Originally Posted by
BugsyPal
What are you on about?
My OP was quite clear and a later poster who actually works/worked in a rental car location in a managerial position answered and discussed MANY good details/insights.
Originally Posted by
rasheed
On many newer cars, Avis is using tools that automatically report fuel quantity remotely from the car. It doesn't work perfectly yet, but it is progress.
Thankfully, on those rare occasions where I get a less than full tank upon start of rental as long as it was properly marked on the agreement, if I bring it back full, I have automatically received a credit for that extra gas without asking.
Rasheed
Very interesting.
Originally Posted by
Toshbaf
If you're really unhappy with the tank not being full, you could immediately fill the tank at a station close to the rental car office as soon as you pick up the car. If you can put in 2.5 gallons, then you can complain.
I have experienced a less than full tank but that is not that common. Fortunately, not everyone is a cheapskate and fraudster.
Renting a car from midtown Manhattan is a different story. There are no gas stations in Manhattan below Harlem. At least none that I know of. The Mobil station on the west side closed long time ago.
Very good point. I should've done this.
I had another rental out of OGG this past Christmas weekend, and the gas gauge needle was just a tad bit below F. I should've stopped at the first gas station, took a photo and get the gas receipt for reimbursement.
I'll need to be MUCH more strict/careful about this.
Originally Posted by
jackal
My preferred defense against being shorted gas is: if the needle isn't clearly well over the F mark as it should be, I stop at the first gas station I see and fill up. I then take a photo of the receipt sitting next to the odometer. Upon return at the rental office, I show that photo (and also have the receipt, if they need it) and ask for that amount to be deducted from my bill. They are always understanding and apologetic.
jackal, I just want to say thank you for taking your time to provide true insight from someone who has actually worked in this industry and giving very helpful and interesting tidbits. I won't quote your entire post for the sake of computer screen real estate.
I will take this to heart and be VERY diligent about checking the gas gauge when I take out a car next time (which will be very soon again!). I don't know why I didn't think of this strategy but you're right...if I suspect being shorted on gas I will need to stop by the 1st station and get filled up and take photo/document the receipt/mileage/gallons spent.
I just rented a Maxima out of OGG this past weekend that I think had similar issues, but somehow that didn't occur to me at the time to use that strategy. Will keep this in mind most definitely.
I'm National EE but my personality has always been a bit more meek/deferring/not stirring trouble, but from now on I'll need to be much more careful about the gas issue since I've had at least 2 times now in the past 2 months this has happened. Could be that I'm renting alot out of the various Hawaiian islands and gasoline is definitely not the cheapest thing you can buy here, unlike pineapple. The lone gas station on the east side of Maui, in Hana, charges about $5/gallon. The Costco gas station in Kahului is nearly always full of long long lines....I can see how some renters may be in rush for a flight and just decide to return the car instead of waiting potentially 15+min to get into a pump
Thanks again. Cheers ^