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.

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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%

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* 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.

-- VANI RANGACHAR