We made our way to the AVIS counter, staffed by a gruff but not unfriendly gentleman. We had booked our car through carhire3000.com, which we’ve used twice in the past to give us really good rates, especially in out-of-the-way locations in Europe. By this, I mean, Joe Bloggs renting rubbish cars but having an AVIS franchise, as opposed to a proper and professionally run organisation like you get at major airports and locations. We were quoted £100 for a 4×4 (Kia Sportage) for four days with total insurance cover (zero excess). We certainly couldn’t complain about this, as it was 40% less than any of the outlets were offering through their own websites.

However, this AVIS outlet was not to be done out of some additional profit… they apply a compulsory fuel service option, meaning you pay for a full tank of fuel when renting the car and can return the car empty with no penalty. The charge for this “service” was 53.91 BEFORE 15% VAT, so 62 EUR.

The Kia’s fuel tank holds 58 litres. I know this not from looking it up on the owners manual—this was, of course, missing—but from looking up the model on the internet. Anyway, this is a charge of 1.07€/litre in a country where petrol is under 0.80€/l (we paid 0.76 in Pafos).

Of course, when we got to the car at 03.00, the fuel gauge was only a little bit above the 3/4 mark. The AVIS attendant insisted that this was normal for this car. We later found out that with a full tank, sure enough, the fuel gauge does not show full, more like 7/8.

I don’t know, maybe this is typical in some countries? I’ve rented cars in 21 other countries and never been forced to take the fuel service option.

Regardless, I made sure I returned the car with the fuel light on.

On to the car itself. It was about what you’d expect at a small-time private franchise location, not with AVIS. 48,670 km on the clock. Aforementioned dodgy fuel gauge. A little ding here and there. No owner’s manual. Original tyres, I’d guess: barely legal tread. About 3 inches of freeplay in the steering wheel and gearbox (though I don’t know if this is because of the make or the age).