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Taxes, Surcharges Add Average of 24.4% to Rentals

FORT WORTH, Texas -- According to a new study from Travelocity, the average car rental customer pays an additional 24.4% in taxes and surcharges when renting at a major U.S. airport location.Whe...

by Staff
September 15, 2003
2 min to read


FORT WORTH, Texas -- According to a new study from Travelocity, the average car rental customer pays an additional 24.4% in taxes and surcharges when renting at a major U.S. airport location.

When reserving a rental car through Travelocity, customers receive pricing information that includes all taxes and surcharges. "This study indicates just how much of a surprise travelers can face when they rent a car after landing in their destination," said Travelocity CEO Sam Gilliland.

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The state charging the highest percentage in taxes and surcharges is Texas, according to the study. In fact, Texas is home to six of the top 10 airports with the biggest disparity between daily rate and total price. At leading Texas airports, consumers pay an average of a 51.7% markup on a rental car rate, Travelocity said.

Houston Bush Intercontinental, at 71.7% in additional taxes and fees, has the widest disparity between daily rate and total cost in the nation.

The 10 airports charging the highest percentage in taxes and surcharges are:

1. Houston Bush Intercontinental (71.7%)

2. Dallas/Ft. Worth International (61.1%)

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3. Austin Bergstrom (55.8%)

4. Cleveland Hopkins (51.7%)

5. Houston Hobby (51.7%)

6. Kansas City (48.1%)

7. Phoenix (48%)

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8. San Antonio (44.1%)

9. El Paso (42.9%)

10. Albuquerque (41.6%)

California is the state charging the least in taxes and surcharges. Because California's daily rates already include many of the car rental company and airport fees, the average markup for top airports in California only amounts to 11.5%. Car rental add-ons at Sacramento, at 7.7%, are the lowest among the top 100 airports nationwide.

Among the top 100 U.S. airports, the 10 airports with the smallest jump in price between daily rate and total price are:

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1. Sacramento (7.7%)

2. Palm Springs (7.8%)

3. Fresno (7.8%)

4. Burbank/Glendale/Pasadena (8.3%)

5. Long Beach (8.3%)

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6. Los Angeles (8.3%)

7. Orange County (10.2%)

8. San Diego (11.6%)

9. Syracuse (12.4%)

10. Buffalo/Niagara (13.1%)



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