6 Foreign Car Rental Fees to Watch for on Vacation news from Foxnews.com
THE CHARGE: PREMIUM STATION FEE
The Lowdown: A tax on cars picked up at an airport or a major train station.
The Damage: It could range from 15 percent (Italy) to 20 percent (Germany, Austria, Switzerland), or else it's a flat fee, such as in the U.K. (about $30), Spain (about $57), and France (about $56).
The Fix: After your flight or train arrives, hop a taxi to an off-airport rental-car
location (sometimes as close as five miles away). Note: The fee only applies to the pickup; you can return your car at the airport or train station without charge.
location (sometimes as close as five miles away). Note: The fee only applies to the pickup; you can return your car at the airport or train station without charge.
THE CHARGE: BORDER CROSSING
The Lowdown: One-way
rentals within any given Western European country are generally free,
such as if you picked up a car in Rome and dropped it off in Florence.
But drop the car off in another country, and you'll be hit with this
penalty.
The Damage: From $70 to $4,000, depending on how far from home the car is returned.
The Fix: Comparison shopping is a must; fees vary by company and country.
THE CHARGE: ROAD TAX, OR VEHICLE LICENSING FEE (VLF)
The Lowdown: Most European car companies sneakily pass along the cost of necessary vehicle permits and licenses as a "tax" or fee.
The Damage: As much as $5 per day.
The Fix: You won't be able to avoid paying it, but if you book through a European agency, such as Auto Europe, Gemut, or Europe by Car, you'll be quoted all taxes and fees along with the rate, so you won't get a misleadingly low-priced number.
THE CHARGE: LATE RETURN
The Lowdown: The
traditional hour-long grace period is disappearing. If you're more than
29 minutes late returning a car in many Western European locations,
you'll be charged for a full day extra.
The Damage: Cost of one day's rental.
The Fix: Return the car before the time stamped on your contract. Period.
THE CHARGE: WINTER TIRES
The Lowdown: Driving somewhere with icy roads, such as a mountain resort? You'll need winter tires, which you should request in advance.
The Damage: From about $3.50 per day in Austria to about $21 per day in Germany; maximum charge is about $170.
The Fix: The fee is
mandatory in some countries (such as Germany) in cold weather, so your
only option is to see if the total cost of the rental--including the
fee--is still worth it. You might do better taking another method of
transportation.
THE CHARGE: UNFILLED TANK
The Lowdown: If you said
you would fill up the tank yourself before you returned your car but
then forgot to do it, you may be socked with an additional fee on top of
the inflated per-liter rate that the car company will charge. In the
U.S., you'd only be hit with the extortionate cost of the gas.
The Damage: In France, for instance, Avis charges about $12 as a penalty.
The Fix: Not much to it. Fill 'er up before you drop your car off (and keep your receipt as proof that you did).
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