Dollar Car Rental Hidden Fees: What You Need to Know Before Booking

Thinking about renting from Dollar Car Rental? That advertised rate might look tempting, but there’s more to the story. Customers frequently find their final bills ballooning to 2-3 times the expected amount due to hidden fees and charges. Let’s dive into what these fees are, how to avoid them, and what you can do if you’ve already been charged.

The True Cost of Dollar Car Rentals

Dollar Car Rental’s business model relies heavily on low advertised rates that get significantly inflated by the time you return your keys. Recent data shows that customers have faced cost increases of 181% to 317% above the advertised rates in severe cases.

When booking a rental car, most people focus on the daily rate. But with Dollar, that’s just the starting point. The final bill typically includes:

• Insurance and protection products
• Airport surcharges
• Fuel charges
• Additional driver fees
• Young driver fees
• Toll payment services
• Vehicle license fees
• Energy recovery fees

Let’s break down these charges so you know exactly what you’re dealing with.

Airport Location Premiums

Renting from an airport location? Expect to pay more – much more.

Airport Concession Recovery Fees

This fee typically adds 15-25% to your base rental rate and is automatically applied at airport locations. It’s Dollar’s way of recouping what they pay to airport authorities for operating there.

Vehicle License Fees and Energy Surcharges

Dollar also adds vehicle license fees and energy surcharges to airport rentals. The vehicle license fee has been particularly criticized as it’s often presented as a government-mandated charge when it’s actually a profit center for rental companies.

Money-saving tip: Consider picking up your rental from an off-airport location. You’ll avoid these mandatory surcharges, potentially saving 15-25% on your total bill.

Insurance and Protection Products: The Biggest Markup

Insurance products represent the largest category of additional charges, accounting for approximately 35% of customer complaints about hidden fees.

The High Cost of Peace of Mind

Here’s what Dollar charges for insurance products:

• Loss Damage Waiver (LDW): $31.99 per day
• Supplemental Liability Insurance: $17.58 daily
• Personal Accident Insurance: $6.99 per day
• Personal Effects Coverage: $6.99 per day

For a typical seven-day rental, these insurance products can add $385 to your bill, often doubling the final cost.

Sales Tactics at the Counter

Many customers report feeling pressured at the rental counter to purchase these insurance products. Agents often present these as mandatory or strongly advisable, particularly targeting international visitors or customers who seem unsure about their existing coverage.

What you need to know: In many cases, your personal auto insurance or credit card already provides adequate coverage for rental vehicles. Check your existing policies before your trip to avoid paying for duplicate coverage.

Toll Service Charges: Small Tolls, Big Fees

Dollar’s approach to toll charges is particularly problematic and accounts for 20% of fee-related complaints.

PlatePass Program

The PlatePass toll service costs $11.99 per day regardless of how many tolls you actually use. This means you could pay nearly $60 for a week-long rental even if you only incur $3.50 in actual toll charges.

The service activates automatically when you pass through an electronic toll collection point, and many customers discover these charges weeks after returning their vehicle.

Declining the Service? That’ll Cost You Too

If you decline the PlatePass service but end up going through tolls, Dollar charges the highest applicable toll rate plus a $15 administrative fee per toll instance, with fees capped at $90 per rental.

This creates a no-win situation: either pay for the expensive daily service or risk even higher administrative fees later.

Comparison with competitors: Most competitors charge a maximum of $19.75 per rental for toll services, while Dollar’s daily rate structure can result in charges exceeding $80 for a week-long rental.

Driver-Related Surcharges

Additional Driver Fees

Dollar charges $15 per day for each additional authorized driver. For a week-long rental, that’s an extra $105 just to let your spouse or friend take a turn behind the wheel.

There are some exceptions: spouses of Dollar Express Rewards members may drive without additional fees, but this policy is inconsistently applied across locations.

Young Driver Surcharges

Drivers between the ages of 20-24 face an additional surcharge of approximately $25 per day on top of the regular rental rate.

For a young driver with one additional driver on a week-long rental, these driver-related charges can add $280 to the total cost.

