Fuel Policy Dilemma? Master the Art of Selecting the Perfect Fuel Policy for Your Rental
Renting a car is an experience of its own. Not only renting a vehicle but what are you renting it for, probably vacation or a road trip. Because of that, we are connecting renting a car to something nice. So, naturally, you want to choose a nice car that’s fuel efficient and comfortable.
But, when you find a car that you really like it’s time for the next step. which is choosing a fuel policy. And if you never rented out a car, questions like Do you have to return a rental car with a full tank of gas or Do you have to fill up a rental car comes to mind.
Well, you don’t have to worry about the answer to these questions as in this article we are going to cover everything about the fuel policy for rental cars.
Understanding the Different Fuel Policies
Let’s say for example that you were looking at a convertible rental and you have found one, but what now? What policy means what, and what should you take? Well, let’s take a look at all of them.
1. Full-to-Full Policy
The full-to-full policy is considered to be the most cost-effective and transparent among all of the policies. When you choose this option, you are given the full tank of fuel, and you are expected to bring the full tank of fuel. That means that you only pay for what you have used.
Of course, you can refill it as many times as you need as long as you bring the full tank back to the car rental company.
2. Pre-Purchase Policy
The pre-purchase policy means that you will pay for the full tank of gas at the price the rental company set. By doing it that way you aren’t obligated to bring the car with a full tank which can be beneficial for busy individuals. But, remember that you are not compensated for the fuel you didn’t use.
3. Pay-on-Return Policy
The pay-on-return policy means you will be charged for fuel you have used on your trip. The rental car company set the price of the fuel (which is higher than at gas stations) and you pay that price. This policy is great if you are constantly on the move and don’t have time to find a gas station.
4. Full-to-Empty Policy
The full-to-empty policy isn’t common and you can’t find it at many of the big rental car companies. But, it’s a fuel policy like all others so we need to cover it. In this policy, you will pay for a full tank of gas at the rental company without the need to refill it when coming back.
It doesn’t matter if you use that full tank of fuel or not, you are obliged to pay the full price which is usually higher than the gas station’s price.
Factors to Consider
Now that you understand what types of policies there are, now it’s time to look at some factors that you might want to consider in order to be able to pick the right policy for you. Keep in mind that these four parameters don’t need to align with one another in order for you to choose what you want for your fuel policy. It’s just some factors that can help you decide.
1. Your Travel Plans
One of the most important factors when deciding which fuel policy you want to take is to look at your travel plan. If you are planning on a long trip or just driving long distances you might be better off with the full to full fuel policy.
It also depends on what type of car you have rented as you wouldn’t want to be limited when driving for example a BMW 840i.
On the other hand, if you are not planning on driving too much pay on return might be a better option for you as it offers more convenience than stopping to refill gas when coming back to the rental car company.
2. Local Fuel Prices
This is also one of the more important factors. You should research the prices of fuel at your destination and plan according to that. If the fuel is cheaper at your starting point (returning point too.) You should opt for full to full as it’s going to save you money.
If there are no gas stations that are easily accessible near your drop-off location opting in for pre-purchase or pay-on-return may be more convenient.
3. Cost Comparison
If you are looking to save every dollar there is, this is the most important factor for you. You should sit down and compare the costs of pay-on-return or pre-purchase with the local fuel prices and then determine which option is less expensive.
Don’t forget to account for any surcharges or additional fees that may apply.
4. Flexibility and Control
This is not as important as the other factors on our list. This factor comes down to personal preference. If you want to pay only for the fuel you have used full-to-full fuel policy is the best for you.
On the other hand, if you want to save time and you value convince, pre-purchase or pay-on-return policies might be a lot more suitable for you.
Closing Thoughts
You should remember that fuel policies differ from company to company and you should get familiar with that before renting out a vehicle. Some companies have only one policy so there is no choice while others have a plethora of options.
Aside from that, we are sure that you now know how to choose what fuel policy you need, and questions like “How full does a rental car tank need to be” isn’t bothering you anymore.
