07/10/2023 • 3 Mins

With Prepay the Fuel, enjoy your rental car without having to worry about filling up at the gas station before you return the vehicle. The three flexible pre-paid car rental options available when you rent from Hertz help provide the best fuel option for your trip.
Read on to discover the different gas options you have, and how each one can help you:
The Hertz prepay fuel policy makes refueling your vehicle easy. This prepaid gas option is good for those on longer road trips, or when you’re short on time and and want to drop your rental off as quickly as possible. It works by having you pay for a full tank of gas when you first collect your vehicle. You can then return it with whatever is left in the tank.
There’s no need for you to rush to a gas station to top it up – perfect if you find yourself running close to your drop-off time, or just when you want an easier ride. Bear in mind there’ll be no reimbursement for unused fuel – so feel free to take the scenic route back to your drop-off location.
The Hertz prepay fuel option uses a competitive pre-pay rate based on the average fuel cost in the area at the time of pickup minus $0.15 per gallon. Please note gas rates can and do vary between cities and states – sometimes by quite a bit – so do a little research before you book to make sure your expectations are as accurate as possible.
Hertz prepay fuel can be very beneficial for long journeys, where you know you’ll get through at least a full tank of fuel. This is because you don’t get reimbursed for the fuel you don’t use. Remember, you’ll be expected to return your vehicle with the same level of fuel it started with (or battery level, for electric vehicles) as part of your rental with us.
Hertz prepay fuel also makes your rental more convenient as you don’t need to top up the tank before returning the vehicle. It cuts out factoring in gas stations to your journey, saving you time, and the competitive rates Hertz offers can make it financially beneficial.
We have two alternatives to Hertz prepay fuel, pay on return and pay at the gas station.
Pay on return is where we’ll top up the fuel to the level it was at when you collected it and you simply cover the cost. You’ll also need to pay a flat $6.99 refueling fee per transaction. The charge will be added to your account, and we’ll send you an invoice – it’s as simple as that. This can be a handy option if you’re running late for a flight or just need to get the car returned on time.
Pay at the gas station is the option to fill up the gas tank the old-fashioned way – take it to the nearest gas station and fill up the tank before it’s returned. This is a good option if you are heading on shorter journeys or simply want more flexibility. You should bring your fuel receipt with you when you return the vehicle.
Hertz Prepay is a great way to streamline your car rental experience, but any unused fuel will stay with your rental car – meaning you won’t get reimbursed for the gas you don’t use. Because of this, it’s always a good idea to plan your journey and mileage to ensure you get full use of the vehicle you’ve paid for. If heading on a shorter journey, such as using a rental car for a business commute, you may find Hertz pay on return might be the best option.
If you decide to cancel prepay fuel after making a booking, contact our customer helpdesk to make a change. Alternatively, you can call the branch where you made the reservation. Remember, you’ll need to return the vehicle with the same amount of gas as when it was collected, otherwise, you’ll be charged for the difference.
There are plenty of other additional services available with your Hertz rental, giving you ultimate flexibility in tailoring your drive just the way you want.
Whether it's additional coverage in case of a mishap or buying fuel ahead of time, Hertz has you covered. So what are you waiting for? Begin planning your dream trip today. You work out where you want to go and let Hertz take care of getting you there.