One Way Car Rental in Uganda

Find out what you need to know about the fee rental companies charge if you want to pick up a rental car in one place and drop it off somewhere else. A few Uganda Car hire companies charge a one-way fee to cover the cost of taking the car back to its original location.

Want to rent a car in a location and return it to a different one? How about returning the car in another country? Here’s what you need to know.

Different pick-up and drop-off locations FAQ

Can you return a rental car in a different location?
Yes, you can return the car in a different location. Usually, this is called “one-way rental”. However, please note that, an extra fee may be applied to your reservation.

Does it cost more to return a rental car in a different location?

Usually, rental companies charge a return fee, but it depends on the pick-up and drop-off location, date of reservation, car category and more. A good way to know how much the return will cost is to search for the price of the rental returning the car in the same location and with different pick-up and drop-off locations.

Can you return a car in a different country?

This is most common in Uganda, where crossing borders is fairly easy. Usually, rental companies will let you cross borders with the rental car, but a cross-border fee may be also applied in addition to the one-way rental fee.  For example COMESA is paid for two weeks.

As the rules vary a lot depending on the location and the rental company, we always suggest you check the specific policies of each city, country and company.

Can you rent a car without a one-way or return fee?

It’s not common, but it happens. For highly popular road trips, this may be the case. For example, a lot of people rent a car from Uganda and drop it off in Uganda no return fee. Depending on the Company’s policy.

What is a one-way fee in car rental?

A one-way fee is what you pay to pick up a hire car in one place and drop it off somewhere else. Car hire companies charge the fee to cover the cost of taking the car back to its original location.

One-way fees can be charged when you take a car between cities or towns, between airports and between countries.

When will you pay the fee?

You’ll be asked to pay the one-way fee when you pick up your rental car. Most car hire companies ask you to pay the one-way fee using the same credit card you use to leave your security deposit. Some will let you pay the fee with another card.

You’ll pay for the one-way fee at the rental desk, not when you pay for your car. So if you’re renting a car abroad, you might end up paying the one-way fee in a different currency.

How can you get a good deal?

To get the best price, book the trip you’re planning up front. So if you know you’re picking up and dropping off in different places, start your search with them. If you book your hire car using the same pick-up and drop-off location, but then decide to change it, you are likely to pay extra charges.

Look out for all-inclusive deals. Some rental companies may include the one-way fee in the price you pay online for your booking but most don’t include it online so it’s better to ask the car rental Company, so there will be nothing to pay when you pick up your car. You’ll find all the information in the Ts & Cs of the car you’ve chosen.

Changing your plans at the last minute

If you booked a straightforward trip (dropping your car off in the same place you picked it up) but then decide to drop off your car in a different location before your rental starts, you’re likely to pay a price increase for the rental itself.

This is because changes to your trip tend to be made using the latest price, and prices tending to rise the closer it gets to the pick-up day. So, the later the changes, the higher the price of the car. The one-way fee will be charged on top of the rental price, when you arrive to pick up the car.

If you decide to drop off your car in a different place once you’ve picked it up, you’ll be charged a penalty fee rather than just a one-way fee. Penalty fees are always higher, so they are worth avoiding wherever possible.

How to find the one-way fee

When you’re booking a one-way rental, you’ll see references to the fee in a few different places. The first mention of it (how much it is, whether it’s included or not) should be in the list of cars available for the places and dates you’ve chosen.

You’ll see more details about the one-way fee in the Ts & Cs of your deal.

When you pick up your car, you should see the fee mentioned in the paperwork you sign at the counter. You might see the fee referred to by its initials.

On your bank statement, you’ll see this fee as a charge from the car hire company. All the fees they’ve charged will be in one amount. You should see a breakdown of all charges in the paperwork you receive when you pick up and drop off your rental car.

If you’ve been charged a one-way fee but you haven’t done a one-way trip with your rental car, you can fight that charge.

Why are one way car rentals so expensive?

The main factor that causes one way fees too expensive is the distance between destinations. The further your pick up and drop off points are, the more expensive your rental will be. This is because you are essentially rearranging a company’s fleet and they have to determine how much it would be to return the car or rent it out from a different branch. One way prices are also often determined by supply and demand. If you are moving a vehicle from somewhere it is in high demand to a location where it is in low demand, you’ll likely pay a steeper fee.

When do I pay the fee?

One way fees are usually paid at the beginning of your car hire, when you leave your deposit at the rental desk, not online during booking. This means if you are renting a car abroad, the fee may have to be paid in a foreign currency. However, this may not always be the case, so keep a clear record of what you paid ahead a time.

Can I always drop off my rental car at a different location?

No, certain restrictions often apply to one way car hires. Suppliers may only allow you to drop off a rental at select locations due to insurance policies and border-crossing regulations. However, even big name suppliers with hundreds of locations may restrict one way rentals based on demand.

Conclusion

Renting a car to enjoy everything in a city and the road have to offer is always a great choice, but sometimes you’ll find yourself thinking returning the rental car in a different location or country, may be easier than driving back to where you picked it up. Now, can you even return it in a different location? Because of the above currently asked questions.