AB 675: Rental vehicles: advertising and quotes: charges.
- Session Year: 2015-2016
- House: Assembly
- Latest Version Date: 2015-09-28
(1)Existing law governs the contracts between a rental car company and its customer and defines terms for its purposes. Existing law governs how a rental car company is authorized to advertise its rates and provide quotes. Existing law limits how a rental car company is authorized to charge a customer based on those advertisements and quotes and further limits how a rental car company may separately charge specific types of rates.
This bill would revise and recast these provisions to provide how a rental car company is authorized to provide a quote and charge a customer based on that quote, including, among other provisions, requirements for imposing additional mandatory charges. The bill would further revise and recast these provisions to provide how a rental car company is authorized to advertise its rates, including, among other provisions, a requirement that an advertisement include a specific disclaimer that additional mandatory charges may be imposed. The bill would define new terms for these purposes, including, among others terms, vehicle license fee, vehicle registration fee, vehicle license recovery fee, and additional mandatory charges. The bill would make conforming changes to related provisions.
(2)Existing law, until January 1, 2020, requires a rental car company or its registered agent to accept service of a summons and complaint and any other required documents against a renter who resides out of this country for an accident or collision resulting from the operation of the rental vehicle in this state, if the rental car company provides liability insurance coverage as part of, or associated with, the rental agreement. Existing law requires any plaintiff who elects to serve the foreign renter by delivering the summons and complaint and any other required documents to the rental car company pursuant to these provisions to agree to limit his or her recovery against the foreign renter and rental car company to the limits of the protection of the liability insurance.
This bill would remove the repeal of these requirements on January 1, 2020, thus making these requirements apply indefinitely.
(3)This bill would also make other technical, nonsubstantive changes by reorganizing several provisions and repealing obsolete provisions.
(1)Existing law governs the contracts between a rental car company and its customer and defines terms for its purposes. Existing law governs how a rental car company is authorized to advertise its rates and provide quotes. Existing law limits how a rental car company is authorized to charge a customer based on those advertisements and quotes and further limits how a rental car company may separately charge specific types of rates.
This bill would revise and recast these provisions to provide how a rental car company is authorized to provide a quote and charge a customer based on that quote, including, among other provisions, requirements for imposing additional mandatory charges. The bill would further revise and recast these provisions to provide how a rental car company is authorized to advertise its rates, including, among other provisions, a requirement that an advertisement include a specific disclaimer that additional mandatory charges may be imposed. The bill would define new terms for these purposes, including, among others terms, vehicle license fee, vehicle registration fee, vehicle license recovery fee, and additional mandatory charges. The bill would make conforming changes to related provisions.
(2)Existing law, until January 1, 2020, requires a rental car company or its registered agent to accept service of a summons and complaint and any other required documents against a renter who resides out of this country for an accident or collision resulting from the operation of the rental vehicle in this state, if the rental car company provides liability insurance coverage as part of, or associated with, the rental agreement. Existing law requires any plaintiff who elects to serve the foreign renter by delivering the summons and complaint and any other required documents to the rental car company pursuant to these provisions to agree to limit his or her recovery against the foreign renter and rental car company to the limits of the protection of the liability insurance.
This bill would remove the repeal of these requirements on January 1, 2020, thus making these requirements apply indefinitely.
(3)This bill would also make other technical, nonsubstantive changes by reorganizing several provisions and repealing obsolete provisions.
(1)Existing law governs contracts between rental car companies and their customers in connection with the rental of a passenger vehicle and requires a rental company to only advertise a rental rate that includes the entire amount except taxes, and any applicable customer facility charge or mileage charge that a renter must pay to hire or lease the vehicle for the period of time to which the rental rate applies. Existing law prohibits a rental company from charging any fee that is required to be paid by the renter as a condition of hiring or leasing the vehicle, other than the rental rate, taxes, or any applicable customer facility charge, airport concession fee, tourism commission assessment, or mileage charge.
This bill would repeal that advertisement requirement and modify the prohibition against charging any other fees.
(2)
(1)Existing law authorizes, when providing a quote, or imposing charges for a rental, a rental company to separately state the rental rate, taxes, and any applicable customer facility charge, airport concession fee, tourism commission assessment, mileage charge that a renter must pay to hire or lease the vehicle for the period of time to which the rental rate applies. governs the contracts between a rental car company and its customer and defines terms for its purposes. Existing law governs how a rental car company is authorized to advertise its rates and provide quotes. Existing law limits how a rental car company is authorized to charge a customer based on those advertisements and quotes and further limits how a rental car company may separately charge specific types of rates.
This bill would revise and recast that law these provisions to provide that a rental company is authorized to separately state any additional mandatory charges, as defined. This bill would further define the term vehicle license recovery fee to mean the amount of how a rental car company is authorized to provide a quote and charge a customer based on that quote, including, among other provisions, requirements for imposing additional mandatory charges. The bill would further revise and recast these provisions to provide how a rental car company is authorized to advertise its rates, including, among other provisions, a requirement that an advertisement include a specific disclaimer that additional mandatory charges may be imposed. The bill would define new terms for these purposes, including, among others terms, vehicle license fee and fee, vehicle registration fee, as those terms are defined, paid by the rental company for the particular class of vehicle being rented. vehicle license recovery fee, and additional mandatory charges. The bill would make conforming changes to related provisions.
(3)Existing law requires a rental company, if customer facility charges, airport concession fees, or tourism commission assessments are imposed, to take specified actions, including, when a quote is given, providing the person receiving the quote with a good faith estimate of the rental rate, taxes, customer facility charge, if any, airport concession fee, if any, and tourism commission assessment, if any, as well as the total charges for the entire rental.
This bill would require a rental company to take those specified actions when any additional mandatory charge is imposed.
(4)Existing law requires, when a rental rate is stated in an advertisement, in connection with a car rental at an airport where a customer facility charge is imposed, the rental company to clearly disclose the existence and amount of the customer facility charge, as specified. Existing law requires, if any person or entity other than a rental car company, advertises a rental rate for a car rental at an airport where a customer facility charge is imposed, that person or entity to clearly disclose the existence and amount of the charge, as specified.
This bill would repeal these disclosure requirements.
(5)
(2)Existing law, until January 1, 2020, requires a rental company or its registered agent to accept service of a summons and complaint and any other required documents against a renter who resides out of this country for an accident or collision resulting from the operation of the rental vehicle in this state, if the rental company provides liability insurance coverage as part of, or associated with, the rental agreement. Existing law requires any plaintiff who elects to serve the foreign renter by delivering the summons and complaint and any other required documents to the rental company pursuant to these provisions to agree to limit his or her recovery against the foreign renter and rental company to the limits of the protection of the liability insurance.
This bill would remove the repeal of these requirements on January 1, 2020, thus making these requirements apply indefinitely.
(6)
(3)This bill would also make other technical, nonsubstantive changes by reorganizing several provisions and repealing obsolete provisions.
(1)Existing law governs contracts between rental car companies and their customers in connection with the rental of a passenger vehicle. Existing law requires a rental company that offers or provides a damage waiver to orally disclose to all renters, except participants in the rental companys membership program, that the damage waiver may be duplicative of coverage that the customer maintains under his or her own policy of motor vehicle insurance, and requires that the contract include that information in a clear and conspicuous written disclosure.
This bill would specify that the oral disclosure only applies if a damage waiver is offered orally at the rental counter, at the time of the offer, and, if a damage waiver may be obtained online, would require the clear and conspicuous written disclosure to also be included on the Internet Web site page on which an estimate of total charges is provided for any reservation made through the rental companys online reservation system.
(2)
(1)Existing law governs contracts between rental car companies and their customers in connection with the rental of a passenger vehicle and requires a rental company to only advertise a rental rate that includes the entire amount except taxes, and any applicable customer facility charge or mileage charge that a renter must pay to hire or lease the vehicle for the period of time to which the rental rate applies. Existing law prohibits a rental company from charging any fee that is required to be paid by the renter as a condition of hiring or leasing the vehicle, other than the rental rate, taxes, or any applicable customer facility charge, airport concession fee, tourism commission assessment, or mileage charge.
This bill would repeal that advertisement requirement and that modify the prohibition against charging any other required fees.
(3)
(2)Existing law authorizes, when providing a quote, or imposing charges for a rental, a rental company to separately state the rental rate, taxes, and any applicable customer facility charge, airport concession fee, tourism commission assessment, mileage charge that a renter must pay to hire or lease the vehicle for the period of time to which the rental rate applies.
This bill would revise and recast that law to provide that a rental company is authorized to separately state any additional mandatory charges, defined to mean any charges imposed by a governmental entity that a renter must pay to hire or lease the vehicle for the period of time to which the rental rate applies, including, but not limited to, a customer facility charge, airport concession fee, tourism commission assessment, vehicle license recovery fee, or other government imposed taxes or fees. as defined. This bill would further define the term vehicle license recovery fee to mean the amount of vehicle license fee and vehicle registration fee, as those terms are defined, paid by the rental company for the particular class of vehicle being rented.
(4)
(3)Existing law requires a rental company, if customer facility charges, airport concession fees, or tourism commission assessments are imposed, to take specified actions, including, when a quote is given, providing the person receiving the quote with a good faith estimate of the rental rate, taxes, customer facility charge, if any, airport concession fee, if any, and tourism commission assessment, if any, as well as the total charges for the entire rental.
This bill would require a rental company to take those specified actions when any additional mandatory charge is imposed.
(5)
(4)Existing law requires, when a rental rate is stated in an advertisement, in connection with a car rental at an airport where a customer facility charge is imposed, the rental company to clearly disclose the existence and amount of the customer facility charge, as specified. Existing law requires, if any person or entity other than a rental car company, advertises a rental rate for a car rental at an airport where a customer facility charge is imposed, that person or entity to clearly disclose the existence and amount of the charge, as specified.
This bill would repeal these disclosure requirements.
(6)Existing law prohibits a rental company from using, accessing, or obtaining information relating to the renters use of the rental vehicle obtained using electronic surveillance technology, except in specified circumstances.
This bill would instead allow a rental company to access or obtain information relating to the renters use of the rental vehicle obtained using electronic surveillance technology, and also revise and expand the circumstances when information from electronic surveillance technology can be used by a rental company, as specified.
(7)Existing law provides that a rental companys disclosure requirements for renters enrolled in the companys membership program are satisfied if specified conditions are met, including a requirement that the rental company provide a specified notice on a hanger, as provided. Existing law specifies that this provision is effective only if a designated employee is actually present at the required location, and specifies that the provision does not relieve the rental company from the disclosures required to be made within the text of a contract or holder in which the contract is placed, in or on an advertisement containing a rate, or in a telephonic, in-person, or computer-transmitted quotation or reservation.
This bill would eliminate that requirement that the rental company provide a specified notice on a hanger. This bill would eliminate the requirement that a designated employee be present. This bill would expand the circumstances in which a rental companys disclosure requirements for renters enrolled in the companys membership program are relieved when those specified conditions are met.
(8)
(5)Existing law, until January 1, 2020, requires a rental company or its registered agent to accept service of a summons and complaint and any other required documents against a renter who resides out of this country for an accident or collision resulting from the operation of the rental vehicle in this state, if the rental company provides liability insurance coverage as part of, or associated with, the rental agreement. Existing law requires any plaintiff who elects to serve the foreign renter by delivering the summons and complaint and any other required documents to the rental company pursuant to these provisions to agree to limit his or her recovery against the foreign renter and rental company to the limits of the protection of the liability insurance.
This bill would remove the repeal of these requirements on January 1, 2020, thus making these requirements apply indefinitely.
(9)
(6)This bill would also make other technical, nonsubstantive changes by reorganizing several provisions and repealing obsolete provisions.
(1)Existing law governs contracts between rental car companies and their customers in connection with the rental of a passenger vehicle. Existing law requires a rental company that offers or provides a damage waiver to orally disclose to all renters, except participants in the rental companys membership program, that the damage waiver may be duplicative of coverage that the customer maintains under his or her own policy of motor vehicle insurance, and requires that the contract include that information in a clear and conspicuous written disclosure.
This bill would specify that the oral disclosure only applies if a damage waiver is offered orally at the rental counter, at the time of the offer, and, if a damage waiver may be obtained online, would require the clear and conspicuous written disclosure to also be included on the Internet Web site page on which an estimate of total charges is provided for any reservation made through the rental companys online reservation system.
(2)Existing law requires a rental company to only advertise a rental rate that includes the entire amount except taxes, and any applicable customer facility charge or mileage charge that a renter must pay to hire or lease the vehicle for the period of time to which the rental rate applies. Existing law prohibits a rental company from charging any fee that is required to be paid by the renter as a condition of hiring or leasing the vehicle, other than the rental rate, taxes, or any applicable customer facility charge, airport concession fee, tourism commission assessment, or mileage charge.
This bill would repeal that advertisement requirement and that prohibition against charging any other required fees.
(3)Existing law authorizes, when providing a quote, or imposing charges for a rental, a rental company to separately state the rental rate, taxes, and any applicable customer facility charge, airport concession fee, tourism commission assessment, mileage charge that a renter must pay to hire or lease the vehicle for the period of time to which the rental rate applies.
This bill would revise and recast that law to provide that a rental company is authorized to separately state any additional mandatory charges, defined to mean any charges imposed by a governmental entity that a renter must pay to hire or lease the vehicle for the period of time to which the rental rate applies, including, but not limited to, a customer facility charge, airport concession fee, tourism commission assessment, vehicle license recovery fee, or other government imposed taxes or fees. This bill would further define the term vehicle license recovery fee to mean the amount of vehicle license fee and vehicle registration fee, as those terms are defined, paid by the rental company for the particular class of vehicle being rented.
(4)Existing law requires a rental company, if customer facility charges, airport concession fees, or tourism commission assessments are imposed, to take specified actions, including, when a quote is given, providing the person receiving the quote with a good faith estimate of the rental rate, taxes, customer facility charge, if any, airport concession fee, if any, and tourism commission assessment, if any, as well as the total charges for the entire rental.
This bill would require a rental company to take those specified actions when any additional mandatory charge is imposed.
(5)Existing law requires, when a rental rate is stated in an advertisement, in connection with a car rental at an airport where a customer facility charge is imposed, the rental company to clearly disclose the existence and amount of the customer facility charge, as specified. Existing law requires, if any person or entity other than a rental car company, advertises a rental rate for a car rental at an airport where a customer facility charge is imposed, that person or entity to clearly disclose the existence and amount of the charge, as specified.
This bill would repeal these disclosure requirements.
(6)Existing law prohibits a rental company from using, accessing, or obtaining information relating to the renters use of the rental vehicle obtained using electronic surveillance technology, except in specified circumstances.
This bill would instead allow a rental company to access or obtain information relating to the renters use of the rental vehicle obtained using electronic surveillance technology, and also revise and expand the circumstances when information from electronic surveillance technology can be used by a rental company, as specified.
(7)Existing law provides that a rental companys disclosure requirements for renters enrolled in the companys membership program are satisfied if specified conditions are met, including a requirement that the rental company provide a specified notice on a hanger, as provided. Existing law specifies that this provision is effective only if a designated employee is actually present at the required location, and specifies that the provision does not relieve the rental company from the disclosures required to be made within the text of a contract or holder in which the contract is placed; placed, in or on an advertisement containing a rental rate; rate, or in a telephonic, in-person, or computer-transmitted quotation or reservation.
This bill would eliminate that requirement that the rental company provide a specified notice on a hanger. This bill would eliminate the requirement that a designated employee be present. This bill would expand the circumstances in which a rental companys disclosure requirements for renters enrolled in the companys membership program are relieved when those specified conditions are met.
(8)Existing law, until January 1, 2020, requires a rental company or its registered agent to accept service of a summons and complaint and any other required documents against a renter who resides out of this country for an accident or collision resulting from the operation of the rental vehicle in this state, if the rental company provides liability insurance coverage as part of, or associated with, the rental agreement. Existing law requires any plaintiff who elects to serve the foreign renter by delivering the summons and complaint and any other required documents to the rental company pursuant to these provisions to agree to limit his or her recovery against the foreign renter and rental company to the limits of the protection of the liability insurance.
This bill would remove the repeal of these requirements on January 1, 2020, thus making these requirements apply indefinitely.
(9)This bill would also make other technical, nonsubstantive changes by reorganizing several provisions and repealing obsolete provisions.
Existing
(1)Existing law governs contracts between rental car companies and their customers in connection with the rental of a passenger vehicle.
Existing vehicle. Existing law requires a rental company that offers or provides a damage waiver to orally disclose to all renters, except participants in the rental companys membership program, that the damage waiver may be duplicative of coverage that the customer maintains under his or her own policy of motor vehicle insurance, and requires that the contract include that information in a clear and conspicuous written disclosure.
This bill would specify that the oral disclosure only applies if a damage waiver is offered orally at the rental counter, at the time of the offer, and, if a damage waiver may be obtained online, would require the clear and conspicuous written disclosure to also be included on the Internet Web site page on which an estimate of total charges is provided for any reservation made through the rental companys online reservation system.
Existing
(2)Existing law requires a rental company to only advertise a rental rate that includes the entire amount except taxes, and any applicable customer facility charge or mileage charge that a renter must pay to hire or lease the vehicle for the period of time to which the rental rate applies. Existing law prohibits a rental company from charging any fee that is required to be paid by the renter as a condition of hiring or leasing the vehicle, other than the rental rate, taxes, or any applicable customer facility charge, airport concession fee, tourism commission assessment, or mileage charge.
This bill would repeal that advertisement requirement and that prohibition against charging any other required fees.
Existing
(3)Existing law authorizes, when providing a quote, or imposing charges for a rental, a rental company to separately state the rental rate, taxes, and any applicable customer facility charge, airport concession fee, tourism commission assessment, mileage charge that a renter must pay to hire or lease the vehicle for the period of time to which the rental rate applies.
This bill would revise and recast that law to provide that a rental company is authorized to separately state any additional mandatory charges, defined to mean any charges in addition to a per period base rental rate and mileage charge, if any, imposed by a governmental entity that a renter must pay to hire or lease the vehicle for the period of time to which the rental rate applies, including, but not limited to, a customer facility charge, airport concession fee, tourism commission assessment, vehicle license recovery fee, registration fee, or other government imposed taxes or fees. This bill would further define the term vehicle license recovery fee to mean the amount of vehicle license fee and vehicle registration fee, as those terms are defined, paid by the rental company for the particular class of vehicle being rented.
Existing
(4)Existing law requires a rental company, if customer facility charges, airport concession fees, or tourism commission assessments are imposed, to take specified actions, including, when a quote is given, providing the person receiving the quote with a good faith estimate of the rental rate, taxes, customer facility charge, if any, airport concession fee, if any, and tourism commission assessment, if any, as well as the total charges for the entire rental.
This bill would require a rental company to take those specified actions when any additional mandatory charge is imposed.
Existing
(5)Existing law requires, when a rental rate is stated in an advertisement, in connection with a car rental at an airport where a customer facility charge is imposed, the rental company to clearly disclose the existence and amount of the customer facility charge, as specified. Existing law requires, if any person or entity other than a rental car company, advertises a rental rate for a car rental at an airport where a customer facility charge is imposed, that person or entity to clearly disclose the existence and amount of the charge, as specified.
This bill would repeal these disclosure requirements.
Existing
(6)Existing law prohibits a rental company from using, accessing, or obtaining information relating to the renters use of the rental vehicle obtained using electronic surveillance technology, except in specified circumstances.
This bill would instead allow a rental company to access or obtain information relating to the renters use of the rental vehicle obtained using electronic surveillance technology, and also revise and expand the circumstances when information from electronic surveillance technology can be used by a rental company, as specified.
Existing
(7)Existing law provides that a rental companys disclosure requirements for renters enrolled in the companys membership program are satisfied if specified conditions are met, including a requirement that the rental company provide a specified notice on a hanger, as provided. Existing law specifies that this provision is effective only if a designated employee is actually present at the required location, and specifies that the provision does not relieve the rental company from the disclosures required to be made within the text of a contract or holder in which the contract is placed; in or on an advertisement containing a rental rate; or in a telephonic, in-person, or computer-transmitted quotation or reservation.
This bill would eliminate that requirement that the rental company provide a specified notice on a hanger. This bill would eliminate the requirement that a designated employee be present. This bill would expand the circumstances in which a rental companys disclosure requirements for renters enrolled in the companys membership program are relieved when those specified conditions are met.
Existing
(8)Existing law, until January 1, 2020, requires a rental company or its registered agent to accept service of a summons and complaint and any other required documents against a renter who resides out of this country for an accident or collision resulting from the operation of the rental vehicle in this state, if the rental company provides liability insurance coverage as part of, or associated with, the rental agreement. Existing law requires any plaintiff who elects to serve the foreign renter by delivering the summons and complaint and any other required documents to the rental company pursuant to these provisions to agree to limit his or her recovery against the foreign renter and rental company to the limits of the protection of the liability insurance.
This bill would remove the repeal of these requirements on January 1, 2020, thus making these requirements apply indefinitely.
This
(9)This bill would also make other technical, nonsubstantive changes by reorganizing several provisions and repealing obsolete provisions.
Existing law governs contracts between rental car companies and their customers in connection with the rental of a passenger vehicle.
Existing law requires a rental company that offers or provides a damage waiver to orally disclose to all renters, except participants in the rental companys membership program, that the damage waiver may be duplicative of coverage that the customer maintains under his or her own policy of motor vehicle insurance, and requires that the contract include that information in a clear and conspicuous written disclosure.
This bill would specify that the oral disclosure only applies if a damage waiver is offered orally at the rental counter, at the time of the offer, and, if a damage waiver may be obtained online, would require the clear and conspicuous written disclosure to also be included on the Internet Web site page on which an estimate of total charges is provided for any reservation made through the rental companys online reservation system.
Existing law requires a rental company to only advertise a rental rate that includes the entire amount except taxes, and any applicable customer facility charge or mileage charge that a renter must pay to hire or lease the vehicle for the period of time to which the rental rate applies. Existing law prohibits a rental company from charging any fee that is required to be paid by the renter as a condition of hiring or leasing the vehicle, other than the rental rate, taxes, or any applicable customer facility charge, airport concession fee, tourism commission assessment, or mileage charge.
This bill would repeal that advertisement requirement and that prohibition against charging any other required fees.
Existing law authorizes, when providing a quote, or imposing charges for a rental, a rental company to separately state the rental rate, taxes, and any applicable customer facility charge, airport concession fee, tourism commission assessment, mileage charge that a renter must pay to hire or lease the vehicle for the period of time to which the rental rate applies.
This bill would revise and recast that law to provide that a rental company is authorized to separately state any additional mandatory charges, defined to mean any charges in addition to a per period base rental rate and mileage charge, if any, that a renter must pay to hire or lease the vehicle for the period of time to which the rental rate applies, including, but not limited to, a customer facility charge, airport concession fee, tourism commission assessment, vehicle license recovery fee, registration fee, or other government imposed taxes or fees.
Existing law requires a rental company, if customer facility charges, airport concession fees, or tourism commission assessments are imposed, to take specified actions, including, when a quote is given, providing the person receiving the quote with a good faith estimate of the rental rate, taxes, customer facility charge, if any, airport concession fee, if any, and tourism commission assessment, if any, as well as the total charges for the entire rental.
This bill would require a rental company to take those specified actions when any additional mandatory charge is imposed.
Existing law requires, when a rental rate is stated in an advertisement, in connection with a car rental at an airport where a customer facility charge is imposed, the rental company to clearly disclose the existence and amount of the customer facility charge, as specified. Existing law requires, if any person or entity other than a rental car company, advertises a rental rate for a car rental at an airport where a customer facility charge is imposed, that person or entity to clearly disclose the existence and amount of the charge, as specified.
This bill would repeal these disclosure requirements.
Existing law prohibits a rental company from using, accessing, or obtaining information relating to the renters use of the rental vehicle obtained using electronic surveillance technology, except in specified circumstances.
This bill would instead allow a rental company to access or obtain information relating to the renters use of the rental vehicle obtained using electronic surveillance technology, and also revise and expand the circumstances when information from electronic surveillance technology can be used by a rental company, as specified.
Existing law provides that a rental companys disclosure requirements for renters enrolled in the companys membership program are satisfied if specified conditions are met, including a requirement that the rental company provide a specified notice on a hanger, as provided. Existing law specifies that this provision is effective only if a designated employee is actually present at the required location, and specifies that the provision does not relieve the rental company from the disclosures required to be made within the text of a contract or holder in which the contract is placed; in or on an advertisement containing a rental rate; or in a telephonic, in-person, or computer-transmitted quotation or reservation.
This bill would eliminate that requirement that the rental company provide a specified notice on a hanger. This bill would eliminate the requirement that a designated employee be present. This bill would expand the circumstances in which a rental companys disclosure requirements for renters enrolled in the companys membership program are relieved when those specified conditions are met.
Existing law, until January 1, 2020, requires a rental company or its registered agent to accept service of a summons and complaint and any other required documents against a renter who resides out of this country for an accident or collision resulting from the operation of the rental vehicle in this state, if the rental company provides liability insurance coverage as part of, or associated with, the rental agreement. Existing law requires any plaintiff who elects to serve the foreign renter by delivering the summons and complaint and any other required documents to the rental company pursuant to these provisions to agree to limit his or her recovery against the foreign renter and rental company to the limits of the protection of the liability insurance.
This bill would remove the repeal of these requirements on January 1, 2020, thus making these requirements apply indefinitely.
This bill would also make other technical, nonsubstantive changes by reorganizing several provisions and repealing obsolete provisions.
Existing law requires a rental company, in connection with the rental of a passenger vehicle, to only advertise a rental rate that includes the entire amount, except taxes, a customer facility charge, and a mileage charge, that a renter must pay to rent a vehicle. Existing law specifies that when a rental company provides a quote or imposes a charge, it may separately state the rental rate, taxes, customer facility charge, airport concession, fee tourism commission assessment, as defined, and mileage charge. Existing law prohibits a rental company from charging any additional fees, other than specified charges, that must be paid by the renter as a condition of hiring or leasing the vehicle. Existing law requires a rental company, if customer facility charges, airport concession fees, or tourism commission assessments are imposed, to take specified actions. Existing law made these provisions, and other related provisions, operative only if a specified condition occurred.
This bill would make a technical, nonsubstantive change by deleting that conditional operative provision, because that specified condition occurred.
Existing law requires a rental company, in connection with the rental of a passenger vehicle, to only advertise a rental rate that includes the entire amount, except taxes, a customer facility charge, and a mileage charge, that a renter must pay to rent a vehicle. Existing law specifies that when a rental company provides a quote or imposes a charge, it may separately state the rental rate, taxes, customer facility charge, airport concession, fee tourism commission assessment, as defined, and mileage charge. Existing law prohibits a rental company from charging any additional fees, other than specified charges, that must be paid by the renter as a condition of hiring or leasing the vehicle. Existing law requires a rental company, if customer facility charges, airport concession fees, or tourism commission assessments are imposed, to take specified actions. Existing law made these provisions, and other related provisions, operative only if a specified condition occurred.
This bill would make a technical, nonsubstantive change by deleting that conditional operative provision, because that specified condition occurred.
(a)For the purpose of this section, the following definitions shall apply:
(1)Rental company means a person or entity in the business of renting passenger vehicles to the public.
