Planning to rent a car in Puerto Rico requires understanding fuel policies, which are easily overlooked in fine print. These policies are often hidden in the fine print, and overlooking them can lead to unexpected refuelling fees at drop-off. Many travellers make mistakes, such as returning the car without refuelling, and end up paying far more than they expected. This guide explains each fuel policy for car rentals in Puerto Rico.
A fuel policy in car rentals explains how petrol is handled during the rental period. It tells you how much fuel is in the car when you collect it and how it should be returned. Fuel policies can affect the total rental cost. When the policy is followed correctly, you pay only for the fuel you actually use.
If it is not followed, companies charge refuelling fees or apply inflated per-litre prices, which can increase the final bill. Rental companies differ in their fuel policies. For example, one company might use a full-to-full policy, while another may apply a same-to-same approach. These differences exist because each company manages fuel in its own way.
Car rental companies in Puerto Rico typically use a few common fuel policies. Each policy determines who fills the tank and at what cost, and each has its pros and cons.
This is the simplest and often the most cost-effective fuel policy. Full to full means the car is provided with a full tank of fuel at pickup, and you are expected to return it with a full tank. Before dropping the car off, you refuel at a petrol station and bring the tank back to full. If you return the car fully refuelled, you avoid fuel surcharges and pay only for the fuel you used at normal pump prices.
The downsides are minor but worth noting. You need to allow time to find a petrol station before returning the car. If you forget to refuel or return it less than full, the company will charge for the missing fuel, often at a much higher rate.
Under a prepaid fuel policy, also known as full to empty, you pay the rental company for a full tank of petrol at the start of your rental. You can then return the car with any amount of fuel remaining, even if it's close to empty. This option is convenient because you won’t need to find a petrol station before drop-off.
That convenience usually comes at a higher cost. Rental companies often charge more per litre for prepaid fuel than local petrol stations. In addition, any unused fuel is not refunded. If you return the car with fuel still in the tank, you have effectively paid for petrol you did not use. It may be useful if you have an early flight, a very tight schedule, or are confident you will use nearly the entire tank. It can also appeal to travellers who prioritise convenience over cost and want to avoid refuelling altogether.
A less common fuel policy you may encounter is same to same. This means the car’s fuel tank is at a certain level when you collect it, not necessarily full, and you must return it at exactly the same level. For example, if the car starts at three-quarters full, you are expected to bring it back at three-quarters full.
This policy may seem reasonable, but accuracy is the main challenge. Fuel gauges are not precise, especially when showing partial levels. You may think you have matched the original level, only to find that the gauge reads slightly lower at drop-off. If the car is returned even slightly below the starting level, the rental company may charge for the difference, often at a higher per-litre rate. To avoid this, you can add extra fuel as a precaution, which can result in paying for fuel you never use.
The pay-on-return fuel policy applies when the rental company refuels the car after you return it and then charges you for the fuel that was missing. If you do not refill the tank yourself, the company will handle it on your behalf and add the cost to your final bill. This is often what happens when a full-to-full agreement is not followed.
In addition, they may apply a separate refuelling or service fee. Even if it is offered upfront as a convenient option, the inflated fuel rate and extra fees mean you will almost always pay more than necessary. It is best viewed as a backup solution for situations where refuelling is impossible. To avoid unexpected charges, refuel the car yourself before returning it. Doing so ensures you pay standard pump prices and prevents surprise fuel fees appearing on your credit card later.
Choosing the right fuel policy comes down to saving money and avoiding unnecessary stress.
On short trips of just a few days with limited driving, full to full is clearly the best choice. You are unlikely to use an entire tank, so you only need to top up what you consumed before returning the car. Prepaid fuel would require paying for a full tank you will not finish, which is rarely cost effective for brief stays.
For longer visits, full to full fuel policy offers the most flexibility and control. Even if you drive enough to use a full tank or more, you can refuel as needed at standard prices and refill before drop off. Prepaid fuel does not remove the need for refuelling on longer trips and usually provides no real savings.
Road trips around the island are well suited to a full-to-full policy. Puerto Rico is compact, and you will find gas stations in Puerto Rico along highways and in towns, making refuelling simple. Full to full avoids the stress of matching an exact fuel level and prevents paying for unused petrol, which can happen with prepaid or same to same policies.
Puerto Rico’s terrain and traffic conditions can influence how much fuel you burn, so it’s helpful to understand these factors as you plan your drives. Being aware of local driving conditions is another kind of fuel tip for driving in Puerto Rico. It helps you estimate your fuel needs and avoid running low unexpectedly.
In San Juan, you’ll likely encounter stop-and-go traffic, especially during rush hours. Crawling in traffic or waiting at long lights means the engine is idling and not getting far per litre of fuel. Frequent stopping and accelerating will lower your effective fuel economy. In contrast, driving in rural areas or along highways at steady speeds is more fuel-efficient.
However, even rural roads in Puerto Rico often pass through small towns where you might slow down or stop occasionally. The key point is that heavy urban traffic can make you use fuel faster than you’d expect for the distance traveled. Try to avoid peak traffic times in the San Juan metro area. A drive that might use 1 gallon of fuel on an open road could use noticeably more with constant A/C and start-stop congestion.
The island’s interior is hilly and mountainous. If you plan to drive to areas like El Yunque National Forest or the central mountain towns, climbing steep hills will have your engine burning more fuel than cruising on flat terrain. You may need to use lower gears and your engine will work harder, which empties the tank faster. Likewise, winding roads mean you can’t always use the most fuel-efficient speeds.
Gas stations along Puerto Rico’s mountains can be scarce, so fuel up before heading into remote areas. Don’t head into the central mountains with a near-empty tank expecting the next village to definitely have a station. It might be many miles of forest before the next pump. Plan ahead and fill your tank in larger towns before going to remote places.
On the highways (autopistas) like PR-22 or PR-52, you can usually drive at a constant speed. Your car will typically get better mileage on these highway stretches because continuous driving at moderate speed is efficient. Just be mindful that driving much faster can reduce efficiency due to wind resistance.
In contrast, stop-and-go driving in towns or the outskirts, with frequent stops, speed bumps, and turns, will reduce your miles per gallon or kilometres per litre. Using air conditioning is almost a must in Puerto Rico’s tropical climate, but it adds to fuel consumption, especially when driving slowly or idling.
If you’re trying to stretch your fuel, you can turn off A/C when climbing a very steep hill or when you don’t need it. The good news is distances in Puerto Rico are not vast. For example, a drive from San Juan to Ponce is around 120 kilometres. Even with some traffic or hills, a typical car can do that on a relatively small portion of your tank.
Choosing the right fuel policy for your car rental can make a difference to your travel budget and your overall experience. In Puerto Rico, the full-to-full fuel policy is the best choice. It offers the lowest cost, the least confusion, and the greatest peace of mind. Same-to-same policies require careful attention, prepaid fuel is often poor value, and pay-on-return options should be avoided if possible. With full to full, you can pay standard gas prices instead of inflated rates from the rental company.
Get the best car rental deals by renting a car in Puerto Rico with Final Rentals. With Final Rentals, booking a car online is fast and simple. Select Luis Munoz Marin International Airport or Rafael Hernandez Airport as your pickup location, enter your travel dates, and choose a vehicle for your trip. Book and manage your car rental at any time. Download the Final Rentals app on Google Play and the App Store.
