GENERAL ASSEMBLY OF NORTH CAROLINA

SESSION 2007

S                                                                                                                                                     1

SENATE BILL 1118

Short Title:     Rental Car Fee Reform.		(Public)
Sponsors:	Senators Hagan;  Hoyle and Stevens.
Referred to:	Commerce, Small Business and Entrepreneurship.

March 22, 2007

A BILL TO BE ENTITLED

AN ACT to modernize rental car fee charging methods and to ensure complete disclosure of rental car fees.

The General Assembly of North Carolina enacts:

SECTION 1.  G.S. 66‑202 is repealed.

SECTION 2.  Chapter 66 of the General Statutes is amended by adding a new section to read:

"§ 66‑202.1.  Rental car advertising.

(a) Any time a rental car company quotes a price, the rental car company shall clearly and conspicuously disclose or cause to be disclosed the following:

(1) Itemized charges. – Except as set forth in G.S. 66‑203(a) and G.S. 66‑204(a), its rental rate, taxes, fees, and any other applicable charges that a renter must pay to hire or lease a vehicle for the period of time to which the rental rate applies.

(2) Mileage conditions. – The terms of any mileage conditions relating to the advertised or quoted rental rate, including, but not limited to: To the extent applicable, the amount of mileage and fuel charges; the number of miles for which no charge will be imposed; and a description of the geographic driving limitations, if any, within the United States and Canada.

(3) Collision damage waivers. – The daily rate it charges for collision damage waivers shall state that collision damage waivers are not required and shall state that prospective renters should examine or inquire about their automobile insurance policies to see whether such policies will cover damage to rental vehicles.

(b) For any quoted rental rate involving more than one location, a rental car company shall clearly and conspicuously disclose the existence and range of itemized charges listed in section (a) of this section, or the maximum itemized charges.

(c) If quoting a price over a voice system or in person, a rental car company shall inform the renter of the amount of the itemized charges listed in section (a) of this section or the total amount owed including the itemized charges listed in section (a) of this section before taking a reservation."

SECTION 3.  G.S. 66‑203(a) reads as rewritten:

"(a)      No rental car company may charge, in addition to the rental rate, taxes, airport charges and fees, if any, and mileage charge, if any,listed itemized charges required by G.S. 66‑202(a)(1), any fee of the following fees that must be paid by the renter as a condition of hiring or leasing a vehicle, such as, but not limited to, required fuel charges or any fee for transporting the renter to the location where the rented vehicle will be delivered to that person.vehicle:

(1) Required fuel charges.

(2) Any fee for transporting the renter to the location where the rented vehicle will be delivered to that person."

SECTION 4.  G.S. 66‑204(a) reads as rewritten:

"(a)      In addition to the rental rate, taxes, airport charges and fees, if any, and mileage charge, if any,listed itemized charges required by G.S. 66‑202(a)(1), a rental car company may charge a renter for an item or service provided in connection with a particular rental transaction if the renter can avoid incurring that charge by choosing not to obtain or utilize the optional item or service. Items and services for which a rental car company may impose an additional charge include, but are not limited to: Optional insurance and accessories requested by the renter unless otherwise prohibited by law; service charges incident to a person's optional return of the vehicle to a location other than the location where the vehicle was hired or leased; and charges for refueling the vehicle at the conclusion of the rental transaction in the event the rented vehicle is not returned with as much fuel as was in its fuel tank at the beginning of the rental."

SECTION 5.  This act becomes effective July 1, 2007.