(2)Renter means any person in a manner obligated under a contract for the lease or hire of a passenger vehicle from a rental company for a period of less than 30 days.
(3)Additional mandatory charges means any separately stated charges that the rental car company requires the renter to pay to hire or lease the vehicle for the period of time to which the rental rate applies, which are imposed by a governmental entity and specifically relate to the operation of a rental car business, including, but not limited to, a customer facility charge, airport concession fee, tourism commission assessment, vehicle license recovery fee, or other government imposed taxes or fees.
(4)Airport concession fee means a charge collected by a rental company from a renter that is the renters proportionate share of the amount paid by the rental company to the owner or operator of an airport for the right or privilege of conducting a vehicle rental business on the airports premises.
(5)Authorized driver means all of the following:
(A)The renter.
(B)The renters spouse if that person is a licensed driver and satisfies the rental companys minimum age requirement.
(C)The renters employer or coworker if he or she is engaged in business activity with the renter, is a licensed driver, and satisfies the rental companys minimum age requirement.
(D)A person expressly listed by the rental company on that renters contract as an authorized driver.
(6)(A)Customer facility charge means any fee, including an alternative fee, required by an airport to be collected by a rental company from a renter for any of the following purposes:
(i)To finance, design, and construct consolidated airport car rental facilities.
(ii)To finance, design, construct, and operate common-use transportation systems that move passengers between airport terminals and those consolidated car rental facilities, and acquire vehicles for use in that system.
(iii)To finance, design, and construct terminal modifications solely to accommodate and provide customer access to common-use transportation systems.
(B)The aggregate amount to be collected shall not exceed the reasonable costs, as determined by an audit, by an independent auditor, paid for by the airport, to finance, design, and construct those facilities. The auditor shall independently examine and substantiate the necessity for and the amount of the customer facility charge, including whether the airports actual or projected costs are supported and justified, any steps the airport may take to limit costs, potential alternatives for meeting the airports revenue needs other than the collection of the fee, and whether and to what extent car rental companies or other businesses or individuals using the facility or common-use transportation system may pay for the costs associated with these facilities and systems other than the fee from rental customers, or whether the airport did not comply with any provision of this subparagraph. Copies of the audit shall be provided to the Assembly and Senate Committees on Judiciary, the Assembly Committee on Transportation, and the Senate Committee on Transportation and Housing and shall be posted on the airports Internet Web site. In the case of a customer facility charge for a common-use transportation system, the audit also shall consider the reasonable costs of providing the transit system or busing network pursuant to clause (ii) of subparagraph (A). Any audit required by this subparagraph may be included as a part of an audit of an airports finances. Notwithstanding clause (iii) of subparagraph (A), the fees designated as a customer facility charge shall not be used to pay for terminal expansion, gate expansion, runway expansion, changes in hours of operation, or changes in the number of flights arriving or departing from the airport.
(C)Except as provided in subparagraph (D), the authorization given pursuant to this section for an airport to impose a customer facility charge shall become inoperative when the bonds used for financing are paid.
(D)If a bond or other form of indebtedness is not used for financing, or the bond or other form of indebtedness used for financing has been paid, the Oakland International Airport may require the collection of a customer facility charge for a period of up to 10 years from the imposition of the charge for the purposes allowed by, and subject to the conditions imposed by, this section.
(7)Damage waiver means a rental companys agreement not to hold a renter liable for all or any portion of any damage or loss related to the rented vehicle, any loss of use of the rented vehicle, or any storage, impound, towing, or administrative charges.
(8)Electronic surveillance technology means a technological method or system used to observe, monitor, or collect information, including telematics, Global Positioning System (GPS), wireless technology, or location-based technologies. Electronic surveillance technology does not include event data recorders (EDR), sensing and diagnostic modules (SDM), or other systems that are used either:
(A)For the purpose of identifying, diagnosing, or monitoring functions related to the potential need to repair, service, or perform maintenance on the rental vehicle.
(B)As part of the vehicles airbag sensing and diagnostic system in order to capture safety systems-related data for retrieval after a crash has occurred or in the event that the collision sensors are activated to prepare the decisionmaking computer to make the determination to deploy or not to deploy the airbag.
(9)Estimated time for replacement means the number of hours of labor, or fraction thereof, needed to replace damaged vehicle parts as set forth in collision damage estimating guides generally used in the vehicle repair business and commonly known as crash books.
(10)Estimated time for repair means a good faith estimate of the reasonable number of hours of labor, or fraction thereof, needed to repair damaged vehicle parts.
(11)Membership program means a service offered by a rental company that permits customers to bypass the rental counter and go directly to the car previously reserved. A membership program shall meet all of the following requirements:
(A)The renter initiates enrollment by completing an application on which the renter can specify a preference for type of vehicle and acceptance or declination of optional services.
(B)The rental company fully discloses, prior to the enrollees first rental as a participant in the program, all terms and conditions of the rental agreement as well as all required disclosures.
(C)The renter may terminate enrollment at any time.
(D)The rental company fully explains to the renter that designated preferences, as well as acceptance or declination of optional services, may be changed by the renter at any time for the next and future rentals.
(E)An employee designated to receive the form specified in subparagraph (C) of paragraph (1) of subdivision (s) is present at the lot where the renter takes possession of the car, to receive any change in the rental agreement from the renter.
(12)Passenger vehicle means a passenger vehicle as defined in Section 465 of the Vehicle Code.
(13)Quote means an estimated cost of rental provided by a rental company or a third party to a potential customer by telephone, in-person, computer-transmission, or other means, that is based on information provided by the potential customer and used to generate an estimated cost of rental, including, but not limited to, potential dates of rental, locations, or classes of car.
(14)Tourism commission assessment means the charge collected by a rental company from a renter that has been established by the California Travel and Tourism Commission pursuant to Section 13995.65 of the Government Code.
(15)Vehicle license fee means the tax imposed pursuant to the Vehicle License Fee Law (Part 5 (commencing with Section 10701) of Division 2 of the Revenue and Taxation Code).
(16)Vehicle registration fee means any fee imposed pursuant to any provision of Chapter 6 (commencing with Section 9101) of Division 3 of the Vehicle Code.
(17)Vehicle license recovery fee means a charge that seeks to recover the amount of any vehicle license fee and vehicle registration fee paid by a rental company for the particular class of vehicle being rented.
(b)Except as limited by subdivision (c), a rental company and a renter may agree that the renter will be responsible for no more than all of the following:
(1)Physical or mechanical damage to the rented vehicle up to its fair market value, as determined in the customary market for the sale of that vehicle, resulting from collision regardless of the cause of the damage.
(2)Loss due to theft of the rented vehicle up to its fair market value, as determined in the customary market for the sale of that vehicle, provided that the rental company establishes by clear and convincing evidence that the renter or the authorized driver failed to exercise ordinary care while in possession of the vehicle. In addition, the renter shall be presumed to have no liability for any loss due to theft if (A) an authorized driver has possession of the ignition key furnished by the rental company or an authorized driver establishes that the ignition key furnished by the rental company was not in the vehicle at the time of the theft, and (B) an authorized driver files an official report of the theft with the police or other law enforcement agency within 24 hours of learning of the theft and reasonably cooperates with the rental company and the police or other law enforcement agency in providing information concerning the theft. The presumption set forth in this paragraph is a presumption affecting the burden of proof which the rental company may rebut by establishing that an authorized driver committed, or aided and abetted the commission of, the theft.
(3)Physical damage to the rented vehicle up to its fair market value, as determined in the customary market for the sale of that vehicle, resulting from vandalism occurring after, or in connection with, the theft of the rented vehicle. However, the renter shall have no liability for any damage due to vandalism if the renter would have no liability for theft pursuant to paragraph (2).
(4)Physical damage to the rented vehicle up to a total of five hundred dollars ($500) resulting from vandalism unrelated to the theft of the rented vehicle.
(5)Actual charges for towing, storage, and impound fees paid by the rental company if the renter is liable for damage or loss.
(6)An administrative charge, which shall include the cost of appraisal and all other costs and expenses incident to the damage, loss, repair, or replacement of the rented vehicle.
(c)The total amount of the renters liability to the rental company resulting from damage to the rented vehicle shall not exceed the sum of the following:
(1)The estimated cost of parts which the rental company would have to pay to replace damaged vehicle parts. All discounts and price reductions or adjustments that are or will be received by the rental company shall be subtracted from the estimate to the extent not already incorporated in the estimate, or otherwise promptly credited or refunded to the renter.
(2)The estimated cost of labor to replace damaged vehicle parts, which shall not exceed the product of (A) the rate for labor usually paid by the rental company to replace vehicle parts of the type that were damaged and (B) the estimated time for replacement. All discounts and price reductions or adjustments that are or will be received by the rental company shall be subtracted from the estimate to the extent not already incorporated in the estimate, or otherwise promptly credited or refunded to the renter.
(3)(A)The estimated cost of labor to repair damaged vehicle parts, which shall not exceed the lesser of the following:
(i)The product of the rate for labor usually paid by the rental company to repair vehicle parts of the type that were damaged and the estimated time for repair.
(ii)The sum of the estimated labor and parts costs determined under paragraphs (1) and (2) to replace the same vehicle parts.
(B)All discounts and price reductions or adjustments that are or will be received by the rental company shall be subtracted from the estimate to the extent not already incorporated in the estimate, or otherwise promptly credited or refunded to the renter.
(4)For the purpose of converting the estimated time for repair into the same units of time in which the rental rate is expressed, a day shall be deemed to consist of eight hours.
(5)Actual charges for towing, storage, and impound fees paid by the rental company.
(6)The administrative charge described in paragraph (6) of subdivision (b) shall not exceed (A) fifty dollars ($50) if the total estimated cost for parts and labor is more than one hundred dollars ($100) up to and including five hundred dollars ($500), (B) one hundred dollars ($100) if the total estimated cost for parts and labor exceeds five hundred dollars ($500) up to and including one thousand five hundred dollars ($1,500), and (C) one hundred fifty dollars ($150) if the total estimated cost for parts and labor exceeds one thousand five hundred dollars ($1,500). An administrative charge shall not be imposed if the total estimated cost of parts and labor is one hundred dollars ($100) or less.
(d)(1)The total amount of an authorized drivers liability to the rental company, if any, for damage occurring during the authorized drivers operation of the rented vehicle shall not exceed the amount of the renters liability under subdivision (c).
(2)A rental company shall not recover from the renter or other authorized driver an amount exceeding the renters liability under subdivision (c).
(3)A claim against a renter resulting from damage or loss, excluding loss of use, to a rental vehicle shall be reasonably and rationally related to the actual loss incurred. A rental company shall mitigate damages where possible and shall not assert or collect a claim for physical damage which exceeds the actual costs of the repairs performed or the estimated cost of repairs, if the rental company chooses not to repair the vehicle, including all discounts and price reductions. However, if the vehicle is a total loss vehicle, the claim shall not exceed the total loss vehicle value established in accordance with procedures that are customarily used by insurance companies when paying claims on total loss vehicles, less the proceeds from salvaging the vehicle, if those proceeds are retained by the rental company.
(4)If insurance coverage exists under the renters applicable personal or business insurance policy and the coverage is confirmed during regular business hours, the renter may require that the rental company submit any claims to the renters applicable personal or business insurance carrier. The rental company shall not make any written or oral representations that it will not present claims or negotiate with the renters insurance carrier. For purposes of this paragraph, confirmation of coverage includes telephone confirmation from insurance company representatives during regular business hours. Upon request of the renter and after confirmation of coverage, the amount of claim shall be resolved between the insurance carrier and the rental company. The renter shall remain responsible for payment to the rental car company for any loss sustained that the renters applicable personal or business insurance policy does not cover.
(5)A rental company shall not recover from the renter or other authorized driver for an item described in subdivision (b) to the extent the rental company obtains recovery from another person.
(6)This section applies only to the maximum liability of a renter or other authorized driver to the rental company resulting from damage to the rented vehicle and not to the liability of another person.
(e)(1)Except as provided in subdivision (f), a damage waiver shall provide or, if not expressly stated in writing, shall be deemed to provide that the renter has no liability for damage, loss, loss of use, or a cost or expense incident thereto.
(2)Except as provided in subdivision (f), every limitation, exception, or exclusion to a damage waiver is void and unenforceable.
(f)A rental company may provide in the rental contract that a damage waiver does not apply under any of the following circumstances:
(1)Damage or loss results from an authorized drivers (A) intentional, willful, wanton, or reckless conduct, (B) operation of the vehicle under the influence of drugs or alcohol in violation of Section 23152 of the Vehicle Code, (C) towing or pushing anything, or (D) operation of the vehicle on an unpaved road if the damage or loss is a direct result of the road or driving conditions.
(2)Damage or loss occurs while the vehicle is (A) used for commercial hire, (B) used in connection with conduct that could be properly charged as a felony, (C) involved in a speed test or contest or in driver training activity, (D) operated by a person other than an authorized driver, or (E) operated outside the United States.
(3)An authorized driver who has (A) provided fraudulent information to the rental company, or (B) provided false information and the rental company would not have rented the vehicle if it had instead received true information.
(g)(1)A rental company that offers or provides a damage waiver for any consideration in addition to the rental rate shall clearly and conspicuously disclose the following information in the rental contract or holder in which the contract is placed and, also, in signs posted at the place, such as the counter, where the renter signs the rental contract, and, for renters who are enrolled in the rental companys membership program, in a sign that shall be posted in a location clearly visible to those renters as they enter the location where their reserved rental cars are parked or near the exit of the bus or other conveyance that transports the enrollee to a reserved car: (A) the nature of the renters liability, such as liability for all collision damage regardless of cause, (B) the extent of the renters liability, such as liability for damage or loss up to a specified amount, (C) the renters personal insurance policy or the credit card used to pay for the car rental transaction may provide coverage for all or a portion of the renters potential liability, (D) the renter should consult with his or her insurer to determine the scope of insurance coverage, including the amount of the deductible, if any, for which the renter is obligated, (E) the renter may purchase an optional damage waiver to cover all liability, subject to whatever exceptions the rental company expressly lists that are permitted under subdivision (f), and (F) the range of charges for the damage waiver.
(2)In addition to the requirements of paragraph (1), a rental company that offers or provides a damage waiver shall orally disclose to all renters, except those who are participants in the rental companys membership program, that the damage waiver may be duplicative of coverage that the customer maintains under his or her own policy of motor vehicle insurance. The renters receipt of the oral disclosure shall be demonstrated through the renters acknowledging receipt of the oral disclosure near that part of the contract where the renter indicates, by the renters own initials, his or her acceptance or declination of the damage waiver. Adjacent to that same part, the contract also shall state that the damage waiver is optional. Further, the contract for these renters shall include a clear and conspicuous written disclosure that the damage waiver may be duplicative of coverage that the customer maintains under his or her own policy of motor vehicle insurance.
(3)The following is an example, for purposes of illustration and not limitation, of a notice fulfilling the requirements of paragraph (1) for a rental company that imposes liability on the renter for collision damage to the full value of the vehicle:
NOTICE ABOUT YOUR FINANCIAL RESPONSIBILITY AND OPTIONAL DAMAGE WAIVER
You are responsible for all collision damage to the rented vehicle even if someone else caused it or the cause is unknown. You are responsible for the cost of repair up to the value of the vehicle, and towing, storage, and impound fees.
Your own insurance, or the issuer of the credit card you use to pay for the car rental transaction, may cover all or part of your financial responsibility for the rented vehicle. You should check with your insurance company, or credit card issuer, to find out about your coverage and the amount of the deductible, if any, for which you may be liable.
Further, if you use a credit card that provides coverage for your potential liability, you should check with the issuer to determine if you must first exhaust the coverage limits of your own insurance before the credit card coverage applies.
The rental company will not hold you responsible if you buy a damage waiver. But a damage waiver will not protect you if (list exceptions).
(A)When the above notice is printed in the rental contract or holder in which the contract is placed, the following shall be printed immediately following the notice:
The cost of an optional damage waiver is $____ for every (day or week).
(B)When the above notice appears on a sign, the following shall appear immediately adjacent to the notice:
The cost of an optional damage waiver is $____ to $____ for every (day or week), depending upon the vehicle rented.
(h)Notwithstanding any other provision of law, a rental company may sell a damage waiver subject to the following rate limitations for each full or partial 24-hour rental day for the damage waiver:
(1)For rental vehicles that the rental company designates as an economy car, compact car, or another term having similar meaning to the two smallest body-size categories of vehicles established by the Association of Car Rental Industry Systems Standards for North America, as of January 1, 2014, when offered for rental, the rate shall not exceed eleven dollars ($11).
(2)For rental vehicles that the rental company designates as an intermediate car, standard car, or full-size car, or another term having similar meaning to the next three body-size categories of vehicles established by the Association of Car Rental Industry Systems Standards for North America, as of January 1, 2014, and that are also either vehicles of the next model-year, or not older than the previous years model, when offered for rental, the rate shall not exceed seventeen dollars ($17). For rental vehicles that are older than the previous years model-year, the rate shall not exceed eleven dollars ($11).
(i)A rental company that disseminates in this state an advertisement containing a rental rate shall include in that advertisement a clearly readable statement of the charge for a damage waiver and a statement that a damage waiver is optional.
(j)(1)A rental company shall not require the purchase of a damage waiver, optional insurance, or another optional good or service.
(2)A rental company shall not engage in any unfair, deceptive, or coercive conduct to induce a renter to purchase the damage waiver, optional insurance, or another optional good or service, including conduct such as, but not limited to, refusing to honor the renters reservation, limiting the availability of vehicles, requiring a deposit, or debiting or blocking the renters credit card account for a sum equivalent to a deposit if the renter declines to purchase the damage waiver, optional insurance, or another optional good or service.
(k)(1)In the absence of express permission granted by the renter subsequent to damage to, or loss of, the vehicle, a rental company shall not seek to recover any portion of a claim arising out of damage to, or loss of, the rented vehicle by processing a credit card charge or causing a debit or block to be placed on the renters credit card account.
(2)A rental company shall not engage in any unfair, deceptive, or coercive tactics in attempting to recover or in recovering on any claim arising out of damage to, or loss of, the rented vehicle.
(l)(1)A customer facility charge may be collected by a rental company under the following circumstances:
(A)Collection of the fee by the rental company is required by an airport operated by a city, a county, a city and county, a joint powers authority, a special district, or the San Diego County Regional Airport Authority formed pursuant to Division 17 (commencing with Section 170000) of the Public Utilities Code.
(B)The fee is calculated on a per contract basis or as provided in paragraph (2).
(C)The fee is a user fee, not a tax imposed upon real property or an incident of property ownership under Article XIIID of the California Constitution.
(D)Except as otherwise provided in subparagraph (E), the fee shall be ten dollars ($10) per contract or the amount provided in paragraph (2).
(E)The fee for a consolidated rental car facility shall be collected only from customers of on-airport rental car companies. If the fee imposed by the airport is for both a consolidated rental car facility and a common-use transportation system, the fee collected from customers of on-airport rental car companies shall be ten dollars ($10) or the amount provided in paragraph (2), but the fee imposed on customers of off-airport rental car companies who are transported on the common-use transportation system is proportionate to the costs of the common-use transportation system only. The fee is uniformly applied to each class of on-airport or off-airport customers, provided that the airport requires off-airport customers to use the common-use transportation system. For purposes of this subparagraph, on-airport rental car company means a rental company operating under an airport property lease or an airport concession or license agreement whose customers use or will use the consolidated rental car facility and the collection of the fee as to those customers is consistent with subparagraph (C).
(F)Revenues collected from the fee do not exceed the reasonable costs of financing, designing, and constructing the facility and financing, designing, constructing, and operating any common-use transportation system, or acquiring vehicles for use in that system, and shall not be used for any other purpose.
(G)The fee is separately identified on the rental agreement.
(H)This paragraph does not apply to fees which are governed by Section 50474.1 of the Government Code or Section 57.5 of the San Diego Unified Port District Act (Chapter 67 of the First Extraordinary Session of the Statutes of 1962).
(I)For any airport seeking to require rental car companies to collect an alternative customer facility charge pursuant to paragraph (2), the following provisions apply:
(i)Notwithstanding Section 10231.5 of the Government Code, the airport shall provide reports on an annual basis to the Senate and Assembly Committees on Judiciary detailing all of the following:
(I)The total amount of the customer facility charge collected.
(II)How the funds are being spent.
(III)The amount of and reason for any changes in the airports budget or financial needs for the facility or common-use transportation system.
(ii)(I)The airport shall complete the audit required by subparagraph (B) of paragraph (6) of subdivision (a) prior to the initial collection of the customer facility charge. Notwithstanding Section 10231.5 of the Government Code, copies of the audit shall be provided to the Assembly and Senate Committees on Judiciary, the Assembly Committee on Transportation, and the Senate Committee on Transportation and Housing and shall be posted on the airports Internet Web site.
(II)Prior to any increase pursuant to paragraph (2), the airport shall update the information provided in the initial collection audit pursuant to subclause (I). Notwithstanding Section 10231.5 of the Government Code, copies of the updated audit shall be provided to the Assembly and Senate Committees on Judiciary, the Assembly Committee on Transportation, and the Senate Committee on Transportation and Housing, and shall be posted on the airports Internet Web site.
(III)An audit shall be completed every three years after initial collection only if the customer facility charge is collected for the purpose of operating a common-use transportation system or to acquire vehicles for use in the system pursuant to clause (ii) of subparagraph (A) of paragraph (6) of subdivision (a). A regularly conducted audit of airport finances that includes the customer facility charge information, that satisfies the requirements of subparagraph (B) of paragraph (6) of subdivision (a), and is produced in accordance with the generally accepted accounting principles of the Government Accounting Standards Board, shall satisfy the requirements of this subclause. This obligation shall continue until the fee authorization becomes inoperative pursuant to subparagraph (C) of paragraph (6) of subdivision (a). Notwithstanding Section 10231.5 of the Government Code, the information reported pursuant to this subclause shall be compiled into one document, shall be provided to the Assembly and Senate Committees on Judiciary, the Assembly Committee on Transportation, and the Senate Committee on Transportation and Housing and shall be posted on the airports Internet Web site accessible to the public. The information reported shall be contained within one easily accessible page contained within the airports Internet Web site.
(IV)This section shall not be construed to require an airport to audit a common-use transportation system not financed by a customer facility charge and used for the purposes permitted pursuant to clause (ii) of subparagraph (A) of paragraph (6) of subdivision (a).
(V)The airport shall post on the airports Internet Web site copies of the completed audits required by this clause for a period of six years following the audits completion.
(iii)Use of the bonds shall be limited to construction and design of the consolidated rental car facility, terminal modifications, and operating costs of the common-use transportation system, as specified in paragraph (6) of subdivision (a).
(2)Any airport may require rental car companies to collect an alternative customer facility charge under the following conditions:
(A)The airport first conducts a publicly noticed hearing pursuant to the Ralph M. Brown Act (Chapter 9 (commencing with Section 54950) of Part 1 of Division 2 of Title 5 of the Government Code) to review the costs of financing the design and construction of a consolidated rental car facility and the design, construction, and operation of any common-use transportation system in which all of the following occur:
(i)The airport establishes the amount of revenue necessary to finance the reasonable cost to design and construct a consolidated rental car facility and to design, construct, and operate any common-use transportation system, or acquire vehicles for use in that system, based on evidence presented during the hearing.
(ii)The airport finds, based on evidence presented during the hearing, that the fee authorized in paragraph (1) will not generate sufficient revenue to finance the reasonable costs to design and construct a consolidated rental car facility and to design, construct, and operate any common-use transportation system, or acquire vehicles for use in that system.
(iii)The airport finds that the reasonable cost of the project requires the additional amount of revenue that would be generated by the proposed daily rate, including any rate increase, authorized pursuant to this paragraph.
(iv)The airport outlines each of the following:
(I)Steps it has taken to limit costs.
(II)Other potential alternatives for meeting its revenue needs other than the collection of the fee.
(III)The extent to which rental car companies or other businesses or individuals using the facility or common-use transportation system will pay for the costs associated with these facilities and systems other than the fee from rental customers.
(B)The airport may not require the fee authorized in this paragraph to be collected at any time that the fee authorized in paragraph (1) of this subdivision is being collected.
(C)Pursuant to the procedure set forth in this subdivision, the fee may be collected at a rate charged on a per-day basis subject to the following conditions:
(i)Commencing January 1, 2011, the amount of the fee may not exceed six dollars ($6) per day.
(ii)Commencing January 1, 2014, the amount of the fee may not exceed seven dollars and fifty cents ($7.50) per day.
(iii)Commencing January 1, 2017, and thereafter, the amount of the fee may not exceed nine dollars ($9) per day.
(iv)At no time shall the fee authorized in this paragraph be collected from any customer for more than five days for each individual rental car contract.
(v)An airport subject to this paragraph shall initiate the process for obtaining the authority to require or increase the alternative fee no later than January 1, 2018. Any airport that obtains the authority to require or increase an alternative fee shall be authorized to continue collecting that fee until the fee authorization becomes inoperative pursuant to subparagraph (C) of paragraph (6) of subdivision (a).
(3)Notwithstanding any other provision of law, including, but not limited to, Part 1 (commencing with Section 6001) to Part 1.7 (commencing with Section 7280), inclusive, of Division 2 of the Revenue and Taxation Code, the fees collected pursuant to this section, or another law whereby a local agency operating an airport requires a rental car company to collect a facility financing fee from its customers, are not subject to sales, use, or transaction taxes.
(m)(1)When providing a quote, or imposing charges for a rental, the rental company may separately state the rental rate, additional mandatory charges, if any, and a mileage charge, if any, that a renter must pay to hire or lease the vehicle for the period of time to which the rental rate applies. A rental company shall not charge in addition to the rental rate, additional mandatory charges, or a mileage charge, as those may be applicable, any other fee that is required to be paid by the renter as a condition of hiring or leasing the vehicle.
(2)If additional mandatory charges are imposed, the rental company shall do each of the following:
(A)At the time the quote is given, provide the person receiving the quote with a good faith estimate of the rental rate and all additional mandatory charges, as well as the total charges for the entire rental. The total charges, if provided on an Internet Web site page, shall be displayed in a typeface at least as large as any rental rate disclosed on that page and shall be provided on a page that the person receiving the quote may reach by following links through no more than two Internet Web site pages, including the page on which the rental rate is first provided. The good faith estimate may exclude mileage charges and charges for optional items that cannot be determined prior to completing the reservation based upon the information provided by the person.
(B)At the time and place the rental commences, clearly and conspicuously disclose in the rental contract, or that portion of the contract that is provided to the renter, the total of the rental rate, additional mandatory charges, for the entire rental, exclusive of charges that cannot be determined at the time the rental commences. Charges imposed pursuant to this subparagraph shall be no more than the amount of the quote provided in a confirmed reservation, unless the person changes the terms of the rental contract subsequent to making the reservation.
(C)Provide each person, other than those persons within the rental company, offering quotes to actual or prospective customers access to information about additional mandatory charges, as well as access to information about when those charges apply. Any person providing quotes to actual or prospective customers for the hire or lease of a vehicle from a rental company shall provide the quotes in the manner described in subparagraph (A).
