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Watching For Hidden Charges On Auto Rentals

The recession has impacted all sectors and the auto rental industry has not been spared. As operational costs have climbed, revenues have plummeted, causing bankruptcies and consolidation. To compensate, agencies that rent out cars are beginning to add surcharges and fees that are less than obvious to their customers. Predictably, such shenanigans have met with resistance. A growing number of lawsuits have been filed which claim these add-ons are buried in the contracts and as a result, are in bad faith.

Below, we’ll skirt the legal issues surrounding these extra charges and instead focus on the fees themselves. I’ll provide an overview of the hidden add-ons you should watch for the next time you need to rent a vehicle.

Items Drivers Take For Granted

A car needs tires, right? It also needs motor oil to properly lubricate the engine. Rentals are supposed to come with such things. Oddly, a few companies have begun adding these expenses to customer invoices when they rent a car. Imagine renting a family sedan and being charged $4 extra for the tires and $3 for the motor oil. A few years ago, such a thing would have been considered a prank. In today’s economic climate, it has become a reality.

Being Charged For Items Twice (Or More)

Renters have increasingly lodged complaints about car rental agencies that attempt to charge them more than once for items they’ve paid for. For example, suppose you rent an SUV and return it after filling the tank with gas. Check your invoice. You may be charged for fuel despite having filled the tank. When confronted, agencies typically apologize for the error and claim it was a mistake. Having said that, the mistake is happening with greater regularity.

Surcharges That Are Unclear

At least with an invoice line item that describes a $4 “tire fee,” you know what you’re paying for. Some fees are less clear. For example, “privilege” surcharges can be tacked onto a bill for a number of circumstances, including 24-hour pick-up, shuttle service, and different drop-off and pick-up locations. If you see these types of fees on your rental invoice, ask for clarification. Even better, ask about “privilege” fees before signing the vehicle rental agreement.

Reading The Fine Print

Reading the rental agreement before accepting the car keys is anything but exciting. But, keep in mind it will help you avoid (or at least prepare for) hidden expenses when it’s time to pay the bill. Some charges can be disputed. Others can at least be clarified. In either case, you need to be aware of them before you can pursue them.

Renting a vehicle used to be a reasonably transparent process. However, as industry revenues have slipped, agencies are becoming more aggressive in extracting profit wherever they can find it. The more you know, the better prepared you’ll be.

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