Quick Summary:
- Ask whether the upgrade is priced per day, per rental, or both.
- Confirm the new vehicle class changes the base rate and included mileage.
- Check which taxes and airport fees recalculate from the higher total.
- Request a revised rental agreement showing the final payable amount before signing.
Upgrading your rental car at pick-up in Los Angeles can feel straightforward, until the counter explains a different total from the one you expected. The key is that an upgrade is not a single, universal charge. It is usually a change to your vehicle class, which can alter the base daily rate, the number of billable days, and any charges calculated as a percentage of the rental cost. Understanding how the counter builds the final figure helps you decide quickly and avoid surprises when you return the vehicle.
This guide breaks down how upgrade pricing is commonly calculated at Los Angeles pick-up locations, what “per day” versus “per rental” really means, which taxes and fees may change when you move to a higher class, and the practical checks to make before you sign the updated agreement. If you are comparing options ahead of time, the Hola pages for car hire in Los Angeles (LAX) and specific categories like SUV hire in Los Angeles (LAX) can help you understand typical class differences, even though counter pricing can still vary on the day.
What an “upgrade” usually means at the counter
At most Los Angeles airport and city counters, an upgrade means you move from one vehicle class to another, for example from Economy to Intermediate, or from a standard car to an SUV or minivan. The counter then reprices the rental using the rate rules for the new class. That repricing can change more than the headline daily number.
It can also mean one of two things operationally:
Guaranteed upgrade: you pay a quoted difference and the higher class is confirmed on the agreement.
Subject to availability: the agent offers a higher class if it is on the lot, often at a promotional increment. Even then, it should still appear on the updated agreement with a clear price basis.
Because “upgrade” is class-based, the extra cost is commonly the difference between (a) what your original class would have cost under current counter pricing and (b) what the new class costs, for the same rental dates, times, and pick-up location. If your original rate was a pre-paid or negotiated rate, the counter may not simply add a small top-up. Instead, they may move you onto a new rate plan for the upgraded class, then apply any rules attached to that plan.
How the extra cost is calculated, step by step
While each supplier’s system differs, the calculation typically follows a predictable order:
1) Confirm the billable rental period. Los Angeles rentals often price by 24-hour periods. If you collect at 10:30 and return at 11:15 several days later, that extra 45 minutes may fall into a grace period, or it may trigger another day depending on the supplier’s policy and your agreement.
2) Apply the upgraded class base rate. The system selects a daily or weekly rate for the new class, based on your dates, length of rental, and sometimes demand at that location.
3) Add class-dependent surcharges (if any). Some locations price certain categories differently due to higher depreciation or demand. This is not always listed as a separate line, it may simply be embedded in the upgraded base rate.
4) Recalculate percentage-based taxes and facility charges. Many charges in Los Angeles scale with the rental charges total, so a higher base rate can also lift those fees.
5) Add fixed per day or per rental fees. Items like certain location fees, and some government-imposed charges, may be fixed. Others are per day and therefore increase with longer rentals, regardless of upgrade.
6) Update the deposit or authorisation amount. Upgraded classes can trigger a higher security deposit or pre-authorisation hold, even if the total rental cost increase seems modest.
The simplest way to see the logic is to ask the agent to show you the revised breakdown on the rental agreement screen or printout, then compare it against your original confirmation. You are not just looking for a single “upgrade fee”, you are checking the new total, how it is built, and whether anything unexpected has been added alongside the class change.
“Per day” versus “per rental”, what those terms really mean
When the counter quotes an upgrade, the wording matters because it affects the maths:
Per day: The upgrade increment is multiplied by the number of billable rental days. For example, a £10 per day difference on a 6-day rental becomes £60 before taxes. If your rental crosses a threshold where the supplier switches to a weekly rate, the per day framing may be a simplified description rather than the actual rate structure, so it is worth checking the printed daily rate line.
Per rental: A single charge for the whole rental period, sometimes used for category jumps or special one-off offers. This can be good value on longer rentals, but only if it truly is one-time and not paired with a higher daily base rate.
Per day plus per rental: Less common, but it happens in practice when an upgrade changes the base rate (per day) and also triggers a one-off charge (per rental). If the agent describes it as “just a small upgrade”, ask whether any one-time fees have been added.
Weekly versus daily pricing: A lot of Los Angeles pricing is built from daily rates, but longer rentals often use weekly rates plus extra day rates. An upgrade may move you to a different rate ladder. That means the “per day” difference you were told might not match a simple multiplication, the system may be applying weekly pricing behind the scenes.
To keep it simple at the counter, ask for two numbers: the new daily (or weekly) base rate for the upgraded class, and the revised estimated total including taxes and fees. Then match those numbers to what you sign.
Why taxes and fees may change after an upgrade in Los Angeles
Los Angeles rentals can include several layers of charges. Not all of them change when you upgrade, but many are linked to the rental charges subtotal, so they rise when the base rate rises. Common categories include:
Sales tax and similar percentage taxes: If applied as a percentage of taxable charges, a higher base rate usually means higher tax.
