Dollar - Can I see your gas receipt?

I have started renting from Dollar recently at MSP, when checking my car in this week the agent asked if I filled the tank. I replied yes then he asked "can I see the receipt". I was dumbfounded, told him I would have to find it.

He then (while looking at my like I was lying) asked "Well did you fill up more than 10 miles away" and was satisfied with my answer of no.

Is this common, because if it is I will pay a little more and go back to Hertz. I don't need to do business with a company that assumes I am dishonest.

This entire conversation occured before he even looked at the fuel guage (which was at FULL).

I had the same thing nearly happen to me last summer on a rental from Thrifty. Luckily my mom read the fine print while we were still at the gas station so I was able to run back in for the receipt.... And they asked me for it when I dropped the car off. Never had that happen with Alamo or Hertz.

This usually happens when you have driven less than 60 miles or so .
I always just get a receipt and put in my back pocket just in case.
They are just trying to find the gas cheaters. No big thing .

He then (while looking at my like I was lying) asked "Well did you fill up more than 10 miles away" and was satisfied with my answer of no.

Is this common, because if it is I will pay a little more and go back to Hertz. I don't need to do business with a company that assumes I am dishonest.


OP,

in the contract that you understood and signed before driving off the Dollar lot it is stated that you might be asked to show a refueling receipt from within a 10 mile radius when handing back the car. So, no problem there.
In addition, the fact that they trusted you when you said you had refueled within the 10 mile radius shows that you are dealing with a company that actually trusts your word, so the remark about them assuming you are dishonest is in my opinion not fair.

Best regards,
S.

I have had similar experiences these past THREE times when additional charges appeared on my credit card at 8 dollars a gallon even after i told them that i had refilled and the meter showed full. i think they are learning from the budget airlines and trying to squeeze more money out of the renter. as is, in many places the car rental is cheap but the taxes and petrol comes to about twice as much..
I will still rent from AVIS but will be careful about AVIS at FLL

This usually happens when you have driven less than 60 miles or so .
I always just get a receipt and put in my back pocket just in case.
They are just trying to find the gas cheaters. No big thing .

Actually its 75 miles or less, oh and be careful, at some places they will actually take the car to their gas pump to see if it will fill up.

It only takes 3 seconds to lose a customer. Pennywise, pound foolish.

If it is on the "F" then it's full. Half the time when they give you the car it is not 100% full. Maybe I should ask them for the receipt.

http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=MXpg7SgB9_0

That is an investigative reporter who goes to Dollar rent-a-car and catches them on hidden cam asking for the gas receipt despite him filling up across the street immediately before returning the car.

Guys,

from the general paperwork you get from Dollar:
"You must refill the gas tank of the vehicle within a 10 mile radius of the rental return facility and present a fuel receipt to avoid a refueling charge."

http://www.dollar.com/aboutus/generalpolicies.aspx

Why is it so difficult to accept this? Anyone who thinks this is a silly policy is completely free to rent from another provider, right?

S.

I still feel as though its dishonest, why not be upfront about it?

Just because there is some little blip of wording somewhere doesn't make it ethically or morally "right." And anyway, it is not good business sense.

From what has been described, and what is on the video - it appears to be that the rental company has found a "legal" way to con people out of a few extra bucks. That is my opinion and I'm stickin' to it.

And I will not rent from them after seeing this post! I will take my business elsewhere.

You got to remember though, Dollar is a "Budget Friendly" company, so they are going to try to get money from every which way.

You got to remember though, Dollar is a "Budget Friendly" company, so they are going to try to get money from every which way.

"Budget" that's a competitor :)

Whether they have it in writing or not, I'd rather deal with a customer friendly atmosphere instead of a hostile one. Sometimes you get what you pay for.

"Budget" that's a competitor :)

Whether they have it in writing or not, I'd rather deal with a customer friendly atmosphere instead of a hostile one. Sometimes you get what you pay for.

