What do car rental companies charge for?
Matthew Harrington
Updated on February 03, 2026
Rental companies charge administrative or processing fees for handling damage, traffic or speeding charges, cleaning the car and refuelling. These admin fees are charged on top of the cost of the actual fine or damage, etc. Admin fees vary in price by company and what the fee is for.
What do car rental companies consider a day?
Generally, rental cars are booked by the day, in a 24 hour blocks. A rental car is booked on the 20th for 5 days. In this example the pick-up time is 8am on the 20th and the drop-off time is 5pm on the 24th.
How do you get out of a rental car fee?
5 Ways to Avoid Extra Rental Car Fees
- DON’T BUY EXTRA INSURANCE. Are you paying for your rental with a credit card?
- DON’T BUY THEIR GAS. At some rental car agencies, you can prepay to have them fill your tank after you drop the car off.
- AVOID THE AIRPORT.
- FIND A DISCOUNT.
- DON’T BOTHER TO RETURN EARLY.
What happens if you don’t return a rental car on time?
If you rent a car and don’t return it, you are essentially depriving the owner of the property – the car rental company – of their property. If the owner of the car calls the police and reports the car stolen, then you could be charged with auto theft.
What is same to same fuel policy?
Fuel policy specifies how much fuel must be in the tank of the rental vehicle at the time of pick-up and drop-off. Same to Same means that if you pick up the car with a fixed amount of fuel in the tank, you should also return the car with the same amount of fuel. …
Is it cheaper to rent a car for a week or by day?
Renting a Car by the Week Can Be Cheaper Than for the Days You Need It. But in extreme cases like this, booking a weekly car rental can be cheaper overall than renting a car for the days you actually need it for. (The rule of thumb we like to use is around $10 per day or $100 per week as a great deal.
Is car rental more expensive at airport?
Outmaneuver Fees and Industry Quirks Rental companies often price their vehicles in peculiar ways, too. For example, cars rented at the airport are almost always more expensive because of added taxes and fees. Rent at an off-airport location and you could save 20 percent or more.
Is it more expensive to hire a car at the airport?
Airport car rental costs, on average, are higher than what you’ll find away from the airport property. Sometimes the differences are great. It’s more convenient to rent a car at the airport, so you have to decide if convenience is important enough to pay more for the car.
What happens when you rent a car for a day?
Ignoring One Possible Caveat: “Loss of Use” Insurance. When a rental car is damaged, “loss of use” charges are applied to cover the potential revenue lost when the vehicle is off the road for repairs. This is typically charged in the amount of a day’s rental for that vehicle, and most auto insurance companies do not cover this fee.
How much does a rental car company make per day?
In fact, rental car company statements consistently show less than $40 in revenue per vehicle per day. When you depart with a rental car, you’ve accepted all liability for an asset that might cost $30,000 or more to replace. For the rental car company, the rental agreement is about revenue certainty.
What should I do if my car rental company has no cars?
If the rental company you booked with has no other cars, it’s worth asking the other car hire companies at the same location whether they have any cars. If none of the car hire companies can help you right away, or if it’s late and the rental counters are closing, the best option is to take a taxi, a train or a bus to get to where you need to go.
Do you have to pay for fuel when renting a car?
When you rent a car, you also sign up for its fuel policy. You should be able to see this when you book the car. If the policy is ‘full to full’, the idea is that you refill the tank just before you return your car. If it has less fuel in it than when you took the car, the rental company will charge you to top it back up again.