Hertz - Watch the Fuel Charges for a Full Tank

I turned in a car I rented from a local edition. I drove a total of 15 miles. No need to go to the fuel pump for just one gallon of gas. Well once they checked me in, there was a fuel charge for $5.00. I asked what this was and they said since I drove so few miles, they knew I wouldn't fill it up so they were charging me for the fuel used. I said the tank is full and that's all that is required. They said they will always refill the cars after you turn it in and need to replace the little fuel.

Needless to say, they removed it from the bill. I asked if they filled the car before I rented it from the local edition? Since they drive the car from the airport to the local edition for me to rent, then it should be fueled for me.

Just make sure you look at the charges before you get on the bus.

Thanks for the heads up.

Luckily for me, most of the time the Hertz employee will assume that I did fill up. Since I'm honest, I tell them I have not.

I wonder if it's because of my PC status.
http://www.flyertalk.com/forum/confused.gif

So let me get this straight, you didn't fill up the tank, they knew you didn't fill it up so they charged you, yet you complained? http://www.flyertalk.com/forum/rolleyes.gif

The Hertz policy states that if you choose to refuel the car yourself instead of buying gas from them:

<font face="Verdana, Arial, Helvetica, sans-serif" size="2">You can stop and refuel the tank yourself, immediately prior to returning the vehicle.</font>

Are you saying you interpret that to mean you can rent a car, drive 15 miles, and not refuel it? Certainly not how I would read it ...

My view of this -

15 miles = one gallon of gas.

Average price of self serve here in SoCal - $1.75.

So, Hertz has two choices - observe the letter of the law and charge a "ticky-tack" refueling fee of $5. (I don't dispute they are within their rights to do so)

The other is to recognize that the renter has some elite status and not bother with the fee as a gesture of goodwill and thanks for patronage.

I got dinged thanks to Code Orange. I fill-up a few blocks away from SEA. I always "add a little more" to make sure I'm at Full when I return it.

Alas, with Code Orange the closed all but one entrance so I had to circle a few times and a Lincoln Town Car is not known for it's fuel efficiency so I had to pay an extra $12 for an eighth of a tank.

<font face="Verdana, Arial, Helvetica, sans-serif" size="2">Originally posted by Beckles:
So let me get this straight, you didn't fill up the tank, they knew you didn't fill it up so they charged you, yet you complained?
</font>

First off: All it states is you have to return the car with a full tank. If the fuel gauge states it's full, then it's full. They didn't ask me if I filled it up, they just looked at the gauge and assumed I didn't place any gas in it.

Second: They didn't fill the car up before they gave it to me at the local edition. So if I have to fill it up, I'm also filling it up for the miles they drove to get me the car.

Third: I was in SFO on Friday morning. I DID FILL IT UP before I got to the airport. I looked at my receipt, and what did I see, a fuel charge. I know I only drove 45 miles but I filled it up. They took off the charge on that one also.

I don't mind filling up the tank when I drive the car. What I'm saying is they are charging you whether you fill up or not. Just take a look the next time.

I rent from Hertz well over 60 times a year. I've gotten into the car a few times without it being full and just drove off. So now I guess I'll have to make sure they know I've not gotten the service they say I did before I leave.

Take a look the next time you rent. See if the charge is on there or not. Let us know if it is.

NCRBILL - on occasion, I have rented from my Local Edition and the car has not gone out full. In each case, they noted that while I was doing the paperwork and I was not required to return the car with more gas then went out.

When renting from an airport location, the car has always had a full tank. In an area I have no clue where a gas station is, I do the "Fuel Purchase" option to save time. But if I know a station is within a mile or two of the airport, I fill it up just before I return and - with the exception of the SEA rental during Code Orange - I have never been charged for fuel.

<font face="Verdana, Arial, Helvetica, sans-serif" size="2">Originally posted by NCRBILL:
First off: All it states is you have to return the car with a full tank. If the fuel gauge states it's full, then it's full. They didn't ask me if I filled it up, they just looked at the gauge and assumed I didn't place any gas in it.
</font>

First, the language I quoted is from Hertz, I'm not making it up.

Second, everytime I've ever returned a car they ask me "Did you fill the tank?" ... not "Is the tank full?" ...

Based on what Hertz says in writing and what they ask when I return a car, it seems pretty obvious to me the intent and the application of the policy, either you fill the tank immediately before returning or pay a fuel service charge ... has nothing to do with what the gas gauge says. Really quite simple I always thought ...

At least (being a Gold) they only charge for gas to fill. If you are a walk up they will charge you for the whole tank.

Same thing happened to me yesterday at AVIS. The only difference was I was charged for gas even though I DID fill it up prior to returning the car.

