Renting a car is sometimes the easiest way to get around whatever city you’re visiting. It may not always be the case – you have to take the cost of the rental, parking, ease and cost of alternative modes of transportation, etc., into consideration. But a lot of the time renting a car can make travel faster, more convenient, etc.
There was a time, not very long ago, when you could make two or more car reservations, pick the one that was the cheapest at the time of the actual rental, and just forget about the reservations you didn’t use. You could “no show” and it would be a matter of ‘no harm, no foul” – you’d get the cheapest rate, and the car rental company or companies you didn’t use would have an extra car to rent. After all, they overbook all the time, right? Remember what you had to do the last time a car rental company didn’t have a car for you?
Unfortunately, times have changed. Sure, car rental companies still overbook, just like hotels and airlines do. But if you no show for a hotel, you’ll lose that first night deposit. If you no show for an airline, you’ll still pay for the flight. So it’s not super surprising that deciding you don’t want to use whichever rental you had reserved and just ghosting them isn’t as much of an option anymore. Many times – but not always – you’ll be charged for being a no show. It all depends on what kind of reservation you made.
Of course, sometimes you may APPEAR to be a no show, but are actually just late – scroll down to read what to do in that circumstance.
Each car rental company describes its no show policy as part of its cancellation policy (because they’d rather you cancel than no show). Here’s how to determine if you’ll be charged or not, for each rental company (we’ve put the policies than refer to “no shows” in italics):
Alamo
Reservations can be modified or cancelled online.
Alamo’s Cancellation Policy:
- Free Cancellations:
Cancellations are accepted at anytime where a form of payment, like a credit or debit card, is not provided to secure the rental reservation. - Guaranteed Reservations:
Cancellations are accepted up to one calendar day before reservation date.
Reservations canceled more than 24 hours before the pick up time are free. If the reservation is canceled within 24 hours of the pick up or if the reservation is not used, a $50 cancellation fee will apply. - Pay Now Reservation Cancellation Fee:
Please note that you must present the card you prepay with at the time of rental pick-up.
If a Pay Now reservation is canceled more than 24 hours before the pick up time, a $50 cancellation fee will be assessed. If a Pay Now reservation is canceled within 24 hours of the pick up or is not picked up at all, a $100 no-show fee will be assessed. Any optional insurance or CDW product selected at the time of reservation may be canceled at the counter at the time of rental without incurring a cancellation fee. - Accelerated Check-In:
In the case of using Accelerated Check-In in conjunction with Pay Now, a cancellation fee may be applied. Otherwise, there is not a cancellation fee associated with Accelerated Check-In.
Avis
Our cancellation policies vary, depending on the type of reservation you’ve made:
Was your credit card charged for the rental at reservation time on avis.com?
If you wish to cancel before your rental pick-up time, you must cancel and request a refund online. Once cancelled, we will credit you within approximately seven business days. Credits will be applied to the same card with which you prepaid. You will incur a $50 processing fee if you choose to cancel a prepaid reservation 24 hours prior to the rental pickup time. If you need to cancel, we will refund the full prepaid amount less a $150 USD processing fee, during the 24 hour period prior to the scheduled pick-up time. If you do not cancel the reservation prior to the time of pick-up and the rental vehicle is not picked up on the rental date, no portion of the prepaid amount will be refunded.
If you return the vehicle before the original return date, you will not be refunded any portion of the payment.
Did you make a reservation without providing credit card information?
If you make a reservation without a credit card and you no longer need to rent, please cancel your reservation as soon as possible before your scheduled pick-up time.
Did you make a reservation with a travel agent or online booking agent?
The travel agency or online booking agent “owns” any reservation you originally made with them, so their reservation cancellation processes and policies apply.
Budget
Our cancellation policies vary, depending on the type of reservation you’ve made:
Was your credit card charged for the rental at reservation time on budget.com?
