For this trip, my flight home departs at 6:00 am, so I am considering returning my rental car the prior afternoon/evening. I can then shuttle to my airport hotel and shuttle back in the early am to catch my flight. I'd rather take care of all of that the day before than mess with the return and getting to the gate at that early hour.

Do you think there may be problems, when my rental agreement (Wednesday to Wednesday) is showing a weekly rate? I'd like to settle question this at pick-up, if need be, rather than be surprised by a higher 6-day total while in a somewhat hurried state during return.

Usually the weekly rental rate for cars can be applied for a little as 5 1/2 days.

Usually.

The only way to be sure is to ask your car rental company. Each city or region of the country and each chain may have different rules in general. There may be specific restrictions on your rate/reservation. Like you said, why be unpleasantly surprised?

You will be charged for the number of 24-hour periods of rental usually. IF the total charge for six periods is LESS than the weekly rate I am certain you can find that out at the time of pick-up.

What MATTERS here is the time you pick the car UP because I am assuming that the clock will start running at that point.

Let's say you rent on a Wednesday at 10:00 AM but you decide to return the car the next Tuesday at 9:00 PM. You will already be in that 7th 24 hour period so basically you have used up the full weekly rate and the charge should be the same if you return the night before OR you return the next day before 10:00 AM.

You should be fine. Others have explained it. But returning in time for a 6AM flight that morning could be a big problem.

when we have had early flights I always use the key drop off box, is that an option?

Thanks. I think you guys have given me what I need, and additional things to ask my rental co. about. Although Gretchen, I'm not sure that I got your final statement completely. It sounds as if you are encouraging night-before rental return... or perhaps you feel like I am worrying about nothing?

Either way, best to set a few separate alarm clocks, eh?

I would do the night before return. You would have to get up very early to do the drop off then shuttle to the airport, if the rental place is running shuttles that early. Get a hotel that has a shuttle to the airport, take the rental car shuttle to the airport and the hotel shuttle to your room for the night. Drop your bags at the hotel before you drop off the car.