Hertz - Picked up with half a tank, returned full...

due to absentmindedness. Never rented from Hertz before this in all my many times without getting the full tank. Out of habit, I filled up the tank before returning. Remembered too late (when returning) that I only needed half a tank in the car. (How do you calculate half a tank? Tank capacity wasn't on my rental agreement--their printer has been broken for weeks and all agreements are the old-fashioned handwritten ones on triplicate forms.) I returned the car after hours and left keys for them with note describing situation since I can't make it in time to return the car tomorrow when they open due to a doctor's appointment.

Any chance they'll make an adjustment for the extra gas? The "Less than a full tank" thread suggests maybe, maybe not.

One other problem with the car was that every time I turned it on, it read "OIL LIFE 0%, CHANGE OIL". Turns out it was rented out to me 2000 miles past due for an oil change........I was worried all weekend although the dipstick was OK (or was the last time I checked it, although the oil was dark). I might complain about that to Gold customer service....calling the location didn't help.

Oddly enough, my last two Ford 500s have been right at the edge of needing oil changes, just as I embarked on 500-800 mile trips. :rolleyes:

They made it without incident, so...

As for the fuel, maybe they will and maybe they won't. Doesn't hurt to ask.

When I returned such at checkin, the agent noted it and I ran in to the counter to get a rebate. I think they gave me a discount around the pre-pay rate for fuel at the time.

If you didn't point it out to anyone, then it's highly unlikely they'll notice on their own and give you the rebate.

When I returned such at checkin, the agent noted it and I ran in to the counter to get a rebate. I think they gave me a discount around the pre-pay rate for fuel at the time.

If you didn't point it out to anyone, then it's highly unlikely they'll notice on their own and give you the rebate.

Cool, it's probably a good thing that I at least made a note of it on the return paperwork.

1) On several occasions where I have returned with more fuel than I rented, I was always credited the extra.

2) Being late on oil changes might affect engine life in the long term, but even going thousands of miles after the oil change indicator comes on will not cause you any more problem than the annoyance of seeing a extra light on the dashboard.

2) Being late on oil changes might affect engine life in the long term, but even going thousands of miles after the oil change indicator comes on will not cause you any more problem than the annoyance of seeing a extra light on the dashboard.

I'm glad that's all it was.....it made me freak out when suddenly on the expressway I heard ding-ding-ding and then the "information center" popped up the message. From then on it appeared every time the car started. Apparently there is also a low-oil light which would light up if the car were losing oil, but the message seemed somewhat ominous at the time and quite a surprise considering I'd only driven the car about 20 miles after picking it up. ;)

the hertz res system isn't supposed to let the rental agent release a car that needs an oil change. it could be that the internal car computer is set to a certain mileage or sensor to determine when to change the oil, but the hertz maintainence crew has a different oil change schedule. It's generally said that 3000 mile oil changes aren't really needed with newer cars and better oil so you can go longer, so maybe this is what hertz does.