How to Avoid Car Rental Drop Charges

A car rental drop charge is a fee imposed by a rental agency when you drop off a vehicle at a different location than you picked it up. A person may want to drop off the vehicle at an alternate agency if it is convenient to their travel plans. Car rental companies that have drop fees include Budget, Alamo and National Car Rental. The fee can range anywhere from $50 to a few hundred dollars depending on your pick-up and drop-off locations. You can negotiate with your rental agency to avoid this fee.

Instructions

Difficulty: Moderate

Things You’ll Need:

Rental car Computer with Internet Phone
Rental car
Computer with Internet
Phone

Step 1

Call the car rental company's customer service line. You will be more likely to negotiate a waiver of the charges if you contact the customer support staff directly.

Step 2

Book an economy vehicle. Rental car agencies are more likely to waive the drop fee if you book one of their less-expensive cars. They can usually leave these cars at the location you dropped it off as they are more common than other vehicles in the fleet.

Step 3

Inquire if the company needs a car returned to the location you are traveling to. You can do the legwork for them and therefore not be subject to the drop fee typically imposed. This will typically work when you are traveling between larger cities, but may not when you are on a far-flung adventure.

Step 4

Ask about rates and fees for long-term car rentals. If you are booking the car for an extended period of time, the company may work with you on the price as well as waive some of their typical fees, such as drop-off charges.

Tips & Warnings

If you have to pay the drop rental fee, shop around for the lowest possible rate between agencies. Use the car rental websites to receive quotes that include the drop-off charge.

Article Written By Heather Topham Wood

Heather Wood is a freelance writer who provides content to both traditional and new media publishers. She has worked professionally for five years and has appeared in numerous publications, including Gadgetell, Outlook by the Bay and Step in Style. She holds a Bachelor's degree in English from The College of New Jersey. Heather enjoys an active lifestyle and spends her free time running and skiing.

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