I hired a car at Girona airport which was full of fuel at the start. I had to return it empty. There was still more than a quarter of a tank left. I got no rebate. Is it normal in Spain to have to return the car with an empty tank? - Stewart Kershaw
The three models used by car-rental companies are "out full/back full", "out empty/back empty", and "out full/back empty".
From the driver's point of view, the first of these is best - so long as you allow time to refuel before your flight home. It leaves little room for dispute (though some firms will demand a receipt from a filling station close to the drop-off point), and you end up paying only for the fuel you use.
The out empty/back empty rule works to your advantage only if you are confident about driving when almost out of fuel; most of us, though, will always top up to avoid running out on the autopista.
"Out full/back empty" is a tactic employed by some of the cheapest car-rental companies. Effectively, you are buying a tank of petrol, at whatever rate the firm chooses to set. On a fortnight's hire with plenty of mileage, it isn't much of a problem, but on a short-term rental you could find yourself paying 100 and end up using only 50 in fuel. The solution: always ask what the fuel policy is, and steer your business to "out full, back full" rental companies.
Email your travel queries to
simon.calder@standard.co.uk
