As others have noted, I’ve often seen employees sitting in running cars either to stay warm or well I don’t know what, map maybe. I don’t believe for a second they go fill it up before putting it out for the next customer.




One time one I had an evening rental at BDL. My flight was late and just ended up crashing at airport hotel. When I go to pick up car it’s the morning, the car I was assigned the night before (Avis Presidents) was running. Based upon the snow melt and the slightly above half full tank of gas I think they nicely had the car running ALL night long. It was so freaking cold they wouldn’t even come outside to check me in upon return. Point being, someone was nice to begin with but when it came to revenue management I don’t think anyone on the night or morning shift had a care in the world as to wasting fuel.




I also had had one of those Chevy’s where (just prior to announcing recall on the issue) you’d fill it up but the fuel gauge would never show completely Full. I showed them the receipt for gas with time stamp that was about a mile away and they (even the manager) acted like I was trying to scam them out of a few gallons and wouldn’t remove the refueling charge. Two months or so later I read about the recall on that exact issue.




What’s my point? I think even if you return it after filling up at a gas station 20miles before return location it’s all a bit of a wash.




Also, and I think everyone knows this but seriously don’t return a vehicle without getting a receipt before leaving, especially at franchises. If you just have to because of return hours or whatever, take a picture of mileage, fuel gauge, and some exterior, ideally with a part of the return location clearly evident in the background of each picture. Really deflates the potential of them screwing you actually sticking.