Excessive re-fueling charge
Jul 15, 2019, 6:35 am
#1
Original Poster
Join Date: Jul 2016
Posts: 73
Excessive re-fueling charge
Hi All,
I recently rented a Mustang from Miami airport for one week. As it was my first 'preferred' booking I had to visit the rental counter. The lady at the desk suggested I pre-purchase a tank of fuel so that I didn't need to fuel the car before dropping it off. I asked her about the price of doing so and was assured emphatically that the price per gallon was highly competitive with local pump prices, so I accepted.
During my rental period I had cause to fill the tank twice, on each occasion the car took approximately $30 USD of fuel, from almost empty, to full. I subsequently returned the car to the airport with approximately 1/4 tank of fuel remaining. I understand that I forfeit that quarter of tank.
I've now reviewed my rental invoice and note a "Refueling charge" of $120.88 USD. Surely that must be an error; its approximately 4 times the actual cost of filling the tank of a Mustang. This has left me feeling bitterly disappointed in Avis. Before I contact them, I wonder if anyone has been in a similar situation and if so, whether you reached a resolution.
Many thanks,
Tom
I recently rented a Mustang from Miami airport for one week. As it was my first 'preferred' booking I had to visit the rental counter. The lady at the desk suggested I pre-purchase a tank of fuel so that I didn't need to fuel the car before dropping it off. I asked her about the price of doing so and was assured emphatically that the price per gallon was highly competitive with local pump prices, so I accepted.
During my rental period I had cause to fill the tank twice, on each occasion the car took approximately $30 USD of fuel, from almost empty, to full. I subsequently returned the car to the airport with approximately 1/4 tank of fuel remaining. I understand that I forfeit that quarter of tank.
I've now reviewed my rental invoice and note a "Refueling charge" of $120.88 USD. Surely that must be an error; its approximately 4 times the actual cost of filling the tank of a Mustang. This has left me feeling bitterly disappointed in Avis. Before I contact them, I wonder if anyone has been in a similar situation and if so, whether you reached a resolution.
Many thanks,
Tom
Jul 15, 2019, 11:44 am
#3
FlyerTalk Evangelist
Join Date: Dec 2003
Location: Not here; there!
Programs: AA Lifetime Gold
Posts: 29,584
Hi All,
I recently rented a Mustang from Miami airport for one week. As it was my first 'preferred' booking I had to visit the rental counter. The lady at the desk suggested I pre-purchase a tank of fuel so that I didn't need to fuel the car before dropping it off. I asked her about the price of doing so and was assured emphatically that the price per gallon was highly competitive with local pump prices, so I accepted.
During my rental period I had cause to fill the tank twice, on each occasion the car took approximately $30 USD of fuel, from almost empty, to full. I subsequently returned the car to the airport with approximately 1/4 tank of fuel remaining. I understand that I forfeit that quarter of tank.
I've now reviewed my rental invoice and note a "Refueling charge" of $120.88 USD. Surely that must be an error; its approximately 4 times the actual cost of filling the tank of a Mustang. This has left me feeling bitterly disappointed in Avis. Before I contact them, I wonder if anyone has been in a similar situation and if so, whether you reached a resolution.
Many thanks,
Tom
I recently rented a Mustang from Miami airport for one week. As it was my first 'preferred' booking I had to visit the rental counter. The lady at the desk suggested I pre-purchase a tank of fuel so that I didn't need to fuel the car before dropping it off. I asked her about the price of doing so and was assured emphatically that the price per gallon was highly competitive with local pump prices, so I accepted.
During my rental period I had cause to fill the tank twice, on each occasion the car took approximately $30 USD of fuel, from almost empty, to full. I subsequently returned the car to the airport with approximately 1/4 tank of fuel remaining. I understand that I forfeit that quarter of tank.
I've now reviewed my rental invoice and note a "Refueling charge" of $120.88 USD. Surely that must be an error; its approximately 4 times the actual cost of filling the tank of a Mustang. This has left me feeling bitterly disappointed in Avis. Before I contact them, I wonder if anyone has been in a similar situation and if so, whether you reached a resolution.
Many thanks,
Tom
As a general rule, unless you expect to be pressed for time when you return the vehicle, pre-paying for fuel is a bad bet. The price might well be competitive with that of local stations, but unless you can arrange to return the vehicle very close to empty, you're going to end up paying more overall. (And was the "competitive" charge for prepaid fuel also subject to state and local taxes on the rental, which can easily add 20% or more in some locations?)
Jul 15, 2019, 12:02 pm
#4
Join Date: Sep 2013
Location: SFO/DTW
Programs: DL PM 0.5MM, Hyatt Globalist, HHonors Gold, SPG Plat, Marriott Gold, Avis PC, National EE, Hertz PC
Posts: 1,988
Sounds like Avis charged you the $10+/gal instead of the prepaid tank. My colleague in LAS forgot to fill up his Mustang rental (no prepaid fuel) and was hit with a $100+ refueling charge as well.