Is One Way Car Rental With No Drop Fee Possible?

Updated 11/10/2023

Travelers take a car for rent at any given opportunity. Also, they often pick a one way rental option to band two travel points, airports, or just explore a new area. Sure enough, all tourists want to get one way car rentals no drop fee. No one likes penalties. Hiring the rental vehicle in the US and leaving it at different spots is often money-taking, but here we will tell you how to avoid a drop fee, what companies offer the cheapest one-way rental car deals and what are the most popular locations for such kind of trips.

Table of content:

Best one way car rental companies in America

Never forget, not all american car hire agencies provide cheap one way car rentals without having to pay for dropping-off the car. Even big respectable agencies with numerous rental spots all over America and abroad may not offer car rental pickup and drop off at different locations without a charge. So, if the agency you used to deal with charges you for one way rental option, it makes sense to change the agency.

Most demanded agencies and their ONE WAY FEE policy:

Alamo Rent a Car logo

Alamo one way fee

Be careful when booking with Alamo – they may take the so-called inter-city fee. Even if you decide to pick up a car in New York and drop it off in Buffalo, be ready to pay $297 for a trip, from which a car price is $89.95 and a drop fee is $150! Of course, Alamo return to a different location fee could be higher or lower, depending on the state and city where a driver starts the reservation.
But still, most of the locations go with no drop penalties. 

AVIS Rent a Car

Avis one way fee

Looking for a cheap one way car rental deal with no fee for drop-off with Avis? You can find a special proposal – one way airport-to-city transfer. You can ride a car one way across the nearby cities or airports. Such a proposal is also available when you take an auto in most of the US cities such Las Vegas and so on. 

Note, that they can ask for airport-to-downtown one way trip between certain US cities and airports. In this case, Avis change drop off location fee will be about $9,99 per day.

Budget Rent a Car

Budget one way fee

Hunting for the cheapest one way car hires no drop fee deal with this supplier. Like the previous company, Budget one way rental fee for 1 day will be about $9,99. The names of the cities you can check on the Budget web page.

Enterprise Rent-A-Car

Enterprise drop off fee

This agency has many interesting deals for one-way car rental with unlimited miles. The penalties vary by locations and time of the year, even more, they have special offers with no penalties. For example, a trip from NY city to Buffalo with an economy car will cost you $489 for 3 days, where $126.34 is a one-way charge already included in the price.

hertz

Hertz change drop off location fee

As usual, the penalty varies from location to location, so you need to check the T&Cs  of the company very carefully. In general, Hertz one way fee at the airports start from $9,99 and may be more then $150 per day.

How to avoid one-way rental fees in the USA?

Drop penalties in America usually bump into such criteria as the company-partner you rent a car from, travel distance, and a tourist season. So, can you drop off a rental car at a different location with no fees at all?  

  • Check rental spots

First of all, look through the list of big car hire agencies with numerous locations. But even these giants may not offer one way rental with no required penalties from some cities. Don’t focus on the airport rental only. Pay attention to the off-airport rental spots. You can save a lot or just get a car with a minimum one way fee car rental.

  • Read the fine print

Getting a rental car without a drop fee can be real if you know how to find it. Hiring an auto you fill in a special form where you can indicate the finite location and check the car rates. There is a variety of interesting offers. Also, you can find even more attractive proposal like a special one-way promo, city-to-city sales, airport-to-city specials.

  • California one way car rentals without drop off fees

Let’s see what the top requested car hire spots usually offer. Pleasantly, you have a real chance to pass over the fees for one way destination. Southern California one way deals are usually free of charge (some fees may be applicable if you rent certain types of cars, so always read Ts&Cs of your supplier). The most significant rental spots such welcomes visitors with no additional costs.

You may think that this is your real opportunity to take a car one way with no drop off charge. But you should know that the one way penalty is usually waived when you hire a car online and may not be seen in the total price. Read the fine print carefully to know all the price details.

cheap-one-way-deal

Hot routes for car rental drop off at a different location 

When you hire a car in any of American states one way, the extra money may apply. It varies depending on where you reserve a car. If you want to get one way car hire with no payments for dropping off your car, check the route carefully. Do you think that economy class car rental one way with no fee? Forget it, as such a deal doesn’t work with economy rental cars for the majority of rental companies.

Go from Los Angeles to San Francisco

This travel destination is the hottest one way rental route without fee for dropping off the car. It is not only in the USA but in the whole world. People come to see Disneyland, Santa Cruz, the Big Sur. It takes you no more than 7 hours of driving there. Leave the car and continue your trip in any direction.

Go one way from Miami to Orlando

Miami is another popular rental location where tourists often come to visit. This sunny state is very hospitable for drivers. Do you have in mind to rent a convertible car? There is nothing like driving from Miami to Orlando with the roof down! Palm Beach, Fort Lauderdale, green countrysides are especially attractive for people who like sport and nature. What is more, one way car hire no drop fee.

Go from Orlando to Tampa

Orlando is a place of bright attractions for kids and adults. Orlando International Airport is a rental spot with no one way drop charge. Ride your automobile and visit Tampa. This is a perfect place for all who like beach vacation and subtropics.

Go from Seattle to Portland

3 hours driving and you can get to Portland from Seattle. This destination usually takes no one way fee and full of sights and memorable places to see. Additionally, Portland offers a big range of road trips you have definitely never seen!

Rates do vary! The final price depends on the route you are following and the rental privacy policy in the chosen city. That’s why, before hiring a vehicle, learn the company’s politics and double check all possible fees.