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22 May 2026 · SunnVio

Renting a car and returning it at a different location (one-way)

Flying into one city and driving back via another? Then you return the car at a different place than where you picked it up. That’s called one-way rental — ideal for a road trip, but there are a few catches. Here’s how it works, and how to keep the cost down.

What exactly is one-way rental?

With one-way rental you collect the car at location A and drop it off at location B. Picture this: land at Malaga airport, drive along the coast for a week, and return the car in Barcelona. You don’t have to head back to your starting point. On a road trip that easily saves hundreds of kilometres and a whole travel day.

Why there’s a drop-off fee

The rental company eventually needs the car back at its original location. That takes time, fuel and sometimes a driver — and those costs are passed on as a one-way fee. As a rule of thumb: within the same country and between two major airports the fee is often small, and with large companies sometimes even free. Return it in another country or at a small city branch and the fee can climb sharply — from a few tens to a few hundred euros. So always ask for a total price including the one-way fee, so there’s no surprise at the desk.

How to keep the one-way cost low

• Check whether the same pick-up and drop-off location really works out dearer than one-way plus the extra kilometres and the day driving back.
• Choose major airports over small city branches; one-way is usually cheaper there.
• Stay within one country as much as possible; cross-border one-way is the most expensive.
• Book well ahead — one-way cars are in shorter supply during peak season.

One-way across the border: extra care

If you drive a one-way car from one country to another, it’s not just the fee that matters. Not every rental company lets you cross the border, and you sometimes need extra paperwork. So read our article on taking the rental car across the border before you book. Popular road-trip destinations such as Spain and Portugal are usually well arranged, but always check per booking.

How SunnVio sorts out your road trip

Just give us your pick-up and drop-off location in the request. We find the best one-way option and send you a clear total price within one day — including any drop-off fee, all-in insured and with zero excess. That way you know exactly where you stand before you leave, and can enjoy your road trip with peace of mind.

Frequently asked questions

How much does it cost to return a rental car at a different location?

It varies a lot. Within the same country or between two major airports the one-way fee is often small and sometimes even free. Return the car in another country or at a small location and it can climb from a few tens to a few hundred euros. With SunnVio you get a total price upfront that already includes the fee.

Can I return a rental car in a different country?

Often yes, but not with every rental company and usually for a higher fee. Cross-border one-way sometimes needs extra permission. Tell us your route in the request and we arrange a car that allows it.

Is one-way rental worth it?

For a genuine road trip almost always. You save a travel day and hundreds of kilometres of driving back. If the fee outweighs that gain, the same return location may be cheaper. We show you both options.