Will auto rental agencies allow returns to another location?

Answer 1

One way car rentals can be one of the most expensive types of rental you will find. This type of rental is also one of the hardest to get. The biggest tip I can give for a one way car rental is to start planning in advance and do a lot of checking from different companies. Because the rates of one-way rentals are so much higher than regular rentals, you want to make sure that you are getting the best possible rate available to you.

Some rental companies are more flexible with one-way rentals than others. You can check online through the rental company websites or call the toll free number and talk to a car rental reservation agent. It is easier to get car rentals one way in some areas, than others. Example: rentals within Florida, New York, New Jersey and California are the most commonly allowed by various car rental companies.

Whether you wish to travel within a state or across the country, some car rentals one way may only be available from an airport car rental location, and must be dropped off at an airport location as well. Airport locations are generally larger, and the company will usually find it a lot easier to find someone who wants to rent the car and take it back to its' home location. When searching for a one-way car rental, find out if the car rental company has a good number of locations along the route you are taking or in the cities you will be visiting. Major car rental companies are more likely to have a larger number of drop off locations around the country.

Check into what/if any the drop-off charges will be. There are two ways that one way rates are calculated; either you will have a base rate for the vehicle and an extra one-way fee or drop off fee; or you will simply be charged a higher rate per day than you would if you were bringing the vehicle back to the same location. Check to see if there are over mileage fees. Over mileage fees are those fees that you would incur if the mileage is limited during your rental. (example 100 miles per day free, each additional mile will cost more)

Usually, a one-way rental will cost you more on a daily basis than a regular car rental. One-way rentals are often more expensive because the rental company has to find a way to get the car back to the original location themselves. Because you pay more for car rentals one way on a daily basis, if you can pick up and drop off in one day, you'll only being paying the higher rate for that day. It may be cheaper to pick up a new vehicle for the remainder of your rental because that car would be rented and returned to the same location.