(3)In addition to the rental rate, taxes, additional mandatory charges, if any, and mileage charges, if any, a rental company may charge for an item or service provided in connection with a particular rental transaction if the renter could have avoided incurring the charge by choosing not to obtain or utilize the optional item or service. Items and services for which the rental company may impose an additional charge include, but are not limited to, optional insurance and accessories requested by the renter, service charges incident to the renters 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 renter did not return the vehicle with as much fuel as was in the fuel tank at the beginning of the rental. A rental company also may impose an additional charge based on reasonable age criteria established by the rental company.
(4)A rental company shall not charge a fee for authorized drivers in addition to the rental charge for an individual renter.
(5)If a rental company states a rental rate in print advertisement or in a telephonic, in-person, or computer-transmitted quotation, the rental company shall disclose clearly in that advertisement or quotation the terms of mileage conditions relating to the advertised or quoted rental rate, including, but not limited to, to the extent applicable, the amount of mileage and gas charges, the number of miles for which no charges will be imposed, and a description of geographic driving limitations within the United States and Canada.
(6)All rate advertisements shall include the following disclaimer, which shall be prominently displayed: Additional mandatory charges may be imposed, including, but not limited to, a customer facility charge, airport concession fee, tourism commission assessment, vehicle license recovery fee, or other government imposed taxes or fees. For more information, including an estimate of your total rental cost, visit our Internet Web site at [www.____.com].
(7)If a rental company delivers a vehicle to a renter at a location other than the location where the rental company normally carries on its business, the rental company shall not charge the renter an amount for the rental for the period before the delivery of the vehicle. If a rental company picks up a rented vehicle from a renter at a location other than the location where the rental company normally carries on its business, the rental company shall not charge the renter an amount for the rental for the period after the renter notifies the rental company to pick up the vehicle.
(8)Except as otherwise permitted pursuant to the customer facility charge, a rental company shall not separately charge, in addition to the rental rate, a fee for transporting the renter to a location where the rented vehicle will be delivered to the renter.
(n)A rental company shall not use, access, or obtain any information relating to the renters use of the rental vehicle that was obtained using electronic surveillance technology, except in the following circumstances:
(1)(A)When the equipment is used by the rental company only for the purpose of locating a stolen, abandoned, or missing rental vehicle after one of the following:
(i)The renter or law enforcement has informed the rental company that the vehicle is missing or has been stolen or abandoned.
(ii)The rental vehicle has not been returned following one week after the contracted return date, or by one week following the end of an extension of that return date.
(iii)The rental company discovers the rental vehicle has been stolen or abandoned, and, if stolen, it shall report the vehicle stolen to law enforcement by filing a stolen vehicle report, unless law enforcement has already informed the rental company that the vehicle is missing or has been stolen or abandoned.
(B)If electronic surveillance technology is activated pursuant to subparagraph (A), a rental company shall maintain a record, in either electronic or written form, of information relevant to the activation of that technology. That information shall include the rental agreement, including the return date, and the date and time the electronic surveillance technology was activated. The record shall also include, if relevant, a record of written or other communication with the renter, including communications regarding extensions of the rental, police reports, or other written communication with law enforcement officials. The record shall be maintained for a period of at least 12 months from the time the record is created and shall be made available upon the renters request. The rental company shall maintain and furnish explanatory codes necessary to read the record. A rental company shall not be required to maintain a record if electronic surveillance technology is activated to recover a rental vehicle that is stolen or missing at a time other than during a rental period.
(2)In response to a specific request from law enforcement pursuant to a subpoena or search warrant.
(3)This subdivision does not prohibit a rental company from equipping rental vehicles with GPS-based technology that provides navigation assistance to the occupants of the rental vehicle, if the rental company does not use, access, or obtain information relating to the renters use of the rental vehicle that was obtained using that technology, except for the purposes of discovering or repairing a defect in the technology and the information may then be used only for that purpose.
(4)This subdivision does not prohibit a rental company from equipping rental vehicles with electronic surveillance technology that allows for the remote locking or unlocking of the vehicle at the request of the renter, if the rental company does not use, access, or obtain information relating to the renters use of the rental vehicle that was obtained using that technology, except as necessary to lock or unlock the vehicle.
(5)This subdivision does not prohibit a rental company from equipping rental vehicles with electronic surveillance technology that allows the company to provide roadside assistance, such as towing, flat tire, or fuel services, at the request of the renter, if the rental company does not use, access, or obtain information relating to the renters use of the rental vehicle that was obtained using that technology except as necessary to provide the requested roadside assistance.
(6)This subdivision does not prohibit a rental company from obtaining, accessing, or using information from electronic surveillance technology for the sole purpose of determining the date and time the vehicle is returned to the rental company, and the total mileage driven and the vehicle fuel level of the returned vehicle. This paragraph, however, shall apply only after the renter has returned the vehicle to the rental company, and the information shall only be used for the purpose described in this paragraph.
(o)A rental company shall not use electronic surveillance technology to track a renter in order to impose fines or surcharges relating to the renters use of the rental vehicle.
(p)A renter may bring an action against a rental company for the recovery of damages and appropriate equitable relief for a violation of this section. The prevailing party shall be entitled to recover reasonable attorneys fees and costs.
(q)A rental company that brings an action against a renter for loss due to theft of the vehicle shall bring the action in the county in which the renter resides or, if the renter is not a resident of this state, in the jurisdiction in which the renter resides.
(r)A waiver of any of the provisions of this section shall be void and unenforceable as contrary to public policy.
(s)(1)A rental companys disclosure requirements shall be satisfied for renters who are enrolled in the rental companys membership program if all of the following conditions are met:
(A)Prior to the enrollees first rental as a participant in the program, the renter receives, in writing, the following:
(i)All of the disclosures required by paragraph (1) of subdivision (g), including the terms and conditions of the rental agreement then in effect.
(ii)An Internet Web site address, as well as a contact number or address, where the enrollee can learn of changes to the rental agreement or to the laws of this state governing rental agreements since the effective date of the rental companys most recent restatement of the rental agreement and distribution of that restatement to its members.
(B)At the commencement of each rental period, the renter is provided, on the rental record or the folder in which it is inserted, with a printed notice stating that he or she had either previously selected or declined an optional damage waiver and that the renter has the right to change preferences.
(C)At the commencement of each rental period, the rental company provides, on the rearview mirror, a hanger on which a statement is printed, in a box, in at least 12-point boldface type, notifying the renter that the collision damage waiver offered by the rental company may be duplicative of coverage that the customer maintains under his or her own policy of motor vehicle insurance. If it is not feasible to hang the statement from the rearview mirror, it shall be hung from the steering wheel.
The hanger shall provide the renter a box to initial if he or she (not his or her employer) has previously accepted or declined the collision damage waiver and that he or she now wishes to change his or her decision to accept or decline the collision damage waiver, as follows:
If I previously accepted the collision damage waiver, I now decline it.
If I previously declined the collision damage waiver, I now accept it.
The hanger shall also provide a box for the enrollee to indicate whether this change applies to this rental transaction only or to all future rental transactions. The hanger shall also notify the renter that he or she may make that change, prior to leaving the lot, by returning the form to an employee designated to receive the form who is present at the lot where the renter takes possession of the car, to receive any change in the rental agreement from the renter.
(2)(A)This subdivision is not effective unless the employee designated pursuant to subparagraph (E) of paragraph (9) of subdivision (a) is actually present at the required location.
(B)This subdivision does not relieve the rental company from the disclosures required to be made within the text of a contract or holder in which the contract is placed; in or on an advertisement containing a rental rate; or in a telephonic, in-person, or computer-transmitted quotation or reservation.
(t)The amendments made to this section during the 200102 Regular Session of the Legislature do not affect litigation pending on or before January 1, 2003, alleging a violation of Section 22325 of the Business and Professions Code as it read at the time the action was commenced.
(u)(1)When a rental company enters into a rental agreement in the state for the rental of a vehicle to any renter who is not a resident of this country and, as part of, or associated with, the rental agreement, the renter purchases liability insurance, as defined in subdivision (b) of Section 1758.85 of the Insurance Code, from the rental company in its capacity as a rental car agent for an authorized insurer, the rental company shall be authorized to accept, and, if served as set forth in this subdivision, shall accept, service of a summons and complaint and any other required documents against the foreign renter for any accident or collision resulting from the operation of the rental vehicle within the state during the rental period. If the rental company has a registered agent for service of process on file with the Secretary of State, process shall be served on the rental companys registered agent, either by first-class mail, return receipt requested, or by personal service.
(2)Within 30 days of acceptance of service of process, the rental company shall provide a copy of the summons and complaint and any other required documents served in accordance with this subdivision to the foreign renter by first-class mail, return receipt requested.
(3)Any plaintiff, or his or her representative, who elects to serve the foreign renter by delivering a copy of the summons and complaint and any other required documents to the rental company pursuant to paragraph (1) shall agree to limit his or her recovery against the foreign renter and the rental company to the limits of the protection extended by the liability insurance.
(4)Notwithstanding the requirements of Sections 17450 to 17456, inclusive, of the Vehicle Code, service of process in compliance with paragraph (1) shall be deemed valid and effective service.
(5)Notwithstanding any other provision of law, the requirement that the rental company accept service of process pursuant to paragraph (1) shall not create any duty, obligation, or agency relationship other than that provided in paragraph (1).
SEC. 2.Section 1936 of the Civil Code, as amended by Section 5.7 of Chapter 913 of the Statutes of 2014, is repealed.SEC. 3.Section 1936.01 of the Civil Code is repealed.SEC. 4.Section 1936.015 of the Civil Code is repealed.SEC. 5.Section 1936.05 of the Civil Code is amended to read:1936.05.(a)For purposes of this section:
(1)Additional charges means charges other than a per period base rental rate established by the business program.
(2)Business program means (A) a contract between a rental company and a business program sponsor that has established the per period base rental rate, and any other material terms relating to additional charges, on which the rental company will rent passenger vehicles to persons authorized by the sponsor, or (B) a plan, program, or other arrangement established by a rental company at the request of, or with the consent of, a business program sponsor under which the rental company offers to rent passenger vehicles to persons authorized by the sponsor at per period base rental rates, and any other material terms relating to additional charges, that are not the same as those generally offered by the rental company to the public.
(3)Business program sponsor means a legal entity, other than a natural person, that is a corporation, limited liability company, or partnership.
(4)Business renter means, for any business program sponsor, a person who is authorized by the sponsor, through the use of an identifying number or program name or code, to enter into a rental contract under the sponsors business program. In no case shall the term business renter include a person renting as: (A) a nonemployee member of a not-for-profit organization, (B) the purchaser of a voucher or other prepaid rental arrangement from a person, including a tour operator, engaged in the business of reselling those vouchers or prepaid rental arrangements to the general public, (C) an individual whose car rental is eligible for reimbursement in whole or in part as a result of the person being insured or provided coverage under a policy of insurance issued by an insurance company, or (D) an individual whose car rental is eligible for reimbursement in whole or in part as a result of the person purchasing passenger vehicle repair services from a person licensed to perform such services.
(5)Qualified business rental under a business program established for a business program sponsor by a rental company means the rental of a passenger vehicle under the business program if either (A) in the 12-month period ending on the date of the rental or in the calendar year immediately preceding the year in which the rental occurs, the rentals under all business programs established by the rental company for the business program sponsor and its affiliates produced gross rental revenues in excess of twenty-five thousand dollars ($25,000) or (B) the rental company in good faith estimates that rentals under all the business programs established by the rental company for the business program sponsor and its affiliates will produce gross rental revenues in excess of twenty-five thousand dollars ($25,000) in the 12-month period commencing with the date of the rental or in the calendar year in which the rental occurs. The rental company has the burden of establishing by objectively verifiable evidence that the rental was a qualified business rental.
(6)Quote means telephonic, in-person, and computer-transmitted quotations.
(b)Notwithstanding any provision to the contrary contained in subdivision (m) of Section 1936, a rental car company may, in connection with the qualified business rental of a passenger vehicle to a business renter of a business program sponsor under the sponsors business program, do both of the following:
(1)Separately quote additional charges for the rental if, at the time the quote is provided, the person receiving the quote is also provided a good faith estimate of the total of all the charges for the entire rental. The estimate may exclude mileage charges and charges for optional items and services that cannot be determined prior to completing the reservation based upon the information provided by the renter.
(2)Separately impose additional charges for the rental, if the rental contract, or another document provided to the business renter at the time and place the rental commences, clearly and conspicuously discloses the total of all the charges for the entire rental, exclusive of charges that cannot be determined at the time the rental commences.
(c)A renter may bring an action against a rental company for the recovery of damages and appropriate equitable relief for a violation of this section. The prevailing party shall be entitled to recover reasonable attorneys fees and costs.
(d)Any waiver of any of the provisions of this section shall be void and unenforceable as contrary to public policy.
(e)Nothing in this section shall be interpreted to mean that a rental company is not required to comply with the requirements of paragraphs (3) to (7), inclusive, of subdivision (m) of Section 1936.
(a)For the purpose of this section, the following definitions shall apply:
(1)Rental company means a person or entity in the business of renting passenger vehicles to the public.
(2)Renter means any person in a manner obligated under a contract for the lease or hire of a passenger vehicle from a rental company for a period of less than 30 days.
(3)Additional mandatory charges means any separately stated charges that the rental car company requires the renter to pay to hire or lease the vehicle for the period of time to which the rental rate applies, which are imposed by a governmental entity and specifically relate to the operation of a rental car business, including, but not limited to, a customer facility charge, airport concession fee, tourism commission assessment, vehicle license recovery fee, or other government imposed taxes or fees.
(4)Airport concession fee means a charge collected by a rental company from a renter that is the renters proportionate share of the amount paid by the rental company to the owner or operator of an airport for the right or privilege of conducting a vehicle rental business on the airports premises.
(5)Authorized driver means all of the following:
(A)The renter.
(B)The renters spouse if that person is a licensed driver and satisfies the rental companys minimum age requirement.
(C)The renters employer or coworker if he or she is engaged in business activity with the renter, is a licensed driver, and satisfies the rental companys minimum age requirement.
(D)A person expressly listed by the rental company on that renters contract as an authorized driver.
(6)(A)Customer facility charge means any fee, including an alternative fee, required by an airport to be collected by a rental company from a renter for any of the following purposes:
(i)To finance, design, and construct consolidated airport car rental facilities.
(ii)To finance, design, construct, and operate common-use transportation systems that move passengers between airport terminals and those consolidated car rental facilities, and acquire vehicles for use in that system.
(iii)To finance, design, and construct terminal modifications solely to accommodate and provide customer access to common-use transportation systems.
(B)The aggregate amount to be collected shall not exceed the reasonable costs, as determined by an audit, by an independent auditor, paid for by the airport, to finance, design, and construct those facilities. The auditor shall independently examine and substantiate the necessity for and the amount of the customer facility charge, including whether the airports actual or projected costs are supported and justified, any steps the airport may take to limit costs, potential alternatives for meeting the airports revenue needs other than the collection of the fee, and whether and to what extent car rental companies or other businesses or individuals using the facility or common-use transportation system may pay for the costs associated with these facilities and systems other than the fee from rental customers, or whether the airport did not comply with any provision of this subparagraph. Copies of the audit shall be provided to the Assembly and Senate Committees on Judiciary, the Assembly Committee on Transportation, and the Senate Committee on Transportation and Housing and shall be posted on the airports Internet Web site. In the case of a customer facility charge for a common-use transportation system, the audit also shall consider the reasonable costs of providing the transit system or busing network pursuant to clause (ii) of subparagraph (A). Any audit required by this subparagraph may be included as a part of an audit of an airports finances. Notwithstanding clause (iii) of subparagraph (A), the fees designated as a customer facility charge shall not be used to pay for terminal expansion, gate expansion, runway expansion, changes in hours of operation, or changes in the number of flights arriving or departing from the airport.
(C)Except as provided in subparagraph (D), the authorization given pursuant to this section for an airport to impose a customer facility charge shall become inoperative when the bonds used for financing are paid.
(D)If a bond or other form of indebtedness is not used for financing, or the bond or other form of indebtedness used for financing has been paid, the Oakland International Airport may require the collection of a customer facility charge for a period of up to 10 years from the imposition of the charge for the purposes allowed by, and subject to the conditions imposed by, this section.
(7)Damage waiver means a rental companys agreement not to hold a renter liable for all or any portion of any damage or loss related to the rented vehicle, any loss of use of the rented vehicle, or any storage, impound, towing, or administrative charges.
(8)Electronic surveillance technology means a technological method or system used to observe, monitor, or collect information, including telematics, Global Positioning System (GPS), wireless technology, or location-based technologies. Electronic surveillance technology does not include event data recorders (EDR), sensing and diagnostic modules (SDM), or other systems that are used either:
(A)For the purpose of identifying, diagnosing, or monitoring functions related to the potential need to repair, service, or perform maintenance on the rental vehicle.
(B)As part of the vehicles airbag sensing and diagnostic system in order to capture safety systems-related data for retrieval after a crash has occurred or in the event that the collision sensors are activated to prepare the decisionmaking computer to make the determination to deploy or not to deploy the airbag.
(9)Estimated time for replacement means the number of hours of labor, or fraction thereof, needed to replace damaged vehicle parts as set forth in collision damage estimating guides generally used in the vehicle repair business and commonly known as crash books.
(10)Estimated time for repair means a good faith estimate of the reasonable number of hours of labor, or fraction thereof, needed to repair damaged vehicle parts.
(11)Membership program means a service offered by a rental company that permits customers to bypass the rental counter and go directly to the car previously reserved. A membership program shall meet all of the following requirements:
(A)The renter initiates enrollment by completing an application on which the renter can specify a preference for type of vehicle and acceptance or declination of optional services.
(B)The rental company fully discloses, prior to the enrollees first rental as a participant in the program, all terms and conditions of the rental agreement as well as all required disclosures.
(C)The renter may terminate enrollment at any time.
(D)The rental company fully explains to the renter that designated preferences, as well as acceptance or declination of optional services, may be changed by the renter at any time for the next and future rentals.
(E)An employee designated to receive the form specified in subparagraph (C) of paragraph (1) of subdivision (s) is present at the lot where the renter takes possession of the car, to receive any change in the rental agreement from the renter.
(12)Passenger vehicle means a passenger vehicle as defined in Section 465 of the Vehicle Code.
(13)Quote means an estimated cost of rental provided by a rental company or a third party to a potential customer by telephone, in-person, computer-transmission, or other means, that is based on information provided by the potential customer and used to generate an estimated cost of rental, including, but not limited to, potential dates of rental, locations, or classes of car.
(14)Tourism commission assessment means the charge collected by a rental company from a renter that has been established by the California Travel and Tourism Commission pursuant to Section 13995.65 of the Government Code.
(15)Vehicle license fee means the tax imposed pursuant to the Vehicle License Fee Law (Part 5 (commencing with Section 10701) of Division 2 of the Revenue and Taxation Code).
(16)Vehicle registration fee means any fee imposed pursuant to any provision of Chapter 6 (commencing with Section 9101) of Division 3 of the Vehicle Code.
(17)Vehicle license recovery fee means a charge that seeks to recover the amount of any vehicle license fee and vehicle registration fee paid by a rental company for the particular class of vehicle being rented.
(b)Except as limited by subdivision (c), a rental company and a renter may agree that the renter will be responsible for no more than all of the following:
(1)Physical or mechanical damage to the rented vehicle up to its fair market value, as determined in the customary market for the sale of that vehicle, resulting from collision regardless of the cause of the damage.
(2)Loss due to theft of the rented vehicle up to its fair market value, as determined in the customary market for the sale of that vehicle, provided that the rental company establishes by clear and convincing evidence that the renter or the authorized driver failed to exercise ordinary care while in possession of the vehicle. In addition, the renter shall be presumed to have no liability for any loss due to theft if (A) an authorized driver has possession of the ignition key furnished by the rental company or an authorized driver establishes that the ignition key furnished by the rental company was not in the vehicle at the time of the theft, and (B) an authorized driver files an official report of the theft with the police or other law enforcement agency within 24 hours of learning of the theft and reasonably cooperates with the rental company and the police or other law enforcement agency in providing information concerning the theft. The presumption set forth in this paragraph is a presumption affecting the burden of proof which the rental company may rebut by establishing that an authorized driver committed, or aided and abetted the commission of, the theft.
(3)Physical damage to the rented vehicle up to its fair market value, as determined in the customary market for the sale of that vehicle, resulting from vandalism occurring after, or in connection with, the theft of the rented vehicle. However, the renter shall have no liability for any damage due to vandalism if the renter would have no liability for theft pursuant to paragraph (2).
(4)Physical damage to the rented vehicle up to a total of five hundred dollars ($500) resulting from vandalism unrelated to the theft of the rented vehicle.
(5)Actual charges for towing, storage, and impound fees paid by the rental company if the renter is liable for damage or loss.
(6)An administrative charge, which shall include the cost of appraisal and all other costs and expenses incident to the damage, loss, repair, or replacement of the rented vehicle.
(c)The total amount of the renters liability to the rental company resulting from damage to the rented vehicle shall not exceed the sum of the following:
(1)The estimated cost of parts which the rental company would have to pay to replace damaged vehicle parts. All discounts and price reductions or adjustments that are or will be received by the rental company shall be subtracted from the estimate to the extent not already incorporated in the estimate, or otherwise promptly credited or refunded to the renter.
(2)The estimated cost of labor to replace damaged vehicle parts, which shall not exceed the product of (A) the rate for labor usually paid by the rental company to replace vehicle parts of the type that were damaged and (B) the estimated time for replacement. All discounts and price reductions or adjustments that are or will be received by the rental company shall be subtracted from the estimate to the extent not already incorporated in the estimate, or otherwise promptly credited or refunded to the renter.
(3)(A)The estimated cost of labor to repair damaged vehicle parts, which shall not exceed the lesser of the following:
(i)The product of the rate for labor usually paid by the rental company to repair vehicle parts of the type that were damaged and the estimated time for repair.
(ii)The sum of the estimated labor and parts costs determined under paragraphs (1) and (2) to replace the same vehicle parts.
(B)All discounts and price reductions or adjustments that are or will be received by the rental company shall be subtracted from the estimate to the extent not already incorporated in the estimate, or otherwise promptly credited or refunded to the renter.
(4)For the purpose of converting the estimated time for repair into the same units of time in which the rental rate is expressed, a day shall be deemed to consist of eight hours.
(5)Actual charges for towing, storage, and impound fees paid by the rental company.
(6)The administrative charge described in paragraph (6) of subdivision (b) shall not exceed (A) fifty dollars ($50) if the total estimated cost for parts and labor is more than one hundred dollars ($100) up to and including five hundred dollars ($500), (B) one hundred dollars ($100) if the total estimated cost for parts and labor exceeds five hundred dollars ($500) up to and including one thousand five hundred dollars ($1,500), and (C) one hundred fifty dollars ($150) if the total estimated cost for parts and labor exceeds one thousand five hundred dollars ($1,500). An administrative charge shall not be imposed if the total estimated cost of parts and labor is one hundred dollars ($100) or less.
(d)(1)The total amount of an authorized drivers liability to the rental company, if any, for damage occurring during the authorized drivers operation of the rented vehicle shall not exceed the amount of the renters liability under subdivision (c).
(2)A rental company shall not recover from the renter or other authorized driver an amount exceeding the renters liability under subdivision (c).
(3)A claim against a renter resulting from damage or loss, excluding loss of use, to a rental vehicle shall be reasonably and rationally related to the actual loss incurred. A rental company shall mitigate damages where possible and shall not assert or collect a claim for physical damage which exceeds the actual costs of the repairs performed or the estimated cost of repairs, if the rental company chooses not to repair the vehicle, including all discounts and price reductions. However, if the vehicle is a total loss vehicle, the claim shall not exceed the total loss vehicle value established in accordance with procedures that are customarily used by insurance companies when paying claims on total loss vehicles, less the proceeds from salvaging the vehicle, if those proceeds are retained by the rental company.
(4)If insurance coverage exists under the renters applicable personal or business insurance policy and the coverage is confirmed during regular business hours, the renter may require that the rental company submit any claims to the renters applicable personal or business insurance carrier. The rental company shall not make any written or oral representations that it will not present claims or negotiate with the renters insurance carrier. For purposes of this paragraph, confirmation of coverage includes telephone confirmation from insurance company representatives during regular business hours. Upon request of the renter and after confirmation of coverage, the amount of claim shall be resolved between the insurance carrier and the rental company. The renter shall remain responsible for payment to the rental car company for any loss sustained that the renters applicable personal or business insurance policy does not cover.
(5)A rental company shall not recover from the renter or other authorized driver for an item described in subdivision (b) to the extent the rental company obtains recovery from another person.
(6)This section applies only to the maximum liability of a renter or other authorized driver to the rental company resulting from damage to the rented vehicle and not to the liability of another person.
(e)(1)Except as provided in subdivision (f), a damage waiver shall provide or, if not expressly stated in writing, shall be deemed to provide that the renter has no liability for damage, loss, loss of use, or a cost or expense incident thereto.
(2)Except as provided in subdivision (f), every limitation, exception, or exclusion to a damage waiver is void and unenforceable.
(f)A rental company may provide in the rental contract that a damage waiver does not apply under any of the following circumstances:
(1)Damage or loss results from an authorized drivers (A) intentional, willful, wanton, or reckless conduct, (B) operation of the vehicle under the influence of drugs or alcohol in violation of Section 23152 of the Vehicle Code, (C) towing or pushing anything, or (D) operation of the vehicle on an unpaved road if the damage or loss is a direct result of the road or driving conditions.
(2)Damage or loss occurs while the vehicle is (A) used for commercial hire, (B) used in connection with conduct that could be properly charged as a felony, (C) involved in a speed test or contest or in driver training activity, (D) operated by a person other than an authorized driver, or (E) operated outside the United States.
(3)An authorized driver who has (A) provided fraudulent information to the rental company, or (B) provided false information and the rental company would not have rented the vehicle if it had instead received true information.
(g)(1)A rental company that offers or provides a damage waiver for any consideration in addition to the rental rate shall clearly and conspicuously disclose the following information in the rental contract or holder in which the contract is placed and, also, in signs posted at the place, such as the counter, where the renter signs the rental contract, and, for renters who are enrolled in the rental companys membership program, in a sign that shall be posted in a location clearly visible to those renters as they enter the location where their reserved rental cars are parked or near the exit of the bus or other conveyance that transports the enrollee to a reserved car: (A) the nature of the renters liability, such as liability for all collision damage regardless of cause, (B) the extent of the renters liability, such as liability for damage or loss up to a specified amount, (C) the renters personal insurance policy or the credit card used to pay for the car rental transaction may provide coverage for all or a portion of the renters potential liability, (D) the renter should consult with his or her insurer to determine the scope of insurance coverage, including the amount of the deductible, if any, for which the renter is obligated, (E) the renter may purchase an optional damage waiver to cover all liability, subject to whatever exceptions the rental company expressly lists that are permitted under subdivision (f), and (F) the range of charges for the damage waiver.
(2)In addition to the requirements of paragraph (1), a rental company that offers or provides a damage waiver shall orally disclose to all renters, except those who are participants in the rental companys membership program, that the damage waiver may be duplicative of coverage that the customer maintains under his or her own policy of motor vehicle insurance. The renters receipt of the oral disclosure shall be demonstrated through the renters acknowledging receipt of the oral disclosure near that part of the contract where the renter indicates, by the renters own initials, his or her acceptance or declination of the damage waiver. Adjacent to that same part, the contract also shall state that the damage waiver is optional. Further, the contract for these renters shall include a clear and conspicuous written disclosure that the damage waiver may be duplicative of coverage that the customer maintains under his or her own policy of motor vehicle insurance.
