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Hiring a Car? Here’s How to Make sure You Return it With the Right Amount of Fuel.

Hiring a Car? Here’s How to Make sure You Return it With the Right Amount of Fuel.

When you hire a car, it’s important to remember to return it with the same amount of fuel you picked it up with. This can be tricky, as it’s hard to guess how much money will get the gauge to the right level.

What’s the best way to avoid any issues, I hear you ask?

Look for a car hire company that provides you with a full tank of fuel, so you only need to return the vehicle with a full tank. This takes the guesswork out of trying to estimate how much fuel you’ll need to fill up the tank

Rental companies that operate a full-to-full fuel policy typically don’t charge extra for this service, so it’s definitely worth considering when hiring your next car

Pro-tip: If you do find yourself in a situation where you need to fill up the tank before returning the car, make sure you keep your receipt. That way, you can prove that you’ve paid for the fuel and avoid any nasty surprises when it comes to settling the bill

By following these simple tips, you can ensure that returning a hire car with the right amount of fuel is hassle-free.

Why it’s important to return a car with the same amount of fuel

Many car rental companies charge extra fees if you return the car with less fuel than it had when you picked it up. So, how can you avoid paying these exorbitant charges? The answer is simple: refuel the car before you return it to the rental company.

They justify these fees by saying they need to refuel the car for the next customer and that it’s not fair for one customer to pay for another’s gas. However, many believe these fees are simply a way for rental companies to make more money. Either way, it’s in your best interest to refuel the car before returning it so that you don’t have to pay these fees. 

Paying extra fees when returning a rental car is no fun— trust us, we’ve been there! Luckily, there are ways that you can avoid these charges. Here are some tips on how to make sure you get it right every time!

How to estimate the right amount of fuel needed

Before returning the rental car, write down how much fuel is in the tank and compare it to the amount you were asked to fill. If, for example, you were supposed to return the car with a 3/4 full tank and it’s currently only half-full: You would need 1/4 of a tank worth of gas. Find out online how many litres (or gallons) that is for your specific rental car make and model so that you can properly fill up.

Next, calculate the route from your current location (the gas station), you will need to employ google maps or a similar mapping website/app. Make sure to take into account any detours, tolls, or stops along the way. After you have calculated your route, use the ‘Fuel calculator’ function on google maps or a similar fuel-calculating website/app to determine how much fuel in litres (or gallons) is needed for the journey.

Fill up your tank

Add the two together to get the total amount in litres you should pour, then pour. When you’re filling up your tank, make sure to stop at the amount that the calculation suggested you would need, fill up slowly so you don’t overshoot the target. Once you’ve finished, remember to pay and keep the receipt.

What to do if you have put too much fuel?

If you have too much fuel, there is not much you can do about that. In most cases, it’s a write off and the car hire company has benefitted. We suggest you take it as a valuable life lesson and move on!

Conclusion

To summarise, it is important to return a rental car with the same amount of fuel it had when you picked it up. The best way to do this is by finding a company that provides you with a full tank of fuel. If you are unable to do this, make sure you keep your receipt when filling up the tank so that you can prove that you’ve paid for the fuel.

If you have to refuel, use the tips shared earlier to ensure you fill it up to the right amount.

Following these simple tips will help ensure that you don’t have any problems when returning your hire car.

Image by prostooleh on Freepik