Penalty for dropping rental car off at different location

As much as I’d like to believe it — especially in these cases — the customer is not always right. In fact, sometimes the customer is downright dunderheaded, as I was in a couple of recent instances involving rental cars. Rookie mistakes both, and they cost me — in one case time, in another money.

On a rainy Sunday morning last month, I returned a three-day rental car to the Des Moines airport. The rate was about $43 a day for a compact car. I had picked up the rental car at 9 a.m. Friday and had said on my reservation that I would return it at 10 a.m. Sunday.

I’m not sure what I was thinking — not sure I should even dignify it by calling it thinking — because my flight didn’t leave until 1:30 p.m., and I wasn’t planning to spend quality time in the airport.

As I zipped through the heart of Iowa on my 130-mile trip back to Des Moines, I congratulated myself on being right on the money, time-wise, despite heavy rain and having to stop to fill the car.

All systems were go. But as soon as I reached the rental-car counter, the “go” turned to “Oh. Oh. Oh. Oh.” The agent frowned and said that because I was returning the car late, he would have to charge me for an extra day. When making the reservation, I had put down a return time that was 93 minutes before I showed up with the car. The agent was perfectly pleasant, made appropriate sympathetic sounds and put the extra $42.53 on my credit card.

But the rental company’s website, I learned, said the company should prorate, not charge an extra day. I spent almost 50 minutes on hold, first with one agent, then another and in the end the company credited back the extra charge.

“But I was late,” I said. And she replied, “Well, you weren’t that late.” (She had no idea what I do for a living and I didn’t tell her.)

No need to argue with success, especially in light of my other rental-car blunder that boosted my rate by almost $400.

In May, I rented a much nicer car than I would usually reserve for a trip that started in Boston and ended in the Washington area. (Why nicer? Hubs hates tiny cars; he’s at least 9 inches taller than I and needs leg room, an alien concept to someone who must get petite-length slacks shortened.)

Our multistop itinerary took us through several states and multiple adventures. On a Sunday morning, again proud of myself for getting to the airport on time, we arrived at the rental-car drop-off, and the agent checking us in said, “Here’s your receipt for $903.”

Huh? The car as I reserved it was going to be about $525, hefty because of its size and because it was a one-way rental. When I asked, the manager said I was returning the car to the wrong location. Before I could sputter, he said, “You said you were returning it to Washington Dulles.” I was standing in the rental-car company counter at Baltimore Washington Airport, 58 miles away.

And then I remembered that our plans had changed. We had found an earlier flight out of BWI, but I hadn’t changed the rental-car drop-off location. I did call the rental-car company when I returned to L.A., and it refunded me $118, which helped ease the pain slightly. I also cursed myself for making these mistakes on my dime, not The Times’ dime, although explaining to the boss would have been easier than explaining to the hubs.

I asked Laura Bryant, spokesperson for Enterprise Holdings Inc., which includes the Enterprise, National and Alamo brands, for some insight. In the end, she said, it comes down to understanding that when you do what I did, you’re throwing a monkey wrench into fleet management.

Many factors affect car rental costs, she said — what else is going on (Conventions? World Series?), whether it’s a long weekend (my ill-fated BWI return was Memorial Day weekend) and whether it’s peak travel season (yes). The algorithms that set costs are as complex as the management of the fleet.

“The thing is to put yourself in the place of the other customer … who’s looking for your car at that other airport,” Bryant said. In a small market, there may be less flexibility.

What I did also probably inconvenienced other people. Dumb and rude — one of my least favorite combinations, along with wasting time and money.

The solutions are as obvious as what Miss Yee told us in the third grade: Double-check your work. Try not to make mistakes.

Some days I’m amazed I made it out of the third grade, and those were two of them.

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You are here: Home / Travel Guides / Can You Return A Rental Car To A Different Location?

Renting a car is something that most people either have done or will do at some point in their lives. The process is fairly straightforward, you pick up a car at one location and return it to the same location a few days later. But in some instances, you may need to drop the car off at a different location.

A one-way rental can be a very convenient car rental option for the following traveling situations:

  • You’re moving to a new city and want to explore a new city for a day or two.
  • You have a flight that’s been canceled, and you need a vehicle to get back to your hometown.
  • You plan to travel within your city and don’t want to use public transportation or pay for a cab.

One Way Rentals By Car Rental Company

Although one-way rentals aren’t as common as single-location rentals, it’s helpful to know which car rental companies offer this service and other details surrounding it. 

For example, if you’re planning to use a one-way rental for an out-of-state move, you may want to call the car company ahead of time to ask about the fee. 

Why? Because some companies will charge a one-way fee based on distance from the original pickup location. And if planning a cross-country move, this could amount to a hefty chunk of change.

Penalty for dropping rental car off at different location

Enterprise

Enterprise has been at the top echelon of the car rental industry for the past 50 years and has grown into one of the most respected and well-known brands. They offer a one-way rental option with unlimited mileage. 

