Can I return a rental car early?

For Alamo. Booked week rate via Costco, $139. Pickup San Diego ran LAX.

Asked at counter what would happen if I returned 1 day early. The answer was SHOCKING. Extra $500 of I returned one day early, the new total charge would have been $660. I was horrified. Nothing he could do so had to speak to the manager who had some.common sense and agreed to allow me to return one day early and avoid the penalty of over $500. Lucky I checked otherwise I would have been screwed royally with no recourse. BE VERY CAREFUL. CHECK THE MINIMUM RENTAL PERIOD IN THE CONTRACT AND IF UNSURE.DONT SIGN !! Hope that this helps.someone.

In the United States, the rental charge generally is not applied to the credit card at the start. The credit card used is used as a reserve, then charged at the end for the time used. If you trim back from the end, you receive a lower charge. I've done this in the past. I generally reserve for all the days needed, spend the final night near the airport, turning in the car the evening before. This saves the rental charge of a day. I then get a free shuttle back to the hotel, and again to the airport in the morning. Hasn't failed so far - I generally use "We're #1!" (you'll know)