Dollar - Initial tank of Fuel Cost

Does anyone know from first hand experience how much Dollar charges for the initial tank of fuel for a compact car? If it makes a difference I am picking up from PHX.

Cheers

Does anyone know from first hand experience how much Dollar charges for the initial tank of fuel for a compact car? If it makes a difference I am picking up from PHX.

Cheers

I belive it is calculated locally...so each branch is different. Currently in PHX gas is about 2.62 per gallon, assuming a 13 gallon tank you would be looking at about 34 dollars..but some rental companies go UNDER the local level as incentive, and some go OVER out of greed.

My advice is to always check www.gasbuddy.com before going. If local gas is cheaper, buy it. If rental gas is cheaper, buy it. That is, if you plan on using the whole tank. If you think you are not going to use at least 3/4 of a tank, buy your own gas.

Don't forget that any optional items, such as refueling, insurance, etc. become part of the taxable total.

Also I advise not to pre-purchase fuel on one-ways, especially long distance ones that will likely use more than a single tank. In that second example, you won't really know exactly where and when you'll need to refuel next and last, especially in the beginning when the car is still new to you. You might refill 2 hours away from your destination and then have 3/4 full at return time.

Also I advise not to pre-purchase fuel on one-ways, especially long distance ones that will likely use more than a single tank. In that second example, you won't really know exactly where and when you'll need to refuel next and last, especially in the beginning when the car is still new to you. You might refill 2 hours away from your destination and then have 3/4 full at return time. I definitely agree specially as my rental is PHX-LAS but as my booking is a pre-paid voucher, I am forced to pay for the 1st tank of fuel per t&c. The main point I am trying to find out is that currently this cost has been added to my bill (as a premium package) and the cost to me is over USD50. I was looking into if I should cancel the extra package and pay at PHX.

Cheers

Also I advise not to pre-purchase fuel on one-ways, especially long distance ones that will likely use more than a single tank. In that second example, you won't really know exactly where and when you'll need to refuel next and last, especially in the beginning when the car is still new to you. You might refill 2 hours away from your destination and then have 3/4 full at return time.

fueleconomy.gov is a great site for estimating highway range on a vehicle. If course you don't know what you're going to get, but you can compare a few different models to get a sense for how far it'll go. I usually set it up for 70% highway mileage, since that figure is a bit more realistic given my own driving style. Then it'll tell me that a Ford Focus will go 'xxx' miles at that mpg. So then I calculate how far that is from my destination and there you have it. Takes a little prep work, but I think it's worth it for the convenience.

Pre-paying is great if you pick up in a market with low gas prices. If you were picking up in California and dropping off somewhere in Oklahoma, however, you'd probably end up paying more. I prepaid on a one-way rental from YYC to YYJ last spring, which was great not just so I could coast the van right to the rental office, but also for money savings. I paid around 73 cents per liter only to return to where it was around a dollar.

As Auto Enthusiast said though, watch out for taxes. In Canada, prepaid fuel is subject to GST, since it is a service being offered, but not subject to PST in most provinces since PST is already collected in the price of fuel. Also the airport surcharge (PLC) sometimes applies as well. If you're staying locally and the prepaid fuel rate is only 5-6 cents lower than the street price, the taxes can knock out any savings even if you push the car into the return lane. However, I take prepaid fuel more for convenience rather than money savings.

Once I rented a brand new Elantra from National in Edmonton to go to Calgary for the weekend. I'd used just over half a tank to get down there, and by the time we drove around over the weekend I was at a quarter tank. So I put enough to get it over the half mark and headed back to Edmonton. When I was passing the turn-off to YEG the low fuel light came on. Wanting to get my money's worth, I continued into downtown, and even drove the car to school and back the next morning, with the gauge now off the scale. I brought it back and when they offered me a ride home in the same car, I advised that we take something else. The next time I brought back a car on prepaid fuel I joked "I left some fuel in this one this time". The agent then lowered her voice and said "The last one you brought back died when the lot guy pulled into the gas station". Talk about money's worth! :D

I definitely agree specially as my rental is PHX-LAS but as my booking is a pre-paid voucher, I am forced to pay for the 1st tank of fuel per t&c. The main point I am trying to find out is that currently this cost has been added to my bill (as a premium package) and the cost to me is over USD50. I was looking into if I should cancel the extra package and pay at PHX.

