ULTIMATE GUIDES

A guide to car hire fuel policies

The ultimate guide to fuel policies

Everyone knows a car needs fuel to keep it running, but what is often overlooked when renting a car is its fuel policy. What exactly is a fuel policy? It's part of the supplier's fine print, detailing what fuel they provide you with and how much fuel they expect to be returned with the car. Most policies fall under a pay on collection scheme or return as received.

Need help deciding the best option for you? Check out our breakdown on each policy below and know what to look out for to avoid any hidden surprises.

Comparison table of different fuel policies

Policy	Description	Pros	Cons
Full to full (or same to same)	One of the most common and best-value policies, here you'll pick-up your car with a full tank and return it full. Alternatively, you may see it listed as same to same or quarter to quarter. In each case, you simply have to replace the fuel you've used before dropping the car off.	You will pay the pump price for fuel, not an inflated price the rental company could charge. If you return the car with the correct amount of petrol, you'll avoid paying any refuelling fees.	Not always the most convenient option if you're in a rush.
Pre-Purchase full to empty	You will receive your rental with a full tank a petrol but you don't need to replace the fuel you use before returning the car. This means that you will be charged to the full tank of fuel on collection, so you'll want to use as much fuel as possible. Return it as close to empty as you can to get your money's worth as you won't be refunded for what is left in the tank.	It's convenient. No need to search last-minute for a petrol station.	The rental company will charge more than the local petrol price. No refund on unused fuel.
Pre-purchase refund	Like the Full to Empty policy, you will collect the car with a full tank of fuel but will receive a refund for any unused fuel upon return.	It's convenient. No need to search last minute for a petrol station. It allows you flexibility, regardless of how much petrol you use.	As with all pre-purchase policies, you will pay for the petrol in the tank when you pick-up the car. However, you will also be charged a non-refundable service fee to cover the supplier's refuelling expenses. You will receive a refund for the fuel remaining when you return the car.
Pre-Purchase partial refund	Like the Full to Empty policy, you will collect the car with a full tank of fuel but will receive a refund for any unused fuel upon return.	It's convenient. No need to search last-minute for a petrol station. Refund on unused fuel.	The rental company will charge more than the local petrol price. No refund on the service charge.
Free tank	It's rare that you'll ever stumble across this policy, but it is sometimes promoted as a special offer by rental companies. The cost of the tank is technically included in your rental agreement, so it's not truly “free”. You can drop the car off with any amount of fuel in the tank, though you'll want to return it empty to make the most of the deal.	What's not to like about a free tank of petrol?	Though you'd think there are none, carefully read the fine print on this policy as it is often part of some sort of package deal. You may only benefit from the free tank if you were going to add on other included extras like additional driver or GPS anyways.

Which fuel policy should I choose?

Deciding which fuel policy is best for you may depend on the type of holiday you're on, how far you're driving and if you're looking for convenience rather than cost.

Full to full (or same to same)
A great value for money option (no surcharges or inflated fuel prices) and the best choice if you expect to do lots of driving.

Pre-purchase full to empty
Not the most budget friendly option but if you're fine paying more for the ease of not having to fill the tank at all, then it's a smart choice.

Pre-purchase refund
Good policy if you don't want to fuss with having to refuel before heading off to the airport or don't expect to use up a full tank of petrol.

Pre-purchase partial refund
Ideal for those who'd like a convenient option and are unsure of how many miles they're likely to drive.

Free tank
Great for everyone looking for optional extras and amazing for those expecting to use a full tank of fuel.

Tips on choosing a fuel policy

For any policy where you will not receive a refund for unused full, make sure to use up all the petrol possible. Otherwise you're just paying a higher price for fuel you didn't use and giving it back to the rental supplier for free.

Always check the fuel gauge when first getting into the car and take a picture if there isn't as much fuel in the tank as there should be.

Find out how much you will be charged if you return the car with too little petrol or how much you will be refunded for each litre or eight of a tank upon return.

For refundable pre-purchase policies, consider filling up the tank before returning it. You'll pay the local pump price for the petrol and be refunded at the supplier's price, which is usually higher.

If you've rented a car with a Full to Full policy, know where the nearest petrol station is to where you'll be dropping off the car.

When you're comparing the price of rentals, factor in the price of fuel as well. Although a car with a Full to Full policy may seem more expensive at first, it could save you money in the long term compared with pre-purchase policies.

And remember, on easyCar.com, you can filter by fuel policy to find a rental deal that suits you best.

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