NotSoFrequentColorado

Switch to National.

m907

Unfortunately National has the same electronic gas measurement system.

ZKOKA

Can't help but wonder how to avoid being charged in the first place. Is one supposed to carry a bottle of gasoline to fill up and spill some in the return queue?

Luckily for us in Europe this nonsense seems to be limited to the US.

hanlong

This just happened to me yesterday. I had a car rental that was one way pickup from downtown Chicago, and return to ORD. I got gas at the gas station next to O'Hare about 2 miles away, they determined I had 0.2 gallons less too and charged me. For me it was physically impossible to match the exact gallons of gas without bringing a container of gas with me, since the pickup downtown location has gas stations within blocks, while O'Hare is a beast of an airport and me just straight shot from the closest gas station thru the airport to the rental car return ended up like this.

I'm all for using technology but they need to give some buffer for their automatic fuel detection.

rylan

Call or email and dispute the gas charge and provide them the receipt showing you filled up.

sdsearch

But how much did you top off??? That can make a big difference. A lot of gas station pumps shut off automatically when there is still a couple of gallons or even more of room left in the gas tank. But they let you keep pumping after that automatic shut off. That automatic shut off (or the gas gauge showing it just crossed "F") doesn't necessarily mean anything in terms of how much more you can fill up.

And I've actually got rebates on extra gas at least once from Avis after returning a car topped off. I can't guarantee that it happens always, but I've either gotten a rebate or no charge at all, even when I filled up miles away, since I always top off when filling.

rylan

Sure you can fill up the tank more after it kicks off, and if you overfill then its horrible for the vapor recovery system since you essentially can flood the charcoal canister and damage the evap system.

Buster

Frankly, since they’re the ones running this scam, that sounds like a them problem and not a me problem. If they want to create this sort of perverse behavior, they’ll have to deal with the consequences.

rylan

Well I got hit with this scam, and now waiting on hold with the Avis maddening music and recorded text coming on every 30 seconds saying they're sorry I have to wait so long. Up to 20 min now.

Filled up the tank, topped it off at a gas station less than a mile from the airport. Gauge was past the F, and their bogus sensor said I was 1.1 gallons short. BS

johnboy90025

Same thing happened to me at a neighborhood location in Hawthorne, CA. Charged me $27.09 plus tax for .7 gal. Called customer service, 7 minute call, they refunded right away, no questions asked. I started explaining the problem and the guy cut me off and said they would refund.

RobertS975

A good class action suit might put an end to this nonsense.

Armani

I had a similar experience with a $22 charge for .2 gallons after topping off at the onsite gas station. I had to call to get it credited.

ArlingtonTraveler

I had a similar experience today returning a 2021 Chevy Malibu. I gassed up less than 10 miles (9 miles) from the airport and pumped more even after the automatic shutoff until I could not pump anymore I drove mostly freeway the 9 miles and according to the trip computer averaged over 40mpg (yes, I drove like a old person so I didn't burn too much fuel). Got charged for 6/10 of a gallon. Called on the bus ride home and the representative said there is a chip in the fuel tank and I'm allowed 3/10 of a gallon and it showed 6/10 of a gallon. She agreed to take the ~6. charge off as a one time courtesy. Really, no one can easily totally fill the tank and the new fuel pumps make it harder. So basically, your forced to go to an airport gas station and pay a premium or risk getting charged for any larger vehicle.

Now, having said that I'd rather quibble over gas charges than be arrested and jailed :-) In all seriousness, I find Hertz to be the superior company for rentals.. a whole aisle to pick from instead of the two cars the app offers you and they have nicer cars which in my experience are marginally cleaner. However, my employer affiliation gets me a lower rates with Avis vs Hertz and I like earning 1000 AAdvantage miles per rental as a AA elite. Otherwise this nickel and diming will lead me back to Hertz.

guv1976

I don't know if it's still the case with any company, but you used to be required to submit a receipt from a gas station within five (not nine) miles of your return location.

twitch76

I agree. The 5 mile radius does not appear to be specified in the Avis T&C, but I expect that the person before me filled up within 3-5 miles of returning the car. I would expect to be charged if I did not do the same.