Cheers

At present, it would be fair to use an estimate of $2.65/gallon as a market price in PHX, and a refill capacity of 15 gallons for a compact. If your package price for fuel is $50 plus concession fee and all taxes you will clearly do better (if it doesn't change your rate) by filling up in PHX.

I think all points were pretty much addressed in this thread, but I wanted to reiterate/clarify a couple of points:

Don't forget that any optional items, such as refueling, insurance, etc. become part of the taxable total.

Actually, most of the time (IME) coverage and prepaid gas are not taxable items. Granted, I'm only familiar with the ANC/FAI/SEA/PDX/LAX/SLC/CLT markets, but having rented at these places and having always purchased at least LDW and often SLI, PAI/PEC, and prepaid gas, too, I have never seen them taxed.

Most tax codes specifically exempt these items, since they are often in some form or another considered to be a pass-through revenue item, such as to an underwriting insurance company, self-insurance fund, fuel delivery service, etc., even if the rental agency takes a cut or makes a profit on them. This also includes other "pass-through" fees such as towing fees, parking fees, unpaid ticket fees, frequent flyer surcharges, and GARS (for federal government renters).

Other fees--the ones that are simply revenue-enhancing fees for the rental agency (mileage charges, vehicle license fees, energy recovery fees, underage driver fees, additional driver fees, upgrade charges, drop fees, car seat rental fees, etc.)--are taxable. While I would argue that these usually in some way represent payment against an increased expense or risk to the rental agency, they are at best indirect repayments and serve to increase the bottom line (much like checked baggage fees).

I'm not specifically clear on administrative fees or loss-of-use fees, but damage fees are not taxed.

Also I advise not to pre-purchase fuel on one-ways, especially long distance ones that will likely use more than a single tank. In that second example, you won't really know exactly where and when you'll need to refuel next and last, especially in the beginning when the car is still new to you. You might refill 2 hours away from your destination and then have 3/4 full at return time.

As explained by Tuneman1984, this can actually work to your advantage.

I did a one-way SLC-DEN rental in 2008. At the time, gas was a bit cheaper in SLC than DEN, so I opted to prepay the tank in SLC. It heavily worked in my favor both because I saved several dollars over the cost of gas in DEN (especially near the airport, where competition isn't exactly fierce) but also because I was in a massive hurry to catch my flight (I think I made the baggage check cut-off by less than 5 minutes).

Of course, I almost ran out of gas down in COS on the Air Force Academy grounds when trying to cram in some last-minute sightseeing before racing up to DEN to catch my flight, and I probably wouldn't have been playing it so close to the bottom of my fuel tank had I not bought the gas... ;)

Does anyone know from first hand experience how much Dollar charges for the initial tank of fuel for a compact car? If it makes a difference I am picking up from PHX.

Cheers

PHX to LAS by car is roughly 5 hours that includes moutain/high altitude driving which consumes more fuel (lower combustibility, more throttle to attain speed) and there has been construction on the Hoover Dam bridge, which even without construction can have you stuck in traffic for another hour on some days. Lastly, gas is slightly (maybe 5 cents) more expensive in LAS than in PHX. Arizona has some of the lowest priced gas in the US. You will probably not drive much when you are actually in LAS, especially if you are staying on the Strip.

I would estimate that you will use more than a single tank to get there, even in an economy car. You will probably need to put gas in by the time you get to Kingman. I would suggest pre-paying gas, and just putting in 1/2 tank at Kingman. This should get you to LAS and leave some for getting around LAS, but you will still be able to return the car nearly dry and save yourself the price difference between PHX and LAS and half a tank..that could be a 25 dollar savings.

If you don't pre-pay, you will have to fill up on the way and then top up to full in LAS before returning the car...and I don't think the whole thing will require two tanks..

