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 the 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 | Parent company | Prepaid option | Deep dive |
|---|---|---|---|---|
| Thrifty | $8.50-$9.50 | Hertz Corporation | FPO + Flat fee | Read → |
| Dollar | $8.50-$9.50 | Hertz Corporation | FPO + Flat fee | Read → |
| Budget | $9.00-$9.50 | Avis Budget Group | FSO + EZ-Fuel | Read → |
| Fox | $9.00-$10.00 | Europcar Mobility Group | FSO | Read → |
| Avis | $9.00-$10.00 | Avis Budget Group | FSO + EZ-Fuel | Read → |
| Hertz | $9.49 | Hertz Corporation | FPO + EZ Fuel | Read → |
| Alamo | $9.50-$10.50 | Enterprise Holdings | FSO | Read → |
| Enterprise | $10.00-$11.00 | Enterprise Holdings | FSO + Flat fee | Read → |
| National | $10.00-$11.00 | Enterprise Holdings | FSO + Flat fee | Read → |
| Sixt | $11.00-$12.50 | Sixt SE (Germany) | PPO | Read → |
Refueling rates current as of April 2026. Vary by airport. 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.
Enterprise Holdings
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. All three use FSO for prepaid fuel and refueling rates are $9.50-$11/gal.
Avis Budget Group
Owns Avis (premium positioning) and Budget (value positioning). Both offer FSO and EZ-Fuel flat-fee options. Budget is typically $0.25-$0.50 per gallon cheaper than Avis at the same airport.
Standalone brands
Sixt and Fox operate independently of the big three corporate families. Sixt is European-owned and tends to charge premium rates (highest 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 cheapest in 85%+ of cases. 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.
Frequently asked questions
Which rental car brand has the cheapest refueling charge?
Thrifty and Dollar (both Hertz Corporation brands) have the lowest refueling rates at around $8.50 to $9.50 per gallon. Sixt is highest at $11 to $12.50 per gallon. Self-fill always beats any brand's refueling charge.
Are fuel policies the same across rental brands?
The structure is similar — return-full default plus a Fuel Service Option (FSO) or Fuel Purchase Option (FPO). The per-gallon rates vary from $8.50 (Thrifty) to $12.50 (Sixt). Brands sharing the same parent (Hertz/Dollar/Thrifty; Enterprise/National/Alamo; Avis/Budget) have similar pricing within the family.
Should I ever take prepaid fuel from a rental car company?
Almost never. Prepaid fuel charges you for a full tank whether you use it or not, with no refund for unused fuel. Break-even is roughly returning at 5% fuel — nearly impossible to time. Self-fill is cheaper in 85%+ of cases.
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. A half-empty 22-gallon SUV at Sixt 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.