Markieg

Hi,
am uk based and usully book my Dollar cars thru a uk agent that helpfully includes all insurances. They also provide a compettitve price for a full tank pre-paid and I'd usually take this.
I have a one day booking where I'll drive 20miles max so this doesnt make sense. In the past I've had the "you MUST pay for a full tank now" routine at the airport and am not minded to argue the toss after 24hours of constant travelling.
My question is - is this common/a known sales tactic and of course I'm thinking that it is NOT compulsory?

thanks!

jackal

This is in the Terms and Conditions at http://www.dollar.co.uk:

I never understood why they did this, but as far as I've ever understood the overseas prepaid voucher program, no matter how you slice it or dice it, prepaid gas is mandatory. The only difference is that with the regular package, you pay for the tank at the time of rental, and if you opt for the Platinum Package (which has a higher daily rate), the prepaid gas cost is included in your voucher.

Based on my reading of the prepaid voucher program, the agent is indeed correct when saying "You MUST pay for a full tank now." That is built in to the terms of the voucher.

FWIW, the voucher program is a PHENOMENAL deal for overseas renters. Assuming a base rental rate of $30 per day--on the low side these days--and a coverage package cost of $40 per day ($25 for LDW and $15 for SLI), with an average 30% in taxes, if you were booking directly with a rental agency and buying the coverage separately, you'd be looking at an approximate cost of $80 per day.

That same vehicle including all of those coverages goes for less than $50 per day through the prepaid voucher program.

One location I'm familiar with actually stopped participating in the overseas tour vouchers because they basically ended up renting cars for free, the voucher only paying the cost of the coverage package. That, combined with the damage they had to eat from some of these rentals, meant that they actually lost money on the program. They're not in business to lose money (though it's almost unavoidable in the rental industry)!

Markieg

Not what I wanted to hear for low mileage stays but if a tank of fuel can be pre paid for a low enough amount can still make sense.
Our corporate (Hertz) deal always means returning full which usually works just fine.
Cheers

pinworm

Many rental companies give agents commissions on sales of pre-paid fuel, so they can be agressive with it..but it goes both ways. Knowing this, I will often agree to it in exchange for a no-charge upgrade, especially when I know I will be driving alot and have to put a tank in anyhow.

But I still always check www.gasbuddy.com on the day of travel so I KNOW if their price is better than the gas station price.