Exactly, which is why I don't rent from them. I want my rental to be as hassle free as possible, and the agencies that provide that for me have been getting my business. It does seem like a short-sighted policy.

http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=MXpg7SgB9_0

That is an investigative reporter who goes to Dollar rent-a-car and catches them on hidden cam asking for the gas receipt despite him filling up across the street immediately before returning the car.

Jeez, what an irritating "reporter."

He filled up "across the street"? What's his point? Does he think the Dollar has an employee watching the gas station across the street at all times? How is the agent supposed to know this guy's telling the truth? Frankly, renting a car for just 14 miles is a red flag and the rental agent was right to be skeptical. And he never let the process play out to see if he actually would have been charged. He just acted like a bully and the agent rightfully sought his superior.

And he's wrong when he tells the agent that he can keep filming because it's a "public place." No, it's not a public place...it's private property owned by Dollar.

"Budget" that's a competitor :)

Whether they have it in writing or not, I'd rather deal with a customer friendly atmosphere instead of a hostile one. Sometimes you get what you pay for.

+1 Thats why I rent from Hertz. Not I can say that Hertz will always be my choice, but so far they have been ok.

Had the same with Thrifty at YYC.

Just rented from Dollar at ATL
The agent made sure to tell me they require a receipt for gas fill up within 10miles of the airport.
I filled up within 2 miles, got the receipt , went to return the car left the receipt on the dash, the return check in agent looked at it and that was that.
Easy.
( for my peace of mind, I took a picture of the receipt with my iPhone)

I can agree it isn't that hard. But I feel that it is something I should not have to do, or even think about.

If the needle is on "FULL" then my job is done. That is my opinion.

So I will not be renting from Dollar or Thrifty. Pennywise, pound foolish.

I always get a receipt for expense reporting, so getting the receipt is not a big deal. However, I usually have the first flight out and I fill up the night before. I can drive a long way in 12 hours even if I fill up close to the airport.

I usually rent from National, but I picked up from Dollar tonight and got the speech about the required receipt. I got the hard sell for insurance. It is part of what is expected when you save $200+ on a 4 day rental.

Yeah, sure it is. I stopped drinking the Kool-Aid, thanks though.

Guys,

from the general paperwork you get from Dollar:
"You must refill the gas tank of the vehicle within a 10 mile radius of the rental return facility and present a fuel receipt to avoid a refueling charge."

http://www.dollar.com/aboutus/generalpolicies.aspx

Why is it so difficult to accept this? Anyone who thinks this is a silly policy is completely free to rent from another provider, right?

S.

Why the obsession with contracts and policies? People sign a ton of things everyday without reading them. There are also many policies and rules that defy common sense. Give the OP a break.

Why the obsession with contracts and policies? People sign a ton of things everyday without reading them. There are also many policies and rules that defy common sense. Give the OP a break.

Exactly, I wonder how many people read the terms & conditions and privacy policy when signing up for flyertalk?

LOL @ them asking for receipts, look at the damn needle on F and stop trying to screw people on the fine print. I bet they dont tell most of the people of this requirement.:td:

LOL@ the ones that allow 60 or 75 miles? how the hell can you go that far and the needle still be on full? :D

Jeez, what an irritating "reporter."

He filled up "across the street"? What's his point? Does he think the Dollar has an employee watching the gas station across the street at all times? How is the agent supposed to know this guy's telling the truth? Frankly, renting a car for just 14 miles is a red flag and the rental agent was right to be skeptical. And he never let the process play out to see if he actually would have been charged. He just acted like a bully and the agent rightfully sought his superior.

And he's wrong when he tells the agent that he can keep filming because it's a "public place." No, it's not a public place...it's private property owned by Dollar.

^^

+1 Thats why I rent from Hertz. Not I can say that Hertz will always be my choice, but so far they have been ok.

I, too, pick Hertz/National (and less so Avis) if the price is reasonably close (within ~10-20%, depending on the length/cost of rental), but someone mentioned being penny-wise, pound-foolish upthread, and the same applies here: to spend $30 more per day with Hertz (which IME is often the case) to avoid having to show a receipt to save $10 worth of gas certainly strikes me as penny-wise, pound-foolish. ;)

Just because there is some little blip of wording somewhere doesn't make it ethically or morally "right." And anyway, it is not good business sense.

