Car Hire in the USA - Fuel, Insurance

Megalomaniac

Hi all

I am having a nightmare with trying to figure out car hire in the states. I am trying to figure out what's best and there's so many terms and stuff that need to be considered! I've read the guide, am a current PhD student and still it's all very baffling!

I am going to Miami South Beach in August which will be ace. My girlfriend and I want a car on two days when we are there, one to go down to the keys, and one to go shopping at Ventura/Sawgrass Mills (if anyone can state which is best let me know).

We can hire at South Beach but we need to know what would be best. As only hiring for a day at a time, is it worthwhile going for the Gold package for a car which includes the tank of fuel. Various websites seem to state that they will charge you for a tank of fuel when you pick up the car on top of the rental price (eg, alamo, national). I don't want to pay $50 when we may not even use that much! I would like to take it full, and simply return it full, however the terms on the alamo website for the USA state:

"The rental rate you pay may not include the cost for fuel (unless the Alamo Gold package is purchased). You will receive your vehicle with a full tank of fuel. Unless included in your rate package, payment for this tank will be required at time of rental. No refund will be given for fuel purchased but not used."

http://www.alamo.co.uk/rentalpolicies/740/uk/GAS/

So I see it as two options:

1. Go for normal price (£20) and pay an amount for the tank of fuel in the car on collection (how much, I do not know), which is 'fully inclusive'.
2. Go for the gold option (£25) which includes a tank of fuel and all insurances, but do I need to return the car full again? As far as I see it, if I am given a tank of fuel I should be able to use it up fully and return it empty. However I fear they'll charge me to fill it up.

Seems to me that the car rental companies are charging you for fuel that someone else has paid for!

p.s I won't be parking in SoBe just in case anyone says something

debs66_2

Hi,

if you have a package with a full tank of fuel then you've paid for the fuel and you return the car empty.

whenever we go to the states we get the all inc package (usually Dollar.co.uk - platinum package - which includes all the insurances, taxes, fuel), as navigating all the options are a headache.

we don't want to be riding round in a strange place trying to find a gas station, preferring to pick up our car and just go. also, the taxes are different state to state, and often the insurances are described differently, and we're never sure just what is necessary and what isn't.

last year we had the platinum package and on the way to Vegas got a cracked windscreen from a stone chip. in Vegas we took it to the Dollar centre and 15 minutes later drove out in a like-for-like car with no fuss.

have a fab trip

Megalomaniac

Cheers Debs. Dollar is the alternative to alamo, but you can get £7 quidco with alamo at the moment so would be useful to go with them (espec as it would be 2 seperate bookings).

davetrousers

For the sake of £5 go for the option with a tank full of petrol.

And return it full, (which is fairly standard practice)

debs66_2

And return it full, (which is fairly standard practice)[/quote]

sorry, an all inclusive package that includes a tank of fuel does not get returned full. on our trip last feb we rolled back in on fumes!!!

GentleGiant_2

With Alamo take the gold package, especially if you have a second driver as this can add a lot to the rate if paid for outside of the gold package.

Also return the tank empty not full as it includes a full tank of fuel (worth a lot more at today's prices)

I think the gold also includes more insurances etc.

Megalomaniac

debs66 wrote: »

And return it full, (which is fairly standard practice)

sorry, an all inclusive package that includes a tank of fuel does not get returned full. on our trip last feb we rolled back in on fumes!!!

Yeah this is where I am getting confused. It does not explicitly say return it empty, but that I am guessing is an attempt to once again confuse the customer and worry them to return it full.

Megalomaniac

From Alamo customer services:

If you pre book the Gold package the price of fuel will be included in your
quotation and the vehicle should be returned empty.

If you book a Fully inclusive package the price of a tank of fuel will not
be included in your quote but the cost will be added to your agreement when
you arrive in the USA and the vehicle should be returned empty.

Our partners in the US do not offer an option whereby you can return with a
full tank.

I guess that's cleared up a lot of things and this gold option sounds like the best deal (who can fill up for less than a fiver nowadays?). Think I'll go for this with alamo! Hope this helps someone else!

debs66_2

glad you got sorted. have a brilliant trip :j

asandwhen

I have just booked my car hire in the states (new york jfk) - I went through Holiday auto's who have booked with National car rentals. I have a Standard SUV (chevvi trailblazer) the max pack (includes all insurance, additional driver and full tank of fuel) for 12 days for £406.

is this a good price?

Murphy_The_Cat

Just to add my 2 cents worth - if there are just two of you going to be driving the far, taking the Gold option can be a costly and unnecessary expense.

If you are hiring a Dollar, USave or Budget car, you are AUTOMATICALLY covered for a second driver, so why pay extra for the gold option.**



as regards the fuel, petrol is currently around the £2/$4 per gal mark - the Gold option on a Luxury class car is about £35, so the breakeven figure is 17.5 gals of fuel to be on the 'right side'.On an economy car, the Gold option costs about £24, so you need to have used 12 gals of fuel to be on the right side.

On my recent trip, I hired via Dollar on the regular package, & returned the car full of fuel. Bish Bosh Bash, easy as you like and no messing about.