Rental Car Fuel Policies by Brand: 2026 Comparison
Every major rental car brand uses essentially the same fuel structure - return the car at the level you got it, or pay a heavy refueling penalty. But reported per-gallon refueling rates differ by 30-40% between brands, and the loyalty programs, prepaid fuel options, and parent-company quirks vary enough to matter. This page is the side-by-side comparison nobody else publishes, plus a deep-dive link for each brand.
Quick comparison: refueling charges by brand
| Brand | Refuel/gal (reported) | Parent company | Fuel options | Deep dive |
|---|---|---|---|---|
| Thrifty | $8.50-$9.50 | Hertz Corporation | FPO + Express Fuel | Read → |
| Dollar | $8.50-$9.50 | Hertz Corporation | FPO + Express Fuel | Read → |
| Budget | $9.00-$9.50 | Avis Budget Group | FSO + EZFuel ($17.99) | Read → |
| Fox | $9.00-$10.00 | Europcar Mobility Group | FSO | Read → |
| Avis | $9.00-$10.00 | Avis Budget Group | FSO + EZFuel ($17.99) | Read → |
| Hertz | ~$9.49 (local rate + fee) | Hertz Corporation | FPO + Express Fuel | Read → |
| Alamo | $9.50-$10.50 | Enterprise Mobility | Prepay at rental | Read → |
| Enterprise | $10.00-$11.00 | Enterprise Mobility | Prepaid (airport only) | Read → |
| National | $10.00-$11.00 | Enterprise Mobility | Prepay at rental | Read → |
| Sixt | $11.00-$12.50 | Sixt SE (Germany) | Prepaid Fuel | Read → |
Per-gallon figures are typical rates reported by travelers, not published company prices; no major brand publishes a fixed nationwide per-gallon rate. Checked October 2026. Rates vary by location, so always check your rental agreement for the exact rate at pickup.
Brand families: who owns whom
Three corporate parents control 9 of the 10 major US rental car brands. Within each family, fuel policies are nearly identical with small per-gallon differences:
Hertz Corporation
Owns Hertz, Dollar, and Thrifty. Hertz is the premium brand and prices accordingly. Dollar and Thrifty target budget travelers and have lower refueling rates. All three use the FPO terminology for prepaid fuel, and use Express Fuel (a flat fee, waived with a fuel receipt) for trips of 75 miles or less at participating locations.
Enterprise Mobility
Owns Enterprise, National, and Alamo. Enterprise is the all-purpose brand with neighborhood + airport branches. National is airport-focused and premium-priced. Alamo targets leisure travelers. Enterprise sells prepaid fuel at airport locations at the local price minus a per-gallon discount; National and Alamo let you pay for a tank at the time of rental. Reported refueling rates are $9.50-$11/gal.
Avis Budget Group
Owns Avis (premium positioning) and Budget (value positioning). Both offer the Fuel Service Option and EZFuel: a flat $17.99 ($18.99 in California) for trips under 75 miles, waived with a fuel receipt. Neither publishes a per-gallon refueling rate.
Standalone brands
Sixt and Fox operate independently of the big three corporate families. Sixt is European-owned and tends to charge premium rates (highest reported refueling at $11-$12.50/gal). Fox is Europcar-owned and aggressively budget-priced with high counter-add-on revenue.
The pattern that holds across every brand
Three rules apply to all 10 brands above:
- Return-full with self-fill is usually cheapest. The exact per-gallon price varies, but the math nearly always favors filling up at a regular gas station.
- Loyalty programs do not waive fuel charges. Hertz Gold, Enterprise Plus, Avis Preferred, Sixt Diamond - none of them affect fuel pricing. They speed up pickup but don't discount fuel.
- Photograph the gauge at pickup and after filling. Same defensive practice works at every brand. It's the single move that wins disputes.
Renting an EV? Charge-return rules by brand
- Avis and Budget: return at 70% or more. Below 70% (but above 10%) is a $35 charging fee; below 10% adds another $35, for $70 total.
- Hertz: return within 5% of the pickup battery level (never more than 75% required), or Hertz recharges and bills per kWh plus a service fee.
- Dollar: minimum 10% at return. Below 70% is a $35 recharge fee (not charged if you picked up below 75%); below 10% adds a $25 undercharge fee. Thrifty's EV terms were not confirmed for this update.
- Sixt: full-to-full applies to EVs too; if the battery is not full, Sixt charges for the electricity plus a service fee.
- Enterprise, National, Alamo, Fox: no published EV return rule found. Check your rental agreement for the required charge level.
Frequently asked questions
Which rental car brand has the cheapest refueling charge?
Based on rates travelers report, Thrifty and Dollar (both Hertz Corporation brands) tend to have the lowest refueling charges at around $8.50 to $9.50 per gallon, and Sixt the highest at around $11 to $12.50 per gallon. No major brand publishes a fixed nationwide per-gallon rate, so check your rental agreement. Self-fill at a regular gas station is always cheaper than any brand's refueling charge.
Are fuel policies the same across rental brands?
The structure is similar - return-full default plus a prepaid fuel option (called FSO, FPO, or prepaid fuel depending on the brand). Reported per-gallon refueling rates range from about $8.50 (Thrifty) to $12.50 (Sixt). Brands owned by the same parent (Hertz/Dollar/Thrifty under Hertz; Enterprise/National/Alamo under Enterprise Mobility; Avis/Budget under Avis Budget Group) share similar policy structures, and short-trip fees differ: Avis and Budget use EZFuel for trips under 75 miles, while the Hertz brands use Express Fuel for trips of 75 miles or less.
Should I ever take prepaid fuel from a rental car company?
Almost never. Prepaid fuel options charge you for a full tank whether you use it or not, and unused fuel is generally not refunded (Hertz refunds unused fuel only if you drive 75 miles or less). The break-even point is roughly returning the car at 5% fuel - nearly impossible to time. Self-fill at a gas station near the return lot is usually cheaper.
Can I avoid refueling fees on every brand?
Yes. Same playbook works on all 10 brands: return at the same fuel level you received, fill up 5-10 minutes from the return location, photograph the gauge before and after filling, and keep the receipt. FillItRight calculates the exact gallons to add for any brand and vehicle.
Does the type of car affect the refueling charge?
The per-gallon rate is the same regardless of vehicle, but luxury or larger vehicles have bigger tanks (often 18-22 gallons vs 12-15 for compacts), so the total refueling penalty is larger if you forget. At the reported Sixt rate, a half-empty 22-gallon SUV can cost over $130 in refueling fees.
Where do international rental brands fit in?
Europcar, Hertz International, Enterprise Europe, Avis EMEA, and Sixt all charge per liter. Equivalent rates are typically €2.50-€4 per liter - about $11-$17 per gallon equivalent. International rates skew higher than US rates across the board.