Quick Summary:
- Ask to see the rental agreement screen before signing, not a summary.
- Decline toll plans by ensuring the contract shows “Toll programme: Declined”.
- Refuse fuel bundles by choosing “Return same fuel” with no prepaid line.
- Photograph the signed agreement and final screen to dispute later charges.
Picking up a car hire in New York can feel rushed, especially at busy airport counters, and that is when optional toll and fuel bundles can slip onto an agreement. The simplest way to avoid surprise fees is to slow the process down and treat the rental agreement like any other contract, confirm which options are selected, and make sure the wording on the document matches your choice before you sign.
This guide focuses on two common add-ons in the New York area, toll plans (often tied to E-ZPass processing) and fuel products (prepaid fuel, fuel service options, or “fuel bundles”). You will learn the exact kinds of lines to look for on the agreement, what they usually mean, and the specific wording you want to see when you are declining.
If you are comparing pick-up points, note that processes can differ slightly between desks. You can review options in advance when arranging car hire near major hubs such as car hire at New York JFK or across the river with car hire at Newark EWR, but the agreement you sign at pick-up is what ultimately controls charges.
Know what you are declining: toll plans versus toll charges
In New York and nearby states, toll roads and crossings are common. If you drive through a tolled facility, you owe the toll. The question is how it gets paid and what administrative fees apply.
A toll plan add-on typically covers the “processing” side, for example by enrolling you into a programme that uses a transponder, or by charging you a daily convenience fee whenever tolls are incurred. If you decline the toll plan, you may still be billed for tolls that are incurred, but you want to avoid an extra daily charge, enrolment charge, or automatic programme activation you did not agree to.
Different suppliers label toll products differently, so do not rely on a single product name. Instead, look for the section of the agreement that indicates whether a toll programme is “accepted”, “declined”, or “not applicable”.
The contract lines that typically mean you are enrolled in a toll plan
On many US rental agreements, toll options appear as one or more lines in an “Optional Items”, “Add-ons”, “Services”, or “Charges” area. The key is spotting language that indicates enrolment or acceptance. Look for lines similar to the following (the exact words vary, but the meaning is consistent):
Toll programme indicators that usually mean “you accepted”
“Toll programme: Accepted” or “Toll programme: YES”
“Electronic toll service: Accepted”
“Toll pass / PlatePass / Toll-by-plate service: Selected”
“E-Toll: Opted in” or “eToll: Enrolled”
“Daily toll service fee” with a daily rate shown
“Max toll service fee per rental” with a cap shown
Even if the toll plan line shows $0.00 at pick-up, it can still trigger future daily fees once tolls occur. So the word to focus on is not only the price, it is the selection status.
To reduce confusion, you can ask the agent to show you the full agreement screen (not just a printed receipt-style summary) and point to the toll plan line. If you are picking up at JFK, the desk environments can be busy, and it helps to have a checklist ready, even when using a known supplier page such as Payless car hire at New York JFK.
The wording you want on the agreement when you decline toll bundles
When you decline, you want the agreement to show a clear “declined” status, and you want any toll-service fee line to be absent or priced at $0.00 with a “Declined” marker.
Toll decline wording to request before signing
“Toll programme: Declined”
“Electronic toll service: Declined”
“Toll pass: Not accepted” or “Not selected”
“Optional items: Toll service, Declined”
Ask for the agreement to be re-printed or re-sent to the signature pad after the change is applied. A verbal “no problem” is not enough if the contract still shows acceptance.
If the agent says the toll plan is “automatic”, ask what the alternative is and how tolls will be handled without the plan. Sometimes the alternative is toll-by-plate billing with an administrative fee per toll. The goal here is not to avoid paying tolls, it is to avoid paying for a bundle you did not want.
Fuel bundles: the lines that trigger surprise refuelling charges
Fuel add-ons are a common source of confusion on car hire agreements. You will usually see one of three models:
1) Return full, or return at the same level, and pay only for missing fuel plus a service fee if you bring it back low.
2) Prepaid fuel, you pay upfront and may return empty, but often without refund for unused fuel.
3) Fuel service option or bundle, a pre-selected product that changes how fuel is billed.
Watch for a mismatch between what you intend (typically “return same fuel”) and what is selected in the system (often prepaid fuel). This can happen if an agent toggles it on while explaining options quickly.
Fuel lines that usually mean you accepted a bundle
“Prepaid fuel” with a flat charge
“Fuel purchase option” or “FPO: Accepted”
“Fuel service option” with an upfront price
“Refuel charge waived” paired with a prepaid line
“Fuel: Prepay” or “Fuel: Full tank purchased”
If you see any prepaid amount, confirm whether it is optional and whether it can be removed before you sign. If you are collecting from Newark, where many travellers pick larger vehicles, the same fuel rules apply whether it is a saloon or something booked via a page like minivan rental at Newark EWR.
