Last Updated on April 22, 2025 by Kristin
Many travelers make the mistake of thinking that if they bring back a car on time and in good condition, there will be no any extra fees. However, that is not always the case. Here’s a common car rental money grab you may encounter on your next trip.
Many renters have raised red flags about getting bills for excessive cleaning charges. We’re talking hundreds of dollars—despite thinking they returned the car in perfectly good shape.
How Car Rental Cleaning Fees Work
Major rental car companies typically can charge an extra cleaning fee based on the terms in their rental contracts. That specific amount is not always explicitly specified in the terms and conditions.
Rental car companies typically charge fees for visible grime, stains, dust or sand left behind on the floor or seats. They can also charge this fee when renters forget to take out trash and food containers. A cleaning fee can also be triggered by lingering cigarette or vape smoke, or any other unpleasant smell.
For example, Budget’s terms and conditions say the following about cleaning fees:
“You will pay a reasonable fee for cleaning the Vehicle’s interior or exterior for what we determine in our sole discretion are excessive stains, trash, dirt, soilage, odors, or pet hair after the Vehicle is returned. If we discover any evidence of violation of our smoke-free and vape-free policy as provided in Paragraph 1.3, we may charge a fee for interior cleaning and for repair of any damage caused by your violation of this policy.”
This fee is only supposed to kick in when renters return a car smelling of smoke or especially dirty. However, these companies can charge extra fees at their discretion. And the criteria for what makes a car excessively dirty is not always clear.
How Much Do Car Rental Cleaning Fees Cost?
So, how bad can a cleaning charge be? The term “reasonable fee” is vague and leaves room for interpretation. In some cases, renters who turned in a clean vehicle find they have been charged hundreds of dollars after returning the car.
Several media outlets have highlighted renters’ complaints about Budget in particular. For example, one renter told the New York Times that Budget had charged them $450 for “excessive” sand or dirt. Another renter recently told consumer advocate Christopher Elliott they had received a bill for the same charge, which Budget reportedly agreed to lower to $150. Another renter reported receiving a $125 cleaning fee from the same company for pet hair, despite not traveling with any pets.
Budget is not the only car rental company known for charging triple-digit cleaning fees. Dollar Car Rental and Thrifty are clear about charging a $400 cleaning fee for smoking. On one hand, this policy seems pretty straightforward—just don’t smoke in the car, and avoid the fee. However, customers have still reported receiving bills for excessive cleaning fees despite never having smoked in the car.
How to Protect Yourself from Excessive Cleaning Fees
Renters can take several steps to protect themselves from excessive cleaning fees before dropping off a rental.
Return the car clean.
The first and most obvious step is to return the car in great condition. While cleaning a rental car is not necessarily required before dropping it off in most circumstances, we recommend making sure the interior is tidy to cut down on the chance that the rental car company might slap on any additional charges. Inspect the interior and take a few minutes to remove any visible dirt, crumbs, trash or other debris. When in doubt, swing by a gas station or car wash and use the vacuum to make sure the car looks as good as new before returning it. Also, do not smoke or vape in the car whatsoever even if the windows are open.
Take photos and videos.
Take videos and photos of both the interior and exterior with timestamps before and after returning the vehicle. This evidence can help your chances of disputing an excess cleaning charge, especially if it relates to excess dust or trash left in the vehicle.
Ask to reduce the fee.
If the rental car company does send you a bill for an excess cleaning charge, you can dispute it. Call the rental car company and politely explain the situation, and ask where you could send photos of the vehicle as proof that it was returned in good condition. Elliott, who has helped car rental customers to reduce cleaning charges recommends asking for proof of the rental car company’s costs to see whether they seem reasonable based on the extra fees. If the charges still seem unreasonable compared with the amount on your bill, ask the rental car company if they can reduce the fee.
Excess rental car charges can be a headache, but following these steps can help cut down on the chances you receive a surprise cleaning bill after your trip. If you have any doubts about the car’s condition, use the gas station’s vacuum to quickly remove any debris and dirt — it’s an easy, inexpensive way to avoid hundreds of dollars in extra charges.
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