Quick Summary:
- Match the rate, dates, vehicle class, and taxes to your confirmation.
- Confirm fuel policy wording, prepaid fuel often costs more.
- Check toll programme and roadside cover lines before initialling anything.
- Verify additional driver fees, and decline duplicates of your cover.
Picking up a car hire at Orlando International Airport (MCO) can feel fast-paced, especially after a long flight. The easiest way to avoid unwanted add-ons is to slow the process down by two minutes and read the specific contract lines that control costs. Most surprises come from just four areas: fuel options, toll programmes, roadside cover, and additional drivers. This guide shows exactly what to look for on the rental agreement, what each line usually means, and a short set of questions that help you keep the invoice aligned with what you booked.
If you arranged your Orlando MCO pick-up through Hola Car Rentals, keep your booking confirmation open on your phone and compare it line-by-line against the desk contract. You can also review the Orlando MCO car hire pages for context on vehicle types and local pick-up basics, such as Orlando Airport and Disney area pick-up information and the general Orlando MCO car rental overview.
Before you look at add-ons, confirm the basics match your booking
Unwanted extras sometimes appear because the underlying booking details were keyed differently at the desk. Start with the lines that anchor the whole agreement:
1) Renter details: Your name, address, and licence details should match your documents. Mistakes can trigger extra verification steps or insurance prompts.
2) Pick-up and return date and time: Check the precise return time, not just the date. Many contracts price by 24-hour periods, so being even one hour late may move you into another day’s charge. If your flight schedule changed, ask what the grace period is and whether the return time can be adjusted to what you actually need.
3) Vehicle class: The contract should show the class you booked (economy, SUV, minivan) and the daily/weekly rate should align. If you booked a people carrier, confirm it remains a minivan category and not a paid upgrade. For family travel, it helps to know what is included within a class, like on this minivan rental at Orlando MCO page.
4) Base rate, taxes, airport fees, and mandatory charges: In Florida, you may see airport concession fees and local taxes. These can be legitimate, but you should recognise them from your expected price structure. If the total is higher than expected, ask which line caused the difference before you discuss any optional products.
Fuel option lines, the most common source of overpaying
Fuel is a classic area where wording matters. Find the line that lists your fuel policy, the fuel service charge, and any prepaid fuel amount. Common options you might see:
Return Full (Full to Full): You receive the car with a full tank and return it full. This is usually the simplest policy to manage because you only pay for what you use at local pump prices. On the contract, look for wording like “Return full” or “Customer to refuel”. Make sure there is no added “fuel service option” ticked.
Prepaid fuel: You pay for a full tank upfront, often with wording like “Fuel Purchase Option” or “Prepaid Fuel”. If you return the car with fuel left, you generally do not get a refund. This can be convenient for very early departures, but it often costs more than a local fill-up.
Return Not Full (Full to Empty or similar): You can return with any amount, but you pay a per-gallon price set by the rental company plus a service fee. This is usually the most expensive route.
What to check on the contract: Look for a fuel line that states the selected option, a prepaid amount, and a per-unit refuelling rate. If you intended Full to Full, you want the prepaid amount to be zero and any refuelling service fee to be absent.
Quick questions to ask: “Can you confirm this is Full to Full and there is no prepaid fuel selected?” and “If I return it full, will there be any fuel service charge at all?”
Toll programme lines, avoid paying twice
Orlando has toll roads, and visitors often use them for theme parks, the beaches, and getting around quickly. Toll charges can be handled in several ways, and the contract terms can be easy to miss.
Common contract terms: “Toll programme”, “Toll pass”, “PlatePass”, “SunPass coverage”, “Toll convenience fee”, or “Administrative fee”. Sometimes it is a daily fee plus tolls incurred, sometimes it is a pay-per-use admin fee, and sometimes it is optional unless you use toll roads.
What to check on the contract: Find the section showing whether a toll programme is “Accepted” or “Declined”, and the cost model, such as a daily maximum, a per-day charge, and whether it applies every rental day or only days you use tolls. Also look for any “administrative fee per toll” type language.
How to avoid mismatches: Decide how you plan to handle tolls before you sign. If you are happy to use the rental company toll option, make sure you understand when fees apply. If you plan to avoid toll roads or pay another way, ensure the toll programme is not automatically selected.
Quick questions to ask: “Is the toll programme optional, and is it currently selected on my agreement?” and “Do I pay the daily fee on every rental day, or only on days I use tolls?”
Roadside assistance lines, only pay if you truly need it
Roadside assistance is another line that can quietly increase your total. It can be useful, but it is often not essential if you already have coverage elsewhere.
What it is: A paid product that may cover things like a flat tyre change, lockout service, jump starts, or towing for certain non-accident events. The name varies, such as “Roadside Assistance”, “Roadside Plus”, or “Emergency Road Service”.