If you wish to cancel before your rental pick-up time, you must cancel and request a refund online. Once cancelled, we will credit you within approximately seven business days. Credits will be applied to the same card with which you prepaid. You will incur a $50 processing fee if you choose to cancel a prepaid reservation 24 hours prior to the rental pickup time. If you need to cancel, we will refund the full prepaid amount less a $150 USD processing fee, during the 24 hour period prior to the scheduled pick-up time. If you do not cancel the reservation prior to the time of pick-up and the rental vehicle is not picked up on the rental date, no portion of the prepaid amount will be refunded. If you return the vehicle before the original return date, you will not be refunded any portion of the payment. Learn more about canceling your prepaid reservation.
Was your credit card information required, but not charged, at reservation time?
For high-demand cars or in instances in which only one vehicle is available within a popular make/model, some Budget locations may require that you provide your credit card information to secure your reservation. As is common practice among hotels, this type of reservation does not require charging your card unless you decide you no longer need the car rental but then fail to cancel in advance of your designated pick-up time. You may cancel up to 48 hours in advance of your designated pick-up time without penalty. If you cancel less than 48 hours before your pick-up time, a $75 U.S. fee will be assessed.
Did you make a reservation without providing credit card information?
If you make a reservation without a credit card and you no longer need to rent, please cancel your reservation as soon as possible before your scheduled pick-up time.
Did you make a reservation with a travel agent or online booking agent?
The travel agency or online booking agent “owns” any reservation you originally made with them, so their reservation cancellation processes and policies apply.
Dollar
Prepaid Cancellation Information
When you pay in advance for your qualified reservation, your Pay Now discount will automatically be applied to your rate. Up to two changes may be made before scheduled pickup. If those modifications result in changes to the prepaid amount, the difference will be charged or credited to your credit/debit card. The booking credit card must be presented at the rental counter for confirmation of reservation.
Cancellation/No-Show Rules Fees
Cancel within 24 hours or reservation: No Fee
Cancel more than 24 hours before scheduled pickup: $100.00
Cancel less than 24 hours before scheduled pickup: $200.00
No-Show: Total Prepaid Amount
Note: Dollar’s Prepay Terms & Conditions give different dollar amounts for cancellations/no shows:
Changes to a reservation must be done at Dollar.com using the “Modify/Cancel” option. Any changes to the reservation may impact the rental charges. If a prepaid reservation is cancelled more than 24 hours before the pickup time, a $50 cancellation fee will be assessed. If the prepaid reservation is cancelled within 24 hours before the pickup time, a $100 fee will be assessed. If the customer does not cancel the reservation prior to the time of pick-up and the rental vehicle is
not picked up on the rental date, the entire prepaid amount will be forfeited.
Enterprise
If you have already picked up your vehicle:
If you have already picked up your vehicle and wish to keep it longer; you must contact the location where you picked up the vehicle.
If you have not picked up your vehicle:
If you have not picked up your vehicle you can view, modify, or cancel your reservation by clicking here. When visiting this page, you will need to make sure all fields are filled out. If you fail to enter in your confirmation number, first name, and last name — the reservation will not be found. If you have entered in all this information correctly and still cannot modify your reservation, please contact us.
If you modify your pick-up or drop-off location, date or time, this may result in a change to your rates, taxes, surcharges, or underage fees. Please see your new rate quote when you verify your reservation
Will I be charged if I cancel my reservation?
North American website & app:
If you did not prepay for your reservation, there will not be a cancellation fee.
If you prepaid for your vehicle, the following conditions will apply (applicable in US and Canada only):
- If you cancel your booking more than 1 day (24 Hours) before your specified pick-up time, you will receive a full refund minus a cancellation fee of USD $50 / CAD $65.
- If you cancel your booking less than 1 day (24 Hours) before your specified pick-up time, you will receive a full refund minus a cancellation fee of USD $100 / CAD $135.
European website & app:
If you did not prepay for your reservation, there will not be a cancellation fee.
