Vehicle & fleet · Travelers + trade
Full to empty
Also called full-empty, pre-purchased fuel
The short answerFuel policy where you pay for a full tank at pickup and can return the car with any fuel level, usually with no refund for what's left.
What it means
With full to empty, you pay up front for a full tank of fuel, at the rental company's price, and can bring the car back as empty as you like. Fuel left in the tank is usually not refunded. Some rental companies add a service fee on top of the fuel.
Why it matters
It saves a stop on the way back, but you pay for a full tank whether you use it or not. It tends to suit long trips where you'll use almost all of it.
Related terms
- Fuel policyThe rule for how much fuel the car has at pickup, how much it should have at return, and what you pay if it doesn't.
- Full to fullFuel policy where you pick up with a full tank and return it full; if it isn't full, the rental company refuels it and charges you.
- Fuel purchase option (prepaid fuel)An optional extra where you buy a tank of fuel from the rental company at pickup and return the car without refueling.
- Refueling chargeWhat the rental company charges to refill a car returned with less fuel than the policy requires.