Charged for extra kilometres after your rental: how do mileage limits work, and how do you check the bill?

A low daily price can hide a short leash. Some rental offers include only a set number of kilometres, and every kilometre above it is charged afterwards. On a long road trip, a mileage limit can cost more than the rental itself, so check the limit before you book and photograph the odometer at both ends. Here is how mileage limits work and how to check a charge.

What is a mileage limit?

A mileage limit, sometimes called a kilometre allowance, is the number of kilometres included in the rental price. Above that, the company charges an amount per extra kilometre. Unlimited mileage means there is no cap.

ECC-Net lists the mileage included as one of the key features your rental terms should describe, next to the fuel policy, cancellation policy and deposit. The Leaseurope Code of Best Practice, the European rental industry code, says companies should give detailed information on the allowed mileage and on charges for excess mileage. The UK BVRLA Rental Broker Code of Conduct likewise asks for clear details of any excess mileage charges.

Which kinds of limits are common?

The French European Consumer Centre advises that for long-distance journeys it is often better to choose unlimited mileage. It also recommends checking the mileage prices before you book.

How is the extra charge calculated?

The usual calculation is simple: the kilometres driven, minus the allowance, multiplied by the price per kilometre. For example, with a total allowance of [allowance] km and [driven] km driven, you pay for the difference at the rate in your terms. Check:

• the odometer reading at pick-up and at return on the contract;
• the allowance that applies, per day or in total;
• the number of days used in the calculation, including any extra day for a late return;
• the price per kilometre in your terms, and whether VAT is added on top.

Small errors add up. A wrong digit in the pick-up reading or one extra rental day can change the charge a lot.

Is a mileage limit allowed?

Yes, in general. Rental companies are free to set their prices and conditions, and a limit is one way of pricing a car. What matters is that the limit and the price per extra kilometre were clear before you agreed. If the limit only appeared on the contract at the desk and was not in your booking, you can point that out and ask the company to apply the booking conditions. Keep a screenshot or PDF of the booking page with the mileage terms.

A limit that is hidden in small print, or a charge that does not match any rate in your terms, is something you can question. If you think a clause is unclear, the EU rule that unclear standard terms are read in the consumer's favour can help; read unfair terms in rental contracts.

1Check the limit before you book

Look at the mileage in the offer details, not just the summary. Compare offers with unlimited mileage against offers with a limit plus the extra kilometres you expect to drive. Plan your route roughly with a map app to estimate the distance, and add a margin for detours. Our terms check highlights mileage clauses in your contract.

2Photograph the odometer at pick-up

Before you drive off, take a photo of the dashboard with the engine running, so the odometer and the fuel level are both visible. Compare the reading with the one on the contract. If they differ, ask the desk to correct the contract. Our pick-up checklist includes this step.

3Photograph the odometer at return

At return, take the same dashboard photo again. ECC Czech Republic recommends photographing the car at return from all sides, including the interior and the fuel or battery level, and keeping the photos with their metadata. A photo with a time stamp and location is hard to argue with. Read which photos to take at return.

If you return the car through a key box, these photos are even more important, because nobody checks the reading with you. See key box returns.

4Check the charge against your photos

If an extra kilometre charge appears, compare:

1. the start reading on the contract with your pick-up photo;
2. the end reading the company used with your return photo;
3. the allowance and rate with your terms.

If the numbers do not match, write to the company, attach both photos and ask for a corrected calculation.

5Dispute the charge in writing

Explain what is wrong, attach your evidence and ask for a refund of the difference. Our letter templates help you set it out.

Booking number: [booking number]
You charged [amount] for [number] extra kilometres. My photos, attached, show an odometer reading of [reading] at pick-up on [date] and [reading] at return on [date], a total of [number] km. Under my rental terms the allowance is [allowance] km. Please correct the calculation and refund the difference of [amount].

What if the charge was taken from your card?

A charge that has already been taken can still be disputed. Ask the company for the calculation and the odometer readings it used. If it does not reply, read what to do when the rental company does not reply and damage or extra costs charged to your credit card. Mileage charges often appear together with fuel charges; see charged for fuel after you returned the car full.