If you prepaid for your vehicle the following conditions will apply (applicable in Europe only):
You will not be charged a cancelation fee if you cancel your reservation 7 days ahead of time
If you cancel your booking less than 7 days, but at least 24 hours before your specified pick up time you will be refunded the booking amount minus a small cancellation fee. You will need to call 1 (855) 266-9289 to find out the exact cancellation fee.
If you cancel your booking in less than 24 hours before your specified pick up time, you will not be entitled to a refund.
Will I be charged if I don’t show up for my reservation?
If you fail to pick up your prepaid rental on the specified pick-up date, you will receive a full refund minus a no show fee of USD $100 / CAD $135.
Will my rate change if I modify my reservation?
Possibly – rental rates can change on a daily basis so changing the dates or number of days may change the daily rate.
Reservations booked on a third party website must be canceled through the third party website. Reservations agents cannot change reservations booked on these websites nor can you cancel them on the Enteprise.com website. Please return to the website where you originally booked the reservation.
Hertz
NO SHOWS/LOST RENTALS
1. If you fail to cancel your reservation prior to the Pick Up Time and do not collect the vehicle on the Pick Up Date, or if you fail to comply with the pick-up terms (refer Rental Qualifications & Requirements), we reserve the right to make a No Show/Lost Rental Charge as per table below which recovers our administration costs and compensates us for our inability to rent the vehicle when it was reserved for your use:
|
Currency |
Hertz |
Firefly |
Dollar & Thrifty |
|
EURO |
95.00 |
119.00 |
119.00 |
|
GBP |
70.00 |
88.00 |
88.00 |
|
CHF |
140.00 |
175.00 |
175.00 |
|
SEK |
750.00 |
938.00 |
938.00 |
|
NOK |
750.00 |
938.00 |
938.00 |
|
ZAR |
1,050.00 |
1,313.00 |
1,313.00 |
|
DKK |
700.00 |
875.00 |
875.00 |
|
AED |
450.00 |
563.00 |
563.00 |
|
SAR |
450.00 |
563.00 |
563.00 |
|
KWD |
50.00 |
63.00 |
63.00 |
|
RUB |
3,500.00 |
4,375.00 |
4,375.00 |
|
OMR |
50.00 |
63.00 |
63.00 |
|
QAR |
400.00 |
500.00 |
500.00 |
|
BHD |
50.00 |
63.00 |
63.00 |
|
USD |
130.00 |
163.00 |
163.00 |
|
PLN |
400.00 |
500.00 |
500.00 |
|
AUD |
150.00 |
188.00 |
N/A |
2. We will refund your prepayment, less the No Show/Lost Rental Charge, if you write to us within 90 days of the Pick-Up Date at Hertz Prepaid Accounting Department, Hertz Europe Service Centre, Swords Business Park, Swords, Co. Dublin, Ireland requesting repayment and enclosing a copy of your Reservation Confirmation.
National
National doesn’t mention on their FAQ specific prices about canceling vs. no shows. However a phone call to National revealed that they will charge you $100 if you don’t cancel your reservation before the pick up time.
Payless
If you need to cancel 48 hours prior to the scheduled pick-up time, we will refund the full prepaid amount, less a $50.00 USD processing fee. If the prepay amount is less than $50.00 USD, the entire amount will be forfeited.
If you do not cancel your reservation 48 hours prior to the scheduled pick-up time or if you fail to rent the car, the entire prepaid amount will be forfeited.
If you return the vehicle before the original return date (early return), you will not be refunded any portion of the payment.
Retain your reservation confirmation number as it is necessary for modification or cancellation refund requests.
Cancellation refund requests must be made on Paylesslac.com using your reservation number and canceling your existing reservation.
Underpayments will be handled at the counter at time of rental return. Unfortunately, we can’t promise that your prepaid daily car rate will apply if you change car types, lengthen or shorten your rental period or change your pick up location.
Upon returning the vehicle, Payless will process a release of the unused portion of the hold taken at the time of pickup subject to your bank’s procedure. This hold may take up to two weeks to be released by your bank.