Guess the attendent assumed that I would not gass up given I used the car for just a few miles.

Had to go into the office to have the fuel charge removed which was a bit of a hassle.

There's a big difference between being wrongfully charged a refueling fee (which I've been lucky and never had happen myself) and being charged when it is valid and still complaining about it ...

<font face="Verdana, Arial, Helvetica, sans-serif" size="2">Originally posted by Beckles:
There's a big difference between being wrongfully charged a refueling fee (which I've been lucky and never had happen myself) and being charged when it is valid and still complaining about it ...</font>

Once again this morning, I turned in a car that I picked up at the SAN airport. I used it for one day, for a total of 64 miles. I filled it up at a station prior to returning it this morning. Same thing happened, I was charged for the fuel. I told them I filled it up (and showed them the receipt for the gas) and I wanted the charge removed. I think this is just the policy of this location. I don't mind paying for fuel when I use it, but I do mind when I'm charged without asking and without cause.

This is a big problem at IAD. I've even had the return agent go so far as to pretend his computer wasn't working so he couldn't take it off. I bet some people just don't worry about it and let them get away with it, especially if they're in a hurry.

Further, if you ever are at a location, and the 'rapid return' system is down, and you have to note the info yourself and take it in, it's almost a GUARANTEE of a fuel charge later. That pattern is so consistent, I will make a Hertz employee come out, fill out the paperwork, have them note their name, and you STILL may get charged.

Weird. With Rapid Return locations, it's never an issue cause they check it right there while they type it in.

But I've rented at many places without RR and never been charged for fuel having filled the tank prior to returning it.

Stupid question - when referring to 'Rapid Return', are you talking about putting the return slip and keys in the drop box and getting the receipt online...or returning the car to the awaiting gold personnel and immediately getting the receipt from the wireless printers?

The second one.

<font face="Verdana, Arial, Helvetica, sans-serif" size="2">Originally posted by RedEye2003:
Stupid question - when referring to 'Rapid Return', are you talking about putting the return slip and keys in the drop box and getting the receipt online...or returning the car to the awaiting gold personnel and immediately getting the receipt from the wireless printers?</font>

I have rented cars that showed full, barely. However, gas consumption was greater than miles driven as fuel guage needle goes down fast. Today, I drove around 65 miles and put 4 gallons in the car that should have highway rating of 20-22 MPG. I drove normally and did not step on gas abusively. What gives here? I am certain that Hertz does not top off all their cars.

<font face="Verdana, Arial, Helvetica, sans-serif" size="2">Originally posted by FlyinHawaiian:
My view of this -
15 miles = one gallon of gas.
Average price of self serve here in SoCal - $1.75.
</font>
You forgot to add the cost of:
Car not being available while it being refulled.
Salary of Employee to fill car.

Assume everyone renter this car and only drove 15-20 miles.
After 10-15 rentals car will be out of gas and no one will have paid.

It is simple policy.
Refil gas you used or pay the high price that Hertz tells you will pay if you do not replace the gas you used.

If you think that you only used a gallon, then go to the gas station and put only a gallon in.

On the rental form it will tell you the formula they will use for calculating gas, so you can even see how many gallon they think you use for x miles.

I have an interesting story on this subject.

Two weeks ago in Phoenix, I had requested a full-size and was given a Taurus wagon. I went inside and asked for a Grand Marquis, as I'd have four other people with me on a 500-mile tour of Arizona. They didn't have any big sedans but offered a Mitsubishi Outlander, which was a perfect little SUV.

On the way out of the lot, I noticed that it had a quarter tank of gas and I told the gate attendant as such. I recall that he marked something.

Foolishly I filled up the tank in Flagstaff on Sunday afternoon, and when returning the car at Sky Harbor the next morning it was half full. I forgot to discuss the matter with the person outside who checked in the car and printed a receipt.

A bus had just left, so instead of waiting outside I walked in and talked to the staff, explaining the gasoline story. They insisted on giving me a credit for the quarter tank of gas, which totaled to $7.

So the bottom line is, if you are given a vehicle with less than a tank of gas, fill it completely when returning it, then go inside and mention the fuel difference. It should pay off pretty well.

I have been told at LAS that if you drive less than 40 miles during your rental their system will automatically add a fuel charge based on miles driven (i.e. assuming that the customer won't fill up even if you have said you will.) When this happened, I went in to the counter with my gas receipt and got the charge removed.

The funny thing was that the fuel charge Hertz put on the bill was less than what I had paid to fill up the tank. The car was obviously not really full when I got it.

Alright people -- you all need to look at the details of the fuel purchase alternatives either in the rental agreement or posted at the rental location.

