[vf208]

I've just dropped my car off at the dealer to have a few things looked and the loan car I've been given has absolutely no petrol in it. Does anybody know if there is a minimum amount of fuel I can expect or am I expected to put some in myself?

[creepy coupe]

Enough to get to a filling station, it's only right you put in what you use IMO

PS. why is this in the tech section?

[doughboy]

Originally Posted by vf208

I've just dropped my car off at the dealer to have a few things looked and the loan car I've been given has absolutely no petrol in it. Does anybody know if there is a minimum amount of fuel I can expect or am I expected to put some in myself?

You always have to leave it at the level you found it, as with any hire or loan car IMO.

So just put in what you need, its your loss if you fill it too much....

[vf208]

Fair enough - that's what I thought.

I was just having a grumble as I'd had a long journey to get to the garage what with the snow, and a wait at the service centre so I didn't want to also have to go to the petrol station before going to work...

Apologies for posting in the wrong section...

[doughboy]

Think yourself lucky to even get a loan car IMO.

I have to book in 2 months in advance to get on the waiting list for a car, then cos I've had a ban in the last 5 years they won't let me drive one!!

[vf208]

They have charged me for the loan car though. I figured there would be a minimum amount in it as you would expect from a loan company. I barely have enough to get me to the petrol station...

[creepy coupe]

Originally Posted by vf208

They have charged me for the loan car though. I figured there would be a minimum amount in it as you would expect from a loan company. I barely have enough to get me to the petrol station...

I think you'll find the charge was for insurance, how much was it?

[SoYank]

When you take it back, drive it until you have to push it onto the forecourt or let it idle in the parking lot until it quits from lack of fuel. Maybe then the numpties would understand and the next person that gets a loaner won't find themselves in the same situation.

[Googlyamnesiac]

I randomly had an old 5 series recently as a loan car. petrol light was on when I got in it, I went an put a tenner in, it didn't move and light was still on. Typical, I think it was just broken and probably had loads already in it!

[ComputerKnowHow]

I once got a loan of a 1 series which had a range of "--- miles" i.e. less than 0 miles left of fuel. The guy at Knights North Staffs went to great lengths to point out I should return the vehicle with the same amount of fuel as when I got it. I replied with, "So, f*** all then?"

I don't expect a full tank, but I expect more than a whiff of petrol in the tank. I did my best to razz it to the petrol station but unfortunately it didn't run out on the way.... I thought it would be amusing to point out that they hadn't even given me enough fuel to get to a petrol station.

[E902717]

It drives me f*cking insane when the hire cars have no fuel in them

why dont they just say it must have a full tank on its return or charge the customer for fuel? if its always full you haven't got to worry about pushing it to a petrol station, and you just fill it up before you drop it back its full for the next person and you have only paid for the fuel you have used.

[M3-FAST]

Originally Posted by ComputerKnowHow

I once got a loan of a 1 series which had a range of "--- miles" i.e. less than 0 miles left of fuel. The guy at Knights North Staffs went to great lengths to point out I should return the vehicle with the same amount of fuel as when I got it. I replied with, "So, f*** all then?"

I don't expect a full tank, but I expect more than a whiff of petrol in the tank. I did my best to razz it to the petrol station but unfortunately it didn't run out on the way.... I thought it would be amusing to point out that they hadn't even given me enough fuel to get to a petrol station.

Knight South Staffs have given me loan cars on more than one occasion with less than 5 miles worth of fuel in them. Nothing worse when your pride and joy has been towed in the night before with yet another fault, and when you get a lift to the dealer in the morning to pick up your 118d ES it has 2 miles worth of fuel in. Makes you even later in the office as you have to then stop for petrol! Even more difficult then, when you don't know how long you are keeping the car for, so can't judge how much to put in, as out of damn principle the car is NOT going back with more in!! End up at the fuel station putting in a fiver at a time

Should do as Paul says, and like most hire companies do, supply the tank full, take a swipe of a card and bill you for anything less than a full tank on return.

My worst experience was when BMW had to loan me an Enterprise loan 318D for a day. I had done about 40 miles in it and topped it back up with a tenner which should have been more than enough. They then billed me an additional £13 for fuel as they delivered the car to work and collected it again and charged me for the two 26 miles journeys. BMW offered the loan as my car had broken yet again so 40 miles worth of courtesy car driving cost me £26 Had to claim the £26 back from BMW UK customer services.