(3)The following is an example, for purposes of illustration and not limitation, of a notice fulfilling the requirements of paragraph (1) for a rental company that imposes liability on the renter for collision damage to the full value of the vehicle:
NOTICE ABOUT YOUR FINANCIAL RESPONSIBILITY AND OPTIONAL DAMAGE WAIVER
You are responsible for all collision damage to the rented vehicle even if someone else caused it or the cause is unknown. You are responsible for the cost of repair up to the value of the vehicle, and towing, storage, and impound fees.
Your own insurance, or the issuer of the credit card you use to pay for the car rental transaction, may cover all or part of your financial responsibility for the rented vehicle. You should check with your insurance company, or credit card issuer, to find out about your coverage and the amount of the deductible, if any, for which you may be liable.
Further, if you use a credit card that provides coverage for your potential liability, you should check with the issuer to determine if you must first exhaust the coverage limits of your own insurance before the credit card coverage applies.
The rental company will not hold you responsible if you buy a damage waiver. But a damage waiver will not protect you if (list exceptions).
(A)When the above notice is printed in the rental contract or holder in which the contract is placed, the following shall be printed immediately following the notice:
The cost of an optional damage waiver is $____ for every (day or week).
(B)When the above notice appears on a sign, the following shall appear immediately adjacent to the notice:
The cost of an optional damage waiver is $____ to $____ for every (day or week), depending upon the vehicle rented.
(h)Notwithstanding any other provision of law, a rental company may sell a damage waiver subject to the following rate limitations for each full or partial 24-hour rental day for the damage waiver:
(1)For rental vehicles that the rental company designates as an economy car, compact car, or another term having similar meaning to the two smallest body-size categories of vehicles established by the Association of Car Rental Industry Systems Standards for North America, as of January 1, 2014, when offered for rental, the rate shall not exceed eleven dollars ($11).
(2)For rental vehicles that the rental company designates as an intermediate car, standard car, or full-size car, or another term having similar meaning to the next three body-size categories of vehicles established by the Association of Car Rental Industry Systems Standards for North America, as of January 1, 2014, and that are also either vehicles of the next model-year, or not older than the previous years model, when offered for rental, the rate shall not exceed seventeen dollars ($17). For rental vehicles that are older than the previous years model-year, the rate shall not exceed eleven dollars ($11).
(i)A rental company that disseminates in this state an advertisement containing a rental rate shall include in that advertisement a clearly readable statement of the charge for a damage waiver and a statement that a damage waiver is optional.
(j)(1)A rental company shall not require the purchase of a damage waiver, optional insurance, or another optional good or service.
(2)A rental company shall not engage in any unfair, deceptive, or coercive conduct to induce a renter to purchase the damage waiver, optional insurance, or another optional good or service, including conduct such as, but not limited to, refusing to honor the renters reservation, limiting the availability of vehicles, requiring a deposit, or debiting or blocking the renters credit card account for a sum equivalent to a deposit if the renter declines to purchase the damage waiver, optional insurance, or another optional good or service.
(k)(1)In the absence of express permission granted by the renter subsequent to damage to, or loss of, the vehicle, a rental company shall not seek to recover any portion of a claim arising out of damage to, or loss of, the rented vehicle by processing a credit card charge or causing a debit or block to be placed on the renters credit card account.
(2)A rental company shall not engage in any unfair, deceptive, or coercive tactics in attempting to recover or in recovering on any claim arising out of damage to, or loss of, the rented vehicle.
(l)(1)A customer facility charge may be collected by a rental company under the following circumstances:
(A)Collection of the fee by the rental company is required by an airport operated by a city, a county, a city and county, a joint powers authority, a special district, or the San Diego County Regional Airport Authority formed pursuant to Division 17 (commencing with Section 170000) of the Public Utilities Code.
(B)The fee is calculated on a per contract basis or as provided in paragraph (2).
(C)The fee is a user fee, not a tax imposed upon real property or an incident of property ownership under Article XIIID of the California Constitution.
(D)Except as otherwise provided in subparagraph (E), the fee shall be ten dollars ($10) per contract or the amount provided in paragraph (2).
(E)The fee for a consolidated rental car facility shall be collected only from customers of on-airport rental car companies. If the fee imposed by the airport is for both a consolidated rental car facility and a common-use transportation system, the fee collected from customers of on-airport rental car companies shall be ten dollars ($10) or the amount provided in paragraph (2), but the fee imposed on customers of off-airport rental car companies who are transported on the common-use transportation system is proportionate to the costs of the common-use transportation system only. The fee is uniformly applied to each class of on-airport or off-airport customers, provided that the airport requires off-airport customers to use the common-use transportation system. For purposes of this subparagraph, on-airport rental car company means a rental company operating under an airport property lease or an airport concession or license agreement whose customers use or will use the consolidated rental car facility and the collection of the fee as to those customers is consistent with subparagraph (C).
(F)Revenues collected from the fee do not exceed the reasonable costs of financing, designing, and constructing the facility and financing, designing, constructing, and operating any common-use transportation system, or acquiring vehicles for use in that system, and shall not be used for any other purpose.
(G)The fee is separately identified on the rental agreement.
(H)This paragraph does not apply to fees which are governed by Section 50474.1 of the Government Code or Section 57.5 of the San Diego Unified Port District Act (Chapter 67 of the First Extraordinary Session of the Statutes of 1962).
(I)For any airport seeking to require rental car companies to collect an alternative customer facility charge pursuant to paragraph (2), the following provisions apply:
(i)Notwithstanding Section 10231.5 of the Government Code, the airport shall provide reports on an annual basis to the Senate and Assembly Committees on Judiciary detailing all of the following:
(I)The total amount of the customer facility charge collected.
(II)How the funds are being spent.
(III)The amount of and reason for any changes in the airports budget or financial needs for the facility or common-use transportation system.
(ii)(I)The airport shall complete the audit required by subparagraph (B) of paragraph (6) of subdivision (a) prior to the initial collection of the customer facility charge. Notwithstanding Section 10231.5 of the Government Code, copies of the audit shall be provided to the Assembly and Senate Committees on Judiciary, the Assembly Committee on Transportation, and the Senate Committee on Transportation and Housing and shall be posted on the airports Internet Web site.
(II)Prior to any increase pursuant to paragraph (2), the airport shall update the information provided in the initial collection audit pursuant to subclause (I). Notwithstanding Section 10231.5 of the Government Code, copies of the updated audit shall be provided to the Assembly and Senate Committees on Judiciary, the Assembly Committee on Transportation, and the Senate Committee on Transportation and Housing, and shall be posted on the airports Internet Web site.
(III)An audit shall be completed every three years after initial collection only if the customer facility charge is collected for the purpose of operating a common-use transportation system or to acquire vehicles for use in the system pursuant to clause (ii) of subparagraph (A) of paragraph (6) of subdivision (a). A regularly conducted audit of airport finances that includes the customer facility charge information, that satisfies the requirements of subparagraph (B) of paragraph (6) of subdivision (a), and is produced in accordance with the generally accepted accounting principles of the Government Accounting Standards Board, shall satisfy the requirements of this subclause. This obligation shall continue until the fee authorization becomes inoperative pursuant to subparagraph (C) of paragraph (6) of subdivision (a). Notwithstanding Section 10231.5 of the Government Code, the information reported pursuant to this subclause shall be compiled into one document, shall be provided to the Assembly and Senate Committees on Judiciary, the Assembly Committee on Transportation, and the Senate Committee on Transportation and Housing and shall be posted on the airports Internet Web site accessible to the public. The information reported shall be contained within one easily accessible page contained within the airports Internet Web site.
(IV)This section shall not be construed to require an airport to audit a common-use transportation system not financed by a customer facility charge and used for the purposes permitted pursuant to clause (ii) of subparagraph (A) of paragraph (6) of subdivision (a).
(V)The airport shall post on the airports Internet Web site copies of the completed audits required by this clause for a period of six years following the audits completion.
(iii)Use of the bonds shall be limited to construction and design of the consolidated rental car facility, terminal modifications, and operating costs of the common-use transportation system, as specified in paragraph (6) of subdivision (a).
(2)Any airport may require rental car companies to collect an alternative customer facility charge under the following conditions:
(A)The airport first conducts a publicly noticed hearing pursuant to the Ralph M. Brown Act (Chapter 9 (commencing with Section 54950) of Part 1 of Division 2 of Title 5 of the Government Code) to review the costs of financing the design and construction of a consolidated rental car facility and the design, construction, and operation of any common-use transportation system in which all of the following occur:
(i)The airport establishes the amount of revenue necessary to finance the reasonable cost to design and construct a consolidated rental car facility and to design, construct, and operate any common-use transportation system, or acquire vehicles for use in that system, based on evidence presented during the hearing.
(ii)The airport finds, based on evidence presented during the hearing, that the fee authorized in paragraph (1) will not generate sufficient revenue to finance the reasonable costs to design and construct a consolidated rental car facility and to design, construct, and operate any common-use transportation system, or acquire vehicles for use in that system.
(iii)The airport finds that the reasonable cost of the project requires the additional amount of revenue that would be generated by the proposed daily rate, including any rate increase, authorized pursuant to this paragraph.
(iv)The airport outlines each of the following:
(I)Steps it has taken to limit costs.
(II)Other potential alternatives for meeting its revenue needs other than the collection of the fee.
(III)The extent to which rental car companies or other businesses or individuals using the facility or common-use transportation system will pay for the costs associated with these facilities and systems other than the fee from rental customers.
(B)The airport may not require the fee authorized in this paragraph to be collected at any time that the fee authorized in paragraph (1) of this subdivision is being collected.
(C)Pursuant to the procedure set forth in this subdivision, the fee may be collected at a rate charged on a per-day basis subject to the following conditions:
(i)Commencing January 1, 2011, the amount of the fee may not exceed six dollars ($6) per day.
(ii)Commencing January 1, 2014, the amount of the fee may not exceed seven dollars and fifty cents ($7.50) per day.
(iii)Commencing January 1, 2017, and thereafter, the amount of the fee may not exceed nine dollars ($9) per day.
(iv)At no time shall the fee authorized in this paragraph be collected from any customer for more than five days for each individual rental car contract.
(v)An airport subject to this paragraph shall initiate the process for obtaining the authority to require or increase the alternative fee no later than January 1, 2018. Any airport that obtains the authority to require or increase an alternative fee shall be authorized to continue collecting that fee until the fee authorization becomes inoperative pursuant to subparagraph (C) of paragraph (6) of subdivision (a).
(3)Notwithstanding any other provision of law, including, but not limited to, Part 1 (commencing with Section 6001) to Part 1.7 (commencing with Section 7280), inclusive, of Division 2 of the Revenue and Taxation Code, the fees collected pursuant to this section, or another law whereby a local agency operating an airport requires a rental car company to collect a facility financing fee from its customers, are not subject to sales, use, or transaction taxes.
(m)(1)When providing a quote, or imposing charges for a rental, the rental company may separately state the rental rate, additional mandatory charges, if any, and a mileage charge, if any, that a renter must pay to hire or lease the vehicle for the period of time to which the rental rate applies. A rental company shall not charge in addition to the rental rate, additional mandatory charges, or a mileage charge, as those may be applicable, any other fee that is required to be paid by the renter as a condition of hiring or leasing the vehicle.
(2)If additional mandatory charges are imposed, the rental company shall do each of the following:
(A)At the time the quote is given, provide the person receiving the quote with a good faith estimate of the rental rate and all additional mandatory charges, as well as the total charges for the entire rental. The total charges, if provided on an Internet Web site page, shall be displayed in a typeface at least as large as any rental rate disclosed on that page and shall be provided on a page that the person receiving the quote may reach by following links through no more than two Internet Web site pages, including the page on which the rental rate is first provided. The good faith estimate may exclude mileage charges and charges for optional items that cannot be determined prior to completing the reservation based upon the information provided by the person.
(B)At the time and place the rental commences, clearly and conspicuously disclose in the rental contract, or that portion of the contract that is provided to the renter, the total of the rental rate, additional mandatory charges, for the entire rental, exclusive of charges that cannot be determined at the time the rental commences. Charges imposed pursuant to this subparagraph shall be no more than the amount of the quote provided in a confirmed reservation, unless the person changes the terms of the rental contract subsequent to making the reservation.
(C)Provide each person, other than those persons within the rental company, offering quotes to actual or prospective customers access to information about additional mandatory charges, as well as access to information about when those charges apply. Any person providing quotes to actual or prospective customers for the hire or lease of a vehicle from a rental company shall provide the quotes in the manner described in subparagraph (A).
(3)In addition to the rental rate, taxes, additional mandatory charges, if any, and mileage charges, if any, a rental company may charge for an item or service provided in connection with a particular rental transaction if the renter could have avoided incurring the charge by choosing not to obtain or utilize the optional item or service. Items and services for which the rental company may impose an additional charge include, but are not limited to, optional insurance and accessories requested by the renter, service charges incident to the renters 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 renter did not return the vehicle with as much fuel as was in the fuel tank at the beginning of the rental. A rental company also may impose an additional charge based on reasonable age criteria established by the rental company.
(4)A rental company shall not charge a fee for authorized drivers in addition to the rental charge for an individual renter.
(5)If a rental company states a rental rate in print advertisement or in a telephonic, in-person, or computer-transmitted quotation, the rental company shall disclose clearly in that advertisement or quotation the terms of mileage conditions relating to the advertised or quoted rental rate, including, but not limited to, to the extent applicable, the amount of mileage and gas charges, the number of miles for which no charges will be imposed, and a description of geographic driving limitations within the United States and Canada.
(6)All rate advertisements shall include the following disclaimer, which shall be prominently displayed: Additional mandatory charges may be imposed, including, but not limited to, a customer facility charge, airport concession fee, tourism commission assessment, vehicle license recovery fee, or other government imposed taxes or fees. For more information, including an estimate of your total rental cost, visit our Internet Web site at [www.____.com].
(7)If a rental company delivers a vehicle to a renter at a location other than the location where the rental company normally carries on its business, the rental company shall not charge the renter an amount for the rental for the period before the delivery of the vehicle. If a rental company picks up a rented vehicle from a renter at a location other than the location where the rental company normally carries on its business, the rental company shall not charge the renter an amount for the rental for the period after the renter notifies the rental company to pick up the vehicle.
(8)Except as otherwise permitted pursuant to the customer facility charge, a rental company shall not separately charge, in addition to the rental rate, a fee for transporting the renter to a location where the rented vehicle will be delivered to the renter.
(n)A rental company shall not use, access, or obtain any information relating to the renters use of the rental vehicle that was obtained using electronic surveillance technology, except in the following circumstances:
(1)(A)When the equipment is used by the rental company only for the purpose of locating a stolen, abandoned, or missing rental vehicle after one of the following:
(i)The renter or law enforcement has informed the rental company that the vehicle is missing or has been stolen or abandoned.
(ii)The rental vehicle has not been returned following one week after the contracted return date, or by one week following the end of an extension of that return date.
(iii)The rental company discovers the rental vehicle has been stolen or abandoned, and, if stolen, it shall report the vehicle stolen to law enforcement by filing a stolen vehicle report, unless law enforcement has already informed the rental company that the vehicle is missing or has been stolen or abandoned.
(B)If electronic surveillance technology is activated pursuant to subparagraph (A), a rental company shall maintain a record, in either electronic or written form, of information relevant to the activation of that technology. That information shall include the rental agreement, including the return date, and the date and time the electronic surveillance technology was activated. The record shall also include, if relevant, a record of written or other communication with the renter, including communications regarding extensions of the rental, police reports, or other written communication with law enforcement officials. The record shall be maintained for a period of at least 12 months from the time the record is created and shall be made available upon the renters request. The rental company shall maintain and furnish explanatory codes necessary to read the record. A rental company shall not be required to maintain a record if electronic surveillance technology is activated to recover a rental vehicle that is stolen or missing at a time other than during a rental period.
(2)In response to a specific request from law enforcement pursuant to a subpoena or search warrant.
(3)This subdivision does not prohibit a rental company from equipping rental vehicles with GPS-based technology that provides navigation assistance to the occupants of the rental vehicle, if the rental company does not use, access, or obtain information relating to the renters use of the rental vehicle that was obtained using that technology, except for the purposes of discovering or repairing a defect in the technology and the information may then be used only for that purpose.
(4)This subdivision does not prohibit a rental company from equipping rental vehicles with electronic surveillance technology that allows for the remote locking or unlocking of the vehicle at the request of the renter, if the rental company does not use, access, or obtain information relating to the renters use of the rental vehicle that was obtained using that technology, except as necessary to lock or unlock the vehicle.
(5)This subdivision does not prohibit a rental company from equipping rental vehicles with electronic surveillance technology that allows the company to provide roadside assistance, such as towing, flat tire, or fuel services, at the request of the renter, if the rental company does not use, access, or obtain information relating to the renters use of the rental vehicle that was obtained using that technology except as necessary to provide the requested roadside assistance.
(6)This subdivision does not prohibit a rental company from obtaining, accessing, or using information from electronic surveillance technology for the sole purpose of determining the date and time the vehicle is returned to the rental company, and the total mileage driven and the vehicle fuel level of the returned vehicle. This paragraph, however, shall apply only after the renter has returned the vehicle to the rental company, and the information shall only be used for the purpose described in this paragraph.
(o)A rental company shall not use electronic surveillance technology to track a renter in order to impose fines or surcharges relating to the renters use of the rental vehicle.
(p)A renter may bring an action against a rental company for the recovery of damages and appropriate equitable relief for a violation of this section. The prevailing party shall be entitled to recover reasonable attorneys fees and costs.
(q)A rental company that brings an action against a renter for loss due to theft of the vehicle shall bring the action in the county in which the renter resides or, if the renter is not a resident of this state, in the jurisdiction in which the renter resides.
(r)A waiver of any of the provisions of this section shall be void and unenforceable as contrary to public policy.
(s)(1)A rental companys disclosure requirements shall be satisfied for renters who are enrolled in the rental companys membership program if all of the following conditions are met:
(A)Prior to the enrollees first rental as a participant in the program, the renter receives, in writing, the following:
(i)All of the disclosures required by paragraph (1) of subdivision (g), including the terms and conditions of the rental agreement then in effect.
(ii)An Internet Web site address, as well as a contact number or address, where the enrollee can learn of changes to the rental agreement or to the laws of this state governing rental agreements since the effective date of the rental companys most recent restatement of the rental agreement and distribution of that restatement to its members.
(B)At the commencement of each rental period, the renter is provided, on the rental record or the folder in which it is inserted, with a printed notice stating that he or she had either previously selected or declined an optional damage waiver and that the renter has the right to change preferences.
(C)At the commencement of each rental period, the rental company provides, on the rearview mirror, a hanger on which a statement is printed, in a box, in at least 12-point boldface type, notifying the renter that the collision damage waiver offered by the rental company may be duplicative of coverage that the customer maintains under his or her own policy of motor vehicle insurance. If it is not feasible to hang the statement from the rearview mirror, it shall be hung from the steering wheel.
The hanger shall provide the renter a box to initial if he or she (not his or her employer) has previously accepted or declined the collision damage waiver and that he or she now wishes to change his or her decision to accept or decline the collision damage waiver, as follows:
If I previously accepted the collision damage waiver, I now decline it.
If I previously declined the collision damage waiver, I now accept it.
The hanger shall also provide a box for the enrollee to indicate whether this change applies to this rental transaction only or to all future rental transactions. The hanger shall also notify the renter that he or she may make that change, prior to leaving the lot, by returning the form to an employee designated to receive the form who is present at the lot where the renter takes possession of the car, to receive any change in the rental agreement from the renter.
(2)(A)This subdivision is not effective unless the employee designated pursuant to subparagraph (E) of paragraph (9) of subdivision (a) is actually present at the required location.
(B)This subdivision does not relieve the rental company from the disclosures required to be made within the text of a contract or holder in which the contract is placed; in or on an advertisement containing a rental rate; or in a telephonic, in-person, or computer-transmitted quotation or reservation.
(t)The amendments made to this section during the 200102 Regular Session of the Legislature do not affect litigation pending on or before January 1, 2003, alleging a violation of Section 22325 of the Business and Professions Code as it read at the time the action was commenced.
(u)(1)When a rental company enters into a rental agreement in the state for the rental of a vehicle to any renter who is not a resident of this country and, as part of, or associated with, the rental agreement, the renter purchases liability insurance, as defined in subdivision (b) of Section 1758.85 of the Insurance Code, from the rental company in its capacity as a rental car agent for an authorized insurer, the rental company shall be authorized to accept, and, if served as set forth in this subdivision, shall accept, service of a summons and complaint and any other required documents against the foreign renter for any accident or collision resulting from the operation of the rental vehicle within the state during the rental period. If the rental company has a registered agent for service of process on file with the Secretary of State, process shall be served on the rental companys registered agent, either by first-class mail, return receipt requested, or by personal service.
(2)Within 30 days of acceptance of service of process, the rental company shall provide a copy of the summons and complaint and any other required documents served in accordance with this subdivision to the foreign renter by first-class mail, return receipt requested.
(3)Any plaintiff, or his or her representative, who elects to serve the foreign renter by delivering a copy of the summons and complaint and any other required documents to the rental company pursuant to paragraph (1) shall agree to limit his or her recovery against the foreign renter and the rental company to the limits of the protection extended by the liability insurance.
(4)Notwithstanding the requirements of Sections 17450 to 17456, inclusive, of the Vehicle Code, service of process in compliance with paragraph (1) shall be deemed valid and effective service.
(5)Notwithstanding any other provision of law, the requirement that the rental company accept service of process pursuant to paragraph (1) shall not create any duty, obligation, or agency relationship other than that provided in paragraph (1).
SEC. 2.Section 1936 of the Civil Code, as amended by Section 5.7 of Chapter 913 of the Statutes of 2014, is repealed.SEC. 3.Section 1936.01 of the Civil Code is repealed.SEC. 4.Section 1936.015 of the Civil Code is repealed.SEC. 5.Section 1936.05 of the Civil Code is amended to read:1936.05.(a)For purposes of this section:
(1)Additional charges means charges other than a per period base rental rate established by the business program.
(2)Business program means (A) a contract between a rental company and a business program sponsor that has established the per period base rental rate, and any other material terms relating to additional charges, on which the rental company will rent passenger vehicles to persons authorized by the sponsor, or (B) a plan, program, or other arrangement established by a rental company at the request of, or with the consent of, a business program sponsor under which the rental company offers to rent passenger vehicles to persons authorized by the sponsor at per period base rental rates, and any other material terms relating to additional charges, that are not the same as those generally offered by the rental company to the public.
(3)Business program sponsor means a legal entity, other than a natural person, that is a corporation, limited liability company, or partnership.
(4)Business renter means, for any business program sponsor, a person who is authorized by the sponsor, through the use of an identifying number or program name or code, to enter into a rental contract under the sponsors business program. In no case shall the term business renter include a person renting as: (A) a nonemployee member of a not-for-profit organization, (B) the purchaser of a voucher or other prepaid rental arrangement from a person, including a tour operator, engaged in the business of reselling those vouchers or prepaid rental arrangements to the general public, (C) an individual whose car rental is eligible for reimbursement in whole or in part as a result of the person being insured or provided coverage under a policy of insurance issued by an insurance company, or (D) an individual whose car rental is eligible for reimbursement in whole or in part as a result of the person purchasing passenger vehicle repair services from a person licensed to perform such services.
(5)Qualified business rental under a business program established for a business program sponsor by a rental company means the rental of a passenger vehicle under the business program if either (A) in the 12-month period ending on the date of the rental or in the calendar year immediately preceding the year in which the rental occurs, the rentals under all business programs established by the rental company for the business program sponsor and its affiliates produced gross rental revenues in excess of twenty-five thousand dollars ($25,000) or (B) the rental company in good faith estimates that rentals under all the business programs established by the rental company for the business program sponsor and its affiliates will produce gross rental revenues in excess of twenty-five thousand dollars ($25,000) in the 12-month period commencing with the date of the rental or in the calendar year in which the rental occurs. The rental company has the burden of establishing by objectively verifiable evidence that the rental was a qualified business rental.
(6)Quote means telephonic, in-person, and computer-transmitted quotations.
(b)Notwithstanding any provision to the contrary contained in subdivision (m) of Section 1936, a rental car company may, in connection with the qualified business rental of a passenger vehicle to a business renter of a business program sponsor under the sponsors business program, do both of the following:
(1)Separately quote additional charges for the rental if, at the time the quote is provided, the person receiving the quote is also provided a good faith estimate of the total of all the charges for the entire rental. The estimate may exclude mileage charges and charges for optional items and services that cannot be determined prior to completing the reservation based upon the information provided by the renter.
(2)Separately impose additional charges for the rental, if the rental contract, or another document provided to the business renter at the time and place the rental commences, clearly and conspicuously discloses the total of all the charges for the entire rental, exclusive of charges that cannot be determined at the time the rental commences.
(c)A renter may bring an action against a rental company for the recovery of damages and appropriate equitable relief for a violation of this section. The prevailing party shall be entitled to recover reasonable attorneys fees and costs.
(d)Any waiver of any of the provisions of this section shall be void and unenforceable as contrary to public policy.
(e)Nothing in this section shall be interpreted to mean that a rental company is not required to comply with the requirements of paragraphs (3) to (7), inclusive, of subdivision (m) of Section 1936.
(a)For the purpose of this section, the following definitions shall apply:
(1)Rental company means a person or entity in the business of renting passenger vehicles to the public.
(2)Renter means any person in a manner obligated under a contract for the lease or hire of a passenger vehicle from a rental company for a period of less than 30 days.
(3)Additional mandatory charges means any separately stated charges that the rental car company requires the renter to pay to hire or lease the vehicle for the period of time to which the rental rate applies, which are imposed by a governmental entity and specifically relate to the operation of a rental car business, including, but not limited to, a customer facility charge, airport concession fee, tourism commission assessment, vehicle license recovery fee, or other government imposed taxes or fees.
(4)Airport concession fee means a charge collected by a rental company from a renter that is the renters proportionate share of the amount paid by the rental company to the owner or operator of an airport for the right or privilege of conducting a vehicle rental business on the airports premises.
(5)Authorized driver means all of the following:
(A)The renter.
(B)The renters spouse if that person is a licensed driver and satisfies the rental companys minimum age requirement.
(C)The renters employer or coworker if he or she is engaged in business activity with the renter, is a licensed driver, and satisfies the rental companys minimum age requirement.
(D)A person expressly listed by the rental company on that renters contract as an authorized driver.
(6)(A)Customer facility charge means any fee, including an alternative fee, required by an airport to be collected by a rental company from a renter for any of the following purposes:
(i)To finance, design, and construct consolidated airport car rental facilities.
(ii)To finance, design, construct, and operate common-use transportation systems that move passengers between airport terminals and those consolidated car rental facilities, and acquire vehicles for use in that system.
(iii)To finance, design, and construct terminal modifications solely to accommodate and provide customer access to common-use transportation systems.
