper for a full size 7 seater for 2 weeks. when you pay the deposit you get the booking and collection details.
I was surprised to find that Sixt were the supplier - not normally very cheap for any booking.
No choice for fuel - it was full out, full back - I asked if I could buy the tank, but even that wasnt an option! The only option was to pay for tyre / glass insurance to waive the insurance excess
Also free drinks for the kids from the fridge in the collections office was a welcome thought, so no complaints about my Spanish booking
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Just back from 2 weeks in Spain. The rental car came with the stipulation to return it with an empty tank, so I effectively had to pay for a full tank of petrol which I had no chance of using.
As it wasn't listed in the Ts&Cs when I booked I refused to pay for this, so was told I either pay it or I don't get the car. I asked to speak to the manager who eventually appeared and repeated the same. Either pay for the fuel or walk. Having a howling 3 year in old in tow, I gave in and paid it.
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>> As it wasn't listed in the Ts&Cs when I booked I refused to pay for
>> this, so was told I either pay it or I don't get the car. I
>> asked to speak to the manager who eventually appeared and repeated the same. Either pay
>> for the fuel or walk. Having a howling 3 year in old in tow, I
>> gave in and paid it.
>>
Yep, exactly as I said earlier. Did you book direct or through an agent - often different T's & C's apply? Send whoever you booked with a snotty email, you never know, they may refund.
Last edited by: Bill Payer on Mon 11 Jun 12 at 12:31
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>> Yep, exactly as I said earlier. Did you book direct or through an agent -
>> often different T's & C's apply? Send whoever you booked with a snotty email, you
>> never know, they may refund.
It was through an agent and I will send a snotty mail. I actually showed the manager in the rental office the rental agreement with the agent. He gave an almost gallic shrug, told me it wasn't his problem and asked whether I wanted the car or not.
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>>It was through an agent and I will send a snotty mail.
Don't just send an e-mail to anyone, is the company in this list?
www.ceoemail.com/
I've just got £200 for my 'inconvenience' after I addressed a complaint to the top.
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Thanks BT - just used that myself to chase up a complaint I made over 3 months ago to one of the companies in that list which would otherwise have required snail-mail.
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Thanks, BT. Bookmarked for future reference.
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Avis, jersey, today, car had 1/4 tank fuel, asked me if I wanted to prey pay 6 quid for it and bring it back empty, or if I wanted to bring it back 1/4 full
I paid.
Don't check paper part of license either never even asked for it
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Unexpected charges - on car hire - Zero