However, not all locations offer this service. The locations that offer this one-way service will typically charge an additional fee for mileage or a single “drop charge” for the service itself. 

It’s always best to call in advance or check online to ensure that you’re able to make the booking. If the location at which you’re looking to make the booking doesn’t offer the service, you will see the following message, “Location Unavailable,” on their website when you click the one-way rental tab.

Hertz

Hertz is another giant in the car rental industry and has won numerous awards for its service and impressive fleet of vehicles. They also offer one-way rentals at select locations. Like 

Enterprise, these locations will charge an additional fee for the one-way rental option, which will vary by location. During certain times of the week and year, Hertz will also offer special deals on one-way rentals in which renters can receive the car at a discounted rate of anywhere from 10-20%. 

Before booking a one-way rental with Hertz, be sure that you double-check the rental time, as some locations only allow the rental for 24 hours or less. There may also be stipulations regarding the location where you’re able to drop the vehicle.

Avis

The Avis rental car brand has been in operation for over 65 years and is widely recognized as one of the most successful car rental companies in the US. One thing that stands out the most with Avis is their pricing, which also extends to the one-way rental program they offer. 

Most locations don’t charge any fees for this service and the process for booking this option is fairly straightforward. If you’re booking the rental online you can simply click the ” one-way rental” tab on their website and select your pickup and drop-off locations. 

If there’s a fee for the rental, it’ll be stated before you make the booking. They also allow you to change your drop-off location mid-rental by simply calling a phone number and speaking with an Avis specialist.

Penalty for dropping rental car off at different location

National

National Rental is a subsidiary of Enterprise and they have just as good service and vehicle selection. Though they have fewer locations, they also offer a one-way rental option when making a reservation. 

These rentals offer unlimited mileage, though they may have restrictions on certain vehicles, specifically larger vehicles such as issue visas and vans. The charge for this fee may vary depending on the time of booking, vehicle booked, and the pickup and drop-off locations. 

There are also restrictions on drop-off locations. It’s also worth noting that all locations won’t offer this service, so be sure to check online or call them directly to you sometime before making a booking.

Alamo

Alamo is one of the largest rental car providers when it comes to international travel and one of the first go-to car services for vacationers. They offer a one-way drop-off service though there is a fee to use this option. Fortunately, you can also use this option even if you’re renting a vehicle using multiple coupons. 

Their rental policy includes unlimited mileage and preference is usually given to smaller vehicles. As with other company bookings, it’s best to ensure that the rental is available for the specific location as some locations have fewer vehicles and may not be able to offer this service.

Budget

If you’re looking for an affordable rental car at the last minute, Budget is an option to consider. With over 60 years in the car rental industry, they’ve become synonymous with friendly service and great value for their prices. 

They offer one-way rental options only select locations, and they charge a fee for this service most of the time. The fee will vary by location and depend on the vehicle type and other rental factors. 

If you plan to take the rental and drop it off out of state, you’ll need to speak with the reservation agent to ensure that this is possible, as some locations have smaller fleets and less availability. They offer unlimited mileage on their rentals, and this includes the one-way program as well.

Penalty for dropping rental car off at different location

ACE Rent a Car

ACE may not be as popular as other car rental brands, but it’s worth considering if you’re looking for a rental car for a low price. Their one-way rental policy is only available at select locations, and if they typically charge a fee for the option–the amount of which will vary by location. 

There is a one-way windows program that does include unlimited mileage, and you can also use your reward points to help make it more affordable.

Conclusion

You shouldn’t have trouble finding a rental company that offers a one-way car rental option, as most major companies provide the service. 

However, you should be aware that this service usually comes with a fee, and that may depend on the vehicle type and the distance between the pickup and drop-off locations.

What happens if you return your rental to a different location?

A drop charge is a fee for picking up a rental car at one location and returning it to a different location. The rental car drop fee varies depending on location and time of year. If you have to pay a drop charge, it will be disclosed at the time of reservation.

Why does it cost more to drop off a rental car at a different location?

But rent the car in one place and return it somewhere else — a one-way rental — and you'll pay hundreds, and sometimes thousands, of dollars more. Why? Car rental companies charge hefty dropoff fees to give drivers an incentive to return the vehicle to their original location.

What happens if you return an Enterprise car to a different location?

At participating Enterprise rental locations, a vehicle can be rented in one location and returned to another; however, please be advised that: Some one way rentals are assessed a one-time drop charge or mileage charge in addition to the rental rate.

Can I return a Hertz car to a different location?

A Return Change Fee of $12.99 will be applied if you return the vehicle to a different location from that which was scheduled, or if you return more than 12 hours after the date and time previously scheduled, and you failed to notify Hertz of such a change more than 24 hours prior to your scheduled return time by ...