Airport or facility charges: At airport locations, facility charges may be a fixed amount per day, a percentage, or a mix depending on the supplier and local rules. If the facility charge is percentage-based, it will increase with the upgraded cost.
Tourism or local surcharges: Some surcharges are calculated against the rental charge subtotal. Again, upgrades can raise them indirectly.
Energy or premium location fees: These are often fixed per day and will not change due to a class change, but they still contribute to the final total.
Because different charges are calculated differently, two upgrades with the same “per day” difference can produce different all-in totals. One location might apply more percentage-based fees than another, and airport pick-up points can have additional facility components versus off-airport sites.
If you are comparing nearby airports, it can help to look at how categories are offered on the Hola pages for car hire at Santa Ana Airport (SNA), then contrast that with Los Angeles, but always rely on the agreement for the definitive tax and fee lines at your chosen pick-up point.
Upgrade pricing versus add-ons, do not mix them up
A common source of confusion is when an upgrade conversation becomes bundled with optional extras. The extra cost for upgrading the vehicle class should be distinguishable from items such as:
Additional driver charges (often per day).
Child seats, GPS, or Wi-Fi (often per day, sometimes capped).
Fuel options (pre-purchase, pay-on-return, or full-to-full terms).
Protection products (priced per day, and taxable in many cases).
Toll programmes (daily fees plus tolls, depending on the plan).
When you ask “how much is the upgrade?”, make sure you also ask “is that amount only for the car class change?” and “what is the total with everything currently selected?” This keeps the upgrade decision separate from any add-on decisions.
Deposits and payment holds, the hidden change many drivers miss
Even if the upgraded total cost increase looks manageable, the supplier may adjust the security deposit or pre-authorisation hold on your payment card. Higher vehicle classes can come with higher holds, and the hold can also be influenced by whether you take certain protection products or decline them.
Before you finalise the upgrade, ask two quick questions:
What will the new authorisation amount be today? This is the figure temporarily blocked on your card.
When is the hold typically released after return? The release timing can depend on your bank as well as the supplier.
This matters for travel budgeting, especially if you are using a debit card or a credit card with a low available limit.
How to confirm the final total before you sign
To confirm the extra cost accurately, you want to see the revised figures in writing, not just hear a verbal quote. Use this counter checklist:
Check the vehicle class on the new agreement. Ensure it matches what you are being handed, not just a promise of “similar”.
Check the rate basis. Look for the daily or weekly rate line and the number of billable units. If you were quoted “per day”, verify it aligns with the printed rate.
Scan for new line items. Identify any items that appeared only after the upgrade discussion, and ask what they are for.
Check the taxes and fees section. Confirm which items are percentages and which are fixed amounts. This explains why totals move.
Confirm fuel and mileage terms. Most car hire in Los Angeles includes defined fuel terms. Upgrading should not quietly change them without your awareness.
Ask for the “estimated total charges” including tax. This is the number you should use for budgeting, even though final totals can still change due to extensions, fuel, tolls, damage, or late returns.
Do a quick comparison to your original confirmation. If your original deal was especially competitive, the counter reprice for an upgrade may be larger than expected. In that case, it may be worth considering whether a different category would meet your needs, for example a larger people-carrier. Seeing typical options for minivan rental in California (LAX) can help you judge whether the counter’s price jump is in line with category differences.
What can make an upgrade cost more or less on the day
Several practical factors influence the upgrade number you are offered at pick-up in Los Angeles:
Fleet availability: If the lot is short on your booked class but has plenty of larger cars, you may be offered a lower upgrade increment. If the higher class is scarce, the difference may be substantial.
Seasonality and events: Busy travel weeks, major conventions, and holiday periods can tighten supply, pushing up the incremental cost between classes.
Length of rental: A small per day difference becomes meaningful over a longer period. Conversely, a per rental upgrade can be attractive for longer rentals if it is truly one-off.
Pick-up and drop-off times: Shifting from a grace period into an extra billable day will magnify any per day upgrade cost.
Rate plan changes: Some pre-arranged rates do not allow in-place upgrades without switching to a counter rate. When that happens, the uplift can be more than you expect because it is not just “add £X”, it is “move to a new rate”.
None of these are reasons to avoid upgrading, they are simply the variables that explain why upgrade pricing can differ between travellers on the same day.
FAQ
Is the upgrade charge always just the difference between car categories? Usually it reflects the new class pricing, but it can also involve a different rate plan, which changes the whole recalculation rather than adding a simple difference.
If I’m quoted an upgrade price per day, is tax added on top? Often yes. In Los Angeles, percentage-based taxes and some facility charges can increase when the base rental charges increase, so the all-in total may rise more than the per day increment alone.
Can an upgrade change my deposit or card authorisation amount? Yes. Higher vehicle classes can require a larger security deposit or pre-authorisation, even if the upgrade cost itself seems relatively small.
How do I confirm the final total before agreeing to the upgrade? Ask for the revised rental agreement with the new class, rate basis, taxes, fees, and an estimated total. Confirm the number of billable days and any new line items before signing.
What if the upgrade total looks higher than expected at the counter? Request a breakdown of what changed, including whether your rate plan was replaced. You can then decide whether to keep the original class or choose a different category.
