Last Updated on May 2, 2026 by Kristin
While the majority of rental cars in the U.S. take regular unleaded gas, you may wonder if there’s any benefit to putting that pricier gas in the rental car. For most car models, it’s not necessary to use premium gas but there may be some exceptions. Here’s what you need to know about whether you should put premium gas in your rental car.
What is Premium Gas?
When you pull up to the pump, you’ll have several options for what kind of gas to put in the rental car.
Gas stations in the United States typically offer three types of unleaded gasoline: Regular, Plus and Premium. You may also see an option for diesel fuel, which is a completely different type of fuel than unleaded gas and can cause serious damage to the vehicle’s components.
Each type of gas has a different octane rating, which measures the stability of fuel. Higher numbers indicating higher stability. Premium gas usually has the highest octane rating, usually between 91-94. Regular gas, on the other hand, has an octane rating of 87.
These numbers only really matter if you have a vehicle that requires high-octane gas. These are typically higher-end vehicles with engines more prone to spontaneous combustion, when unburned fuel ignites unexpectedly.
High octane fuels help regulate combustion inside the engine. However, this is usually only an issue for luxury or specialty cars with high-compression engines. Most passenger cars can use regular unleaded fuel without any issues.
When Does a Rental Car Need Premium Gas?
When should you put premium gas into your rental car? When the manufacturer calls for it. Otherwise, standard gasoline is fine.
To find out whether a vehicle needs premium gas, check the owner’s manual and see if there is a label near the fuel door indicating this distinction. Engines with higher compression (often turbocharged or high-performance) require higher octane fuel.. Even though the name “premium” sounds fancier, this higher-price fuel won’t make much of a difference except when it is required for the car to run at optimal performance.
Using premium fuel in a car that does not require it should not make much of a difference, other than setting you back a pretty penny. However, using regular fuel in a car that requires premium fuel can cause engine “knocking” noises, indicating problems with combustion. It can also cause acceleration issues.
While it is unlikely that your rental car will require premium gas unless you are renting an exotic car, ask the rental car company for guidance when in doubt.
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