All car-rental companies charge drop-off fees if the beginning and ending destination are far apart unless the company has some compelling reason not to. For example, companies offer cheap seasonal one-way rentals between Florida and New York so that cars can be moved from north to south and vice versa. But there's no such relationship between Albuquerque and San Antonio.

Some charge more than others so compare several different companies and pick the lowest quote.

Sometimes if you start the rental at an off airport site, there maynot be a drop off fee. I would use kayak.com to get a feel for prices.

American Airlines flies from San Antonio to Albuquerque several times per day for $125 per person. If the drop off fee is more than $250, fly then rent again in Albuquerque. The desert of west Texas is not that interesting to drive across.

Thanks for your quick replies. I was thinking of starting the trip in San Antonio, driving to Austin, the Dallas, across to Amarillo and into New Mexico. I suppose we could fly from Dallas to Albuquerque (missing out Amarillo). As you say, the cost of the flight might be less than the drop-off charge.

Believe me ... you won't be "missing out" on anything if you skip Amarillo. (Yes, I've been there many times.)

agree with Doug 100% on Amarillo

To be honest, I don't think you'd be missing all that much by skipping Dallas as well. It's a pretty long drive from the Austin/San Antonio area over there and then back (unless that's where your flight is landing). I'd save that precious time and spend it in Santa Fe.

There are usually no one-way drop off fees for Brits. Only the natives get charged those exorbitant fees because some of us are stupid enough to pay them, or we let our company pay them.

Hertz, National and Alamo should have no one-way drop fees and your quoted rate should include all taxes and insurances. When booking online, just be sure to click the box that says you're from the UK.

Tracy, that is very interesting. Why do UK folks get a break and we don't?

monterey bob....well, according to many fodorites, it's just a good business promotion by the car rental companies:

http://www.fodors.com/community/united-states/car-rentalsis-this-even-legal.cfm

I disagree with tracys2cents. That's just not true ... though it may be a possibility.

If you arrange your car rental through Auto Europe or one of the big discount agencies (through a UK web site or a UK travel agent), then I agree that you MIGHT be able to do a free one-way car rental or at least get lower drop-off fees.

This is probably worth exploring, but don't bet that you'll suddenly find a perfect rate.

FYI: The referenced thread doesn't really address drop-off fees ... just lower rates for UK customers.

Thanks, Doug, for the clarifications.

Some interesting comments....thanks for your help.

I just thought I'd update you on our plans. We've booked our flights from the UK. After a week in California we'll be flying to New Mexico and staying 5 nights in Santa Fe and Albuquerque (for the balloon fiesta) and then flying to Dallas. We'll spend 4 days in Texas before flying home to the UK. So there'll be no car rental drop-off fees for us!

There is great food in Dallas and shopping. We love Dallas and go there often(3-4 times per year). It isn't really a travel destination though.

I would strongly suggest you stay in Fort Worth instead of Dallas. FW has much more personality than Dallas; and I believe you can ride a shuttle bus to Cowboy Stadium from downtown Fort Worth.

Isn't there an NFL shutout right now? Not sure when/if the games will start. I may be totally off base because I don't keep up with this sort of thing, but hopefully someone will chime in.

Recently had to drive from Chicago to Boston due to a cancelled flight. STAY AWAY FROM ENTERPRISE RENT-A-CAR! In addition to a fairly hefty daily rate, they charged us a $390 drop off charge! Under better conditions I would have caught this up front- now I'm left regretting renting from them as a two day Hyndai rental ended up costing $890! BAD CHOICE.

And Enterprise did what wrong exactly?

Fort Worth also has three of the best art museums in the country. The rivalry between Ft Woth and Dallas has benefited the art-loving public enormously.