So you are at the car rental
counter and you have decided which car you want to rent and whether you want to
get additional insurance or not. There is still one more thing you need to
decide; whether to pre pay for gas or not. Though it is touted to be a great
advantage by the car rental companies, it means different things for car
renters. Some find it very convenient whereas for some it is a complete no-no!
While the car rental companies
say, it is great option since you don’t have to worry about topping the tank
when you return the car, for many it is a money maker for the rental company. Car
rental Wembley can be very expensive, if you don’t make the right decision.
Just like deciding whether you need additional insurance or not, it is crucial
to decide whether you want to pre-pay for gas or not.
Should You
Pre-Pay for Gas? Think Again!
Most of the sales person
behind the counter at the car rental office will push you to pay upfront for
gas. Why? It is a great opportunity for them to make some money. The car rental
agency would justify that they offer the pre-paid gas at prices lower than the
local gas stations, but there are many things that are not revealed to the
renters.
Firstly, in most cases the
gas prices were either higher or equal to that of the local gas stations. There
are almost no car rental agencies that offer gas at lower prices.
Secondly, the prices quoted
by the rental agencies were the pre-tax rates, unlike the local gas stations
where the rates are inclusive of the taxes. Pre-paid gas is also subject to
higher tax rates which means the prices would automatically become more than
what you get at the gas station. You’ll be charged extra if you hire the car
from the airport. It is true that the car rental companies won’t be able to put
this amount into their pockets, but it is not even good on their part to
misguide people. There should be enough transparency.
Thirdly, even if a car rental company offers pre-paid
gas at cheaper rates, it is almost impossible for you to return the car with an
empty tank. Even if you return the car with one-fourth or one-third tank, it is
a gain for them.
A Final Thought
So it is always good to fill
up the tank before returning the car. But if you choose fill the tank when
returning, make sure you do so. In case you forget, you will have to pay huge
compensations and that would be higher than what you had to pre-pay.