NEWS, TIPS & BARGAINS
Rental car taxes pump up price
The taxman taketh, especially if you're renting a car. In a recent study of 100 U.S. airports, online travel agency Travelocity found that taxes and facility fees on car rentals have increased more than 8% since March 2005, and now average more than 28%. You're more likely to save at off-airport sites, where taxes average 14.9%. In California, the government's bite generally is less, airport rental or not.
**
What you'll pay in taxes and fees at selected airports and non-airport locations*
| Cities | Airport locations | Off-airport locations |
| Atlanta | 53.5% | 14.4% |
| Charleston, S.C. | 33.9% | 11.5% |
| Kansas City, Mo. | 63% | 24.7% |
| Fort Lauderdale, Fla. | 40.7% | 19% |
| Seattle | 54.4% | 19.1% |
| Manchester, N.H. | 31.9% | 10.5% |
| Anchorage | 54.4% | 21.2% |
| Boston | 35.8% | 14.9% |
| Dallas/ Fort Worth | 52.1% | 20% |
| Dayton, Ohio | 27.5% | 7.6% |
| Cincinnati | 36.1% | 7% |
| Columbus, Ohio | 28.3% | 9.1% |
| Austin, Tx (Bergstrom) | 46.2% | 18.5% |
| Myrtle Beach, S.C. | 35.9% | 17% |
| Albuquerque | 44.6% | 19.4% |
| Cleveland (Hopkins) | 32.5% | 13.7% |
| Harrisburg, Pa. | 37.7% | 12.8% |
| Richmond, Va. | 29.1% | 11.1% |
| Tulsa, Okla. | 37.1% | 14.5% |
| Denver | 31% | 13.3% |
* Ranked by difference in percentage points. Percentages are what customers pay in taxes and fees on top of the base price for the lowest-priced full-size and lowest-priced compact cars for a three-day rental Dec. 7-10. Research by Travelocity.
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