The wording you want on the agreement when you decline fuel bundles
The cleanest “decline” outcome is an agreement that states you will return with the same fuel level, with no prepaid amount, and no extra fuel option selected.
Fuel decline wording to request before signing
“Fuel option: Return same”
“Fuel: RFS” (commonly shorthand for Return Full/Same)
“Fuel purchase option: Declined”
“Prepaid fuel: No” or no prepaid line at all
Then confirm two more things on the agreement: the fuel level at checkout (for example “Fuel out: 8/8” or “Fuel out: Full”) and the fuel type required (regular, mid-grade, etc., if shown). If the vehicle leaves the lot at 7/8 and you return it at 7/8, you should not be billed for missing fuel, assuming the agreement states “return same”.
A pick-up script you can use at the counter
Using consistent wording helps. You can say:
“I am declining all toll programmes and fuel purchase options. Please set toll programme to Declined and fuel option to Return same fuel, then reprint the agreement for me to review.”
That sentence does three things. It states the decision, it specifies the contract wording you want, and it asks for the document to be regenerated after changes.
If the agent responds that certain items are “required”, ask them to show you the line that says it is mandatory. Optional products should be shown as optional. If they truly are mandatory for that supplier or location, you should see it in the rental terms and on the agreement. If it is optional, it should be removable.
What to check before you sign, line by line
Take 60 seconds to scan these areas. It is faster than chasing a billing dispute later.
1) Optional items section
Look for any toll product and any fuel product. Confirm each is “Declined” or absent.
2) Rate details and total
Some systems roll add-ons into a “package”. If the total seems higher than expected, ask for an itemised breakdown before signing. You are looking for a daily toll fee, a toll convenience fee, prepaid fuel, or a fuel service fee.
3) Initials or acknowledgement boxes
Some agreements have tick boxes such as “I accept prepaid fuel” or “I accept toll programme”. If you see a checked box you did not agree to, stop and have it corrected.
4) Signatures and time stamps
Ensure you receive the final version of the agreement after edits, not the version that existed before changes.
How to protect yourself if charges appear anyway
Even with careful review, toll and fuel charges can show up later because toll data can take time to process, and post-rental adjustments happen. To protect yourself:
Photograph the final signed agreement, especially the optional items section, and keep it with your trip documents.
Photograph the fuel gauge at pick-up while still at the location. Do the same at return, ideally with a time-stamped photo.
Keep refuelling receipts if you refill close to the return time. If a dispute arises, that receipt plus the return fuel photo is strong evidence.
Review your final invoice when it arrives. If there is a toll-plan daily fee or prepaid fuel line you declined, you can reference the exact contract wording you signed.
New York specific realities to keep in mind
New York City driving can involve multiple tolled facilities in a short time, depending on route. If you are not taking a toll bundle, you should still plan for toll costs. The point is to choose the billing method you prefer, not to pretend tolls will not happen.
Also, pick-ups around the region can cross state lines quickly. If you are collecting in New Jersey and driving into New York, make sure you are clear about how that supplier handles tolls across states. Supplier processes can vary, even within the same general airport market, including locations supported through a page like National car rental in New Jersey EWR.
When you might actually want a toll or fuel option
Declining is not always the best financial choice, it is simply the best choice when you do not want surprise fees. A toll plan can be convenient if you expect frequent tolls and the daily fee structure works in your favour. Prepaid fuel can make sense if you know you will return with a near-empty tank and accept the trade-off of paying upfront.
The key is making an informed decision and ensuring the agreement reflects it. Whether you accept or decline, the correct outcome is transparency: the contract should show what you chose, and the pricing should match the selection.
FAQ
Q: If I decline the toll plan, can I still be charged for tolls?
A: Yes. Declining usually removes a toll programme or daily convenience fee, but you still owe tolls you actually incur, billed by the supplier’s chosen method.
Q: What is the single most important line to check for toll bundles?
A: Look for a line that states “Toll programme: Accepted/Yes” versus “Toll programme: Declined”, and make sure it explicitly shows declined.
Q: I said no to prepaid fuel, but the agreement shows a fuel charge. What should I do?
A: Ask for it to be removed before signing, then request a reprinted agreement that shows “Fuel purchase option: Declined” or “Return same fuel”.
Q: Does ‘return full’ always mean I declined prepaid fuel?
A: Not always. Some agreements can show “return full” while still listing a prepaid fuel line elsewhere, so confirm there is no prepaid amount and no fuel purchase option accepted.
Q: What evidence helps if a toll or fuel fee appears after my New York car hire?
A: Keep a copy or photo of the signed agreement, photos of the fuel gauge at pick-up and return, and any refuelling receipts from near the return time.
