One way drop off fees in USA - calculator?
May 28, 2017, 5:36 am
#1
Original Poster
Join Date: Apr 2004
Location: LBA
Posts: 358
One way drop off fees in USA - calculator?
We're planning our next touring holiday to the USA for spring 2018 (like to plan well in advance!). We like Avis and book through British Airways for the added perks. We will be booking an open jaw flying into one city and leaving from another (not sure where yet though).
From past experience we know that there are no drop off fees between California and Nevada and anywhere within Florida - are there any other such 'deals' that we should know about?
Also, is there a calculator anywhere that will give us the drop off fees for a vehicle picked up in X and dropped off in Y or do I need to do a dummy booking and see what the drop off fees are?
Any advice appreciated.
From past experience we know that there are no drop off fees between California and Nevada and anywhere within Florida - are there any other such 'deals' that we should know about?
Also, is there a calculator anywhere that will give us the drop off fees for a vehicle picked up in X and dropped off in Y or do I need to do a dummy booking and see what the drop off fees are?
Any advice appreciated.
May 28, 2017, 8:25 am
#2
Join Date: Jan 2009
Location: New York suburbs
Posts: 4,209
There are no calculators or tables for several reasons. We've discussed this in other threads, I believe.
1) Please understand separate "drop fees" with the "major" brands are usually only for European travelers who expect to see them, and who may therefore assume one will sneak in at the counter if they don't. American visitors either get:
* A higher base rate than roundtrip, that varies by intercity demand gradient, season, expected miles driven that depreciate the car more than normal, and length of rental. We care more about the total cost than its components. Ex $50/day with $100 drop charge > $86/day with no "transparent" drop charge.
* A corporate plan with a flat daily rate and a mileage charge. Ex $35/day anywhere in the country + 0.45/mi
2) In cases where there is a separate "drop fee," it's usually with "discount brands." The "big" brands like to boast they don't do that. The price you see is the price you get. Although in most cases, it's understood they are still charging more than roundtrip.
3) The "discount" brands will vary their drop fee for the same reasons as the fluctuating daily rates with the "big" brands: Seasonality, difference in demand between the regions, estimated depreciation due to long mileage, etc.
4) The separate drop fees can be cheaper for long time, short distance (ex $200/week + $200 drop charge vs $600/week with no drop charge), but will not be for short time, long distance (ex $35/day + $200 drop charge vs $86/day with no drop charge). A lot of American usage habits for one-ways fall into that second category, as a substitute for expensive airfare and without a robust long-distance train or bus network to fall back on.
1) Please understand separate "drop fees" with the "major" brands are usually only for European travelers who expect to see them, and who may therefore assume one will sneak in at the counter if they don't. American visitors either get:
* A higher base rate than roundtrip, that varies by intercity demand gradient, season, expected miles driven that depreciate the car more than normal, and length of rental. We care more about the total cost than its components. Ex $50/day with $100 drop charge > $86/day with no "transparent" drop charge.
* A corporate plan with a flat daily rate and a mileage charge. Ex $35/day anywhere in the country + 0.45/mi
2) In cases where there is a separate "drop fee," it's usually with "discount brands." The "big" brands like to boast they don't do that. The price you see is the price you get. Although in most cases, it's understood they are still charging more than roundtrip.
3) The "discount" brands will vary their drop fee for the same reasons as the fluctuating daily rates with the "big" brands: Seasonality, difference in demand between the regions, estimated depreciation due to long mileage, etc.
4) The separate drop fees can be cheaper for long time, short distance (ex $200/week + $200 drop charge vs $600/week with no drop charge), but will not be for short time, long distance (ex $35/day + $200 drop charge vs $86/day with no drop charge). A lot of American usage habits for one-ways fall into that second category, as a substitute for expensive airfare and without a robust long-distance train or bus network to fall back on.
May 28, 2017, 8:39 am
#3
Original Poster
Join Date: Apr 2004
Location: LBA
Posts: 358
There are no calculators or tables for several reasons. We've discussed this in other threads, I believe.
1) Please understand separate "drop fees" with the "major" brands are usually only for European travelers who expect to see them, and who may therefore assume one will sneak in at the counter if they don't. American visitors either get:
* A higher base rate than roundtrip, that varies by intercity demand gradient, season, expected miles driven that depreciate the car more than normal, and length of rental. We care more about the total cost than its components. Ex $50/day with $100 drop charge > $86/day with no "transparent" drop charge.