All crap service courtesy of Knight South Staffs Pleased to say the M3 has never (and hopefully never will) put a wheel in their service department!

[willhollin]

Down to cost cutting I guess, 10 loan cars full of fuel would cost around £600 quid, better off in their bank than in the fuel tank.

[beemerbird]

Originally Posted by willhollin

Down to cost cutting I guess, 10 loan cars full of fuel would cost around £600 quid, better off in their bank than in the fuel tank.

To a point Will but surely they claim the VAT back!

Makes me laugh really, all these cars consistently running low on fuel and bugger me, if anyone takes the time to it clearly advises not to let the fuel run too low as it could shag up the electronics (hopefully there shouldn't be any nasty shite in the bottom of the tank of a newish car), yet the dealers (of any marque) seem to pay little or no attention to this.

To be fair there's only been two occasions where I've had to put fuel in when getting a loan car from any of the German marques. Sounds like I've just been lucky. Certainly NEVER been charged for the use of any dealers loan car!

[E902717]

I'm the opposite Helen I've never had a loan car with any fuel in it! once before i had dropped my car off for a service and jumped in the loan car and it said ---miles left i got back out and went into the stealers and said to the service bloke if it cuts out before i get to the garage i will leave it in the middle of the road and you lot can sort it!

I know its not a major thing but it doesn't half pi$$ me off!!! The only time ive had one with fuel in is when i had to meet the DP about the hubs on my current car being rusty (i had only had it 2 weeks) he grabbed the nearest sales guy and took his keys of him and gave them to me! The sales guy didn't know what to say especially as he was the one who tried to fob me off a couple of days earlier and say the rusting hubs was normal!

The DP was the only bloke in there that had any bloody common sense! The rest are muppets!

Also think you only get charged for a hire car when using there insurance normally about £25 if you drive it on your own insurance its free.

[beemerbird]

Originally Posted by E902717

I'm the opposite Helen I've never had a loan car with any fuel in it! once before i had dropped my car off for a service and jumped in the loan car and it said ---miles left i got back out and went into the stealers and said to the service bloke if it cuts out before i get to the garage i will leave it in the middle of the road and you lot can sort it!

I know its not a major thing but it doesn't half pi$$ me off!!! The only time ive had one with fuel in is when i had to meet the DP about the hubs on my current car being rusty (i had only had it 2 weeks) he grabbed the nearest sales guy and took his keys of him and gave them to me! The sales guy didn't know what to say especially as he was the one who tried to fob me off a couple of days earlier and say the rusting hubs was normal!

The DP was the only bloke in there that had any bloody common sense! The rest are muppets!

Also think you only get charged for a hire car when using there insurance normally about £25 if you drive it on your own insurance its free.

This what I mean Paul, how come I've only had to put fuel in a couple of times. I didn't realise until reading this thread how widespread this sort of thing is. I totally agree with you as well, would really piss me off too.

You're really going to hate me now........never paid for insurance either. Used mine or the dealers covered it (particularly Porsche).........but I am old you know.

[chris330D]

I've had the nowt but air in the tank and everything up to a full tank of fuel But you should not be paying for a loan car unless there is a good reason. Have never done that.

[doughboy]

Originally Posted by beemerbird

You're really going to hate me now........never paid for insurance either. Used mine or the dealers covered it (particularly Porsche).........but I am old you know.

It still the dealers insurance, but they charge you £15 'admin' fee for the cover.

BS I reckon, and I refused to pay it when my car was in for purely warranty work.

(before I got a 2 week pseeding ban and was refused any loan cars....)

[beemerbird]

Originally Posted by doughboy

It still the dealers insurance, but they charge you £15 'admin' fee for the cover.

BS I reckon, and I refused to pay it when my car was in for purely warranty work.

(before I got a 2 week pseeding ban and was refused any loan cars....)

Never coughed up for that either, never been mentioned. So some dealers are asking peeps to pay for insurance cover, even when the car is in for warranty work?

Lol, you naughty boy getting a two week speeding ban..........crime of the century and really good reason not to give you a loan car imo.....not.