⚠️ 6 Car Rental Gotchas to Watch For
- Loss of Use Charges: HIGH Even with insurance, you may owe "loss of use" fees while the car is being repaired—$30-100+ per day that your personal insurance likely won't cover
- Pre-Existing Damage Claims: HIGH Any damage not documented at pickup can be charged to you. Take timestamped photos of every scratch, dent, and interior mark before leaving the lot
- Fuel Policy Traps: MEDIUM "Prepaid fuel" options overcharge and credit nothing for unused gas. "Full-to-full" is usually best, but returning empty triggers huge per-gallon fees
- Additional Driver Fees: MEDIUM Undisclosed drivers void all coverage. Adding authorized drivers costs $10-15/day each. Only your spouse may be included free in some states
- Mileage Limits: MEDIUM "Unlimited mileage" may only apply locally. Out-of-state or one-way rentals often have per-mile charges of $0.25-0.50+ after a cap
- Young/Senior Driver Surcharges: MEDIUM Drivers under 25 face daily surcharges of $20-50+. Some locations also surcharge drivers over 70-75
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