* A corporate plan with a flat daily rate and a mileage charge. Ex $35/day anywhere in the country + 0.45/mi
2) In cases where there is a separate "drop fee," it's usually with "discount brands." The "big" brands like to boast they don't do that. The price you see is the price you get. Although in most cases, it's understood they are still charging more than roundtrip.
3) The "discount" brands will vary their drop fee for the same reasons as the fluctuating daily rates with the "big" brands: Seasonality, difference in demand between the regions, estimated depreciation due to long mileage, etc.
4) The separate drop fees can be cheaper for long time, short distance (ex $200/week + $200 drop charge vs $600/week with no drop charge), but will not be for short time, long distance (ex $35/day + $200 drop charge vs $86/day with no drop charge). A lot of American usage habits for one-ways fall into that second category, as a substitute for expensive airfare and without a robust long-distance train or bus network to fall back on.
1) Please understand separate "drop fees" with the "major" brands are usually only for European travelers who expect to see them, and who may therefore assume one will sneak in at the counter if they don't. American visitors either get:
* A higher base rate than roundtrip, that varies by intercity demand gradient, season, expected miles driven that depreciate the car more than normal, and length of rental. We care more about the total cost than its components. Ex $50/day with $100 drop charge > $86/day with no "transparent" drop charge.
* A corporate plan with a flat daily rate and a mileage charge. Ex $35/day anywhere in the country + 0.45/mi
2) In cases where there is a separate "drop fee," it's usually with "discount brands." The "big" brands like to boast they don't do that. The price you see is the price you get. Although in most cases, it's understood they are still charging more than roundtrip.
3) The "discount" brands will vary their drop fee for the same reasons as the fluctuating daily rates with the "big" brands: Seasonality, difference in demand between the regions, estimated depreciation due to long mileage, etc.
4) The separate drop fees can be cheaper for long time, short distance (ex $200/week + $200 drop charge vs $600/week with no drop charge), but will not be for short time, long distance (ex $35/day + $200 drop charge vs $86/day with no drop charge). A lot of American usage habits for one-ways fall into that second category, as a substitute for expensive airfare and without a robust long-distance train or bus network to fall back on.
We have just returned from the USA where we had several Avis rentals booked through British Airways all rates were fully inclusive with no extras for additional driver or insurance/liability/mileage surcharges. Our final rental was for a pick up at Dulles returning to Boston for which there was an additional $100 one-way surcharge.
In the past when telephoning Avis in the UK they have been able to quote the appropriate surcharge for pick up in X and drop off at Y (California/Nevada and Florida excepted).
I guess that there is no simple way of finding out the surcharge without doing a dummy booking.
May 28, 2017, 10:19 am
#4
Company Representative - AutoSlash and HotelSlash
Join Date: Jun 2006
Location: autoslash.com | hotelslash.com
Posts: 5,665
The majors can and do charge a drop fee on non-prepaid rentals. It just depends on the situation. At the end of the day though, all that really matters is the final price inclusive of all taxes and fees.
Additionally, as the OP points out, on prepaid rentals, even though you may pay up-front for the entire rental, the drop fee is often paid at the rental counter. This has to do with differences on how the rental companies handle prepaid bookings with their partners.
Additionally, as the OP points out, on prepaid rentals, even though you may pay up-front for the entire rental, the drop fee is often paid at the rental counter. This has to do with differences on how the rental companies handle prepaid bookings with their partners.
May 28, 2017, 10:34 am
#5
Original Poster
Join Date: Apr 2004
Location: LBA
Posts: 358
The majors can and do charge a drop fee on non-prepaid rentals. It just depends on the situation. At the end of the day though, all that really matters is the final price inclusive of all taxes and fees.
Additionally, as the OP points out, on prepaid rentals, even though you may pay up-front for the entire rental, the drop fee is often paid at the rental counter. This has to do with differences on how the rental companies handle prepaid bookings with their partners.
Additionally, as the OP points out, on prepaid rentals, even though you may pay up-front for the entire rental, the drop fee is often paid at the rental counter. This has to do with differences on how the rental companies handle prepaid bookings with their partners.