(B)The aggregate amount to be collected shall not exceed the reasonable costs, as determined by an audit, by an independent auditor, paid for by the airport, to finance, design, and construct those facilities. The auditor shall independently examine and substantiate the necessity for and the amount of the customer facility charge, including whether the airports actual or projected costs are supported and justified, any steps the airport may take to limit costs, potential alternatives for meeting the airports revenue needs other than the collection of the fee, and whether and to what extent car rental companies or other businesses or individuals using the facility or common-use transportation system may pay for the costs associated with these facilities and systems other than the fee from rental customers, or whether the airport did not comply with any provision of this subparagraph. Copies of the audit shall be provided to the Assembly and Senate Committees on Judiciary, the Assembly Committee on Transportation, and the Senate Committee on Transportation and Housing and shall be posted on the airports Internet Web site. In the case of a customer facility charge for a common-use transportation system, the audit also shall consider the reasonable costs of providing the transit system or busing network pursuant to clause (ii) of subparagraph (A). Any audit required by this subparagraph may be included as a part of an audit of an airports finances. Notwithstanding clause (iii) of subparagraph (A), the fees designated as a customer facility charge shall not be used to pay for terminal expansion, gate expansion, runway expansion, changes in hours of operation, or changes in the number of flights arriving or departing from the airport.
(C)Except as provided in subparagraph (D), the authorization given pursuant to this section for an airport to impose a customer facility charge shall become inoperative when the bonds used for financing are paid.
(D)If a bond or other form of indebtedness is not used for financing, or the bond or other form of indebtedness used for financing has been paid, the Oakland International Airport may require the collection of a customer facility charge for a period of up to 10 years from the imposition of the charge for the purposes allowed by, and subject to the conditions imposed by, this section.
(7)Damage waiver means a rental companys agreement not to hold a renter liable for all or any portion of any damage or loss related to the rented vehicle, any loss of use of the rented vehicle, or any storage, impound, towing, or administrative charges.
(8)Electronic surveillance technology means a technological method or system used to observe, monitor, or collect information, including telematics, Global Positioning System (GPS), wireless technology, or location-based technologies. Electronic surveillance technology does not include event data recorders (EDR), sensing and diagnostic modules (SDM), or other systems that are used either:
(A)For the purpose of identifying, diagnosing, or monitoring functions related to the potential need to repair, service, or perform maintenance on the rental vehicle.
(B)As part of the vehicles airbag sensing and diagnostic system in order to capture safety systems-related data for retrieval after a crash has occurred or in the event that the collision sensors are activated to prepare the decisionmaking computer to make the determination to deploy or not to deploy the airbag.
(9)Estimated time for replacement means the number of hours of labor, or fraction thereof, needed to replace damaged vehicle parts as set forth in collision damage estimating guides generally used in the vehicle repair business and commonly known as crash books.
(10)Estimated time for repair means a good faith estimate of the reasonable number of hours of labor, or fraction thereof, needed to repair damaged vehicle parts.
(11)Membership program means a service offered by a rental company that permits customers to bypass the rental counter and go directly to the car previously reserved. A membership program shall meet all of the following requirements:
(A)The renter initiates enrollment by completing an application on which the renter can specify a preference for type of vehicle and acceptance or declination of optional services.
(B)The rental company fully discloses, prior to the enrollees first rental as a participant in the program, all terms and conditions of the rental agreement as well as all required disclosures.
(C)The renter may terminate enrollment at any time.
(D)The rental company fully explains to the renter that designated preferences, as well as acceptance or declination of optional services, may be changed by the renter at any time for the next and future rentals.
(E)An employee designated to receive the form specified in subparagraph (C) of paragraph (1) of subdivision (s) is present at the lot where the renter takes possession of the car, to receive any change in the rental agreement from the renter.
(12)Passenger vehicle means a passenger vehicle as defined in Section 465 of the Vehicle Code.
(13)Quote means an estimated cost of rental provided by a rental company or a third party to a potential customer by telephone, in-person, computer-transmission, or other means, that is based on information provided by the potential customer and used to generate an estimated cost of rental, including, but not limited to, potential dates of rental, locations, or classes of car.
(14)Tourism commission assessment means the charge collected by a rental company from a renter that has been established by the California Travel and Tourism Commission pursuant to Section 13995.65 of the Government Code.
(15)Vehicle license fee means the tax imposed pursuant to the Vehicle License Fee Law (Part 5 (commencing with Section 10701) of Division 2 of the Revenue and Taxation Code).
(16)Vehicle registration fee means any fee imposed pursuant to any provision of Chapter 6 (commencing with Section 9101) of Division 3 of the Vehicle Code.
(17)Vehicle license recovery fee means a charge that seeks to recover the amount of any vehicle license fee and vehicle registration fee paid by a rental company for the particular class of vehicle being rented.
(b)Except as limited by subdivision (c), a rental company and a renter may agree that the renter will be responsible for no more than all of the following:
(1)Physical or mechanical damage to the rented vehicle up to its fair market value, as determined in the customary market for the sale of that vehicle, resulting from collision regardless of the cause of the damage.
(2)Loss due to theft of the rented vehicle up to its fair market value, as determined in the customary market for the sale of that vehicle, provided that the rental company establishes by clear and convincing evidence that the renter or the authorized driver failed to exercise ordinary care while in possession of the vehicle. In addition, the renter shall be presumed to have no liability for any loss due to theft if (A) an authorized driver has possession of the ignition key furnished by the rental company or an authorized driver establishes that the ignition key furnished by the rental company was not in the vehicle at the time of the theft, and (B) an authorized driver files an official report of the theft with the police or other law enforcement agency within 24 hours of learning of the theft and reasonably cooperates with the rental company and the police or other law enforcement agency in providing information concerning the theft. The presumption set forth in this paragraph is a presumption affecting the burden of proof which the rental company may rebut by establishing that an authorized driver committed, or aided and abetted the commission of, the theft.
(3)Physical damage to the rented vehicle up to its fair market value, as determined in the customary market for the sale of that vehicle, resulting from vandalism occurring after, or in connection with, the theft of the rented vehicle. However, the renter shall have no liability for any damage due to vandalism if the renter would have no liability for theft pursuant to paragraph (2).
(4)Physical damage to the rented vehicle up to a total of five hundred dollars ($500) resulting from vandalism unrelated to the theft of the rented vehicle.
(5)Actual charges for towing, storage, and impound fees paid by the rental company if the renter is liable for damage or loss.
(6)An administrative charge, which shall include the cost of appraisal and all other costs and expenses incident to the damage, loss, repair, or replacement of the rented vehicle.
(c)The total amount of the renters liability to the rental company resulting from damage to the rented vehicle shall not exceed the sum of the following:
(1)The estimated cost of parts which the rental company would have to pay to replace damaged vehicle parts. All discounts and price reductions or adjustments that are or will be received by the rental company shall be subtracted from the estimate to the extent not already incorporated in the estimate, or otherwise promptly credited or refunded to the renter.
(2)The estimated cost of labor to replace damaged vehicle parts, which shall not exceed the product of (A) the rate for labor usually paid by the rental company to replace vehicle parts of the type that were damaged and (B) the estimated time for replacement. All discounts and price reductions or adjustments that are or will be received by the rental company shall be subtracted from the estimate to the extent not already incorporated in the estimate, or otherwise promptly credited or refunded to the renter.
(3)(A)The estimated cost of labor to repair damaged vehicle parts, which shall not exceed the lesser of the following:
(i)The product of the rate for labor usually paid by the rental company to repair vehicle parts of the type that were damaged and the estimated time for repair.
(ii)The sum of the estimated labor and parts costs determined under paragraphs (1) and (2) to replace the same vehicle parts.
(B)All discounts and price reductions or adjustments that are or will be received by the rental company shall be subtracted from the estimate to the extent not already incorporated in the estimate, or otherwise promptly credited or refunded to the renter.
(4)For the purpose of converting the estimated time for repair into the same units of time in which the rental rate is expressed, a day shall be deemed to consist of eight hours.
(5)Actual charges for towing, storage, and impound fees paid by the rental company.
(6)The administrative charge described in paragraph (6) of subdivision (b) shall not exceed (A) fifty dollars ($50) if the total estimated cost for parts and labor is more than one hundred dollars ($100) up to and including five hundred dollars ($500), (B) one hundred dollars ($100) if the total estimated cost for parts and labor exceeds five hundred dollars ($500) up to and including one thousand five hundred dollars ($1,500), and (C) one hundred fifty dollars ($150) if the total estimated cost for parts and labor exceeds one thousand five hundred dollars ($1,500). An administrative charge shall not be imposed if the total estimated cost of parts and labor is one hundred dollars ($100) or less.
(d)(1)The total amount of an authorized drivers liability to the rental company, if any, for damage occurring during the authorized drivers operation of the rented vehicle shall not exceed the amount of the renters liability under subdivision (c).
(2)A rental company shall not recover from the renter or other authorized driver an amount exceeding the renters liability under subdivision (c).
(3)A claim against a renter resulting from damage or loss, excluding loss of use, to a rental vehicle shall be reasonably and rationally related to the actual loss incurred. A rental company shall mitigate damages where possible and shall not assert or collect a claim for physical damage which exceeds the actual costs of the repairs performed or the estimated cost of repairs, if the rental company chooses not to repair the vehicle, including all discounts and price reductions. However, if the vehicle is a total loss vehicle, the claim shall not exceed the total loss vehicle value established in accordance with procedures that are customarily used by insurance companies when paying claims on total loss vehicles, less the proceeds from salvaging the vehicle, if those proceeds are retained by the rental company.
(4)If insurance coverage exists under the renters applicable personal or business insurance policy and the coverage is confirmed during regular business hours, the renter may require that the rental company submit any claims to the renters applicable personal or business insurance carrier. The rental company shall not make any written or oral representations that it will not present claims or negotiate with the renters insurance carrier. For purposes of this paragraph, confirmation of coverage includes telephone confirmation from insurance company representatives during regular business hours. Upon request of the renter and after confirmation of coverage, the amount of claim shall be resolved between the insurance carrier and the rental company. The renter shall remain responsible for payment to the rental car company for any loss sustained that the renters applicable personal or business insurance policy does not cover.
(5)A rental company shall not recover from the renter or other authorized driver for an item described in subdivision (b) to the extent the rental company obtains recovery from another person.
(6)This section applies only to the maximum liability of a renter or other authorized driver to the rental company resulting from damage to the rented vehicle and not to the liability of another person.
(e)(1)Except as provided in subdivision (f), a damage waiver shall provide or, if not expressly stated in writing, shall be deemed to provide that the renter has no liability for damage, loss, loss of use, or a cost or expense incident thereto.
(2)Except as provided in subdivision (f), every limitation, exception, or exclusion to a damage waiver is void and unenforceable.
(f)A rental company may provide in the rental contract that a damage waiver does not apply under any of the following circumstances:
(1)Damage or loss results from an authorized drivers (A) intentional, willful, wanton, or reckless conduct, (B) operation of the vehicle under the influence of drugs or alcohol in violation of Section 23152 of the Vehicle Code, (C) towing or pushing anything, or (D) operation of the vehicle on an unpaved road if the damage or loss is a direct result of the road or driving conditions.
(2)Damage or loss occurs while the vehicle is (A) used for commercial hire, (B) used in connection with conduct that could be properly charged as a felony, (C) involved in a speed test or contest or in driver training activity, (D) operated by a person other than an authorized driver, or (E) operated outside the United States.
(3)An authorized driver who has (A) provided fraudulent information to the rental company, or (B) provided false information and the rental company would not have rented the vehicle if it had instead received true information.
(g)(1)A rental company that offers or provides a damage waiver for any consideration in addition to the rental rate shall clearly and conspicuously disclose the following information in the rental contract or holder in which the contract is placed and, also, in signs posted at the place, such as the counter, where the renter signs the rental contract, and, for renters who are enrolled in the rental companys membership program, in a sign that shall be posted in a location clearly visible to those renters as they enter the location where their reserved rental cars are parked or near the exit of the bus or other conveyance that transports the enrollee to a reserved car: (A) the nature of the renters liability, such as liability for all collision damage regardless of cause, (B) the extent of the renters liability, such as liability for damage or loss up to a specified amount, (C) the renters personal insurance policy or the credit card used to pay for the car rental transaction may provide coverage for all or a portion of the renters potential liability, (D) the renter should consult with his or her insurer to determine the scope of insurance coverage, including the amount of the deductible, if any, for which the renter is obligated, (E) the renter may purchase an optional damage waiver to cover all liability, subject to whatever exceptions the rental company expressly lists that are permitted under subdivision (f), and (F) the range of charges for the damage waiver.
(2)In addition to the requirements of paragraph (1), a rental company that offers or provides a damage waiver shall orally disclose to all renters, except those who are participants in the rental companys membership program, that the damage waiver may be duplicative of coverage that the customer maintains under his or her own policy of motor vehicle insurance. The renters receipt of the oral disclosure shall be demonstrated through the renters acknowledging receipt of the oral disclosure near that part of the contract where the renter indicates, by the renters own initials, his or her acceptance or declination of the damage waiver. Adjacent to that same part, the contract also shall state that the damage waiver is optional. Further, the contract for these renters shall include a clear and conspicuous written disclosure that the damage waiver may be duplicative of coverage that the customer maintains under his or her own policy of motor vehicle insurance.
(3)The following is an example, for purposes of illustration and not limitation, of a notice fulfilling the requirements of paragraph (1) for a rental company that imposes liability on the renter for collision damage to the full value of the vehicle:
NOTICE ABOUT YOUR FINANCIAL RESPONSIBILITY AND OPTIONAL DAMAGE WAIVER
You are responsible for all collision damage to the rented vehicle even if someone else caused it or the cause is unknown. You are responsible for the cost of repair up to the value of the vehicle, and towing, storage, and impound fees.
Your own insurance, or the issuer of the credit card you use to pay for the car rental transaction, may cover all or part of your financial responsibility for the rented vehicle. You should check with your insurance company, or credit card issuer, to find out about your coverage and the amount of the deductible, if any, for which you may be liable.
Further, if you use a credit card that provides coverage for your potential liability, you should check with the issuer to determine if you must first exhaust the coverage limits of your own insurance before the credit card coverage applies.
The rental company will not hold you responsible if you buy a damage waiver. But a damage waiver will not protect you if (list exceptions).
(A)When the above notice is printed in the rental contract or holder in which the contract is placed, the following shall be printed immediately following the notice:
The cost of an optional damage waiver is $____ for every (day or week).
(B)When the above notice appears on a sign, the following shall appear immediately adjacent to the notice:
The cost of an optional damage waiver is $____ to $____ for every (day or week), depending upon the vehicle rented.
(h)Notwithstanding any other provision of law, a rental company may sell a damage waiver subject to the following rate limitations for each full or partial 24-hour rental day for the damage waiver:
(1)For rental vehicles that the rental company designates as an economy car, compact car, or another term having similar meaning to the two smallest body-size categories of vehicles established by the Association of Car Rental Industry Systems Standards for North America, as of January 1, 2014, when offered for rental, the rate shall not exceed eleven dollars ($11).
(2)For rental vehicles that the rental company designates as an intermediate car, standard car, or full-size car, or another term having similar meaning to the next three body-size categories of vehicles established by the Association of Car Rental Industry Systems Standards for North America, as of January 1, 2014, and that are also either vehicles of the next model-year, or not older than the previous years model, when offered for rental, the rate shall not exceed seventeen dollars ($17). For rental vehicles that are older than the previous years model-year, the rate shall not exceed eleven dollars ($11).
(i)A rental company that disseminates in this state an advertisement containing a rental rate shall include in that advertisement a clearly readable statement of the charge for a damage waiver and a statement that a damage waiver is optional.
(j)(1)A rental company shall not require the purchase of a damage waiver, optional insurance, or another optional good or service.
(2)A rental company shall not engage in any unfair, deceptive, or coercive conduct to induce a renter to purchase the damage waiver, optional insurance, or another optional good or service, including conduct such as, but not limited to, refusing to honor the renters reservation, limiting the availability of vehicles, requiring a deposit, or debiting or blocking the renters credit card account for a sum equivalent to a deposit if the renter declines to purchase the damage waiver, optional insurance, or another optional good or service.
(k)(1)In the absence of express permission granted by the renter subsequent to damage to, or loss of, the vehicle, a rental company shall not seek to recover any portion of a claim arising out of damage to, or loss of, the rented vehicle by processing a credit card charge or causing a debit or block to be placed on the renters credit card account.
(2)A rental company shall not engage in any unfair, deceptive, or coercive tactics in attempting to recover or in recovering on any claim arising out of damage to, or loss of, the rented vehicle.
(l)(1)A customer facility charge may be collected by a rental company under the following circumstances:
(A)Collection of the fee by the rental company is required by an airport operated by a city, a county, a city and county, a joint powers authority, a special district, or the San Diego County Regional Airport Authority formed pursuant to Division 17 (commencing with Section 170000) of the Public Utilities Code.
(B)The fee is calculated on a per contract basis or as provided in paragraph (2).
(C)The fee is a user fee, not a tax imposed upon real property or an incident of property ownership under Article XIIID of the California Constitution.
(D)Except as otherwise provided in subparagraph (E), the fee shall be ten dollars ($10) per contract or the amount provided in paragraph (2).
(E)The fee for a consolidated rental car facility shall be collected only from customers of on-airport rental car companies. If the fee imposed by the airport is for both a consolidated rental car facility and a common-use transportation system, the fee collected from customers of on-airport rental car companies shall be ten dollars ($10) or the amount provided in paragraph (2), but the fee imposed on customers of off-airport rental car companies who are transported on the common-use transportation system is proportionate to the costs of the common-use transportation system only. The fee is uniformly applied to each class of on-airport or off-airport customers, provided that the airport requires off-airport customers to use the common-use transportation system. For purposes of this subparagraph, on-airport rental car company means a rental company operating under an airport property lease or an airport concession or license agreement whose customers use or will use the consolidated rental car facility and the collection of the fee as to those customers is consistent with subparagraph (C).
(F)Revenues collected from the fee do not exceed the reasonable costs of financing, designing, and constructing the facility and financing, designing, constructing, and operating any common-use transportation system, or acquiring vehicles for use in that system, and shall not be used for any other purpose.
(G)The fee is separately identified on the rental agreement.
(H)This paragraph does not apply to fees which are governed by Section 50474.1 of the Government Code or Section 57.5 of the San Diego Unified Port District Act (Chapter 67 of the First Extraordinary Session of the Statutes of 1962).
(I)For any airport seeking to require rental car companies to collect an alternative customer facility charge pursuant to paragraph (2), the following provisions apply:
(i)Notwithstanding Section 10231.5 of the Government Code, the airport shall provide reports on an annual basis to the Senate and Assembly Committees on Judiciary detailing all of the following:
(I)The total amount of the customer facility charge collected.
(II)How the funds are being spent.
(III)The amount of and reason for any changes in the airports budget or financial needs for the facility or common-use transportation system.
(ii)(I)The airport shall complete the audit required by subparagraph (B) of paragraph (6) of subdivision (a) prior to the initial collection of the customer facility charge. Notwithstanding Section 10231.5 of the Government Code, copies of the audit shall be provided to the Assembly and Senate Committees on Judiciary, the Assembly Committee on Transportation, and the Senate Committee on Transportation and Housing and shall be posted on the airports Internet Web site.
(II)Prior to any increase pursuant to paragraph (2), the airport shall update the information provided in the initial collection audit pursuant to subclause (I). Notwithstanding Section 10231.5 of the Government Code, copies of the updated audit shall be provided to the Assembly and Senate Committees on Judiciary, the Assembly Committee on Transportation, and the Senate Committee on Transportation and Housing, and shall be posted on the airports Internet Web site.
(III)An audit shall be completed every three years after initial collection only if the customer facility charge is collected for the purpose of operating a common-use transportation system or to acquire vehicles for use in the system pursuant to clause (ii) of subparagraph (A) of paragraph (6) of subdivision (a). A regularly conducted audit of airport finances that includes the customer facility charge information, that satisfies the requirements of subparagraph (B) of paragraph (6) of subdivision (a), and is produced in accordance with the generally accepted accounting principles of the Government Accounting Standards Board, shall satisfy the requirements of this subclause. This obligation shall continue until the fee authorization becomes inoperative pursuant to subparagraph (C) of paragraph (6) of subdivision (a). Notwithstanding Section 10231.5 of the Government Code, the information reported pursuant to this subclause shall be compiled into one document, shall be provided to the Assembly and Senate Committees on Judiciary, the Assembly Committee on Transportation, and the Senate Committee on Transportation and Housing and shall be posted on the airports Internet Web site accessible to the public. The information reported shall be contained within one easily accessible page contained within the airports Internet Web site.
(IV)This section shall not be construed to require an airport to audit a common-use transportation system not financed by a customer facility charge and used for the purposes permitted pursuant to clause (ii) of subparagraph (A) of paragraph (6) of subdivision (a).
(V)The airport shall post on the airports Internet Web site copies of the completed audits required by this clause for a period of six years following the audits completion.
(iii)Use of the bonds shall be limited to construction and design of the consolidated rental car facility, terminal modifications, and operating costs of the common-use transportation system, as specified in paragraph (6) of subdivision (a).
(2)Any airport may require rental car companies to collect an alternative customer facility charge under the following conditions:
(A)The airport first conducts a publicly noticed hearing pursuant to the Ralph M. Brown Act (Chapter 9 (commencing with Section 54950) of Part 1 of Division 2 of Title 5 of the Government Code) to review the costs of financing the design and construction of a consolidated rental car facility and the design, construction, and operation of any common-use transportation system in which all of the following occur:
(i)The airport establishes the amount of revenue necessary to finance the reasonable cost to design and construct a consolidated rental car facility and to design, construct, and operate any common-use transportation system, or acquire vehicles for use in that system, based on evidence presented during the hearing.
(ii)The airport finds, based on evidence presented during the hearing, that the fee authorized in paragraph (1) will not generate sufficient revenue to finance the reasonable costs to design and construct a consolidated rental car facility and to design, construct, and operate any common-use transportation system, or acquire vehicles for use in that system.
(iii)The airport finds that the reasonable cost of the project requires the additional amount of revenue that would be generated by the proposed daily rate, including any rate increase, authorized pursuant to this paragraph.
(iv)The airport outlines each of the following:
(I)Steps it has taken to limit costs.
(II)Other potential alternatives for meeting its revenue needs other than the collection of the fee.
(III)The extent to which rental car companies or other businesses or individuals using the facility or common-use transportation system will pay for the costs associated with these facilities and systems other than the fee from rental customers.
(B)The airport may not require the fee authorized in this paragraph to be collected at any time that the fee authorized in paragraph (1) of this subdivision is being collected.
(C)Pursuant to the procedure set forth in this subdivision, the fee may be collected at a rate charged on a per-day basis subject to the following conditions:
(i)Commencing January 1, 2011, the amount of the fee may not exceed six dollars ($6) per day.
(ii)Commencing January 1, 2014, the amount of the fee may not exceed seven dollars and fifty cents ($7.50) per day.
(iii)Commencing January 1, 2017, and thereafter, the amount of the fee may not exceed nine dollars ($9) per day.
(iv)At no time shall the fee authorized in this paragraph be collected from any customer for more than five days for each individual rental car contract.
(v)An airport subject to this paragraph shall initiate the process for obtaining the authority to require or increase the alternative fee no later than January 1, 2018. Any airport that obtains the authority to require or increase an alternative fee shall be authorized to continue collecting that fee until the fee authorization becomes inoperative pursuant to subparagraph (C) of paragraph (6) of subdivision (a).
(3)Notwithstanding any other provision of law, including, but not limited to, Part 1 (commencing with Section 6001) to Part 1.7 (commencing with Section 7280), inclusive, of Division 2 of the Revenue and Taxation Code, the fees collected pursuant to this section, or another law whereby a local agency operating an airport requires a rental car company to collect a facility financing fee from its customers, are not subject to sales, use, or transaction taxes.
(m)(1)When providing a quote, or imposing charges for a rental, the rental company may separately state the rental rate, additional mandatory charges, if any, and a mileage charge, if any, that a renter must pay to hire or lease the vehicle for the period of time to which the rental rate applies. A rental company shall not charge in addition to the rental rate, taxes, additional mandatory charges, if any, charges, or a mileage charge, if any, and charge, as those may be applicable, any other fee that is required to be paid by the renter as a condition of hiring or leasing the vehicle.
(2)If additional mandatory charges are imposed, the rental company shall do each of the following:
(A)At the time the quote is given, provide the person receiving the quote with a good faith estimate of the rental rate and all additional mandatory charges, as well as the total charges for the entire rental. The total charges, if provided on an Internet Web site page, shall be displayed in a typeface at least as large as any rental rate disclosed on that page and shall be provided on a page that the person receiving the quote may reach by following links through no more than two Internet Web site pages, including the page on which the rental rate is first provided. The good faith estimate may exclude mileage charges and charges for optional items that cannot be determined prior to completing the reservation based upon the information provided by the person.
(B)At the time and place the rental commences, clearly and conspicuously disclose in the rental contract, or that portion of the contract that is provided to the renter, the total of the rental rate, additional mandatory charges, for the entire rental, exclusive of charges that cannot be determined at the time the rental commences. Charges imposed pursuant to this subparagraph shall be no more than the amount of the quote provided in a confirmed reservation, unless the person changes the terms of the rental contract subsequent to making the reservation.
(C)Provide each person, other than those persons within the rental company, offering quotes to actual or prospective customers access to information about additional mandatory charges, as well as access to information about when those charges apply. Any person providing quotes to actual or prospective customers for the hire or lease of a vehicle from a rental company shall provide the quotes in the manner described in subparagraph (A).
(3)In addition to the rental rate, taxes, additional mandatory charges, if any, and mileage charges, if any, a rental company may charge for an item or service provided in connection with a particular rental transaction if the renter could have avoided incurring the charge by choosing not to obtain or utilize the optional item or service. Items and services for which the rental company may impose an additional charge include, but are not limited to, optional insurance and accessories requested by the renter, service charges incident to the renters 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 renter did not return the vehicle with as much fuel as was in the fuel tank at the beginning of the rental. A rental company also may impose an additional charge based on reasonable age criteria established by the rental company.
(4)A rental company shall not charge a fee for authorized drivers in addition to the rental charge for an individual renter.
(5)If a rental company states a rental rate in print advertisement or in a telephonic, in-person, or computer-transmitted quotation, the rental company shall disclose clearly in that advertisement or quotation the terms of mileage conditions relating to the advertised or quoted rental rate, including, but not limited to, to the extent applicable, the amount of mileage and gas charges, the number of miles for which no charges will be imposed, and a description of geographic driving limitations within the United States and Canada.
(6)All rate advertisements shall include the following disclaimer, which shall be prominently displayed: Additional mandatory charges may be imposed, including, but not limited to, a customer facility charge, airport concession fee, tourism commission assessment, vehicle license recovery fee, or other government imposed taxes or fees. For more information, including an estimate of your total rental cost, visit our Internet Web site at [www.____.com].
(7)If a rental company delivers a vehicle to a renter at a location other than the location where the rental company normally carries on its business, the rental company shall not charge the renter an amount for the rental for the period before the delivery of the vehicle. If a rental company picks up a rented vehicle from a renter at a location other than the location where the rental company normally carries on its business, the rental company shall not charge the renter an amount for the rental for the period after the renter notifies the rental company to pick up the vehicle.
(8)Except as otherwise permitted pursuant to the customer facility charge, a rental company shall not separately charge, in addition to the rental rate, a fee for transporting the renter to a location where the rented vehicle will be delivered to the renter.