From what has been described, and what is on the video - it appears to be that the rental company has found a "legal" way to con people out of a few extra bucks. That is my opinion and I'm stickin' to it.

And I will not rent from them after seeing this post! I will take my business elsewhere.

You may not recall, but Avis Budget group had an even harsher policy on this subject (gas) not all that long ago. I think they finally relaxed it, but "premium" brands like Avis sometimes have harsh policies just like any other rental company.

LOL @ them asking for receipts, look at the damn needle on F and stop trying to screw people on the fine print. I bet they dont tell most of the people of this requirement.:td:

It's displayed on the gas signs, shown on the rental contract, and often (although admittedly not always) verbalized by the rental agent. It wouldn't be a problem if everyone were honest and returned the car with a completely full tank, but sadly, that's not the case. I've actually gotten screwed more by Hertz than by Dollar Thrifty on the gas issue: I often pick cars up with Hertz that are "full" but not really (needle drops off of F within 5 minutes of leaving the lot, whereas it stays well above the F for 50 miles after I fill it up), whereas due to this policy, the cars I pick up from Dollar are always well above F and never take more than 0.2 gallons if I stop at the first gas station I see after leaving the airport.

LOL@ the ones that allow 60 or 75 miles? how the hell can you go that far and the needle still be on full? :D

Happens in my own car all the time (needle above F until 90 miles after fill-up) and in the majority of rental cars I've driven.

I, too, pick Hertz/National (and less so Avis) if the price is reasonably close (within ~10-20%, depending on the length/cost of rental), but someone mentioned being penny-wise, pound-foolish upthread, and the same applies here: to spend $30 more per day with Hertz (which IME is often the case) to avoid having to show a receipt to save $10 worth of gas certainly strikes me as penny-wise, pound-foolish. ;)



My comment on penny-wise, pound-foolish was in respect to the rental companies which go to this extreme. It was not in respect to the renter. In this tough economy, a company cannot afford to lose business. Even an amount as low as 5% can be drastic, and it only takes about 30 seconds to lose a customer. Pissing customers off isn't the answer to a good bottom line.

Now as you state, the customer is "penny-wise, pound foolish" if they do not consider Dollar? I think not. Or perhaps you are writing that just to try and be clever. There is a plethora of car rental companies with which to obtain good pricing. Cutting out one or two in the search will not cause the rental to be $30 higher like you seem to suggest. One can live without "Dollar rent-a-car" and not pay higher prices. Can't buy your argument there...:(

In ATL recently , Dollar/Thrifty was significantly less than all others.
For a three day rental, it was a total of 65 dollars vs 98- 150 dollars with the others
For a minimum 33 dollar savings, it's easy to produce a receipt.

Wow, that is amazing. Just think - they were cheaper than Advantage, Airport Rent a Car of Atlanta, Alamo, Avis, Budget, Enterprise, EZ Rent a Car, Hertz, National, Payless, and Sixt? I've got to hand it to you - you sure must have spent a lot of time checking into this. Can't believe that only the gas knit-pickers are the only two cheap ones! Badgering the customers for receipts must be good policy. I for one will not use them. I can find cheaper prices in the hoard above, or at least very close.

My comment on penny-wise, pound-foolish was in respect to the rental companies which go to this extreme. It was not in respect to the renter. In this tough economy, a company cannot afford to lose business. Even an amount as low as 5% can be drastic, and it only takes about 30 seconds to lose a customer. Pissing customers off isn't the answer to a good bottom line.

Now as you state, the customer is "penny-wise, pound foolish" if they do not consider Dollar? I think not. Or perhaps you are writing that just to try and be clever. There is a plethora of car rental companies with which to obtain good pricing. Cutting out one or two in the search will not cause the rental to be $30 higher like you seem to suggest. One can live without "Dollar rent-a-car" and not pay higher prices. Can't buy your argument there...:(

It's not just Dollar Thrifty you'll have to avoid, then. Be sure to avoid Avis and Budget:

EZFuelTM and Fuel Service Charge: Driving under 75 miles? With our newest refueling service, customers who drive less than 75 miles pay a low flat fee for fuel and return the car without refueling. We'll automatically charge you a flat fee of $13.99. If you present a receipt for the purchase of fuel, the charge will be removed at the time of return.

