We are looking at renting a car from appx noon on sat until noon on Monday...however, if we decide to leave a little earlier on Sat, is it possible to pick up the car 2 hrs earlier? For anyone who has done this, what have the charges been? I'd appreciate any advice! Thanks.

The best thing to do is to call the rental company and ask them what their policy and what charges, if any, would apply to picking up the car early.

Kjenn,
This just happened to us in June. I was told the rental companies go on a 24-hour schedule so if you pick up the car at 10 a.m., you will be charged for another entire day, unless you return it by 10 a.m. We picked it up around 10 a.m. and didn't get it back until early afternoon so we were charged an entire extra day. We rented through Alamo. Hope this helps.

If the car's ready, they'll let you have it but your 48 hours will run out sooner.

I have picked up cars early several times in several cities. Have also picked cars up late. My start time has always been the actual time I signed the contract.

You can expect to pay an hourly rate for the last two hours of your rental if you return it as planned.

Here is an example of a res booked for a 50 hour period:
Base Rate - Midsize (USD)
(2) Time & Distance ($34.00/Day) $68.00
(2) Time & Distance ($11.33/Hour)

At three hours late you end up paying an extra day's rental.

But you better call the rental company and make sure. The policy on how they treat this can vary depending not only on what company you use but on what kind of rate you get.

If your car rental company is going to charge an exorbitant amount for the extra two hours, shop around for a company with a flat weekend rate.

You need to consider capacity. Not sure where you're picking the car up - but don;t turn up early and assume they'll have a car - esp in the size you want.

Why not just change your reservation to the time you will really get there. (And they do run on a 24 hour day - so that's how you'll be charged.)

I agree lcuy. I am almost always early or late and they have always charged according to what was my original arrival time. Never been a problem, within an hour or two.

Thanks all, we reserved through Priceline. I guess if we decide to show up early we will take our chances, and if the car isn't ready or the fees too great, we'll hang out until our original time.

The reservation is to hold the car.
The clock starts ticking when you pick up the car. If you pick up the car at 10 am (no matter what time the reservation is for) the next day starts at 10 am. So, when you return the car, you pay for the hours PAST 10 am you've had the car. Those hours may be at an hourly rate or a daily rate based on how many hours they are.

Starrs... I have rented more than 100x with Hertz over the years and regularly arrive early and return late.
I have never, ever been charged extra for a time amounting to less than couple of hours.

kjenn... sounds like a plan. Many locations will accomodate you.
Have a look at your contract when you leave to see what time is documented.

Good for you Tx, with Hertz. Other companies will charge an hourly rate as **ville mentioned.

Definitely hava a look at the contract.

tx, I was Hertz Gold for years (still am, but don't rent as often) and 95% of the time rented from Hertz (only another vendor when someone else made my travel arrangements). My car was always waiting for me - 1st off the bus and look for my name on the board to find which spot my car was waiting for me. The clock starts ticking from the time you activate the contract (bus driver calls it in from the bus for Hertz #1 Gold). They may have cut me some slack because I was #1 Gold (and you too if you rent 100s of times) but auto rental policy is to start the clock at the time you activate the contract (i.e. give your cc info and sign the contract at the counter).

Yes, the clock starts ticking when the contract is activated. As an Avis frequent renter, I know only too well about the return grace period - up until 2 months ago, Avis' grace period (returning late without an extra charge) was 60 minutes. It has now been reduced to 30 minutes - and I expect that will be 15 minutes by next year, right?