(n)A rental company shall not use, access, or obtain any information relating to the renters use of the rental vehicle that was obtained using electronic surveillance technology, except in the following circumstances:
(1)(A)When the equipment is used by the rental company only for the purpose of locating a stolen, abandoned, or missing rental vehicle after one of the following:
(i)The renter or law enforcement has informed the rental company that the vehicle is missing or has been stolen or abandoned.
(ii)The rental vehicle has not been returned following one week after the contracted return date, or by one week following the end of an extension of that return date.
(iii)The rental company discovers the rental vehicle has been stolen or abandoned, and, if stolen, it shall report the vehicle stolen to law enforcement by filing a stolen vehicle report, unless law enforcement has already informed the rental company that the vehicle is missing or has been stolen or abandoned.
(B)If electronic surveillance technology is activated pursuant to subparagraph (A), a rental company shall maintain a record, in either electronic or written form, of information relevant to the activation of that technology. That information shall include the rental agreement, including the return date, and the date and time the electronic surveillance technology was activated. The record shall also include, if relevant, a record of written or other communication with the renter, including communications regarding extensions of the rental, police reports, or other written communication with law enforcement officials. The record shall be maintained for a period of at least 12 months from the time the record is created and shall be made available upon the renters request. The rental company shall maintain and furnish explanatory codes necessary to read the record. A rental company shall not be required to maintain a record if electronic surveillance technology is activated to recover a rental vehicle that is stolen or missing at a time other than during a rental period.
(2)In response to a specific request from law enforcement pursuant to a subpoena or search warrant.
(3)This subdivision does not prohibit a rental company from equipping rental vehicles with GPS-based technology that provides navigation assistance to the occupants of the rental vehicle, if the rental company does not use, access, or obtain information relating to the renters use of the rental vehicle that was obtained using that technology, except for the purposes of discovering or repairing a defect in the technology and the information may then be used only for that purpose.
(4)This subdivision does not prohibit a rental company from equipping rental vehicles with electronic surveillance technology that allows for the remote locking or unlocking of the vehicle at the request of the renter, if the rental company does not use, access, or obtain information relating to the renters use of the rental vehicle that was obtained using that technology, except as necessary to lock or unlock the vehicle.
(5)This subdivision does not prohibit a rental company from equipping rental vehicles with electronic surveillance technology that allows the company to provide roadside assistance, such as towing, flat tire, or fuel services, at the request of the renter, if the rental company does not use, access, or obtain information relating to the renters use of the rental vehicle that was obtained using that technology except as necessary to provide the requested roadside assistance.
(6)This subdivision does not prohibit a rental company from obtaining, accessing, or using information from electronic surveillance technology for the sole purpose of determining the date and time the vehicle is returned to the rental company, and the total mileage driven and the vehicle fuel level of the returned vehicle. This paragraph, however, shall apply only after the renter has returned the vehicle to the rental company, and the information shall only be used for the purpose described in this paragraph.
(o)A rental company shall not use electronic surveillance technology to track a renter in order to impose fines or surcharges relating to the renters use of the rental vehicle.
(p)A renter may bring an action against a rental company for the recovery of damages and appropriate equitable relief for a violation of this section. The prevailing party shall be entitled to recover reasonable attorneys fees and costs.
(q)A rental company that brings an action against a renter for loss due to theft of the vehicle shall bring the action in the county in which the renter resides or, if the renter is not a resident of this state, in the jurisdiction in which the renter resides.
(r)A waiver of any of the provisions of this section shall be void and unenforceable as contrary to public policy.
(s)(1)A rental companys disclosure requirements shall be satisfied for renters who are enrolled in the rental companys membership program if all of the following conditions are met:
(A)Prior to the enrollees first rental as a participant in the program, the renter receives, in writing, the following:
(i)All of the disclosures required by paragraph (1) of subdivision (g), including the terms and conditions of the rental agreement then in effect.
(ii)An Internet Web site address, as well as a contact number or address, where the enrollee can learn of changes to the rental agreement or to the laws of this state governing rental agreements since the effective date of the rental companys most recent restatement of the rental agreement and distribution of that restatement to its members.
(B)At the commencement of each rental period, the renter is provided, on the rental record or the folder in which it is inserted, with a printed notice stating that he or she had either previously selected or declined an optional damage waiver and that the renter has the right to change preferences.
(C)At the commencement of each rental period, the rental company provides, on the rearview mirror, a hanger on which a statement is printed, in a box, in at least 12-point boldface type, notifying the renter that the collision damage waiver offered by the rental company may be duplicative of coverage that the customer maintains under his or her own policy of motor vehicle insurance. If it is not feasible to hang the statement from the rearview mirror, it shall be hung from the steering wheel.
The hanger shall provide the renter a box to initial if he or she (not his or her employer) has previously accepted or declined the collision damage waiver and that he or she now wishes to change his or her decision to accept or decline the collision damage waiver, as follows:
If I previously accepted the collision damage waiver, I now decline it.
If I previously declined the collision damage waiver, I now accept it.
The hanger shall also provide a box for the enrollee to indicate whether this change applies to this rental transaction only or to all future rental transactions. The hanger shall also notify the renter that he or she may make that change, prior to leaving the lot, by returning the form to an employee designated to receive the form who is present at the lot where the renter takes possession of the car, to receive any change in the rental agreement from the renter.
(2)(A)This subdivision is not effective unless the employee designated pursuant to subparagraph (E) of paragraph (9) of subdivision (a) is actually present at the required location.
(B)This subdivision does not relieve the rental company from the disclosures required to be made within the text of a contract or holder in which the contract is placed; in or on an advertisement containing a rental rate; or in a telephonic, in-person, or computer-transmitted quotation or reservation.
(t)The amendments made to this section during the 200102 Regular Session of the Legislature do not affect litigation pending on or before January 1, 2003, alleging a violation of Section 22325 of the Business and Professions Code as it read at the time the action was commenced.
(u)(1)When a rental company enters into a rental agreement in the state for the rental of a vehicle to any renter who is not a resident of this country and, as part of, or associated with, the rental agreement, the renter purchases liability insurance, as defined in subdivision (b) of Section 1758.85 of the Insurance Code, from the rental company in its capacity as a rental car agent for an authorized insurer, the rental company shall be authorized to accept, and, if served as set forth in this subdivision, shall accept, service of a summons and complaint and any other required documents against the foreign renter for any accident or collision resulting from the operation of the rental vehicle within the state during the rental period. If the rental company has a registered agent for service of process on file with the Secretary of State, process shall be served on the rental companys registered agent, either by first-class mail, return receipt requested, or by personal service.
(2)Within 30 days of acceptance of service of process, the rental company shall provide a copy of the summons and complaint and any other required documents served in accordance with this subdivision to the foreign renter by first-class mail, return receipt requested.
(3)Any plaintiff, or his or her representative, who elects to serve the foreign renter by delivering a copy of the summons and complaint and any other required documents to the rental company pursuant to paragraph (1) shall agree to limit his or her recovery against the foreign renter and the rental company to the limits of the protection extended by the liability insurance.
(4)Notwithstanding the requirements of Sections 17450 to 17456, inclusive, of the Vehicle Code, service of process in compliance with paragraph (1) shall be deemed valid and effective service.
(5)Notwithstanding any other provision of law, the requirement that the rental company accept service of process pursuant to paragraph (1) shall not create any duty, obligation, or agency relationship other than that provided in paragraph (1).
SEC. 2.Section 1936 of the Civil Code, as amended by Section 5.7 of Chapter 913 of the Statutes of 2014, is repealed.SEC. 3.Section 1936.01 of the Civil Code is repealed.SEC. 4.Section 1936.015 of the Civil Code is repealed.SEC. 5.Section 1936.05 of the Civil Code is amended to read:1936.05.(a)For purposes of this section:
(1)Additional charges means charges other than a per period base rental rate established by the business program.
(2)Business program means (A) a contract between a rental company and a business program sponsor that has established the per period base rental rate, and any other material terms relating to additional charges, on which the rental company will rent passenger vehicles to persons authorized by the sponsor, or (B) a plan, program, or other arrangement established by a rental company at the request of, or with the consent of, a business program sponsor under which the rental company offers to rent passenger vehicles to persons authorized by the sponsor at per period base rental rates, and any other material terms relating to additional charges, that are not the same as those generally offered by the rental company to the public.
(3)Business program sponsor means a legal entity, other than a natural person, that is a corporation, limited liability company, or partnership.
(4)Business renter means, for any business program sponsor, a person who is authorized by the sponsor, through the use of an identifying number or program name or code, to enter into a rental contract under the sponsors business program. In no case shall the term business renter include a person renting as: (A) a nonemployee member of a not-for-profit organization, (B) the purchaser of a voucher or other prepaid rental arrangement from a person, including a tour operator, engaged in the business of reselling those vouchers or prepaid rental arrangements to the general public, (C) an individual whose car rental is eligible for reimbursement in whole or in part as a result of the person being insured or provided coverage under a policy of insurance issued by an insurance company, or (D) an individual whose car rental is eligible for reimbursement in whole or in part as a result of the person purchasing passenger vehicle repair services from a person licensed to perform such services.
(5)Qualified business rental under a business program established for a business program sponsor by a rental company means the rental of a passenger vehicle under the business program if either (A) in the 12-month period ending on the date of the rental or in the calendar year immediately preceding the year in which the rental occurs, the rentals under all business programs established by the rental company for the business program sponsor and its affiliates produced gross rental revenues in excess of twenty-five thousand dollars ($25,000) or (B) the rental company in good faith estimates that rentals under all the business programs established by the rental company for the business program sponsor and its affiliates will produce gross rental revenues in excess of twenty-five thousand dollars ($25,000) in the 12-month period commencing with the date of the rental or in the calendar year in which the rental occurs. The rental company has the burden of establishing by objectively verifiable evidence that the rental was a qualified business rental.
(6)Quote means telephonic, in-person, and computer-transmitted quotations.
(b)Notwithstanding any provision to the contrary contained in subdivision (m) of Section 1936, a rental car company may, in connection with the qualified business rental of a passenger vehicle to a business renter of a business program sponsor under the sponsors business program, do both of the following:
(1)Separately quote additional charges for the rental if, at the time the quote is provided, the person receiving the quote is also provided a good faith estimate of the total of all the charges for the entire rental. The estimate may exclude mileage charges and charges for optional items and services that cannot be determined prior to completing the reservation based upon the information provided by the renter.
(2)Separately impose additional charges for the rental, if the rental contract, or another document provided to the business renter at the time and place the rental commences, clearly and conspicuously discloses the total of all the charges for the entire rental, exclusive of charges that cannot be determined at the time the rental commences.
(c)A renter may bring an action against a rental company for the recovery of damages and appropriate equitable relief for a violation of this section. The prevailing party shall be entitled to recover reasonable attorneys fees and costs.
(d)Any waiver of any of the provisions of this section shall be void and unenforceable as contrary to public policy.
(e)Nothing in this section shall be interpreted to mean that a rental company is not required to comply with the requirements of paragraphs (3) to (7), inclusive, of subdivision (m) of Section 1936.
(a)For the purpose of this section, the following definitions shall apply:
(1)Rental company means a person or entity in the business of renting passenger vehicles to the public.
(2)Renter means any person in a manner obligated under a contract for the lease or hire of a passenger vehicle from a rental company for a period of less than 30 days.
(3)Additional mandatory charges means any charges imposed by a governmental entity that a renter must pay to hire or lease the vehicle for the period of time to which the rental rate applies, including, but not limited to, a customer facility charge, airport concession fee, tourism commission assessment, vehicle license recovery fee, or other government imposed taxes or fees.
(4)Airport concession fee means a charge collected by a rental company from a renter that is the renters proportionate share of the amount paid by the rental company to the owner or operator of an airport for the right or privilege of conducting a vehicle rental business on the airports premises.
(5)Authorized driver means all of the following:
(A)The renter.
(B)The renters spouse if that person is a licensed driver and satisfies the rental companys minimum age requirement.
(C)The renters employer or coworker if he or she is engaged in business activity with the renter, is a licensed driver, and satisfies the rental companys minimum age requirement.
(D)A person expressly listed by the rental company on that renters contract as an authorized driver.
(6)Customer facility charge means any fee, including an alternative fee, required by an airport to be collected by a rental company from a renter for any of the following purposes:
(i)To finance, design, and construct consolidated airport car rental facilities.
(ii)To finance, design, construct, and operate common-use transportation systems that move passengers between airport terminals and those consolidated car rental facilities, and acquire vehicles for use in that system.
(iii)To finance, design, and construct terminal modifications solely to accommodate and provide customer access to common-use transportation systems.
(7)Damage waiver means a rental companys agreement not to hold a renter liable for all or any portion of any damage or loss related to the rented vehicle, any loss of use of the rented vehicle, or any storage, impound, towing, or administrative charges.
(8)Electronic surveillance technology means a technological method or system used to observe, monitor, or collect information, including telematics, Global Positioning System (GPS), wireless technology, or location-based technologies. Electronic surveillance technology does not include event data recorders (EDR), sensing and diagnostic modules (SDM), or other systems that are used either:
(A)For the purpose of identifying, diagnosing, or monitoring functions related to the potential need to repair, service, or perform maintenance on the rental vehicle.
(B)As part of the vehicles airbag sensing and diagnostic system in order to capture safety systems-related data for retrieval after a crash has occurred or in the event that the collision sensors are activated to prepare the decisionmaking computer to make the determination to deploy or not to deploy the airbag.
(9)Estimated time for replacement means the number of hours of labor, or fraction thereof, needed to replace damaged vehicle parts as set forth in collision damage estimating guides generally used in the vehicle repair business and commonly known as crash books.
(10)Estimated time for repair means a good faith estimate of the reasonable number of hours of labor, or fraction thereof, needed to repair damaged vehicle parts.
(11)Membership program means a service offered by a rental company that permits customers to bypass the rental counter and go directly to the car previously reserved. A membership program shall meet all of the following requirements:
(A)The renter initiates enrollment by completing an application on which the renter can specify a preference for type of vehicle and acceptance or declination of optional services.
(B)The rental company fully discloses, prior to the enrollees first rental as a participant in the program, all terms and conditions of the rental agreement as well as all required disclosures.
(C)The renter may terminate enrollment at any time.
(D)The rental company fully explains to the renter that designated preferences, as well as acceptance or declination of optional services, may be changed by the renter at any time for the next and future rentals.
(12)Passenger vehicle means a passenger vehicle as defined in Section 465 of the Vehicle Code.
(13)Quote means an estimated cost of rental provided by a rental company or a third party to a potential customer by telephone, in-person, computer-transmission, or other means, that is based on information provided by the potential customer and used to generate an estimated cost of rental, including, but not limited to, any of the following: potential dates of rental, locations, or classes of car.
(14)Tourism commission assessment means the charge collected by a rental company from a renter that has been established by the California Travel and Tourism Commission pursuant to Section 13995.65 of the Government Code.
(15)Vehicle license fee means the tax imposed pursuant to the Vehicle License Fee Law (Part 5 (commencing with Section 10701) of Division 2 of the Revenue and Taxation Code).
(16)Vehicle registration fee means any fee imposed pursuant to any provision of Chapter 6 (commencing with Section 9101) of Division 3 of the Vehicle Code.
(17)Vehicle license recovery fee means a charge that seeks to recover the amount of any vehicle license fee and vehicle registration fee paid by a rental company for the particular class of vehicle being rented.
(b)Except as limited by subdivision (c), a rental company and a renter may agree that the renter will be responsible for no more than all of the following:
(1)Physical or mechanical damage to the rented vehicle up to its fair market value, as determined in the customary market for the sale of that vehicle, regardless of the cause of the damage.
(2)Loss due to theft of the rented vehicle up to its fair market value, as determined in the customary market for the sale of that vehicle, provided that the rental company establishes by clear and convincing evidence that the renter or the authorized driver failed to exercise ordinary care while in possession of the vehicle. In addition, the renter shall be presumed to have no liability for any loss due to theft if (A) an authorized driver has possession of the ignition key furnished by the rental company or an authorized driver establishes that the ignition key furnished by the rental company was not in the vehicle at the time of the theft, and (B) an authorized driver files an official report of the theft with the police or other law enforcement agency within 24 hours of learning of the theft and reasonably cooperates with the rental company and the police or other law enforcement agency in providing information concerning the theft. The presumption set forth in this paragraph is a presumption affecting the burden of proof which the rental company may rebut by establishing that an authorized driver committed, or aided and abetted the commission of, the theft.
(3)Physical damage to the rented vehicle up to its fair market value, as determined in the customary market for the sale of that vehicle, resulting from vandalism occurring after, or in connection with, the theft of the rented vehicle. However, the renter shall have no liability for any damage due to vandalism if the renter would have no liability for theft pursuant to paragraph (2).
(4)Physical damage to the rented vehicle up to a total of five hundred dollars ($500) resulting from vandalism unrelated to the theft of the rented vehicle.
(5)Actual charges for towing, storage, and impound fees paid by the rental company if the renter is liable for damage or loss.
(6)An administrative charge, which shall include the cost of appraisal and all other costs and expenses incident to the damage, loss, repair, or replacement of the rented vehicle.
(c)The total amount of the renters liability to the rental company resulting from damage to the rented vehicle shall not exceed the sum of the following:
(1)The estimated cost of parts which the rental company would have to pay to replace damaged vehicle parts. All discounts and price reductions or adjustments that are or will be received by the rental company shall be subtracted from the estimate to the extent not already incorporated in the estimate, or otherwise promptly credited or refunded to the renter.
(2)The estimated cost of labor to replace damaged vehicle parts, which shall not exceed the product of (A) the rate for labor usually paid by the rental company to replace vehicle parts of the type that were damaged and (B) the estimated time for replacement. All discounts and price reductions or adjustments that are or will be received by the rental company shall be subtracted from the estimate to the extent not already incorporated in the estimate, or otherwise promptly credited or refunded to the renter.
(3)(A)The estimated cost of labor to repair damaged vehicle parts, which shall not exceed the lesser of the following:
(i)The product of the rate for labor usually paid by the rental company to repair vehicle parts of the type that were damaged and the estimated time for repair.
(ii)The sum of the estimated labor and parts costs determined under paragraphs (1) and (2) to replace the same vehicle parts.
(B)All discounts and price reductions or adjustments that are or will be received by the rental company shall be subtracted from the estimate to the extent not already incorporated in the estimate, or otherwise promptly credited or refunded to the renter.
(4)For the purpose of converting the estimated time for repair into the same units of time in which the rental rate is expressed, a day shall be deemed to consist of eight hours.
(5)Actual charges for towing, storage, and impound fees paid by the rental company.
(6)The administrative charge described in paragraph (6) of subdivision (b) shall not exceed (A) fifty dollars ($50) if the total estimated cost for parts and labor is more than one hundred dollars ($100) up to and including five hundred dollars ($500), (B) one hundred dollars ($100) if the total estimated cost for parts and labor exceeds five hundred dollars ($500) up to and including one thousand five hundred dollars ($1,500), and (C) one hundred fifty dollars ($150) if the total estimated cost for parts and labor exceeds one thousand five hundred dollars ($1,500). An administrative charge shall not be imposed if the total estimated cost of parts and labor is one hundred dollars ($100) or less.
(d)(1)The total amount of an authorized drivers liability to the rental company, if any, for damage occurring during the authorized drivers operation of the rented vehicle shall not exceed the amount of the renters liability under subdivision (c).
(2)A rental company shall not recover from the renter or other authorized driver an amount exceeding the renters liability under subdivision (c).
(3)A claim against a renter resulting from damage or loss, excluding loss of use, to a rental vehicle shall be reasonably and rationally related to the actual loss incurred. A rental company shall mitigate damages where possible and shall not assert or collect a claim for physical damage which exceeds the actual costs of the repairs performed or the estimated cost of repairs, if the rental company chooses not to repair the vehicle, including all discounts and price reductions. However, if the vehicle is a total loss vehicle, the claim shall not exceed the total loss vehicle value established in accordance with procedures that are customarily used by insurance companies when paying claims on total loss vehicles, less the proceeds from salvaging the vehicle, if those proceeds are retained by the rental company.
(4)If insurance coverage exists under the renters applicable personal or business insurance policy and the coverage is confirmed during regular business hours, the renter may require that the rental company submit any claims to the renters applicable personal or business insurance carrier. The rental company shall not make any written or oral representations that it will not present claims or negotiate with the renters insurance carrier. For purposes of this paragraph, confirmation of coverage includes telephone confirmation from insurance company representatives during regular business hours. Upon request of the renter and after confirmation of coverage, the amount of claim shall be resolved between the insurance carrier and the rental company. The renter shall remain responsible for payment to the rental car company for any loss sustained that the renters applicable personal or business insurance policy does not cover.
(5)A rental company shall not recover from the renter or other authorized driver for an item described in subdivision (b) to the extent the rental company obtains recovery from another person.
(6)This section applies only to the maximum liability of a renter or other authorized driver to the rental company resulting from damage to the rented vehicle and not to the liability of another person.
(e)(1)Except as provided in subdivision (f), a damage waiver shall provide or, if not expressly stated in writing, shall be deemed to provide that the renter has no liability for damage, loss, loss of use, or a cost or expense incident thereto.
(2)Except as provided in subdivision (f), every limitation, exception, or exclusion to a damage waiver is void and unenforceable.
(f)A rental company may provide in the rental contract that a damage waiver does not apply under any of the following circumstances:
(1)Damage or loss results from an authorized drivers (A) intentional, willful, wanton, or reckless conduct, (B) operation of the vehicle under the influence of drugs or alcohol in violation of Section 23152 of the Vehicle Code, (C) towing or pushing anything, or (D) operation of the vehicle on an unpaved road if the damage or loss is a direct result of the road or driving conditions.
(2)Damage or loss occurs while the vehicle is (A) used for commercial hire, (B) used in connection with conduct that could be properly charged as a felony, (C) involved in a speed test or contest or in driver training activity, (D) operated by a person other than an authorized driver, or (E) operated outside the United States.
(3)An authorized driver who has (A) provided fraudulent information to the rental company, or (B) provided false information and the rental company would not have rented the vehicle if it had instead received true information.
(g)(1)A rental company that offers or provides a damage waiver for any consideration in addition to the rental rate shall clearly and conspicuously disclose the following information in the rental contract or holder in which the contract is placed and, also, in signs posted at the place, such as the counter, where the renter signs the rental contract, and, for renters who are enrolled in the rental companys membership program, in a sign that shall be posted in a location clearly visible to those renters as they enter the location where their reserved rental cars are parked or near the exit of the bus or other conveyance that transports the enrollee to a reserved car: (A) the nature of the renters liability, such as liability for all collision damage regardless of cause, (B) the extent of the renters liability, such as liability for damage or loss up to a specified amount, (C) the renters personal insurance policy or the credit card used to pay for the car rental transaction may provide coverage for all or a portion of the renters potential liability, (D) the renter should consult with his or her insurer to determine the scope of insurance coverage, including the amount of the deductible, if any, for which the renter is obligated, (E) the renter may purchase an optional damage waiver to cover all liability, subject to whatever exceptions the rental company expressly lists that are permitted under subdivision (f), and (F) the range of charges for the damage waiver.
(2)In addition to the requirements of paragraph (1), if a damage waiver is offered orally at the rental counter, a rental company shall orally disclose at the time of the offer, that the damage waiver may be duplicative of coverage that the customer maintains under his or her own policy of motor vehicle insurance. The renters receipt of the oral disclosure shall be demonstrated through the renters acknowledging receipt of the oral disclosure near that part of the contract where the renter indicates, by the renters own initials, his or her acceptance or declination of the damage waiver. Adjacent to that same part, the contract also shall state that the damage waiver is optional. Further, the contract for these renters, and, if a damage waiver may be obtained online, the Internet Web site page on which an estimate of total charges is provided pursuant to subparagraph (A) of paragraph (2) of subdivision (m) for any reservation made through the rental companys online reservation system, shall include a clear and conspicuous written disclosure that the damage waiver may be duplicative of coverage that the customer maintains under his or her own policy of motor vehicle insurance. No oral disclosure shall be required for renters that are participants in the rental companys membership program.
(3)The following is an example, for purposes of illustration and not limitation, of a notice fulfilling the requirements of paragraph (1) for a rental company that imposes liability on the renter for collision damage to the full value of the vehicle:
NOTICE ABOUT YOUR FINANCIAL RESPONSIBILITY AND OPTIONAL DAMAGE WAIVER
You are responsible for all collision damage to the rented vehicle even if someone else caused it or the cause is unknown. You are responsible for the cost of repair up to the value of the vehicle, and towing, storage, and impound fees.
Your own insurance, or the issuer of the credit card you use to pay for the car rental transaction, may cover all or part of your financial responsibility for the rented vehicle. You should check with your insurance company, or credit card issuer, to find out about your coverage and the amount of the deductible, if any, for which you may be liable.
Further, if you use a credit card that provides coverage for your potential liability, you should check with the issuer to determine if you must first exhaust the coverage limits of your own insurance before the credit card coverage applies.
The rental company will not hold you responsible if you buy a damage waiver. But a damage waiver will not protect you if (list exceptions).
(A)When the above notice is printed in the rental contract or holder in which the contract is placed, the following shall be printed immediately following the notice:
The cost of an optional damage waiver is $____ for every (day or week).
(B)When the above notice appears on a sign, the following shall appear immediately adjacent to the notice:
The cost of an optional damage waiver is $____ to $____ for every (day or week), depending upon the vehicle rented.
(h)Notwithstanding any other provision of law, a rental company may sell a damage waiver subject to the following rate limitations for each full or partial 24-hour rental day for the damage waiver:
(1)For rental vehicles that the rental company designates as an economy car, compact car, or another term having similar meaning to the two smallest body-size categories of vehicles established by the Association of Car Rental Industry Systems Standards for North America, as of January 1, 2014, when offered for rental, the rate shall not exceed eleven dollars ($11).
(2)For rental vehicles that the rental company designates as an intermediate car, standard car, or full-size car, or another term having similar meaning to the next three body-size categories of vehicles established by the Association of Car Rental Industry Systems Standards for North America, as of January 1, 2014, and that are also either vehicles of the next model-year or not older than the previous years model, when offered for rental, the rate shall not exceed seventeen dollars ($17). For rental vehicles that are older than the previous years model-year, the rate shall not exceed eleven dollars ($11).
(i)A rental company that disseminates in this state an advertisement containing a rental rate shall include in that advertisement a clearly readable statement of the charge for a damage waiver and a statement that a damage waiver is optional.
(j)(1)A rental company shall not require the purchase of a damage waiver, optional insurance, or another optional good or service.
(2)A rental company shall not engage in any unfair, deceptive, or coercive conduct to induce a renter to purchase the damage waiver, optional insurance, or another optional good or service, including conduct such as, but not limited to, refusing to honor the renters reservation, limiting the availability of vehicles, requiring a deposit, or debiting or blocking the renters credit card account for a sum equivalent to a deposit if the renter declines to purchase the damage waiver, optional insurance, or another optional good or service.
(k)(1)In the absence of express permission granted by the renter subsequent to damage to, or loss of, the vehicle, a rental company shall not seek to recover any portion of a claim arising out of damage to, or loss of, the rented vehicle by processing a credit card charge or causing a debit or block to be placed on the renters credit card account.