Here's the deal:

If you return the car and indicate that you did not fill up the tank (they usually ask), then they will charge you a refueling fee based on the miles you drove and the MPG of the specific vehicle, irrespective of whether the tank shows "full". This per mile refuling charge is definitely in the rental record.

If you return the car and indicate that you did fill up the tank, then they will charge you for fuel based on the fuel gauge readout. In this case, if the gauge reads "F", then they do not charge you. But, I repeat, this only occurs when you tell them that you filled up the tank. It doesn't matter if you filled up the tank 15 miles from the airport - as long as the gauge still points to "F", you will not be charged.

<font face="Verdana, Arial, Helvetica, sans-serif" size="2">Originally posted by ijgordon:
If you return the car and indicate that you did fill up the tank, then they will charge you for fuel based on the fuel gauge readout. In this case, if the gauge reads "F", then they do not charge you. But, I repeat, this only occurs when you tell them that you filled up the tank. It doesn't matter if you filled up the tank 15 miles from the airport - as long as the gauge still points to "F", you will not be charged. </font>

Not so. I told them I filled up the car and they still charged me. I got the charges removed but you still should look at the reciept. You will be surprised.

<font face="Verdana, Arial, Helvetica, sans-serif" size="2">Originally posted by FlyinHawaiian:
Average price of self serve here in SoCal - $1.75.</font>

Let's update that to $2.15 http://www.flyertalk.com/forum/mad.gif

<font face="Verdana, Arial, Helvetica, sans-serif" size="2">Originally posted by NCRBILL:
Not so. I told them I filled up the car and they still charged me. I got the charges removed but you still should look at the reciept. You will be surprised.</font>

Same with me. I told them that I had filled the tank and was charged anyway. I noticed the fuel charge in the airport and went to the Hertz counter to have it removed. That's where I was told that they do this even if you have indicated that you will refill the tank yourself. If I hadn't had a gas receipt, I'd have been out of luck. And yes, the tank showed full when I returned it.

Dropped a car off in Atlanta and had just come from a filling station off of I-85. Gentleman checks us in while we get our luggage out of the trunk. Hands me my receipt with about a difference of $20+ dollars. I ask him why it is so expensive? He says "You didn't fill the car up with gas". I pulled out my receipt from approximately 15 minutes earlier and show him. He leans his head in the car turns the key and turns around and gives me this evil look. I tell him that I don't like doing business with dishonest people and this appears to be blatant dishonesty. Never apologizes or says anything. I tell him he should be ashamed of himself and he is a jerk. Still says nothing.

I contact Hertz and give them the gentlman's name and tell them I will post this to FlyerTalk. They send me a $25 credit and assure me he has been set straight. A few months later, try to use the credit and they tell me I can't because I got such a "good rate" with the car. I mention the young lady's name who sent me the credit and ask them to go get her so I can tell her she is a liar and that her word and her $25 credits mean nothing. The credit is applied to my account.

This is the only time this has ever happened to me in over 70 rentals with Hertz. I know many of the staff in Atlanta and they usually treat me very well.

Falcon56

At airport locations with Rapid Return, the attendent always gets in and checks the mileage and fuel level before loading it into their portable terminals and handing me a receipt, so I've never had an issue of being charged for fuel.

At my local edition, I tell them I filled it and they never have charged me.

I've had two after-hours returns last week at my local edition. I note I filled the tank and both receipts did not have a fuel charge.

Still, I double-check my receipts now just to be sure none of the reported shennanigans happens.

I have rented nearly 140 times from Hertz in the past six years and have only once had a problem with the fuel option (Where they charged me and shouldn't). Even in Las Vegas, where I've rented a car for a weekend and only driven it 12 miles, I fill it up (usually takes 1-2 gallons since I realize the car isn't 'full' since other people don't always fill up)

When I get to Hertz, I give them the key and contract and first thing I say is "I filled the car with gas." I don't wait for them to ask. I just tell them and have had virtually no problems.

It seems that whenever I use the "express" return option at a local edition (where you drop off the keys and card in a little box) I get charged for an entire tank of refueling (in fairness, I've never had a problem getting these charges removed when calling the 800 number). And, I've never had an issue at an airport.

It pays to be a repeat customer, however. This weekend I returned a car to my local edition that I've frequented lately. I told the counter attendant that I did not refill the tank and that the tank was only about 7/8 full. He said he would not charge me since I had been giving them so much business lately.

This also means I will avoid the "express" return whenever possible.

This might explain things. Can't exactly remember which major company it was, but the rental car workers told me they get some sort of commission paid for fuel charges on cars that come back with less than a full tank. Don't remember if it was Hertz or not though.