'It ran out of fuel as I drove in': Man takes instructions literally and returns a rental car with no gas after being told to 'bring it back empty'

Author image for Jesse Kessenheimer
Jesse Kessenheimer • Writer and Editor
Apr 29, 2023 8:00 PM EDT

Getting things for free doesn't mean that you're not paying for it in some way. That is especially true when it comes to rental cars. They always claim that you're getting "free miles" or "comped gas" or an "upgrade at no cost", but somewhere in your contract, and somewhere on your bill, you're probably paying for it anyways. One Australian man was faced with the ultimate challenge to get every cent of value out of his rental car when he was told that he was being given pre-paid fuel, meaning he could simply return it empty. 

But how empty are we talkin'?

When he went to go pick up the vehicle, he was told to "just bring it back empty", which immediately presented him with the challenge of how far he could push the limits of this tasteful Toyota Corolla. He went about his vacation as usual, driving as much as he needed and not keeping too much of a close eye on the fuel gauge, but by the end of his trip, he monitored the fuel usage, gas gauge, and petrol levels very closely. 

When the fuel light came on on the last day, he was ready with his calculations. Not wanting to push the limits and risk missing his flight, he paid for the bare minimum that would get him to the rental lot– 2 liters, or half a gallon. As he was pulling up to the rental car lot near the airport, he felt the engine sputter and start to clip. 

Knowing he was only a few meters from his destination, he floored it to gain a last bit of momentum. 

Sure enough as he was rolling through the parking lot on his last burst of speed, the engine cut out because there was simply no gas left. So he threw the car in neutral and coasted into a parking spot right in front of Hertz. Victoriously, he waltzed into the rental office and grinned ear-to-ear, informing them that he had done exactly what they asked and brought the car back completely and totally empty.

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  • 01
    Font - r/r/MaliciousCompliance Posted by u/ma77mc 2 hours ago Return the car empty. Done.
    via ma77mc
  • 02
    Font - I live in Sydney and used to fly up to the Gold Coast 3 or 4 times a year to check on my grandmother (the whole family was in Sydney so someone would usually pop up once each month to help her out) anyway, I would always rent a car from hertz when I arrived. At the time they offered a prepaid fuel option where you would pay an amount and not need to refuel before return
    via ma77mc
  • 03
    Font - As I picked up the keys to this shiny new manual Toyota Corolla the woman said to me "so you have the prepaid fuel, just bring it back empty"
    via ma77mc
  • 04
    Font - After a few days of relaxing by the beach I ran a few errands for my Grandmother in the morning before my 1500 flight when the fuel light comes on and the words of hertz staff ring in my ear "bring it back empty"
    via ma77mc
  • 05
    Font - Not wanting to push it, I pulled into 7/11 and put 2 Litres in and went on my way, the light didn't extinguish but with the distance I needed to cover, I figured I'd be safe
    via ma77mc
  • 06
    Font - About 1300, my grandmother is pushing me out the door telling me to catch my flight so I make the 6km trip to the airport, the whole time anxiously wondering if I'll make it with the fuel remaining.
    via ma77mc
  • 07
    Font - As I was coming up on the airport, I felt the engine splutter, but it was still going, heading in it started spluttering more, so much so that I genuinely thought I'd run out mere meters from my destination.
    via ma77mc
  • 08
    Font - As I pulled through the boom gate for "rental returns" I put my foot down and got a final burst of acceleration, the car determined to be the little engine that could, my finish line in sight and the car is going to make it!
    via ma77mc
  • 09
    Font - Until it didn't, the car stalled, with the momentum I had I pulled it into a spot marked "AVIS" it only made it about half way in, I tried in vane to restart it but it wasn't to be, I got out and pushed the little engine that could into bay 109.
    via ma77mc
  • 10
    Font - I was 11 bays short of the first marked Hertz and was a broken man, my goal so near yet so far, torment ran through my mind, did those 11 bays mean I was short of my goal to bring it back empty, I mean it was in the rental car car park after all and it wasn't uncommon for people to just park in a spot and ignore who owns the spot.
    via ma77mc
  • 11
    Font - I walk into the terminal, carry on roller bay in one hand, car keys in the other and walk up to rental returns, "Can I help you" the same young woman asks as I walk up to her "returning a car" I said She takes the paperwork and asks where I had parked it "bay 109, it says Avis" I respond, her not looking up she shrugs and talks into the radio on the counter "return, 109" finally she says "did you fill it up?"
    via ma77mc
  • 12
    Font - I say no and she asks roughly how much is left "none" I say, "oh so the petrol light is on, no worries" she says, "No" I say, "I mean it ran out of fuel as I drove in, I had to PUSH it into the parking spot" The helpful woman gives me a blank stare for a full 10 seconds, "wait, you LET it run out", "you said return it empty so I accepted your challenge, seems I win" I said with a mixture of pride and embarrassment.
    via ma77mc
  • 13
    Font - The staff member turns to her colleague, points at me and says "prepaid fuel and he says it ran out IN the car park" the guy looks at me with a smirk and says "Really" "well it wouldn't start back up" I reply as someone comes in from outside to get the keys, "it's out of fuel"
    via ma77mc
  • 14
    Font - the woman says "that's ok I'll run it up to shell after I've washed it" he replies. Both terminal staff look at him as the woman, looking at me, says "no, the customer says he had to push it into the spot" cue the largest eyes I've ever seen "I have to see this"
    via ma77mc
  • 15
    Font - He walks out with me and the guy from behind the counter following behind, opens the car and tries to start it, it's cranking but won't turn over as all 3 of us burst out laughing, "I've never had one fully out before" he says when I tell him, "the woman in there told me bring it back empty" as I walk inside, laughing to check my bags.
    via ma77mc
  • 16
    Font - imameanone - 6 hr. ago And they were so surprised, they forgot to get angry.
    via imameanone
  • 17
    Font - bullwinkle8088 - 6 hr. ago They likely did not care, I mean they get paid the same to wash it or put gas in it. Knowing retail people like that I'd wager they thought a run to a gas station to be something of a break, from the routine at least.
    via bullwinkle8088
  • 18
    Font - grumblyoldman +3-6 hr. ago I wouldn't be angry if I were them. He paid for the service and got what he paid for. Even Steven.
    via grumblyoldman
  • 19
    Font - skoltroll +2.5 hr. ago Why be angry over a minor miracle performed by a customer? "I'm not mad, I'm impressed!" is the only response someone should have in that situation.
    via skoltroll
  • 20
    Font - jeremiah1142 +2.2 hr. ago Honestly, I would be impressed and then grab a gas container. The customer actually did it! The customer won.
    via jeremiah1142
  • 21
    Cheezburger Image 9759066624
    via u/canva

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epicute fuel rental running-out-of-gas malicious compliance gas Challenge Accepted australia gas station rental car cars australian challenge
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