Originally Posted by
ijgordon
In Manhattan, it's more likely that cars are rented out with less than a full tank of gas, because few rental locations have gas pumps. The directive is to always return the car with the fuel at the same level as it went out; I've gotten cars with 1/4 tank. It's usually marked on the contract or the little "damages" paper. But I *always* take a picture of the dashboard showing the mileage and fuel level at both pickup and dropoff. With Hertz, in the past they would give you a credit if you returned the car with more fuel than it went out with, but at some point they stopped doing this, so you really had to just try and return with the same level.
No car rental locations in Manhattan (or in NYC in general outside of airport locations) have onsite gas stations. This goes for Hertz, National/Alamo, Enterprise, etc.....
Over years have been given vehicles from National or Enterprise with fuel usually ranging between 1/2 to 1/4, and in some instances barely above fumes.
Reasons range, but it comes down to none of the rental places have staffing anymore to take vehicles to nearest gas station to refuel. This was happening before gas stations in Manhattan began vanishing, and is more of an issue now that few remain below Harlem.
Even though customers take and pay for fuel refill option (thus can return vehicle empty or whatever), National, Enterprise, and rest again don't have staff to take vehicles to gas stations, and or worse, they are so short of inventory can often only pull vehicles that truly are on "E".
What normally happens is that renter is told to "bring vehicle back with same amount of fuel as it went out...". Last time one checked National in NYC will give credit for excess fuel upon return (vehicle taken out at 1/4 but returned with half or even full tank). Enterprise is a whole other matter. That outfit never misses a beat in wringing every last dime out of a rental, so YMMV.
Have found National rarely gives any problems if you don't note tank is less than full, and or what is written on contract doesn't match gauge. I've called location hours after taking out a rental to note ride had "1/4" instead of say "1/2" or is 7/8ths instead of "Full". Notes were made and issue dealt with at time of return.
Besides looking for damage before driving off it is imperative check fuel gauge before leaving lot as well. It takes but a few seconds and can save tons of grief later.
Now getting a ride that has tank reading of "F" that goes down to "7/8th" or bit less with just barely a few miles away from location, you're on your own..... *LOL* People bring rides back on "F", but do so in a way that any excess gas (that they've paid for....", is driven off. So by time ride is moved around lot/garage, and or given to next renter that needle is going to move....