(https://www.avis.com/search/SearchMain.jsp?user.segment=avisnew&ui_mode=question&charset=UTF-8&language=en-US&prior_transaction_id=395&question_box=refueling)

EZFuelTM and Fuel Service Charge
If you don't choose the Fuel Service Option and you bring the car back less than full, you'll pay a fuel service charge. If you drive 75 miles or more, depending on whether you bought fuel during your rental, this charge will be a per-mile or per-gallon rate and will be stated on your rental agreement.

At most locations, if you drive less than 75 miles, we will add a flat EZFuel service charge to the rental. This can be avoided if you've purchased fuel and provide us with a receipt.

(http://redirect.avis.com/services/fso/index.html)

EZFuel™

If you don’t choose the Fuel Service Option and you bring the car back less than full, you’ll pay a fuel service charge. If you drive 75 miles or more, depending on whether or not you bought fuel during your rental, this charge will be a per-mile or per-gallon rate and will be stated on your rental agreement. At most locations, if you drive less than 75 miles, an automatic USD $13.99 EZFuel service charge will be applied, which can be avoided if you’ve purchased fuel and provide us with a receipt.

(http://www.budget.com/budgetWeb/html/en/smartservices/fuelServices.html)

Wow, that is amazing. Just think - they were cheaper than Advantage, Airport Rent a Car of Atlanta, Alamo, Avis, Budget, Enterprise, EZ Rent a Car, Hertz, National, Payless, and Sixt? I've got to hand it to you - you sure must have spent a lot of time checking into this. Can't believe that only the gas knit-pickers are the only two cheap ones! Badgering the customers for receipts must be good policy. I for one will not use them. I can find cheaper prices in the hoard above, or at least very close.

Dollar Thrifty is frequently cheaper than most the "hoard" [sic] you listed above. You may find cheaper rates at Payless, EZ, and "AIrport Rent a Car of Atlanta," but those don't really count. (I will avoid Payless like the plague; I haven't heard as many complaints about EZ, but I'm holding off on them for now. No idea who "Airport Rent a Car of Atlanta" is, but they're not a national chain.) DTAG is either price-competitive or cheaper than pretty much the rest of the ones you mentioned.

A random sample of rates in July at ATL:

EZ: $236.92 (discount brand)
Sixt: $241.92 (newcomer)
Advantage: $242.51 (value brand, but I've had many problems with them so would avoid)
Enterprise: $307.40 (value brand, but their rental process is irksomely slow)
Dollar: $308.95 (hey, look at their price!)
Thrifty: $308.95 (hey, look at their price!)
Alamo: $336.86
Budget: $338.44
National: $397.51
Hertz: $398.85
Avis: $501.34

If you'd like to spend $27.91 more to rent from Alamo to avoid showing a receipt, feel free. Or better yet, spend $29.49 more to rent from Budget and *still* have to show a receipt. Or better yet, spend $192.39 to rent from Avis and STILL have to show a receipt! :p

You are more than welcome to avoid Dollar, Thrifty, Avis, and Budget. I, however, applaud them for taking steps to cut down on return refueling fraud. As I mentioned above, I have not had any issues with getting cars from Dollar or Thrifty that aren't completely full on gas. I therefore have no problem filling the car up right before return and taking the 5 extra seconds to print out a receipt.

What if I get a receipt, but don't fill it all the way, and just pee in the gas tank? Do you think it would work?

What if I get a receipt, but don't fill it all the way, and just pee in the gas tank? Do you think it would work?

