Choosing a car

Unlimited mileage on a rental car

Mileage caps are easy to overlook and expensive to discover late. Whether the limit matters depends entirely on the shape of your route, not on the length of the rental.

How the limit is expressed

Caps are usually stated per day but pooled across the rental: a 200 km/day limit on a seven-day booking normally means 1,400 km total, not a hard daily ceiling.

That distinction matters. A single long transfer day is fine under a pooled limit and a breach under a strict daily one — confirm which applies.

When a cap is harmless

On a stay in one resort with short daily trips, even a modest cap is rarely reached. The same is true of city rentals used mainly for airport transfers and occasional outings.

In those cases a capped tariff at a lower rate is usually the better deal.

When unlimited earns its price

  • Multi-city routes and touring itineraries.
  • Long airport-to-resort transfers at both ends of the trip.
  • Day trips to distant regions during a single week.
  • One-way rentals covering real distance.

The cost of exceeding it

Above the cap, a per-kilometre rate applies. It is charged at the end, often against the deposit, and it is usually well above the marginal cost of the rental itself.

Estimate your route before choosing. Two hundred kilometres of overrun at a typical excess rate can outweigh the saving that made the capped tariff attractive.

FAQ

Is the limit daily or total?

Usually stated per day but pooled across the rental. Confirm which applies, since a single long day can breach a strict daily cap.

What happens if I exceed it?

A per-kilometre charge applies, normally settled at the end and often taken from the deposit.

Is unlimited mileage always better?

No. On a single-resort stay with short trips, a cheaper capped tariff is usually the better deal.

How do I estimate my mileage?

Add up the planned transfers and day trips before booking; the transfers alone often decide it.

Does the cap apply to one-way rentals?

It can, and one-way routes cover real distance — check before booking that kind of rental.

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