(2)A rental company shall not engage in any unfair, deceptive, or coercive tactics in attempting to recover or in recovering on any claim arising out of damage to, or loss of, the rented vehicle.
(l)(1)A customer facility charge may be collected by a rental company under the following circumstances:
(A)Collection of the fee by the rental company is required by an airport operated by a city, a county, a city and county, a joint powers authority, a special district, or the San Diego County Regional Airport Authority formed pursuant to Division 17 (commencing with Section 170000) of the Public Utilities Code.
(B)The fee is calculated on a per contract basis or as provided in paragraph (2).
(C)The fee is a user fee, not a tax imposed upon real property or an incident of property ownership under Article XIIID of the California Constitution.
(D)Except as otherwise provided in subparagraph (E), the fee shall be ten dollars ($10) per contract or the amount provided in paragraph (2).
(E)The fee for a consolidated rental car facility shall be collected only from customers of on-airport rental car companies. If the fee imposed by the airport is for both a consolidated rental car facility and a common-use transportation system, the fee collected from customers of on-airport rental car companies shall be ten dollars ($10) or the amount provided in paragraph (2), but the fee imposed on customers of off-airport rental car companies who are transported on the common-use transportation system is proportionate to the costs of the common-use transportation system only. The fee is uniformly applied to each class of on-airport or off-airport customers, provided that the airport requires off-airport customers to use the common-use transportation system. For purposes of this subparagraph, on-airport rental car company means a rental company operating under an airport property lease or an airport concession or license agreement whose customers use or will use the consolidated rental car facility and the collection of the fee as to those customers is consistent with subparagraph (C).
(F)Revenues collected from the fee do not exceed the reasonable costs of financing, designing, and constructing the facility and financing, designing, constructing, and operating any common-use transportation system, or acquiring vehicles for use in that system, and shall not be used for any other purpose.
(G)The fee is separately identified on the rental agreement.
(H)This paragraph does not apply to fees which are governed by Section 50474.1 of the Government Code or Section 57.5 of the San Diego Unified Port District Act (Chapter 67 of the First Extraordinary Session of the Statutes of 1962).
(I)(i)The aggregate amount to be collected shall not exceed the reasonable costs, as determined by an audit, by an independent auditor, paid for by the airport, to finance, design, and construct those facilities. The auditor shall independently examine and substantiate the necessity for and the amount of the customer facility charge, including whether the airports actual or projected costs are supported and justified, any steps the airport may take to limit costs, potential alternatives for meeting the airports revenue needs other than the collection of the fee, and whether and to what extent car rental companies or other businesses or individuals using the facility or common-use transportation system may pay for the costs associated with these facilities and systems other than the fee from rental customers, or whether the airport did not comply with any provision of this subclause. Copies of the audit shall be provided to the Assembly and Senate Committees on Judiciary, the Assembly Committee on Transportation, and the Senate Committee on Transportation and Housing and shall be posted on the airports Internet Web site. In the case of a customer facility charge for a common-use transportation system, the audit also shall consider the reasonable costs of providing the transit system or busing network. Any audit required by this subclause may be included as a part of an audit of an airports finances. Notwithstanding clause (iii) of subparagraph (A) of paragraph (6) of subdivision (a), the fees designated as a customer facility charge shall not be used to pay for terminal expansion, gate expansion, runway expansion, changes in hours of operation, or changes in the number of flights arriving or departing from the airport.
(ii)Except as provided in clause (iii), the authorization given pursuant to this section for an airport to impose a customer facility charge shall become inoperative when the bonds used for financing are paid.
(iii)If a bond or other form of indebtedness is not used for financing, or the bond or other form of indebtedness used for financing has been paid, the Oakland International Airport may require the collection of a customer facility charge for a period of up to 10 years from the imposition of the charge for the purposes allowed by, and subject to the conditions imposed by, this section.
(J)For any airport seeking to require rental car companies to collect an alternative customer facility charge pursuant to paragraph (2), the following provisions apply:
(i)Notwithstanding Section 10231.5 of the Government Code, the airport shall provide reports on an annual basis to the Senate and Assembly Committees on Judiciary detailing all of the following:
(I)The total amount of the customer facility charge collected.
(II)How the funds are being spent.
(III)The amount of and reason for any changes in the airports budget or financial needs for the facility or common-use transportation system.
(IV)Whether airport concession fees authorized by Section 1936.01 have increased since the prior report, if any.
(ii)(I)The airport shall complete the audit required by clause (i) of subclause (I) prior to the initial collection of the customer facility charge.
(II)Notwithstanding Section 10231.5 of the Government Code, copies of the audit shall be provided to the Assembly and Senate Committees on Judiciary, the Assembly Committee on Transportation, and the Senate Committee on Transportation and Housing and shall be posted on the airports Internet Web site.
(III)Prior to any increase pursuant to paragraph (2), the airport shall update the information provided in the initial collection audit pursuant to subclause (I). Notwithstanding Section 10231.5 of the Government Code, copies of the updated audit shall be provided to the Assembly and Senate Committees on Judiciary, the Assembly Committee on Transportation, and the Senate Committee on Transportation and Housing, and shall be posted on the airports Internet Web site.
(IV)An audit shall be completed every three years after initial collection only if the customer facility charge is collected for the purpose of operating a common-use transportation system or to acquire vehicles for use in the system pursuant to clause (ii) of subparagraph (A) of paragraph (6) of subdivision (a). A regularly conducted audit of airport finances that includes the customer facility charge information, that satisfies the requirements of this subdivision, and is produced in accordance with the generally accepted accounting principles of the Government Accounting Standards Board, shall satisfy the requirements of this subclause. This obligation shall continue until the fee authorization becomes inoperative pursuant to subclause (II). Notwithstanding Section 10231.5 of the Government Code, the information reported pursuant to this subclause shall be compiled into one document, shall be provided to the Assembly and Senate Committees on Judiciary, the Assembly Committee on Transportation, and the Senate Committee on Transportation and Housing and shall be posted on the airports Internet Web site accessible to the public. The information reported shall be contained within one easily accessible page contained within the airports Internet Web site.
(V)This section shall not be construed to require an airport to audit a common-use transportation system not financed by a customer facility charge and used for the purposes permitted pursuant to clause (ii) of subparagraph (A) of paragraph (6) of subdivision (a).
(VI)The airport shall post on the airports Internet Web site copies of the completed audits required by this clause for a period of six years following the audits completion.
(iii)Use of the bonds shall be limited to construction and design of the consolidated rental car facility, terminal modifications, and operating costs of the common-use transportation system, as specified in paragraph (6) of subdivision (a).
(2)Any airport may require rental car companies to collect an alternative customer facility charge under the following conditions:
(A)The airport first conducts a publicly noticed hearing pursuant to the Ralph M. Brown Act (Chapter 9 (commencing with Section 54950) of Part 1 of Division 2 of Title 5 of the Government Code) to review the costs of financing the design and construction of a consolidated rental car facility and the design, construction, and operation of any common-use transportation system in which all of the following occur:
(i)The airport establishes the amount of revenue necessary to finance the reasonable cost to design and construct a consolidated rental car facility and to design, construct, and operate any common-use transportation system, or acquire vehicles for use in that system, based on evidence presented during the hearing.
(ii)The airport finds, based on evidence presented during the hearing, that the fee authorized in paragraph (1) will not generate sufficient revenue to finance the reasonable costs to design and construct a consolidated rental car facility and to design, construct, and operate any common-use transportation system, or acquire vehicles for use in that system.
(iii)The airport finds that the reasonable cost of the project requires the additional amount of revenue that would be generated by the proposed daily rate, including any rate increase, authorized pursuant to this paragraph.
(iv)The airport outlines each of the following:
(I)Steps it has taken to limit costs.
(II)Other potential alternatives for meeting its revenue needs other than the collection of the fee.
(III)The extent to which rental car companies or other businesses or individuals using the facility or common-use transportation system will pay for the costs associated with these facilities and systems other than the fee from rental customers.
(B)The airport may not require the fee authorized in this paragraph to be collected at any time that the fee authorized in paragraph (1) of this subdivision is being collected.
(C)Pursuant to the procedure set forth in this subdivision, the fee may be collected at a rate charged on a per-day basis subject to the following conditions:
(i)Commencing January 1, 2011, the amount of the fee may not exceed six dollars ($6) per day.
(ii)Commencing January 1, 2014, the amount of the fee may not exceed seven dollars and fifty cents ($7.50) per day.
(iii)Commencing January 1, 2017, and thereafter, the amount of the fee may not exceed nine dollars ($9) per day.
(iv)At no time shall the fee authorized in this paragraph be collected from any customer for more than five days for each individual rental car contract.
(v)An airport subject to this paragraph shall initiate the process for obtaining the authority to require or increase the alternative fee no later than January 1, 2018. Any airport that obtains the authority to require or increase an alternative fee shall be authorized to continue collecting that fee until the fee authorization becomes inoperative pursuant to subparagraph (C) of paragraph (4) of subdivision (a).
(3)Notwithstanding any other provision of law, including, but not limited to, Part 1 (commencing with Section 6001) to Part 1.7 (commencing with Section 7280), inclusive, of Division 2 of the Revenue and Taxation Code, the fees collected pursuant to this section, or another law whereby a local agency operating an airport requires a rental car company to collect a facility financing fee from its customers, are not subject to sales, use, or transaction taxes.
(m)(1) When providing a quote, or imposing charges for a rental, the rental company may separately state the rental rate, additional mandatory charges, if any, and a mileage charge, if any, that a renter must pay to hire or lease the vehicle for the period of time to which the rental rate applies.
(2)If additional mandatory charges are imposed, the rental company shall do each of the following:
(A)At the time the quote is given, provide the person receiving the quote with a good faith estimate of the rental rate and all additional mandatory charges, as well as the total charges for the entire rental. The total charges, if provided on an Internet Web site page, shall be displayed in a typeface at least as large as any rental rate disclosed on that page and shall be provided on a page that the person receiving the quote may reach by following links through no more than two Internet Web site pages, including the page on which the rental rate is first provided. The good faith estimate may exclude mileage charges and charges for optional items that cannot be determined prior to completing the reservation based upon the information provided by the person.
(B)At the time and place the rental commences, clearly and conspicuously disclose in the rental contract, or that portion of the contract that is provided to the renter, the total of the rental rate, additional mandatory charges, for the entire rental, exclusive of charges that cannot be determined at the time the rental commences. Charges imposed pursuant to this subparagraph shall be no more than the amount of the quote provided in a confirmed reservation, unless the person changes the terms of the rental contract subsequent to making the reservation.
(C)Provide each person, other than those persons within the rental company, offering quotes to actual or prospective customers access to information about additional mandatory charges, as well as access to information about when those charges apply. Any person providing quotes to actual or prospective customers for the hire or lease of a vehicle from a rental company shall provide the quotes in the manner described in subparagraph (A).
(3)In addition to the rental rate, additional mandatory charges, if any, and mileage charges, if any, a rental company may charge for an item or service provided in connection with a particular rental transaction if the renter could have avoided incurring the charge by choosing not to obtain or utilize the optional item or service. Items and services for which the rental company may impose an additional charge, include, but are not limited to, optional insurance and accessories requested by the renter, service charges incident to the renters 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 renter did not return the vehicle with as much fuel as was in the fuel tank at the beginning of the rental. A rental company also may impose an additional charge based on reasonable age criteria established by the rental company.
(4)A rental company shall not charge a fee for authorized drivers in addition to the rental charge for an individual renter.
(5)If a rental company states a rental rate in print advertisement or in a telephonic, in-person, or computer-transmitted quotation, the rental company shall disclose clearly in that advertisement or quotation the terms of mileage conditions relating to the advertised or quoted rental rate, including, but not limited to, to the extent applicable, the amount of mileage and gas charges, the number of miles for which no charges will be imposed, and a description of geographic driving limitations within the United States and Canada.
(6)All rate advertisements that include car rentals at airport destinations shall clearly and conspicuously include a toll-free telephone number whereby a customer can be told the specific amount of the customer facility charge to which the customer will be obligated.
(7)If a rental company delivers a vehicle to a renter at a location other than the location where the rental company normally carries on its business, the rental company shall not charge the renter an amount for the rental for the period before the delivery of the vehicle. If a rental company picks up a rented vehicle from a renter at a location other than the location where the rental company normally carries on its business, the rental company shall not charge the renter an amount for the rental for the period after the renter notifies the rental company to pick up the vehicle.
(8)Except as otherwise permitted pursuant to the customer facility charge, a rental company may not separately charge, in addition to the rental rate, a fee for transporting the renter to the location where the rented vehicle will be delivered to the renter.
(n)A rental company shall not use any information relating to the renters use of the rental vehicle that was obtained using electronic surveillance technology, except in the following circumstances:
(1)(A)When the equipment is used by the rental company only for the purpose of locating a stolen, abandoned, or missing rental vehicle after one of the following:
(i)The renter or law enforcement has informed the rental company that the vehicle is missing or has been stolen or abandoned.
(ii)The rental vehicle has not been returned following three days after the contracted return date, or by three days following the end of an extension of that return date.
(iii)The rental company discovers the rental vehicle has been stolen or abandoned, and, if stolen, it shall report the vehicle stolen to law enforcement by filing a stolen vehicle report, unless law enforcement has already informed the rental company that the vehicle is missing or has been stolen or abandoned.
(B)If electronic surveillance technology is activated pursuant to subparagraph (A), a rental company shall maintain a record, in either electronic or written form, of information relevant to the activation of that technology. That information shall include the rental agreement, including the return date, and the date and time the electronic surveillance technology was activated. The record shall also include, if relevant, a record of written or other communication with the renter, including communications regarding extensions of the rental, police reports, or other written communication with law enforcement officials. The record shall be maintained for a period of at least 12 months from the time the record is created and shall be made available upon the renters request. The rental company shall maintain and furnish explanatory codes necessary to read the record. A rental company shall not be required to maintain a record if electronic surveillance technology is activated to recover a rental vehicle that is stolen or missing at a time other than during a rental period.
(2)In response to a specific request from law enforcement pursuant to a subpoena or search warrant.
(3)This subdivision does not prohibit a rental company from equipping rental vehicles with GPS-based technology that provides navigation assistance to the occupants of the rental vehicle, if the rental company does not use information relating to the renters use of the rental vehicle that was obtained using that technology, except for the purposes of providing such navigation assistance or discovering or repairing a defect in the technology and the information may then be used only for that purpose.
(4)This subdivision does not prohibit a rental company from equipping rental vehicles with electronic surveillance technology that allows for the remote locking or unlocking of the vehicle at the request of the renter, if the rental company does not use, access, or obtain information relating to the renters use of the rental vehicle that was obtained using that technology, except as necessary to lock or unlock the vehicle.
(5)This subdivision does not prohibit a rental company from equipping rental vehicles with electronic surveillance technology that allows the company to provide roadside assistance, such as towing, flat tire, or fuel services, at the request of the renter, if the rental company does not use, access, or obtain information relating to the renters use of the rental vehicle that was obtained using that technology except as necessary to provide the requested roadside assistance.
(6)This subdivision does not prohibit a rental company from using information from electronic surveillance technology for the purpose of determining the date and time the vehicle is returned to the rental company, the return location, the total mileage driven and the vehicle fuel level of the returned vehicle. This paragraph, however, shall apply only after the renter has returned the vehicle to the rental company, or is at one of the rental companys facilities and is in the process of returning the vehicle, and the information shall only be used for the purpose described in this paragraph.
(o)A rental company shall not use electronic surveillance technology to track a renter in order to impose fines or surcharges relating to the renters use of the rental vehicle.
(p)A renter may bring an action against a rental company for the recovery of damages and appropriate equitable relief for a violation of this section. The prevailing party shall be entitled to recover reasonable attorneys fees and costs.
(q)A rental company that brings an action against a renter for loss due to theft of the vehicle shall bring the action in the county in which the renter resides or, if the renter is not a resident of this state, in the jurisdiction in which the renter resides.
(r)A waiver of any of the provisions of this section shall be void and unenforceable as contrary to public policy.
(s)A rental companys disclosure requirements shall be satisfied for renters who are enrolled in the rental companys membership program if all of the following conditions are met:
(1)Prior to the enrollees first rental as a participant in the program, the renter receives, in writing, the following:
(A)All of the disclosures required by paragraph (1) of subdivision (g), including the terms and conditions of the rental agreement then in effect.
(B)An Internet Web site address, as well as a contact number or address, where the enrollee can learn of changes to the rental agreement or to the laws of this state governing rental agreements since the effective date of the rental companys most recent restatement of the rental agreement and distribution of that restatement to its members.
(2)At the commencement of each rental period, the renter is provided, on the rental record or the folder in which it is inserted, with a printed notice stating that he or she had either previously selected or declined an optional damage waiver and that the renter has the right to change preferences.
(t)The amendments made to this section during the 200102 Regular Session of the Legislature do not affect litigation pending on or before January 1, 2003, alleging a violation of Section 22325 of the Business and Professions Code as it read at the time the action was commenced.
(u)(1)When a rental company enters into a rental agreement in the state for the rental of a vehicle to any renter who is not a resident of this country and, as part of, or associated with, the rental agreement, the renter purchases liability insurance, as defined in subdivision (b) of Section 1758.85 of the Insurance Code, from the rental company in its capacity as a rental car agent for an authorized insurer, the rental company shall be authorized to accept, and, if served as set forth in this subdivision, shall accept, service of a summons and complaint and any other required documents against the foreign renter for any accident or collision resulting from the operation of the rental vehicle within the state during the rental period. If the rental company has a registered agent for service of process on file with the Secretary of State, process shall be served on the rental companys registered agent, either by first-class mail, return receipt requested, or by personal service.
(2)Within 30 days of acceptance of service of process, the rental company shall provide a copy of the summons and complaint and any other required documents served in accordance with this subdivision to the foreign renter by first-class mail, return receipt requested.
(3)Any plaintiff, or his or her representative, who elects to serve the foreign renter by delivering a copy of the summons and complaint and any other required documents to the rental company pursuant to paragraph (1) shall agree to limit his or her recovery against the foreign renter and the rental company to the limits of the protection extended by the liability insurance.
(4)Notwithstanding the requirements of Sections 17450 to 17456, inclusive, of the Vehicle Code, service of process in compliance with paragraph (1) shall be deemed valid and effective service.
(5)Notwithstanding any other provision of law, the requirement that the rental company accept service of process pursuant to paragraph (1) shall not create any duty, obligation, or agency relationship other than that provided in paragraph (1).
SECTION 1.Section 1936 of the Civil Code, as amended by Section 5.2 of Chapter 913 of the Statutes of 2014, is amended to read:1936.(a)For the purpose of this section, the following definitions shall apply:
(1)Rental company means a person or entity in the business of renting passenger vehicles to the public.
(2)Renter means any person in a manner obligated under a contract for the lease or hire of a passenger vehicle from a rental company for a period of less than 30 days.
(3)Additional mandatory charges means any separately stated charges that the rental car company requires the renter to pay to hire or lease the vehicle for the period of time to which the rental rate applies, which are imposed by a governmental entity and specifically relate to the operation of a rental car business, including, but not limited to, a customer facility charge, airport concession fee, tourism commission assessment, vehicle license recovery fee, or other government imposed taxes or fees.
(4)Airport concession fee means a charge collected by a rental company from a renter that is the renters proportionate share of the amount paid by the rental company to the owner or operator of an airport for the right or privilege of conducting a vehicle rental business on the airports premises.
(3)
(5)Authorized driver means all of the following:
(A)The renter.
(B)The renters spouse if that person is a licensed driver and satisfies the rental companys minimum age requirement.
(C)The renters employer or coworker if he or she is engaged in business activity with the renter, is a licensed driver, and satisfies the rental companys minimum age requirement.
(D)A person expressly listed by the rental company on that renters contract as an authorized driver.
(4)
(6)(A)Customer facility charge means any fee, including an alternative fee, required by an airport to be collected by a rental company from a renter for any of the following purposes:
(i)To finance, design, and construct consolidated airport car rental facilities.
(ii)To finance, design, construct, and operate common-use transportation systems that move passengers between airport terminals and those consolidated car rental facilities, and acquire vehicles for use in that system.
(iii)To finance, design, and construct terminal modifications solely to accommodate and provide customer access to common-use transportation systems.
(B)The aggregate amount to be collected shall not exceed the reasonable costs, as determined by an audit, by an independent auditor, paid for by the airport, to finance, design, and construct those facilities. The auditor shall independently examine and substantiate the necessity for and the amount of the customer facility charge, including whether the airports actual or projected costs are supported and justified, any steps the airport may take to limit costs, potential alternatives for meeting the airports revenue needs other than the collection of the fee, and whether and to what extent car rental companies or other businesses or individuals using the facility or common-use transportation system may pay for the costs associated with these facilities and systems other than the fee from rental customers, or whether the airport did not comply with any provision of this subparagraph. Copies of the audit shall be provided to the Assembly and Senate Committees on Judiciary, the Assembly Committee on Transportation, and the Senate Committee on Transportation and Housing and shall be posted on the airports Internet Web site. In the case of a customer facility charge for a common-use transportation system, the audit also shall consider the reasonable costs of providing the transit system or busing network pursuant to clause (ii) of subparagraph (A). Any audit required by this subparagraph may be included as a part of an audit of an airports finances. Notwithstanding clause (iii) of subparagraph (A), the fees designated as a customer facility charge shall not be used to pay for terminal expansion, gate expansion, runway expansion, changes in hours of operation, or changes in the number of flights arriving or departing from the airport.
(C)Except as provided in subparagraph (D), the authorization given pursuant to this section for an airport to impose a customer facility charge shall become inoperative when the bonds used for financing are paid.
(D)If a bond or other form of indebtedness is not used for financing, or the bond or other form of indebtedness used for financing has been paid, the Oakland International Airport may require the collection of a customer facility charge for a period of up to 10 years from the imposition of the charge for the purposes allowed by, and subject to the conditions imposed by, this section.
(5)
(7)Damage waiver means a rental companys agreement not to hold a renter liable for all or any portion of any damage or loss related to the rented vehicle, any loss of use of the rented vehicle, or any storage, impound, towing, or administrative charges.
(6)
(8)Electronic surveillance technology means a technological method or system used to observe, monitor, or collect information, including telematics, Global Positioning System (GPS), wireless technology, or location-based technologies. Electronic surveillance technology does not include event data recorders (EDR), sensing and diagnostic modules (SDM), or other systems that are used either:
(A)For the purpose of identifying, diagnosing, or monitoring functions related to the potential need to repair, service, or perform maintenance on the rental vehicle.
(B)As part of the vehicles airbag sensing and diagnostic system in order to capture safety systems-related data for retrieval after a crash has occurred or in the event that the collision sensors are activated to prepare the decisionmaking computer to make the determination to deploy or not to deploy the airbag.
(7)
(9)Estimated time for replacement means the number of hours of labor, or fraction thereof, needed to replace damaged vehicle parts as set forth in collision damage estimating guides generally used in the vehicle repair business and commonly known as crash books.
(8)
(10)Estimated time for repair means a good faith estimate of the reasonable number of hours of labor, or fraction thereof, needed to repair damaged vehicle parts.
(9)
(11)Membership program means a service offered by a rental company that permits customers to bypass the rental counter and go directly to the car previously reserved. A membership program shall meet all of the following requirements:
(A)The renter initiates enrollment by completing an application on which the renter can specify a preference for type of vehicle and acceptance or declination of optional services.
(B)The rental company fully discloses, prior to the enrollees first rental as a participant in the program, all terms and conditions of the rental agreement as well as all required disclosures.
(C)The renter may terminate enrollment at any time.
(D)The rental company fully explains to the renter that designated preferences, as well as acceptance or declination of optional services, may be changed by the renter at any time for the next and future rentals.
(E)An employee designated to receive the form specified in subparagraph (C) of paragraph (1) of subdivision (s) is present at the lot where the renter takes possession of the car, to receive any change in the rental agreement from the renter.
(10)
(12)Passenger vehicle means a passenger vehicle as defined in Section 465 of the Vehicle Code.
(13)Quote means an estimated cost of rental provided by a rental company or a third party to a potential customer by telephone, in-person, computer-transmission, or other means, that is based on information provided by the potential customer and used to generate an estimated cost of rental, including, but not limited to, potential dates of rental, locations, or classes of car.
(14)Tourism commission assessment means the charge collected by a rental company from a renter that has been established by the California Travel and Tourism Commission pursuant to Section 13995.65 of the Government Code.
(15)Vehicle license fee means the tax imposed pursuant to the Vehicle License Fee Law (Part 5 (commencing with Section 10701) of Division 2 of the Revenue and Taxation Code).
(16)Vehicle registration fee means any fee imposed pursuant to any provision of Chapter 6 (commencing with Section 9101) of Division 3 of the Vehicle Code.
(17)Vehicle license recovery fee means a charge that seeks to recover the amount of any vehicle license fee and vehicle registration fee paid by a rental company for the particular class of vehicle being rented.
(b)Except as limited by subdivision (c), a rental company and a renter may agree that the renter will be responsible for no more than all of the following:
(1)Physical or mechanical damage to the rented vehicle up to its fair market value, as determined in the customary market for the sale of that vehicle, resulting from collision regardless of the cause of the damage.
(2)Loss due to theft of the rented vehicle up to its fair market value, as determined in the customary market for the sale of that vehicle, provided that the rental company establishes by clear and convincing evidence that the renter or the authorized driver failed to exercise ordinary care while in possession of the vehicle. In addition, the renter shall be presumed to have no liability for any loss due to theft if (A) an authorized driver has possession of the ignition key furnished by the rental company or an authorized driver establishes that the ignition key furnished by the rental company was not in the vehicle at the time of the theft, and (B) an authorized driver files an official report of the theft with the police or other law enforcement agency within 24 hours of learning of the theft and reasonably cooperates with the rental company and the police or other law enforcement agency in providing information concerning the theft. The presumption set forth in this paragraph is a presumption affecting the burden of proof which the rental company may rebut by establishing that an authorized driver committed, or aided and abetted the commission of, the theft.
(3)Physical damage to the rented vehicle up to its fair market value, as determined in the customary market for the sale of that vehicle, resulting from vandalism occurring after, or in connection with, the theft of the rented vehicle. However, the renter shall have no liability for any damage due to vandalism if the renter would have no liability for theft pursuant to paragraph (2).
(4)Physical damage to the rented vehicle up to a total of five hundred dollars ($500) resulting from vandalism unrelated to the theft of the rented vehicle.
(5)Actual charges for towing, storage, and impound fees paid by the rental company if the renter is liable for damage or loss.
(6)An administrative charge, which shall include the cost of appraisal and all other costs and expenses incident to the damage, loss, repair, or replacement of the rented vehicle.
(c)The total amount of the renters liability to the rental company resulting from damage to the rented vehicle shall not exceed the sum of the following:
(1)The estimated cost of parts which the rental company would have to pay to replace damaged vehicle parts. All discounts and price reductions or adjustments that are or will be received by the rental company shall be subtracted from the estimate to the extent not already incorporated in the estimate, or otherwise promptly credited or refunded to the renter.
(2)The estimated cost of labor to replace damaged vehicle parts, which shall not exceed the product of (A) the rate for labor usually paid by the rental company to replace vehicle parts of the type that were damaged and (B) the estimated time for replacement. All discounts and price reductions or adjustments that are or will be received by the rental company shall be subtracted from the estimate to the extent not already incorporated in the estimate, or otherwise promptly credited or refunded to the renter.