What to check on the contract: Look for a daily charge next to roadside coverage and whether it is marked “Accepted”. Also check if it overlaps with something you already have, such as a packaged travel policy, a premium bank account benefit, or a motoring organisation membership. The key is to avoid paying for duplicate cover without meaning to.
Quick questions to ask: “Is roadside assistance included in my rate, or is it optional?” and “If I decline it, what number do I call for breakdowns, and what would I pay in a typical lockout or flat tyre?”
Additional driver lines, clarify who can legally drive without extra fees
Many travellers assume a spouse or companion can drive automatically. In reality, the additional driver section controls who is permitted to drive and what it costs.
What to check on the contract: Look for “Additional authorised driver”, “Extra driver”, or “Additional operator”. Confirm the number of drivers listed, their names, and the daily fee if any. If only one driver is listed but you need two, add the second driver properly at the desk. If two drivers are listed but a fee appears unexpectedly, query it.
Why it matters: If someone not listed drives, you can create issues in the event of an incident. It is not just a cost line, it is a compliance line.
Quick questions to ask: “Can you show me where the additional driver fee is stated, and is there any way it is already included?” and “Please confirm the contract lists both drivers by name before I sign.”
Insurance and protection products, focus on what is mandatory versus optional
This article focuses on fuel, tolls, roadside cover, and drivers, but protection products are where the biggest numbers can appear. The best approach is to be calm and precise: find the section that lists each product, its daily price, and whether it is accepted or declined.
What to check: The contract often lists items like collision damage waiver (CDW), loss damage waiver (LDW), supplemental liability insurance (SLI), personal accident insurance (PAI), and personal effects coverage (PEC). Some may be included depending on your booking, others may be optional. You want to avoid paying for duplicates, especially if you have a policy that already covers rental car excess. If anything is unclear, ask the desk agent to explain which items are included in your booked rate and which are optional add-ons.
For travellers comparing vehicle categories where rates and cover bundles can vary, the UK-focused Orlando MCO car hire page can help you sense-check what you intended to hire before you arrive.
The contract lines that commonly hide small daily fees
Beyond the big four topics, scan for small but frequent charges that add up over a week:
Concession recovery and facility charges: Typically mandatory at airports. Verify they are not duplicated.
Young driver surcharge: Applies if the driver is under a certain age, and it is usually per day.
Optional equipment: Child seats, GPS, Wi-Fi, and similar. Ensure anything you did not request is not listed as accepted. If you do need equipment, confirm the daily price and any tax applied to it.
Upgrade line: Sometimes displayed as “Vehicle upgrade” or a different class code from what you booked. If you did not ask for it, query it before signing.
A five-question script to keep the invoice aligned
If you want one quick routine at the MCO counter, use these questions in this order:
1) “Can you confirm the total on this contract matches my booked estimate, before any optional extras?”
2) “What fuel option is selected here, and is there any prepaid fuel or fuel service fee?”
3) “Is the toll programme selected, and do fees apply every day or only toll-use days?”
4) “Is roadside assistance optional, and is it currently accepted on my agreement?”
5) “How many drivers are listed, and is there an additional driver fee?”
Ask the agent to point to the exact line for each answer. If something changes, request an updated printout or on-screen review showing the revised totals before you sign.
After you sign, do two checks before leaving the car park
Keep a copy: Email or print a copy of the signed agreement and keep it with your booking confirmation. If a charge is later disputed, you need the agreed terms.
Take photos: Photograph the fuel gauge, mileage, and any existing damage. This is not about add-ons, but it prevents post-trip charges that can feel like unwanted extras.
If you are choosing a larger vehicle for luggage and theme park runs, it can help to know what the fleet typically looks like for your category. For example, this SUV hire at Orlando MCO page can be a useful reference when verifying the class shown on your contract.
FAQ
Which contract lines cause the most surprise charges at Orlando MCO? Fuel option, toll programme enrolment, roadside assistance, and additional driver fees are the most common. They are usually optional, but they can be pre-selected unless you review the acceptance boxes and daily prices.
How do I confirm I have Full to Full fuel on my agreement? Look for wording like “Return full” and check that prepaid fuel is not listed. Also make sure there is no separate fuel service fee line that applies even when you return full.
Is a toll programme always required in Orlando? No. Many renters choose it for convenience, but it should be clearly explained and priced. Ask whether charges apply every day or only on days you use tolls, and confirm the selection status on the contract.
Do I need to pay for roadside assistance? It depends on your risk tolerance and existing cover. It can be useful for lockouts and flat tyres, but it is often optional. Check whether you already have similar benefits through travel insurance or another policy before accepting it.
What if a second driver will share driving in Orlando? Ensure the second driver is listed by name as an authorised driver before you leave the counter. Then verify whether an additional driver fee applies and that the contract total reflects your choice.