Fuel Policy Dilemma? Master the Art of Selecting the Perfect Fuel Policy for Your Rental
Renting a car is an experience of its own. Not only renting a vehicle but what are you renting it for, probably vacation or a road trip. Because of that, we are connecting renting a car to something nice. So, naturally, you want to choose a nice car that’s fuel efficient and comfortable.
But, when you find a car that you really like it’s time for the next step. which is choosing a fuel policy. And if you never rented out a car, questions like Do you have to return a rental car with a full tank of gas or Do you have to fill up a rental car comes to mind.
Well, you don’t have to worry about the answer to these questions as in this article we are going to cover everything about the fuel policy for rental cars.
Understanding the Different Fuel Policies
Let’s say for example that you were looking at a convertible rental and you have found one, but what now? What policy means what, and what should you take? Well, let’s take a look at all of them.
1. Full-to-Full Policy
The full-to-full policy is considered to be the most cost-effective and transparent among all of the policies. When you choose this option, you are given the full tank of fuel, and you are expected to bring the full tank of fuel. That means that you only pay for what you have used.
Of course, you can refill it as many times as you need as long as you bring the full tank back to the car rental company.
2. Pre-Purchase Policy
The pre-purchase policy means that you will pay for the full tank of gas at the price the rental company set. By doing it that way you aren’t obligated to bring the car with a full tank which can be beneficial for busy individuals. But, remember that you are not compensated for the fuel you didn’t use.
3. Pay-on-Return Policy
The pay-on-return policy means you will be charged for fuel you have used on your trip. The rental car company set the price of the fuel (which is higher than at gas stations) and you pay that price. This policy is great if you are constantly on the move and don’t have time to find a gas station.
4. Full-to-Empty Policy
The full-to-empty policy isn’t common and you can’t find it at many of the big rental car companies. But, it’s a fuel policy like all others so we need to cover it. In this policy, you will pay for a full tank of gas at the rental company without the need to refill it when coming back.
It doesn’t matter if you use that full tank of fuel or not, you are obliged to pay the full price which is usually higher than the gas station’s price.
Factors to Consider
Now that you understand what types of policies there are, now it’s time to look at some factors that you might want to consider in order to be able to pick the right policy for you. Keep in mind that these four parameters don’t need to align with one another in order for you to choose what you want for your fuel policy. It’s just some factors that can help you decide.
1. Your Travel Plans
One of the most important factors when deciding which fuel policy you want to take is to look at your travel plan. If you are planning on a long trip or just driving long distances you might be better off with the full to full fuel policy.
It also depends on what type of car you have rented as you wouldn’t want to be limited when driving for example a BMW 840i.
On the other hand, if you are not planning on driving too much pay on return might be a better option for you as it offers more convenience than stopping to refill gas when coming back to the rental car company.
2. Local Fuel Prices
This is also one of the more important factors. You should research the prices of fuel at your destination and plan according to that. If the fuel is cheaper at your starting point (returning point too.) You should opt for full to full as it’s going to save you money.
If there are no gas stations that are easily accessible near your drop-off location opting in for pre-purchase or pay-on-return may be more convenient.
3. Cost Comparison
If you are looking to save every dollar there is, this is the most important factor for you. You should sit down and compare the costs of pay-on-return or pre-purchase with the local fuel prices and then determine which option is less expensive.
Don’t forget to account for any surcharges or additional fees that may apply.
4. Flexibility and Control
This is not as important as the other factors on our list. This factor comes down to personal preference. If you want to pay only for the fuel you have used full-to-full fuel policy is the best for you.
On the other hand, if you want to save time and you value convince, pre-purchase or pay-on-return policies might be a lot more suitable for you.
Closing Thoughts
You should remember that fuel policies differ from company to company and you should get familiar with that before renting out a vehicle. Some companies have only one policy so there is no choice while others have a plethora of options.
Aside from that, we are sure that you now know how to choose what fuel policy you need, and questions like “How full does a rental car tank need to be” isn’t bothering you anymore.
