Mobissimo

Car rental companies are sneaky. Very sneaky. If you don't read the fine print carefully you may find yourself stuck with a bill much higher than you ever imagined. Especially if you return your car late. The blog Upgrade: Travel Better provide a good overview of the different return policies for the US majors. All things being equal, you best bet seems to be Alamo if you tend to return your cars late...

• Alamo: “A grace period of 30 minutes applies to rentals within the U.S. Within the European Union, there is a 59-minute grace period, thereafter a further full day’s rental will be charged.” Even worse: “Daily/weekly rates may also retroactively increase from the start of the rental if the vehicle is kept beyond the agreed return date and time.”

• Avis: “There is a 29-minute grace period. If the car is returned within the 29-minute grace period there will not be any additional hourly rate. Beyond the 29-minute period, an hourly rate will apply until it equals the rate for an additional day. Charges for optional services such as LDW, etc. are charged as full days after the 29-minute grace period. If a vehicle is returned beyond the parameter associated with a specific rate code the rental may revert to a higher applicable rate.”

• Budget: “Vehicles are rented on a daily, 24-hour basis beginning at your pick-up time. There’s a 59-minute grace period for returns. After one hour late, hourly charges may apply. After three hours late, a full-day charge may apply.”

• Dollar: No grace period. “The renter will be charged for each hour and/or any part of an hour in excess of a rental day the renter keeps the vehicle until the vehicle is returned, up to the applicable daily rate. … Other rates will apply if the Vehicle is returned earlier than the original return date or if the Vehicle is returned later than the original return date.”

• Enterprise: No grace period. “For most rentals, Enterprise uses a 24-hour period to define a single rental day. For example, if you rent a vehicle at 11 a.m. on Monday and return it any time prior to 11 a.m. on Tuesday, you will be billed for one day. If you return the vehicle after 11 a.m. on Tuesday, you will be charged an hourly rate for each additional hour, or for a second full day, whichever is less. Hourly rates are usually one-fourth of the daily rate.”

• Hertz: “Vehicles are due back the same time of day as rented, Hertz will provide a 30 minute late grace period at no additional charge. Vehicles returned after the 30 minute grace period will be subject to an additional hour charge and/or an additional day charge.”

• National: No grace period. “Rates are subject to change if vehicle is not returned on the date and time agreed upon at time of reservation and rental.”