Hertz - Night Drop?

So here's the scenario.... I'm supposed to return the car by 5:30pm on a Sunday. This is a HLE location, so it closes at 4pm on Sundays, but there is a night drop.... park your car, leave the keys in the drop box.

Am I wrong, or can I just essentially keep the car for a few more hours, return it, and just put 5:30pm as the checkin time on the envelope? Anyone have success with this?

It would be more convenient to have the car, b/c my flight takes off at 9:15pm later that day.

So here's the scenario.... I'm supposed to return the car by 5:30pm on a Sunday. This is a HLE location, so it closes at 4pm on Sundays, but there is a night drop.... park your car, leave the keys in the drop box.

Am I wrong, or can I just essentially keep the car for a few more hours, return it, and just put 5:30pm as the checkin time on the envelope? Anyone have success with this?

It would be more convenient to have the car, b/c my flight takes off at 9:15pm later that day.

I'm by no means an expert, but in the few I have rented at an HLE, I was charged up until they opened the next day. I even believe that when you reserve the car, if it falls outside of the HLE's hours, it will not allow you to make the reservation (both start and return) unless you make it a time when they are open.

...if it falls outside of the HLE's hours, it will not allow you to make the reservation (both start and return) unless you make it a time when they are open.

My experience is a bit different. I can pick up at my HLE only during operating hours (of course). OTOH, I can return at any time, open or closed. Before they had a secure dropbox I could not do this. (However, the manager told me to bring the car back anytime and just push the keys through the mailslot. :) )

Going back to the OP, I would think that most HLEs will take your word for the return time. But...mine has a security camera on the lot and dropbox. I presume that they could go back if there was any doubt. ("Gee boss...the envelope says that this car was brought back Sunday AM, but the engine block is still warm on Monday???)

Since this location has a drop box and allows for afterhour returns, the system probably allowed me to rent.

And I'm only planning on keeping the car for a couple extra hours... though it WOULD be funny for them to find a warm car in the morning, complete with my butt imprint still in the seat :D