Please do. Have a number for a tow truck handy to tow you the rest of the way to the rental return lot, since the engine will most likely stall due to water in the fuel. ;)

Sure, there are ways that you can still cheat the system with the receipt requirement. But the vast majority of people--those who might have just driven 40 miles without filling with gas and are hoping they won't get caught or who might have filled up 30 miles away before (maybe more out of ignorance than out of willful arrogance)--will just comply with the rules, which makes it better for those of us who like to get cars with full tanks. :)

Now you're proving my point. There IS no way to really know. In fact, you can stop by any gas station within so many miles and just find a receipt, they hang off the pumps and many times people don't even take them. So all this policy does...is annoy the customer. That is my story and I'm stickin' to it.

I've had many problems with Payless too
Seen people have problems with Advantage at ATL too ( me none)
Enterprise yes painfully slow
Thirfty/Dollar never a problem and they don't mess with the car classifications
At ATL. A compact was a New ford focus or a Kia soul.

The amount of time posting in this thread complaining about this policy far outstrips the amount of time it takes to print the receipt, stick it in your pocket/wallet and produce it upon request :rolleyes:

I've had many problems with Payless too
Seen people have problems with Advantage at ATL too ( me none)
Enterprise yes painfully slow
Thirfty/Dollar never a problem and they don't mess with the car classifications
At ATL. A compact was a New ford focus or a Kia soul.

The amount of time posting in this thread complaining about this policy far outstrips the amount of time it takes to print the receipt, stick it in your pocket/wallet and produce it upon request :rolleyes:

So in other words, your advice is, "Shut up and comply." Sorry but for me that dog won't hunt.

From your observation, it seems perfectly clear that customers and potential customers dislike the current policy very, very much. It is a stupid policy, and bad for business overall. Idiot administrators lose customers over stupid things just like this. The consumer is the ultimate judge.

Take another look at the amount of time posting in this thread, complaining about this policy, and then generate a constructive hypothesis about what the policy will ultimately achieve.

I agree Dollar has cracked down recently. When I picked up a car Monday at PHX the yellow flyer was attached to the contract. And yes the clerk asked to see and then actually looked at my receipt when I returned the car today. It's not a horrible problem for me except that I don't have to turn in receipts under $25 with my expense reports.



http://i152.photobucket.com/albums/s178/mikelindsey9/TSA/CCF05242012_00000.jpg

So in other words, your advice is, "Shut up and comply." Sorry but for me that dog won't hunt.

From your observation, it seems perfectly clear that customers and potential customers dislike the current policy very, very much. It is a stupid policy, and bad for business overall. Idiot administrators lose customers over stupid things just like this. The consumer is the ultimate judge.

Take another look at the amount of time posting in this thread, complaining about this policy, and then generate a constructive hypothesis about what the policy will ultimately achieve.

Oh I doubt Dollar would weep salt tears over losing a customer this upset over something as simple as pocketing a receipt. It's really not that difficult. I'm a Dollar customer and I don't dislike the current policy at all.

Not only that, I'm an independent rental car company owner myself and the amount of lies I run into over the gas is astonishing. A lot of new model cars still show the needle being on F after as much as 40 miles but the needle will quickly drop down a level for the next customer who is understandably upset. There's really no reason to not print the receipt and bring it with you.

One scam I saw was a guy returning in front of me apparently filled up the gas to the "F" line and had a reciept but the check in agent insisted on trying to keep filling it up with gas (which took long)... The agent charged the customer for gas and the customer just walked away. and you wonder why companies are asking for proof and making requirements :rolleyes:

It's just a dumb policy, no matter how hard some try to defend it.

In the end...we all have to remember not everyone is going to have the same opinion. Like with most things in life heh.

My dh and only rent when going on holiday so we have hires for atleast 1-3 weeks so the pre-pay fuel option is what we go for. It's less stress and not having issues like remembering the gas receipt is one less thing we have to worry about! ;)

I rent from Dollar exclusively at LAS. Upon returning the vehicle, sometimes the attendant asks for the receipt, sometimes they don't. Either way, I have the receipt ready in my Dollar documents just in case.

While the policy seems "stupid" to some and a hassle to others, it is Dollar's policy. And if you choose that company to rent a vehicle from, you must adhere to their policies.

