I ultiamtely decided that, since I would probably use most of a tank and did not want to be searching for a gas station with gas, or waiting in line for one that had it, I would spare myself the angst and prepay for a tank. I am sure the Hertz office would have accommodated a request for an odd-numbered plate, though (they were careful to give me a car with a full tank). I don't think it would have been that hard to refuel, though--though I did see a number of closed-up gas stations. I saw several that looked to be open without lines in Suffolk County, and at least 1 or 2 along Route 4 in NJ.