When you collect your hire car it will have a full tank of petrol and — unless you have made alternative arrangements — the rental provider will expect it to be returned with a full tank as well.
If you don’t want to fill the car yourself, you can arrange with the car rental company to pre-purchase the tank of fuel when you collect the vehicle. Depending on the supplier, you can choose whether to purchase a full tank of fuel or just a half-tank of fuel, and this is an ideal option if you are only planning on making a shorter journey or renting the car for a very short period of time.
If you choose to pre-purchase the fuel, you will be charged at the rental depot when you pick up the vehicle, and the price is similar to that of local petrol stations. It is important to note that if you do not use the full tank of fuel, you will not be refunded for any unused fuel. If you think you won’t use a full tank, consider purchasing a half-tank.
If you haven’t made an arrangement like the above, we recommend you fill the car at a petrol station close to the depot, and take a copy of the receipt when you return the car. You can be charged if the tank is not completely full, and if you fail to fill the tank, you will be charged for the missing fuel. While the amount charged depends on the depot, the rate is generally higher than that charged by local petrol stations.
For exampleRayyan is returning his car to the depot
Rayyan stops at a petrol station about 30km from his rental depot and after filling the tank, he continues on to the depot. When he arrives, the car rental company representative informs him that the tank is not completely full and as a result, Rayyan will be charged an additional fee, because now a staff member will have to take the car to the petrol station to top the fuel tank up before it can be rented again.