I think all points were pretty much addressed in this thread, but I wanted to reiterate/clarify a couple of points:



Actually, most of the time (IME) coverage and prepaid gas are not taxable items. Granted, I'm only familiar with the ANC/FAI/SEA/PDX/LAX/SLC/CLT markets, but having rented at these places and having always purchased at least LDW and often SLI, PAI/PEC, and prepaid gas, too, I have never seen them taxed.

Most tax codes specifically exempt these items, since they are often in some form or another considered to be a pass-through revenue item, such as to an underwriting insurance company, self-insurance fund, fuel delivery service, etc., even if the rental agency takes a cut or makes a profit on them. This also includes other "pass-through" fees such as towing fees, parking fees, unpaid ticket fees, frequent flyer surcharges, and GARS (for federal government renters).

Other fees--the ones that are simply revenue-enhancing fees for the rental agency (mileage charges, vehicle license fees, energy recovery fees, underage driver fees, additional driver fees, upgrade charges, drop fees, car seat rental fees, etc.)--are taxable. While I would argue that these usually in some way represent payment against an increased expense or risk to the rental agency, they are at best indirect repayments and serve to increase the bottom line (much like checked baggage fees).

I'm not specifically clear on administrative fees or loss-of-use fees, but damage fees are not taxed.



As explained by Tuneman1984, this can actually work to your advantage.

I did a one-way SLC-DEN rental in 2008. At the time, gas was a bit cheaper in SLC than DEN, so I opted to prepay the tank in SLC. It heavily worked in my favor both because I saved several dollars over the cost of gas in DEN (especially near the airport, where competition isn't exactly fierce) but also because I was in a massive hurry to catch my flight (I think I made the baggage check cut-off by less than 5 minutes).

Of course, I almost ran out of gas down in COS on the Air Force Academy grounds when trying to cram in some last-minute sightseeing before racing up to DEN to catch my flight, and I probably wouldn't have been playing it so close to the bottom of my fuel tank had I not bought the gas... ;)


You know, DEN will get you EVERY TIME. I have coasted into that ONE station on fumes more times than I care to remember. A co-worker actually ran out of gas while pulling up to the pump...and that's using the toll road which is shorter! My Colorado itinerary usually has me going down to COS and back, and I always pre-pay the gas at DEN just to avoid the nightmare of filling up at that station. At least now I do, since USAirways killed the PHX-COS flight. I used to do the trip through COS to avoid DEN.

Seriously, who puts an airport 40 miles out of town and then puts in only 1 gas station? I HATE DEN!!!!

I would suggest pre-paying gas, and just putting in 1/2 tank at Kingman. This should get you to LAS and leave some for getting around LAS, but you will still be able to return the car nearly dry and save yourself the price difference between PHX and LAS and half a tank..that could be a 25 dollar savings.

If you don't pre-pay, you will have to fill up on the way and then top up to full in LAS before returning the car...and I don't think the whole thing will require two tanks..

Just to clarify, as I understand it, the OP is on a prepaid UK tour voucher for Dollar (booked at http://www.dollar.co.uk). The terms of these vouchers REQUIRES (for reasons beyond me) that the person take the prepaid gas option at the time of rental.

But to make it even more confusing, the Dollar UK website offers a "Platinum Package" (or something like that) which is a few pounds more per day but includes the tank of gas within the voucher (rather than forcing the customer to buy it at the counter). [Even more confusingly, they refer to it as "purchasing the initial tank of fuel" rather than the more common U.S. usage of "not having to fill up the gas at return"--it works out to be the same concept, and indeed, the UK verbiage may actually be less confusing for the new customer, but using UK terminology on U.S. rentals just adds to the mental jumble!]

Either way, prepaid gas is required. The only difference is how it's paid for.

The OP's question is, therefore, is it a better deal to spend $50 more on the "Platinum Package" to receive that tank of gas or to buy the prepaid gas at the time of rental. It was established upthread that a tank of prepaid gas for an economy car at PHX will likely be a good bit less than $50.

