Understanding car rental fees

The airport fee is unavoidable if you use an airport office. It generally reflects costs the airport imposes on the rental car company. The energy fee may also be a requirement by local law, some sort of special tax. And remember, unlike VAT in most of the world, prices in the USA are quoted before sales tax, which could easily run 10%.

With insurance, the situation is more complicated and depends upon your home insurance. Generally speaking, the insurance offered by the car company is a rip-off and you want to decline as much as possible, without leaving yourself vulnerable. They will probably refuse to rent to you unless you have liability insurance (or buy theirs). That would be an issue about your home auto insurance. You can reject the "Collision Damage Waiver" and "Loss Protection Waiver" at your own risk. High-end credit cards will generally reimburse you for losses these waivers would cover. And your own auto insurance may also reimburse them, depending on what sort of policy you have.

Another interesting charge these days are outrageous daily rates for a GPS unit (refuse and use your phone) and a toll-road transponder (refuse unless you are using many crowded toll roads).

[ADDED: See also What extra insurances are sensible for car rental ]

As to your last question, having the full price disclosed in advance, I've had success with the following approach:

• Choose a major rental agency and register for their "priority service" (often called Precious Metal Club or something of the sort). This may require some extra steps (e.g. sending them a copy of your driver's license) and a delay of some days while they verify your information, but it only has to be done once (or once every several years).

• Book directly on the website of the rental agency, not through a third-party travel site. The price in big numbers will be the rental charge alone, not including fees, but you should also see a "total price" that includes all fees and taxes.

• You should have the option to choose extras at the time of booking: insurance, child seats, GPS, fuel purchase, roadside service, etc. Decline all those you don't want. (To decide whether you should get insurance, see Should I purchase rental car insurance? What protection does my credit card provide? and other linked questions on this site.)

• You'll be quoted a total price that should include all taxes, fees, and optional extras. My experience has been that this matches the price I am eventually charged.

• To avoid surcharges, remember to:

  • fill the gas tank before returning the car (getting a receipt if required)

  • avoid using any electronic toll transponder supplied with the car (if possible, either pay tolls in cash or avoid toll roads entirely)

  • return the car on time

  • not damage the car (unless you purchased an appropriate damage waiver)

The relevant advantage of the Precious Metal Club membership is that you get an expedited pickup process. At some airports, you get a text message identifying your reserved car and where it is in the parking lot, and you just drive it straight out, stopping only at an exit booth where your ID and the car's condition are verified. At others, you go to a special line at the rental counter, show your driver's license, and are immediately handed the keys. But in either case, nobody tries to pressure you into any optional extras.