Early Return
An early return is simply giving the car back before the date and time on your contract. It sounds like it should save money, but the terms often say otherwise.
Many rentals are priced as a package for the whole booked period, and returning early does not automatically refund the unused days. Some agreements even apply a different, higher daily rate to the days you actually used, since the discount you got was tied to the longer commitment.
There are fair exceptions — plenty of agencies will refund or partly refund genuine early returns, especially on flexible rates. The only way to know is to read the cancellation and early-return clause before you book.
If your plans are uncertain, look for a flexible rate that explicitly allows refunds for early returns rather than assuming you can simply hand the keys back and get money returned.
Related terms
Cancellation Policy
The rules that decide whether — and how much — you get back if you cancel a booking before pickup.
Minimum Rental Period
The shortest length of time a car can be rented for, often one day but sometimes longer for certain cars.
Rental Day
A 24-hour block counted from your pickup time — the unit rentals are priced and billed in.