The beauty of all this is, there are many companies to choose from. Choose one that you like with the least amount of hassle during your vacations. :)

It indicates that you may be asked to provide this in your rental agreement, so if you read it you should not have been surprised.

And not just at Dollar...all of them at certain airports like DEN.

Why the obsession with contracts and policies? People sign a ton of things everyday without reading them. There are also many policies and rules that defy common sense. Give the OP a break.

No, when a written contract is presented a responsible adult will read it. A foolish one will not. Either way, it's the customer's responsibility to agree or not agree.

They cannot choose to be irresponsible and then blame the other party for surprising them.

They had all the information available. They had full disclosure. To complain about ignorance after the fact is just stupid.

Grown ups read whatever contract they get involved in. Period.

No, when a written contract is presented a responsible adult will read it. A foolish one will not. Either way, it's the customer's responsibility to agree or not agree.

They cannot choose to be irresponsible and then blame the other party for surprising them.

They had all the information available. They had full disclosure. To complain about ignorance after the fact is just stupid.

Grown ups read whatever contract they get involved in. Period.

I often find myself at odds with your posts, but I fully agree with this, it's insightful and true and rare to see people taking this kind of responsibility anymore.

I often find myself at odds with your posts, but I fully agree with this, it's insightful and true and rare to see people taking this kind of responsibility anymore.

Thanks!:D

There seems to be an epidemic of "whobotherswiththesmallprint-itis" these days, as if people cannot be blamed for not reading it.

My pet peeve about car rentals is driving a very small number of miles - under 25 - and then going to the pump around the corner before returning it and putting in FOUR gallons!! I try to look at the needle, but sometimes forget and even then, you cannot tell.

My pet peeve about car rentals is driving a very small number of miles - under 25 - and then going to the pump around the corner before returning it and putting in FOUR gallons!! I try to look at the needle, but sometimes forget and even then, you cannot tell.

And that's what the solution implemented in this thread solves! I've never had an issue with a gas shortage when renting from Avis, Budget, Dollar, or Thrifty (the four companies who charge for gas at return if a receipt is not presented).

With Enterprise, National, Alamo, and Hertz, I almost always stop at a gas station shortly after leaving the rental lot to see how much gas it is short, and at least three quarters of the time, I find myself bringing the time-stamped receipt (with a photo of the receipt next to the odometer proving when and where I filled up in case there's a question) back at return and having them credit me for the fuel I had to put in.

And that's what the solution implemented in this thread solves! I've never had an issue with a gas shortage when renting from Avis, Budget, Dollar, or Thrifty (the four companies who charge for gas at return if a receipt is not presented).

With Enterprise, National, Alamo, and Hertz, I almost always stop at a gas station shortly after leaving the rental lot to see how much gas it is short, and at least three quarters of the time, I find myself bringing the time-stamped receipt (with a photo of the receipt next to the odometer proving when and where I filled up in case there's a question) back at return and having them credit me for the fuel I had to put in.

Wow. You have a lot more free time than me! What do they do? You should video it next time and post it.

I just tell them to look at thegauge. I guess the want every last drop now.

What exactly is the receipt supposed to prove?

Presumably it cannot be relied upon to show that the renter purchased the amount of fuel used during the entire rental, as there may be multiple fill-ups involved.

So, I suppose it just is intended to show that SOME fuel was purchased nearby, which likely means that the tank was filled regardless of the amount of fuel purchased.

Would I be in compliance if I have a receipt showing that $0.50 of fuel was purchased? As in, fill up 90 miles away, and then add $0.50 within 10 miles?

What exactly is the receipt supposed to prove?

Presumably it cannot be relied upon to show that the renter purchased the amount of fuel used during the entire rental, as there may be multiple fill-ups involved.

So, I suppose it just is intended to show that SOME fuel was purchased nearby, which likely means that the tank was filled regardless of the amount of fuel purchased.

Would I be in compliance if I have a receipt showing that $0.50 of fuel was purchased? As in, fill up 90 miles away, and then add $0.50 within 10 miles?

