Surely silver makes sense?

[spiderman]

I've been quoted £350 (silver) and £411 (gold) for an Intermediate SUV with Budget. There will be two drivers so surely it makes sense to purchase the silver package as we wouldn't be charged nearly $100 for refueling would we? Or are there other benefits for upgrading to Gold?

And on the subject of refueling if we purchase the silver option do we return the vehicle empty and get charged by Budget or should we return the vehicle full and then we won't get charged?

Thanks!!

[Clare R]

With silver option on Budget you ALWAYS collect full/return full. If you return it empty you will be charged for it being refilled at a rate of about $6+ a gallon. silver option allows 2 drivers with no extra charge.

[SteveandJan]

You can purchase the tank of fuel with the silver option and take it back empty, that way it saves you trying to find a gas station prior to your return journey to the airport. We always do that and it works well.

[drino]

i always return full as it costs $25 to fill most intermediates but they charge you 60 something else...

[christhear]

We always go silver as there are only the 2 of us that drive. Gold sometimes works out cheaper if you are doing just one week.
Not all suppliers will let you return the car full, but their petrol rates are lower if you pay for the tank in advance

[shockey]

The problem with buying the tankful in advance on the silver option is that many people do not like to risk running out, so in practice leave petrol in the tank when they return the car. So you pay for a tankful but give some of it back to the rental company for free. Unless you are very good at guessing when the tank really will be empty, I would return the car full and not purchase the tankful in advance.

[ujpest doza]

there will only be me driving and the Gold Option is £60 more than the Silver option for a 7 seater mini van.

Is there any real reason for me to pay the extra £60 for Gold?

[steph_goodrum]

The main thing is insuramnce, as they are both exactly the same with both options then there isnt any reason to pay for Gold. If you are going for a short stay then Gold can be cheaper than a tank of fuel but for longer stays it usually works out cheaper to pay for the fuel yourself if you can. I dont know if it is random or because we are Express members but when we came in April with car in brothers nam who couldnt get the registration for Express through in time, they wouldnt allow him to bring it back full and charged $80 for the tank, when we came we said we want to bring it back full and they said no problem.
Incidentally regarding the guesswork to bring it back,. this Ford Fusion we have this time has a nifty option on the dash to show the "distance to empty" which can be useful as you dont have to try to guage how far before you need to fill up from the petrol guage.