What Happens If You Return a Rental Car Late?

Whether you’re traveling for work or for pleasure, everyone knows that things can easily go awry with your travel plans. Missed flights, lost luggage, flat tires, getting lost or simply just running behind can sometimes make a well-planned trip take a stressful turn.

So what do you do if you have a rental car that’s due back at a certain time and you realize you’re not going to be able to make it?

The first thing to do is to call your rental provider as soon as you realize that you’re going to be running late. This could mean that you won’t have the car back until the next day or that you’re running an hour or two behind schedule.  Every rental provider has different policies on late returns.  Some will let it slide if it’s just a few hours and they don’t have any immediate bookings afterward. Others have steep fines and could end up charging you for an extra day or worse!

It’s a good idea to look into the policies of your rental car provider before your trip so you know what you’re dealing with. You don’t want to end up with any surprises when you do turn your car in! If you know that you’re going to need a car for an extra day or two, it is often easier and less expensive to return your current car and rent a new car for the allotted time, rather than trying to extend the length of your current rental.

Again, these policies will differ depending on which company you’re using. Your best bet is to ask an agent or look up the company policy on late returns and then try your best to get it in on time!

To start your affordable reservation, visit our homepage at All Star Travel! Let us know if you have any questions by contacting our team. We partner with a number of rental car companies, to get you the best rates possible. We do all the work, so you don’t have to! And we promise you will not be disappointed, and you will love our customer service. Contact All Star Travel today for your next rental car!