If you fail to return the vehicle as agreed, Payless will obtain additional authorizations from your account to cover the rental charges.
A “No Show” is a customer that has a confirmed reservation but does not cancel or “show up” at the rental counter. Charges for some vehicles may apply if the reservation is not cancelled at least 24 hours in advance of the reserved pick-up time. Please cancel your reservation in the same manner as you made it, i.e. phone or on line Travel Agency to avoid “no show” charges.
Sixt
What if I want to cancel my reservation?
You can cancel your reservation either by logging onto ‘My Sixt ’ or contacting our US Reservations Team at reservations-usa@sixt.com. For Canada reservations please contact us at reservations-can@sixt.com.
Is there a fee to cancel a reservation?
If you have booked a pay later reservation, there is no charge to cancel or make changes to the reservation. You can cancel or make changes here. If you are unable to make the changes you require via the website, you can also contact us via mail reservations-usa@sixt.com. For Canada reservations please contact us at reservations-can@sixt.com.
Note: For corporate customers with individual agreements alternative prices and regulations can apply.
How much will I get charged for cancelling a pre-paid booking?
Cancellation fees apply to all pre-paid bookings. However, the fee varies depending on when you cancel.
For reservations in the USA, the following applies:
If you cancel 24 hours or more before your scheduled pick-up time, you will be charged a $100 cancellation fee (plus tax, if applicable).
If you cancel less than 24 hours before your scheduled pick-up time, you will be charged a $200 cancellation fee (plus tax, if applicable).
For reservations in Canada applies:
If you cancel 24 hours or more before your scheduled pick-up time, you will be charged a 65 CAD cancellation fee (plus tax, if applicable).
If you cancel less than 24 hours before your scheduled pick-up time, you will be charged a 150 CAD cancellation fee (plus tax, if applicable).
Upon cancellation, your payment – minus the cancellation fee – will be refunded. You can cancel your pre-paid reservation online by providing us with your security code. You can find the security code in the confirmation email. If you need help, feel free to email our reservations team: reservations-usa@sixt.com. For Canada reservations please contact us at reservations-can@sixt.com.
How much notice do I need to give to cancel a reservation?
You can cancel anytime before the start of your rental. For pre-paid bookings, the cancellation fee depends on how much prior notice you give us and can be up to $200 in the US and up to 150 CAD in Canada (plus tax, if applicable).
Please note: if you do not cancel your pre-paid booking prior to the start of your rental, you will be charged the full rental price — even if you do not pick up the vehicle.
Thrifty
Changes to a reservation must be done at Thrifty.com using the “Modify/Cancel” option. Any changes to the reservation may impact the rental charges. If a prepaid reservation is cancelled more than 24 hours before the pickup time, a $50 cancellation fee will be assessed. If the prepaid reservation is cancelled within 24 hours before the pickup time, a $100 fee will be assessed. If the customer does not cancel the reservation prior to the time of pick-up and the rental vehicle is
not picked up on the rental date, the entire prepaid amount will be forfeited.
What if I’m just late, but not a no-show?
Of course, it possible you may APPEAR to be a no-show, but in actuality you’re just late to pick up your rental car because of plane delays/cancellations.
Each car rental company has its own policy for determining if you’re a no show vs. running late. The policy may also vary depending on whether you’re renting from an airport location vs. non-airport location, what time the car rental office closes, etc.
- Alamo
- Avis (under Avis Location Services)
- Budget – varies upon location
- Dollar – can’t find any policy reflecting late pickup
- Enterprise
- Hertz
- National
- Payless – can’t find any policy reflecting late pickup
- Sixt
- Thrifty – varies upon location
If you’re renting car following a plane trip, include your plan information in your reservation, if possible. If you know you’re going to be late because your plane is already delayed, contact the rental car company and let them know; it may help them, as they say, “serve you better.”
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1 comment
One question would be: what happens if you don’t pick up a car for which you haven’t specifically attached a credit card to but the rental company has one of your credit cards on file (in your profile, for instance). Will they attempt to charge that card?