Given that no FlyerTalker (a group known for going the extra 100 miles to game the system) has yet tried this and posted his or her results, and given that the rental companies have not yet imposed any specifics to this policy beyond simply showing a receipt, I would assume that this has not been a problem for the rental companies.

The vast majority of still-on-full fuel shortage in returned rental cars is caused by either neglect or false assumptions--that is to say, people driving 35 miles and forgetting to fill up or noticing it's still on F and thinking that it's OK to return it at that level--not willful intent to harm the rental company (or subsequent renter). The purpose of the receipt requirement is to drill it into the heads of the first group of people that they DO need to fill it up before dropping it off.

Someone returning a car after 35 miles of driving and seeing the gas gauge still on F is far more likely to remember and understand that they still need to fill it up regardless of the gauge level if they were notified there'd be a penalty for not showing a receipt. And at that point, they're simply going to stop at a fuel station and fill it up with the gallon or two that they used, since the reason for not filling it up in the first place had nothing to do with them desiring to leave an intentional fuel shortage.

This is now par for the course for Dollar. The agent in LAS carefully analyzed my receipt and entered something on his gun in LAS the other day.

That is why dollar is not even a choice when it comes to rental cars. There are so many other brands that make life a little easier. And I don't buy into the idea that one will have to pay so much more, if they don't use dollar. That is simply hogwash. I get great deals at Alamo, Enterprise, National, and yes - even Hertz.

That is why dollar is not even a choice when it comes to rental cars. There are so many other brands that make life a little easier. And I don't buy into the idea that one will have to pay so much more, if they don't use dollar. That is simply hogwash. I get great deals at Alamo, Enterprise, National, and yes - even Hertz.

I don't like being hassled either, but I've used the Dollar "City Special" and saved a lot of money on rentals in PDX, DEN, PHX and LAS. I'm getting a Caravan for three days in DEN next month for $165 all in. Everyone else was $400+.

Folks,
I have been renting Dollar on a weekly basis pretty much. Never was asked to show a receipt (even though I have it for expense reporting.) No extra charges and averaging $15ish a day.

Nobody can beat this, esp if an Express member.

I saw someone listed Budget above but also was never asked for a gas receipt from them. I drove 10 or 15 miles after filling it because I had got the gas when it was about to run out and wasnt going to stop 5 minutes later to top it off when it was still past full. I wouldnt expect another renter to do stop twice either.

That is why dollar is not even a choice when it comes to rental cars. There are so many other brands that make life a little easier. And I don't buy into the idea that one will have to pay so much more, if they don't use dollar. That is simply hogwash. I get great deals at Alamo, Enterprise, National, and yes - even Hertz.

Billy, little do you know that Hertz owns Dollar/Thrifty now ;)

The other side of this coin is being the renter after the prior renter has returned the vehicle several gallons short of full. Usually it is not apparent until several miles from the rental location, and the victim is me, not the car rental company.

Would it bother you if when you returned the car to Dollar, there was no one outside to check the car in and no one at the counter at 6:30 AM? And so you were told to use the drop box, in which you dropped your rental sleeve containing keys and the gas receipt showing a fill up purchased within 10 miles. ...And they then added a fuel charge to your final bill and emailed it to you after the fact. Because that is what happened to me. They refuse to remove the fuel charge. They will not contact the drop off location...PSP, even though I called within hours of dropping off the car. And when I call the PSP rental desk directly, and get a prompt to speak to the manager, and I leave him a voicemail, he does not call back. And the prompt for CS does not work. And calling the main 800 number, I had to enter about 8 prompts before getting to the appropriate rep, then received a message stating they were receiving higher than expected volume...on more than one occasion. There is more, but I will save your time. Will never rent from Dollar again.

I've had nothing but great experiences with Dollar Thrifty
Great cars properly labeled compact mid size etc. Can't say the same for Alamo enterprise etc trying to pass off Mazda 2 ( fiesta clone) as a compact or midsize car.
The Mazda 2 is TINY