Advocates from the Consumer Federation of America and AAA said customers should still try to fill up rentals themselves before returning the car to save the most money. "The bottom line is you're always going to pay a penalty if you don't refuel yourself," said Jack Gillis, the federation's director of public affairs.
Maryland's agreement will reduce the hassle for travelers, many from out of state, who are running late or don't know where gas stations close to the airport are, said Lon Anderson, government relations director for AAA Mid-Atlantic.
"We all know that we don't get the best deal when we return the tank half empty," Anderson said at the BWI briefing. "But is it fair that we should have to pay $7.99 a gallon?"
Gansler said he decided to push for refueling rate relief after renting a car on a business trip to Mississippi last fall. When he picked up the rental car at the Memphis airport, Gansler said he was astonished by the high fees. He then started meeting with rental companies in December to pursue the new agreements.
Enterprise, which owns National and Alamo car rentals, was the exception, Gansler said. Last week Enterprise's refueling rate at BWI was $5.20 a gallon.
Most customers interviewed at BWI yesterday said they still planned to gas up themselves.
"I'm going to fill it up myself -it's still cheaper," said Wanda McGuffy, a New Orleanian in town for her son's basketball tournament.
But Felipe Macias, a salesman from Houston, said he is too rushed on business trips to stop at a gas station to fill up. He had Hertz refuel the car. "When you're in a rush to get here, you have no other option," he said.
laura.mccandlish@baltsun.com
New refueling rates
Enterprise/National/ Alamo, up to 133 percent of average price per gallon of gasoline
Hertz, up to 135 percent of market price, or flat rate of up to $10 per vehicle
Thrifty/Dollar Rent A Car, up to 135 percent, or up to $10 per vehicle
Avis/Budget, up to 142 percent of market price
Source:Attorney General's Office
