Do I need to refuel the car myself when renting?
3 Answers
Generally, you don't need to refuel the car yourself when renting, and most car-sharing platforms also don't require users to refuel. Here is more relevant information: Precautions: 1. When returning a shared car, be sure to drive it to the designated location, otherwise, some additional fees may be charged. 2. During the use of a shared car, if any traffic violations occur, the user is responsible for handling the violations and paying the fines. Therefore, everyone must pay attention and strictly adhere to traffic rules even when driving a shared car. Following traffic rules is not just about avoiding fines and penalties, but also about ensuring the safety of oneself and others, as well as maintaining good traffic order. When using a shared car, it's important to take good care of it and avoid intentional damage.
As someone who frequently rents cars for business trips, I can confidently say that you definitely need to refuel the rental car yourself. The car may come with a full or half tank when you pick it up, but the key point is that you must refill it before returning it, otherwise the company will charge a hefty service fee, usually about 1.5 to 2 times the market price. Once when I rented a car in San Francisco, I was in a rush to catch a flight and forgot to refuel, resulting in an extra $50 charge! Now I always plan my time carefully and use my phone to locate nearby gas stations for a refill before returning the car. Remember to keep the receipt for their records. Additionally, policies vary among rental companies. For example, Avis requires a full tank upon return, while some like Hertz offer prepaid options, but they're overpriced and not cost-effective. In short, refueling yourself saves hassle and money, and you can also control the fuel quality.
My roommate and I often rent cars for road trips, and we always have to refuel ourselves, especially returning it with a full tank to save money! Otherwise, the company will charge an additional service fee, which can cost dozens of dollars at a time. We made a mistake before by not refueling in time at a remote scenic spot and ended up paying a hefty extra fee. Now, we plan ahead by half an hour, using Google Maps to find cheaper gas stations, and choosing discount stations like those from major brands can save a lot. Before renting a car, it's best to check the agreement. Some companies offer the option to prepay for fuel, but the price is usually higher, so it's advisable to decline. Anyway, doing it yourself is super easy—just queue up to refuel and treat it as part of the travel fun, while also learning a bit about cars.
