Why was I charged a 'location surcharge' or 'premium location fee'?

A location surcharge—often called a premium location fee or an airport fee—is a mandatory charge applied directly by the rental company when you pick up your car at a high-convenience transit hub, like an airport or a train station.

Step-by-Step Guide:

1Check Your Pick-Up Location
These fees apply because airports and train stations charge rental companies significant operating taxes and concession fees to operate on their property. Rental companies include these mandatory charges in the rental process when the vehicle is collected from these locations.

2Review the Rental Conditions
Open your DiscoverCars.com voucher and look at the “Rate Excludes” or “Payable at pick-up” sections. 
This is where your rental supplier lists any mandatory local charges that are collected at the desk.

3Check Your Rental Region
In many European locations, local taxes and airport fees are typically already included in the online price. 
In places such as the USA, Canada, or South America, these surcharges are often collected directly at the rental desk, depending on local regulations and supplier policies.

4Review the Final Invoice
Take a moment to compare the final invoice from the rental desk with your DiscoverCars.com voucher. 
This helps confirm that the surcharge aligns with the details outlined in your booking terms.

What Customers Often Expect vs What Actually Happens:

Expectation: "I prepaid for my entire booking online, so I shouldn't have to pay a single extra fee or tax at the counter."

Reality: Your online prepayment covers the base rental cost, while some mandatory local taxes or premium location fees are collected directly by the supplier at pick-up. The exact structure depends on local tax rules and the supplier’s operating policies.

💡 Did You Know?

Picking up a rental car from a downtown or neighborhood office is often more budget-friendly than collecting it at an airport, since it avoids these premium transit hub surcharges.

What To Do Next:

Take a quick look at the “Rate Excludes” section on your voucher. 
If you were charged a fee at the desk that was not explicitly listed in those exclusions, feel free to send us a clear photo of your final rental agreement and your bank statement, and we’ll gladly look into it for you right away!