It is not an option to forgo the prepaid gas entirely, so therefore, it is therefore a better option to book the regular voucher and buy the prepaid gas at the PHX counter, since it will be cheaper than the other option.

Jackal,

What you write is quite correct. Europeans get these prepaid deals much cheaper than they would otherwise cost. Very common that US based people have no clue about it as they seem to be stuck in the but-you-should-check-the-coverage-that-comes-with-your-credit-card-paradigm.

The packages come in two flavours, where the platinum package has prepaid gas and extra drivers (as in plural), while the other package includes just one driver and the privilege to be forced into buying gas at the counter.
Alamo enforces the must-pay thing strictly, in my experience, whereas with Dollar I have never been forced to to do prepaid gas (even though it said so on my vouchers); it comes down to the guy at the counter.

S.

Just to clarify, as I understand it, the OP is on a prepaid UK tour voucher for Dollar (booked at http://www.dollar.co.uk). The terms of these vouchers REQUIRES (for reasons beyond me) that the person take the prepaid gas option at the time of rental.

But to make it even more confusing, the Dollar UK website offers a "Platinum Package" (or something like that) which is a few pounds more per day but includes the tank of gas within the voucher (rather than forcing the customer to buy it at the counter). [Even more confusingly, they refer to it as "purchasing the initial tank of fuel" rather than the more common U.S. usage of "not having to fill up the gas at return"--it works out to be the same concept, and indeed, the UK verbiage may actually be less confusing for the new customer, but using UK terminology on U.S. rentals just adds to the mental jumble!]

Either way, prepaid gas is required. The only difference is how it's paid for.

The OP's question is, therefore, is it a better deal to spend $50 more on the "Platinum Package" to receive that tank of gas or to buy the prepaid gas at the time of rental. It was established upthread that a tank of prepaid gas for an economy car at PHX will likely be a good bit less than $50.

It is not an option to forgo the prepaid gas entirely, so therefore, it is therefore a better option to book the regular voucher and buy the prepaid gas at the PHX counter, since it will be cheaper than the other option. Precisely! I could not explain it better ^ to clarify even more, I am going through a 3rd party site that uses Dollar. They are cheaper by 30% or more than booking direct.
I also called Dollar PHX branch and asked them what the cost is. The person was a little vague but calculated the cost for a compact on a basis of 13 gallons at USD4 (or just under 4 as she said). If that is true then I might as well stay with the premium package.

Cheers

Precisely! I could not explain it better ^ to clarify even more, I am going through a 3rd party site that uses Dollar. They are cheaper by 30% or more than booking direct.
I also called Dollar PHX branch and asked them what the cost is. The person was a little vague but calculated the cost for a compact on a basis of 13 gallons at USD4 (or just under 4 as she said). If that is true then I might as well stay with the premium package.

Cheers
Hmm, at almost $4/gal? Weird.

13 gallons sounds about right. A typical compact car is a Chevy Cobalt, which has a 13-gallon (exactly) tank.

However, $4 per gallon? The Alamo website (which breaks out coverage and fuel prices nicely) currently lists the following for PHX:

Return Fuel at any level ($2.66/gal)
No refund will be given for unused fuel.
The total upfront fuel charge reflected is an estimate based on
the current prices and average tank size for the car class reserved.
This charge may change at time of rental.

Based on my math, a tank of gas in PHX for a compact car at the current time would go for $34.58.

Prepaid gas prices between rental agencies are more similar than different, so I'd have a hard time believing Dollar's charging almost $1.50 more per gallon than Alamo. However, it's not completely impossible.

Are you sure you spoke directly with Dollar PHX? As a corporate location, they don't publish their direct phone number. If you called the number listed online for the location (1-866-434-2226), you probably talked with someone in the Phillippines who has no idea what gas prices in PHX are. If you REALLY want to get the right info in advance, I have an email out to a friend who used to work at Dollar PHX who might know the direct number. (And if you do get through and they really are charging $4/gal, ask them why Alamo only charges $2.66/gal!)