May 2000: BUDGET Car and Van Rental has launched a new transparent pricing policy for refuelling rental cars returned with a part-empty fuel tank.

The policy started in the UK last month, and is under review in Budget's other European operations. Budget claims this new strategy will create 'no nasty surprises' for customers who return a vehicle with a part-empty fuel tank.

Budget will continue to recommend to its customers that they return cars full of fuel, but under its new policy will only charge customers the average cost of fuel in the UK, calculated on a weekly basis, plus a £4.50 (€7.5) refuelling service charge.