Fuel and Vehicle Condition Charges

Fueling Options and Pitfalls

Dollar offers prepaid fuel options that seem convenient but typically cost significantly more than local gas stations. If you decline their prepaid option, you must return the vehicle with the same fuel level as at pickup or face charges of $8-12 per gallon – roughly triple the market rate.

Cleaning and Damage Fees

• Smoking in the vehicle: $400 cleaning fee
• General cleaning: $50-250 depending on condition
• Pet-related cleaning: $50-150

These fees are applied at Dollar’s discretion and have generated numerous complaints from customers who dispute the need for cleaning services.

How Dollar Compares to Competitors

When it comes to fee transparency and customer satisfaction, Dollar consistently ranks near the bottom of the industry.

Pre-Rental Protection Strategies

Research Your Existing Insurance Coverage

Before your trip, check if your auto insurance policy or credit cards offer rental car protection. Many premium credit cards include collision damage waiver benefits that can save you from purchasing Dollar’s expensive Loss Damage Waiver.

Consider Off-Airport Locations

Renting from a non-airport location can save you 15-25% by avoiding airport concession recovery fees and other airport-specific charges. The transportation costs to reach off-airport locations typically represent a fraction of the potential savings.

Join Dollar Express Rewards

Membership in Dollar’s loyalty program can eliminate some fees, including the additional driver fee for spouses. Joining is free, so it’s worth signing up before your rental.

Compare Total Costs, Not Just Base Rates

When comparing rental options, estimate the total cost including all potential fees rather than focusing solely on the advertised daily rate. A slightly higher base rate from a company with fewer fees may offer better overall value.

At the Rental Counter: Protecting Yourself

Document Everything

Take comprehensive photos of the vehicle’s exterior, interior, fuel gauge, and odometer reading before leaving the lot. These images provide valuable evidence if disputes arise regarding damage or fuel charges.

Review the Contract Carefully

Rental agents often rush customers through the signing process. Insist on reviewing all charges before signing the electronic agreement and refuse to add any services you didn’t specifically request.

Ask for Written Confirmation of Declined Services

If you decline insurance or other add-ons, ask for written confirmation. This prevents unauthorized additions to your bill and gives you documentation if disputes arise later.

Verify the Fuel Policy

Confirm the fuel policy and document the fuel level at pickup. Consider filling up at a nearby gas station right before returning to avoid excessive refueling charges.

What to Do If You’ve Already Been Charged

Review Your Agreement

Check the rental agreement you signed to determine which charges were properly disclosed and which may have been added without authorization.

Contact Customer Service

Reach out to Dollar’s customer service department to dispute any unauthorized or unexpected charges. Be prepared to provide evidence supporting your case, such as photos of the vehicle condition or fuel level.

File a Complaint

If customer service doesn’t resolve your issue, consider filing complaints with:

• Better Business Bureau
• Your state’s consumer protection agency
• The Federal Trade Commission

Credit Card Dispute

For unauthorized charges, consider disputing the transaction with your credit card company. They can often intervene on your behalf to resolve billing issues.

Regulatory Changes on the Horizon

The Federal Trade Commission has intensified scrutiny of rental car industry pricing practices, with new rules taking effect in May 2025 requiring greater transparency in fee disclosure.

Consumer advocacy groups like Travelers United have filed lawsuits against major rental companies, including Dollar’s parent company Hertz, challenging deceptive pricing practices. These legal actions seek to establish clearer standards for fee disclosure and eliminate misleading advertising practices.

The Dollar Difference: A Price Breakdown Example

To illustrate the impact of Dollar’s fee structure, let’s compare an advertised rate versus the likely final bill:

This example shows why customers are often shocked when receiving their final bill – it’s nearly four times the advertised rate!

Making an Informed Choice

If you still decide to rent from Dollar despite these fee concerns, make sure you’re prepared:

• Get insurance coverage through your credit card or personal policy
• Consider off-airport locations to avoid airport fees
• Join Dollar Express Rewards for potential fee waivers
• Document everything with photos and receipts
• Carefully review your contract before signing

Or consider alternatives like Enterprise, National, or Alamo, which consistently provide better customer experiences with more transparent pricing structures.

Remember: with rental cars, the advertised price rarely reflects what you’ll actually pay – but being informed about Dollar Car Rental hidden fees can help you avoid the worst surprises and make better travel decisions.