What is the Grace Period for Returning a Rental Car?
- A rental car grace period gives you extra time to return a rental car with no additional charges.
- The grace period varies by rental company, but is typically 29 minutes.
- Some rental car companies like Enterprise and National offer an extended window ranging from one to two and a half hours where you’ll be charged an hourly rate.
- If the grace period ends and a discounted hourly rate isn’t available, you will be billed for an entire day.
When it’s time to return your rental car, unexpected situations can happen. You may be in an unfamiliar city, struggling to find the return location. You could take a wrong turn or get caught in traffic. Or, you might be visiting with family and friends and lose track of time. It’s not a big deal if you show up a little late, right? Well, it depends. Most rental car companies only have a 29-minute grace period after the return time. If you miss that window, you could be on the hook for an extra day.
Compare rental car grace periods
| Rental company | Grace period | Additional hourly rate applies | Additional full day rate applies |
|---|---|---|---|
 | 29 minutes | 30 minutes to two hours | After 29 minutes |
 | 29 minutes | After 29 minutes, an hourly rate will accumulate until it equals the rate of an additional day | N/A |
 | 29 minutes | After 29 minutes, an hourly rate applies indefinitely until the car is returned | N/A |
 | 29 minutes | 30 minutes to 1.5 hours | After 1.5 hours |
 | 29 minutes | 30 minutes to 2.5 hours | After 2.5 hours |
 | 29 minutes | 30 minutes to 1.5 hours | After 1.5 hours |
 | 29 minutes | 30 minutes to 2.5 hours | After 2.5 hours |
 | 29 minutes | N/A | After 29 minutes |
 | 29 minutes | 30 minutes to 1.5 hours | After 1.5 hours |
Alamo car rental grace period
Grace period: 29 minutes
Returns made between 30 minutes and two hours late will result in additional hourly charges. If the return is two hours late or more, an additional day’s rental fee will apply.
Avis car rental grace period
Grace period: 29 minutes
Returns made beyond the 29-minute grace period will incur an hourly rate that will accumulate until it equals the rate of an additional day.
Most Avis rental rates are based on a 24-hour rental period. For example, a vehicle rented at 10 a.m. for a one-day rental is due back at 10 a.m. the next day.
Budget car rental grace period
Grace period: 29 minutes
After 30 minutes, you’ll be charged an additional hourly rate, plus taxes.
If you’re not able to return the car — for example, due to needing to catch a flight — you can contact Dollar’s 24-hour emergency roadside assistance to arrange for a towing service to get the vehicle. However, you’ll be responsible for covering the cost of vehicle recovery.
Dollar™ car rental grace period
Grace period: 29 minutes
Returns made 30 minutes late or beyond will incur an extra charge. If the return is one hour and 30 minutes late or more, it will typically result in an additional day’s charge.
If you’re not able to return the car — for example, due to needing to catch a flight — you can contact Dollar’s 24-hour emergency roadside assistance to arrange for a towing service to get the vehicle. However, you’ll be responsible for covering the cost of vehicle recovery.
Enterprise car rental grace period
Grace period: 29 minutes
Returns made between 30 minutes and two hours and 30 minutes late will result in additional hourly charges. If the return is two hours and 30 minutes late or more, an additional day’s rental fee will apply.
Hertz car rental grace period
Grace period: 29 minutes
Returns made between 30 minutes and one hour and 30 minutes will result in additional hourly charges. If the return is one hour and 30 minutes late or more, an additional day’s rental fee will likely apply.
If you have the American Express Platinum Card®, you can enroll in the Hertz Gold Plus Rewards® loyalty program to get exclusive benefits, including up to a four-hour grace period when returning a rental car.
National car rental grace period
Grace period: 29 minutes
Returns made between 30 minutes and two hours and 30 minutes late will result in additional hourly charges. If the return is two hours and 30 minutes late or more, an additional day’s rental fee will apply.
Sixt rental grace period
Grace period: 29 minutes
After 30 minutes, you’ll be charged for a full additional day.
Thrifty car rental grace period
Grace period: 29 minutes
Returns made between 30 minutes and one hour and 30 minutes late will result in additional hourly charges. If the return is one hour and 30 minutes late or more, an additional day’s rental fee will apply.
Similar to its sister company Dollar, if you’re not able to return the car, you can contact Thrifty’s 24-hour emergency roadside assistance to arrange for a towing service to get the vehicle. However, you’ll be responsible for covering the cost of vehicle recovery.
Which rental car company has the best grace period?
Hertz has the best grace period for American Express Platinum Card® cardmembers — you’ll get a very generous period of up to four hours. Terms may apply. Also, while Enterprise and National have a standard grace period of 29 minutes, they do offer a long, two-and-half-hour window where you’ll pay an hourly rate before being charged for an extra day.
How do I get the best rental car rate?
You can get lower rates by shopping with sites like CarRentalSavers.com, Rentalcars.com or Costco Travel (if you’re a Costco member). AutoSlash can track rates after your booking, allowing you to rebook for free if the rate falls.
Additionally, you can use credit card points and miles to book rental cars through popular travel programs like the Capital One rewards program, Chase Ultimate Rewards® and American Express Membership Rewards.
Tips for avoiding extra charges
- Set reminders for drop-off times.
- Communicate with the rental company if delays are unavoidable.
- Know when it’s better to request an extension rather than risk extra fees.
Scenarios that might affect grace periods
-
Returning during holidays or weekends when locations are closed.
Typically, if you return a car after hours, the car won’t be checked in until the next business day. This means you may have to pay for an extra day. Try to return your rental car during business hours if possible. -
Airport returns.
Airport dropoff locations may have different policies than non-airport locations due to the high volume of travelers. Additionally, the return process might be more rigorous due to flight schedules like connections or you might have to take a shuttle. Understand the process before traveling to avoid fees. -
Early returns.
If your trip is cut short or you have a change in your travel plans, you may want to contact the rental car company before returning your car early to see what their policies are. In some cases, your rate may increase if your rental period is shorter than originally planned. Depending on the plan you selected when booking the car, you might be eligible for a refund for the unused days. However, if you prepaid for the rental, a refund may not be available.
Do I need car rental insurance?
If you use a credit card to pay for your rental car, you likely won’t need to pay for additional car rental insurance. Most credit cards offer at least secondary rental car coverage, which serves as a supplement to your personal auto insurance policy. A few cards, including the Chase Sapphire Reserve®, Chase Sapphire Preferred® Card and Capital One Venture X Rewards Credit Card, offer primary coverage.
Additionally, your personal auto insurance generally covers car rentals with the same amount of coverage as your own vehicle. But make sure to review your coverage to confirm before renting a car.
See the top credit cards for car rental insurance.
Frequently asked questions
While most rental car companies have a set grace period, it never hurts to ask if you can extend your rental time without penalty, especially if you have a valid reason for being late and a good history with the rental company. However, there’s no guarantee that they’ll extend without penalty.
Grace period policies are typically the same for one-way rentals; however, some one-way rentals might have a one-time drop charge, mileage charge or different rate depending on the location. Contact the dropoff location to confirm the details before booking.
It’s best to contact the rental car company as soon as possible to discuss your options. In some cases, it might be better to extend the terms of your rental agreement rather than incur any additional charges for a late return.
Yes, rental car companies typically have a grace period for pickup. Some allow for pickup within 24 hours of the scheduled pickup time, while others offer a grace period of one to two hours. Similar to a dropoff, contact your rental car company as soon as you think you might be delayed to confirm.