(3)(A)The estimated cost of labor to repair damaged vehicle parts, which shall not exceed the lesser of the following:
(i)The product of the rate for labor usually paid by the rental company to repair vehicle parts of the type that were damaged and the estimated time for repair.
(ii)The sum of the estimated labor and parts costs determined under paragraphs (1) and (2) to replace the same vehicle parts.
(B)All discounts and price reductions or adjustments that are or will be received by the rental company shall be subtracted from the estimate to the extent not already incorporated in the estimate, or otherwise promptly credited or refunded to the renter.
(4)For the purpose of converting the estimated time for repair into the same units of time in which the rental rate is expressed, a day shall be deemed to consist of eight hours.
(5)Actual charges for towing, storage, and impound fees paid by the rental company.
(6)The administrative charge described in paragraph (6) of subdivision (b) shall not exceed (A) fifty dollars ($50) if the total estimated cost for parts and labor is more than one hundred dollars ($100) up to and including five hundred dollars ($500), (B) one hundred dollars ($100) if the total estimated cost for parts and labor exceeds five hundred dollars ($500) up to and including one thousand five hundred dollars ($1,500), and (C) one hundred fifty dollars ($150) if the total estimated cost for parts and labor exceeds one thousand five hundred dollars ($1,500). An administrative charge shall not be imposed if the total estimated cost of parts and labor is one hundred dollars ($100) or less.
(d)(1)The total amount of an authorized drivers liability to the rental company, if any, for damage occurring during the authorized drivers operation of the rented vehicle shall not exceed the amount of the renters liability under subdivision (c).
(2)A rental company shall not recover from the renter or other authorized driver an amount exceeding the renters liability under subdivision (c).
(3)A claim against a renter resulting from damage or loss, excluding loss of use, to a rental vehicle shall be reasonably and rationally related to the actual loss incurred. A rental company shall mitigate damages where possible and shall not assert or collect a claim for physical damage which exceeds the actual costs of the repairs performed or the estimated cost of repairs, if the rental company chooses not to repair the vehicle, including all discounts and price reductions. However, if the vehicle is a total loss vehicle, the claim shall not exceed the total loss vehicle value established in accordance with procedures that are customarily used by insurance companies when paying claims on total loss vehicles, less the proceeds from salvaging the vehicle, if those proceeds are retained by the rental company.
(4)If insurance coverage exists under the renters applicable personal or business insurance policy and the coverage is confirmed during regular business hours, the renter may require that the rental company submit any claims to the renters applicable personal or business insurance carrier. The rental company shall not make any written or oral representations that it will not present claims or negotiate with the renters insurance carrier. For purposes of this paragraph, confirmation of coverage includes telephone confirmation from insurance company representatives during regular business hours. Upon request of the renter and after confirmation of coverage, the amount of claim shall be resolved between the insurance carrier and the rental company. The renter shall remain responsible for payment to the rental car company for any loss sustained that the renters applicable personal or business insurance policy does not cover.
(5)A rental company shall not recover from the renter or other authorized driver for an item described in subdivision (b) to the extent the rental company obtains recovery from another person.
(6)This section applies only to the maximum liability of a renter or other authorized driver to the rental company resulting from damage to the rented vehicle and not to the liability of another person.
(e)(1)Except as provided in subdivision (f), a damage waiver shall provide or, if not expressly stated in writing, shall be deemed to provide that the renter has no liability for damage, loss, loss of use, or a cost or expense incident thereto.
(2)Except as provided in subdivision (f), every limitation, exception, or exclusion to a damage waiver is void and unenforceable.
(f)A rental company may provide in the rental contract that a damage waiver does not apply under any of the following circumstances:
(1)Damage or loss results from an authorized drivers (A) intentional, willful, wanton, or reckless conduct, (B) operation of the vehicle under the influence of drugs or alcohol in violation of Section 23152 of the Vehicle Code, (C) towing or pushing anything, or (D) operation of the vehicle on an unpaved road if the damage or loss is a direct result of the road or driving conditions.
(2)Damage or loss occurs while the vehicle is (A) used for commercial hire, (B) used in connection with conduct that could be properly charged as a felony, (C) involved in a speed test or contest or in driver training activity, (D) operated by a person other than an authorized driver, or (E) operated outside the United States.
(3)An authorized driver who has (A) provided fraudulent information to the rental company, or (B) provided false information and the rental company would not have rented the vehicle if it had instead received true information.
(g)(1)A rental company that offers or provides a damage waiver for any consideration in addition to the rental rate shall clearly and conspicuously disclose the following information in the rental contract or holder in which the contract is placed and, also, in signs posted at the place, such as the counter, where the renter signs the rental contract, and, for renters who are enrolled in the rental companys membership program, in a sign that shall be posted in a location clearly visible to those renters as they enter the location where their reserved rental cars are parked or near the exit of the bus or other conveyance that transports the enrollee to a reserved car: (A) the nature of the renters liability, such as liability for all collision damage regardless of cause, (B) the extent of the renters liability, such as liability for damage or loss up to a specified amount, (C) the renters personal insurance policy or the credit card used to pay for the car rental transaction may provide coverage for all or a portion of the renters potential liability, (D) the renter should consult with his or her insurer to determine the scope of insurance coverage, including the amount of the deductible, if any, for which the renter is obligated, (E) the renter may purchase an optional damage waiver to cover all liability, subject to whatever exceptions the rental company expressly lists that are permitted under subdivision (f), and (F) the range of charges for the damage waiver.
(2)In addition to the requirements of paragraph (1), a rental company that offers or provides a damage waiver shall orally disclose to all renters, except those who are participants in the rental companys membership program, that the damage waiver may be duplicative of coverage that the customer maintains under his or her own policy of motor vehicle insurance. The renters receipt of the oral disclosure shall be demonstrated through the renters acknowledging receipt of the oral disclosure near that part of the contract where the renter indicates, by the renters own initials, his or her acceptance or declination of the damage waiver. Adjacent to that same part, the contract also shall state that the damage waiver is optional. Further, the contract for these renters shall include a clear and conspicuous written disclosure that the damage waiver may be duplicative of coverage that the customer maintains under his or her own policy of motor vehicle insurance.
(3)The following is an example, for purposes of illustration and not limitation, of a notice fulfilling the requirements of paragraph (1) for a rental company that imposes liability on the renter for collision damage to the full value of the vehicle:
NOTICE ABOUT YOUR FINANCIAL RESPONSIBILITY AND OPTIONAL DAMAGE WAIVER
You are responsible for all collision damage to the rented vehicle even if someone else caused it or the cause is unknown. You are responsible for the cost of repair up to the value of the vehicle, and towing, storage, and impound fees.
Your own insurance, or the issuer of the credit card you use to pay for the car rental transaction, may cover all or part of your financial responsibility for the rented vehicle. You should check with your insurance company, or credit card issuer, to find out about your coverage and the amount of the deductible, if any, for which you may be liable.
Further, if you use a credit card that provides coverage for your potential liability, you should check with the issuer to determine if you must first exhaust the coverage limits of your own insurance before the credit card coverage applies.
The rental company will not hold you responsible if you buy a damage waiver. But a damage waiver will not protect you if (list exceptions).
(A)When the above notice is printed in the rental contract or holder in which the contract is placed, the following shall be printed immediately following the notice:
The cost of an optional damage waiver is $____ for every (day or week).
(B)When the above notice appears on a sign, the following shall appear immediately adjacent to the notice:
The cost of an optional damage waiver is $____ to $____ for every (day or week), depending upon the vehicle rented.
(h)Notwithstanding any other provision of law, a rental company may sell a damage waiver subject to the following rate limitations for each full or partial 24-hour rental day for the damage waiver:
(1)For rental vehicles that the rental company designates as an economy car, compact car, or another term having similar meaning to the two smallest body-size categories of vehicles established by the Association of Car Rental Industry Systems Standards for North America, as of January 1, 2014, when offered for rental, the rate shall not exceed eleven dollars ($11).
(2)For rental vehicles that the rental company designates as an intermediate car, standard car, or full-size car, or another term having similar meaning to the next three body-size categories of vehicles established by the Association of Car Rental Industry Systems Standards for North America, as of January 1, 2014, and that are also either vehicles of the next model year, model-year, or not older than the previous years model, when offered for rental, the rate shall not exceed seventeen dollars ($17). For rental vehicles that are older than the previous years model-year, the rate shall not exceed eleven dollars ($11).
(i)A rental company that disseminates in this state an advertisement containing a rental rate shall include in that advertisement a clearly readable statement of the charge for a damage waiver and a statement that a damage waiver is optional.
(j)(1)A rental company shall not require the purchase of a damage waiver, optional insurance, or another optional good or service.
(2)A rental company shall not engage in any unfair, deceptive, or coercive conduct to induce a renter to purchase the damage waiver, optional insurance, or another optional good or service, including conduct such as, but not limited to, refusing to honor the renters reservation, limiting the availability of vehicles, requiring a deposit, or debiting or blocking the renters credit card account for a sum equivalent to a deposit if the renter declines to purchase the damage waiver, optional insurance, or another optional good or service.
(k)(1)In the absence of express permission granted by the renter subsequent to damage to, or loss of, the vehicle, a rental company shall not seek to recover any portion of a claim arising out of damage to, or loss of, the rented vehicle by processing a credit card charge or causing a debit or block to be placed on the renters credit card account.
(2)A rental company shall not engage in any unfair, deceptive, or coercive tactics in attempting to recover or in recovering on any claim arising out of damage to, or loss of, the rented vehicle.
(l)(1)A customer facility charge may be collected by a rental company under the following circumstances:
(A)Collection of the fee by the rental company is required by an airport operated by a city, a county, a city and county, a joint powers authority, a special district, or the San Diego County Regional Airport Authority formed pursuant to Division 17 (commencing with Section 170000) of the Public Utilities Code.
(B)The fee is calculated on a per contract basis or as provided in paragraph (2).
(C)The fee is a user fee, not a tax imposed upon real property or an incident of property ownership under Article XIIID of the California Constitution.
(D)Except as otherwise provided in subparagraph (E), the fee shall be ten dollars ($10) per contract or the amount provided in paragraph (2).
(E)The fee for a consolidated rental car facility shall be collected only from customers of on-airport rental car companies. If the fee imposed by the airport is for both a consolidated rental car facility and a common-use transportation system, the fee collected from customers of on-airport rental car companies shall be ten dollars ($10) or the amount provided in paragraph (2), but the fee imposed on customers of off-airport rental car companies who are transported on the common-use transportation system is proportionate to the costs of the common-use transportation system only. The fee is uniformly applied to each class of on-airport or off-airport customers, provided that the airport requires off-airport customers to use the common-use transportation system. For purposes of this subparagraph, on-airport rental car company means a rental company operating under an airport property lease or an airport concession or license agreement whose customers use or will use the consolidated rental car facility and the collection of the fee as to those customers is consistent with subparagraph (C).
(F)Revenues collected from the fee do not exceed the reasonable costs of financing, designing, and constructing the facility and financing, designing, constructing, and operating any common-use transportation system, or acquiring vehicles for use in that system, and shall not be used for any other purpose.
(G)The fee is separately identified on the rental agreement.
(H)This paragraph does not apply to fees which are governed by Section 50474.1 of the Government Code or Section 57.5 of the San Diego Unified Port District Act (Chapter 67 of the First Extraordinary Session of the Statutes of 1962).
(I)For any airport seeking to require rental car companies to collect an alternative customer facility charge pursuant to paragraph (2), the following provisions apply:
(i)Notwithstanding Section 10231.5 of the Government Code, the airport shall provide reports on an annual basis to the Senate and Assembly Committees on Judiciary detailing all of the following:
(I)The total amount of the customer facility charge collected.
(II)How the funds are being spent.
(III)The amount of and reason for any changes in the airports budget or financial needs for the facility or common-use transportation system.
(IV)Whether airport concession fees authorized by Section 1936.01 have increased since the prior report, if any.
(ii)(I)The airport shall complete the audit required by subparagraph (B) of paragraph (4) (6) of subdivision (a) prior to the initial collection of the customer facility charge. Notwithstanding Section 10231.5 of the Government Code, copies of the audit shall be provided to the Assembly and Senate Committees on Judiciary, the Assembly Committee on Transportation, and the Senate Committee on Transportation and Housing and shall be posted on the airports Internet Web site.
(II)Prior to any increase pursuant to paragraph (2), the airport shall update the information provided in the initial collection audit pursuant to subclause (I). Notwithstanding Section 10231.5 of the Government Code, copies of the updated audit shall be provided to the Assembly and Senate Committees on Judiciary, the Assembly Committee on Transportation, and the Senate Committee on Transportation and Housing, and shall be posted on the airports Internet Web site.
(III)An audit shall be completed every three years after initial collection only if the customer facility charge is collected for the purpose of operating a common-use transportation system or to acquire vehicles for use in the system pursuant to clause (ii) of subparagraph (A) of paragraph (4) (6) of subdivision (a). A regularly conducted audit of airport finances that includes the customer facility charge information, that satisfies the requirements of subparagraph (B) of paragraph (4) (6) of subdivision (a), and is produced in accordance with the generally accepted accounting principles of the Government Accounting Standards Board, shall satisfy the requirements of this subclause. This obligation shall continue until the fee authorization becomes inoperative pursuant to subparagraph (C) of paragraph (4) (6) of subdivision (a). Notwithstanding Section 10231.5 of the Government Code, the information reported pursuant to this subclause shall be compiled into one document, shall be provided to the Assembly and Senate Committees on Judiciary, the Assembly Committee on Transportation, and the Senate Committee on Transportation and Housing and shall be posted on the airports Internet Web site accessible to the public. The information reported shall be contained within one easily accessible page contained within the airports Internet Web site.
(IV)This section shall not be construed to require an airport to audit a common-use transportation system not financed by a customer facility charge and used for the purposes permitted pursuant to clause (ii) of subparagraph (A) of paragraph (4) (6) of subdivision (a).
(V)The airport shall post on the airports Internet Web site copies of the completed audits required by this clause for a period of six years following the audits completion.
(iii)Use of the bonds shall be limited to construction and design of the consolidated rental car facility, terminal modifications, and operating costs of the common-use transportation system, as specified in paragraph (4) (6) of subdivision (a).
(2)Any airport may require rental car companies to collect an alternative customer facility charge under the following conditions:
(A)The airport first conducts a publicly noticed hearing pursuant to the Ralph M. Brown Act (Chapter 9 (commencing with Section 54950) of Part 1 of Division 2 of Title 5 of the Government Code) to review the costs of financing the design and construction of a consolidated rental car facility and the design, construction, and operation of any common-use transportation system in which all of the following occur:
(i)The airport establishes the amount of revenue necessary to finance the reasonable cost to design and construct a consolidated rental car facility and to design, construct, and operate any common-use transportation system, or acquire vehicles for use in that system, based on evidence presented during the hearing.
(ii)The airport finds, based on evidence presented during the hearing, that the fee authorized in paragraph (1) will not generate sufficient revenue to finance the reasonable costs to design and construct a consolidated rental car facility and to design, construct, and operate any common-use transportation system, or acquire vehicles for use in that system.
(iii)The airport finds that the reasonable cost of the project requires the additional amount of revenue that would be generated by the proposed daily rate, including any rate increase, authorized pursuant to this paragraph.
(iv)The airport outlines each of the following:
(I)Steps it has taken to limit costs.
(II)Other potential alternatives for meeting its revenue needs other than the collection of the fee.
(III)The extent to which rental car companies or other businesses or individuals using the facility or common-use transportation system will pay for the costs associated with these facilities and systems other than the fee from rental customers.
(B)The airport may not require the fee authorized in this paragraph to be collected at any time that the fee authorized in paragraph (1) of this subdivision is being collected.
(C)Pursuant to the procedure set forth in this subdivision, the fee may be collected at a rate charged on a per-day basis subject to the following conditions:
(i)Commencing January 1, 2011, the amount of the fee may not exceed six dollars ($6) per day.
(ii)Commencing January 1, 2014, the amount of the fee may not exceed seven dollars and fifty cents ($7.50) per day.
(iii)Commencing January 1, 2017, and thereafter, the amount of the fee may not exceed nine dollars ($9) per day.
(iv)At no time shall the fee authorized in this paragraph be collected from any customer for more than five days for each individual rental car contract.
(v)An airport subject to this paragraph shall initiate the process for obtaining the authority to require or increase the alternative fee no later than January 1, 2018. Any airport that obtains the authority to require or increase an alternative fee shall be authorized to continue collecting that fee until the fee authorization becomes inoperative pursuant to subparagraph (C) of paragraph (4) (6) of subdivision (a).
(3)Notwithstanding any other provision of law, including, but not limited to, Part 1 (commencing with Section 6001) to Part 1.7 (commencing with Section 7280), inclusive, of Division 2 of the Revenue and Taxation Code, the fees collected pursuant to this section, or another law whereby a local agency operating an airport requires a rental car company to collect a facility financing fee from its customers, are not subject to sales, use, or transaction taxes.
(m)(1)A rental company shall only advertise, quote, and charge a rental rate that includes the entire amount except taxes, a customer facility charge, When providing a quote, or imposing charges for a rental, the rental company may separately state the rental rate, additional mandatory charges, if any, and a mileage charge, if any, that a renter must pay to hire or lease the vehicle for the period of time to which the rental rate applies. A rental company shall not charge in addition to the rental rate, taxes, a customer facility charge, if any, and a mileage charge, if any, any fee that is required to be paid by the renter as a condition of hiring or leasing the vehicle, including, but not limited to, required fuel or airport surcharges other than customer facility charges, nor a fee for transporting the renter to the location where the rented vehicle will be delivered to the renter. additional mandatory charges, if any, a mileage charge, if any, and any other fee that is required to be paid by the renter as a condition of hiring or leasing the vehicle.
(2)If additional mandatory charges are imposed, the rental company shall do each of the following:
(A)At the time the quote is given, provide the person receiving the quote with a good faith estimate of the rental rate and all additional mandatory charges, as well as the total charges for the entire rental. The total charges, if provided on an Internet Web site page, shall be displayed in a typeface at least as large as any rental rate disclosed on that page and shall be provided on a page that the person receiving the quote may reach by following links through no more than two Internet Web site pages, including the page on which the rental rate is first provided. The good faith estimate may exclude mileage charges and charges for optional items that cannot be determined prior to completing the reservation based upon the information provided by the person.
(B)At the time and place the rental commences, clearly and conspicuously disclose in the rental contract, or that portion of the contract that is provided to the renter, the total of the rental rate, additional mandatory charges, for the entire rental, exclusive of charges that cannot be determined at the time the rental commences. Charges imposed pursuant to this subparagraph shall be no more than the amount of the quote provided in a confirmed reservation, unless the person changes the terms of the rental contract subsequent to making the reservation.
(C)Provide each person, other than those persons within the rental company, offering quotes to actual or prospective customers access to information about additional mandatory charges, as well as access to information about when those charges apply. Any person providing quotes to actual or prospective customers for the hire or lease of a vehicle from a rental company shall provide the quotes in the manner described in subparagraph (A).
(2)
(3)In addition to the rental rate, taxes, customer facility additional mandatory charges, if any, and mileage charges, if any, a rental company may charge for an item or service provided in connection with a particular rental transaction if the renter could have avoided incurring the charge by choosing not to obtain or utilize the optional item or service. Items and services for which the rental company may impose an additional charge include, but are not limited to, optional insurance and accessories requested by the renter, service charges incident to the renters 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 renter did not return the vehicle with as much fuel as was in the fuel tank at the beginning of the rental. A rental company also may impose an additional charge based on reasonable age criteria established by the rental company.
(3)
(4)A rental company shall not charge a fee for authorized drivers in addition to the rental charge for an individual renter.
(4)
(5)If a rental company states a rental rate in print advertisement or in a telephonic, in-person, or computer-transmitted quotation, the rental company shall disclose clearly in that advertisement or quotation the terms of mileage conditions relating to the advertised or quoted rental rate, including, but not limited to, to the extent applicable, the amount of mileage and gas charges, the number of miles for which no charges will be imposed, and a description of geographic driving limitations within the United States and Canada.
(5)(A)When a rental rate is stated in an advertisement, quotation, or reservation in connection with a car rental at an airport where a customer facility charge is imposed, the rental company shall disclose clearly the existence and amount of the customer facility charge. For purposes of this subparagraph, advertisements include radio, television, other electronic media, and print advertisements. For purposes of this subparagraph, quotations and reservations include those that are telephonic, in-person, and computer-transmitted. If the rate advertisement is intended to include transactions at more than one airport imposing a customer facility charge, a range of fees may be stated in the advertisement. However, all rate advertisements that include car rentals at airport destinations shall clearly and conspicuously include a toll-free telephone number whereby a customer can be told the specific amount of the customer facility charge to which the customer will be obligated.
(B)If a person or entity other than a rental car company, including a passenger carrier or a seller of travel services, advertises or quotes a rate for a car rental at an airport where a customer facility charge is imposed, that person or entity shall, provided that he, she, or it is provided with information about the existence and amount of the fee, to the extent not specifically prohibited by federal law, clearly disclose the existence and amount of the fee in any telephonic, in-person, or computer-transmitted quotation at the time of making an initial quotation of a rental rate and at the time of making a reservation of a rental car. If a rental car company provides the person or entity with rate and customer facility charge information, the rental car company is not responsible for the failure of that person or entity to comply with this subparagraph when quoting or confirming a rate to a third person or entity.
(6)All rate advertisements shall include the following disclaimer, which shall be prominently displayed: Additional mandatory charges may be imposed, including, but not limited to, a customer facility charge, airport concession fee, tourism commission assessment, vehicle license recovery fee, or other government imposed taxes or fees. For more information, including an estimate of your total rental cost, visit our Internet Web site at [www.____.com].
(6)
(7)If a rental company delivers a vehicle to a renter at a location other than the location where the rental company normally carries on its business, the rental company shall not charge the renter an amount for the rental for the period before the delivery of the vehicle. If a rental company picks up a rented vehicle from a renter at a location other than the location where the rental company normally carries on its business, the rental company shall not charge the renter an amount for the rental for the period after the renter notifies the rental company to pick up the vehicle.
(8)Except as otherwise permitted pursuant to the customer facility charge, a rental company shall not separately charge, in addition to the rental rate, a fee for transporting the renter to a location where the rented vehicle will be delivered to the renter.
(n)A rental company shall not use, access, or obtain any information relating to the renters use of the rental vehicle that was obtained using electronic surveillance technology, except in the following circumstances:
(1)(A)When the equipment is used by the rental company only for the purpose of locating a stolen, abandoned, or missing rental vehicle after one of the following:
(i)The renter or law enforcement has informed the rental company that the vehicle is missing or has been stolen or abandoned.
(ii)The rental vehicle has not been returned following one week after the contracted return date, or by one week following the end of an extension of that return date.
(iii)The rental company discovers the rental vehicle has been stolen or abandoned, and, if stolen, it shall report the vehicle stolen to law enforcement by filing a stolen vehicle report, unless law enforcement has already informed the rental company that the vehicle is missing or has been stolen or abandoned.
(B)If electronic surveillance technology is activated pursuant to subparagraph (A), a rental company shall maintain a record, in either electronic or written form, of information relevant to the activation of that technology. That information shall include the rental agreement, including the return date, and the date and time the electronic surveillance technology was activated. The record shall also include, if relevant, a record of written or other communication with the renter, including communications regarding extensions of the rental, police reports, or other written communication with law enforcement officials. The record shall be maintained for a period of at least 12 months from the time the record is created and shall be made available upon the renters request. The rental company shall maintain and furnish explanatory codes necessary to read the record. A rental company shall not be required to maintain a record if electronic surveillance technology is activated to recover a rental vehicle that is stolen or missing at a time other than during a rental period.
(2)In response to a specific request from law enforcement pursuant to a subpoena or search warrant.
(3)This subdivision does not prohibit a rental company from equipping rental vehicles with GPS-based technology that provides navigation assistance to the occupants of the rental vehicle, if the rental company does not use, access, or obtain information relating to the renters use of the rental vehicle that was obtained using that technology, except for the purposes of discovering or repairing a defect in the technology and the information may then be used only for that purpose.
(4)This subdivision does not prohibit a rental company from equipping rental vehicles with electronic surveillance technology that allows for the remote locking or unlocking of the vehicle at the request of the renter, if the rental company does not use, access, or obtain information relating to the renters use of the rental vehicle that was obtained using that technology, except as necessary to lock or unlock the vehicle.
(5)This subdivision does not prohibit a rental company from equipping rental vehicles with electronic surveillance technology that allows the company to provide roadside assistance, such as towing, flat tire, or fuel services, at the request of the renter, if the rental company does not use, access, or obtain information relating to the renters use of the rental vehicle that was obtained using that technology except as necessary to provide the requested roadside assistance.
(6)This subdivision does not prohibit a rental company from obtaining, accessing, or using information from electronic surveillance technology for the sole purpose of determining the date and time the vehicle is returned to the rental company, and the total mileage driven and the vehicle fuel level of the returned vehicle. This paragraph, however, shall apply only after the renter has returned the vehicle to the rental company, and the information shall only be used for the purpose described in this paragraph.
(o)A rental company shall not use electronic surveillance technology to track a renter in order to impose fines or surcharges relating to the renters use of the rental vehicle.
(p)A renter may bring an action against a rental company for the recovery of damages and appropriate equitable relief for a violation of this section. The prevailing party shall be entitled to recover reasonable attorneys fees and costs.
(q)A rental company that brings an action against a renter for loss due to theft of the vehicle shall bring the action in the county in which the renter resides or, if the renter is not a resident of this state, in the jurisdiction in which the renter resides.
(r)A waiver of any of the provisions of this section shall be void and unenforceable as contrary to public policy.
(s)(1)A rental companys disclosure requirements shall be satisfied for renters who are enrolled in the rental companys membership program if all of the following conditions are met:
(A)Prior to the enrollees first rental as a participant in the program, the renter receives, in writing, the following:
(i)All of the disclosures required by paragraph (1) of subdivision (g), including the terms and conditions of the rental agreement then in effect.
(ii)An Internet Web site address, as well as a contact number or address, where the enrollee can learn of changes to the rental agreement or to the laws of this state governing rental agreements since the effective date of the rental companys most recent restatement of the rental agreement and distribution of that restatement to its members.
(B)At the commencement of each rental period, the renter is provided, on the rental record or the folder in which it is inserted, with a printed notice stating that he or she had either previously selected or declined an optional damage waiver and that the renter has the right to change preferences.
(C)At the commencement of each rental period, the rental company provides, on the rearview mirror, a hanger on which a statement is printed, in a box, in at least 12-point boldface type, notifying the renter that the collision damage waiver offered by the rental company may be duplicative of coverage that the customer maintains under his or her own policy of motor vehicle insurance. If it is not feasible to hang the statement from the rearview mirror, it shall be hung from the steering wheel.
The hanger shall provide the renter a box to initial if he or she (not his or her employer) has previously accepted or declined the collision damage waiver and that he or she now wishes to change his or her decision to accept or decline the collision damage waiver, as follows:
If I previously accepted the collision damage waiver, I now decline it.
If I previously declined the collision damage waiver, I now accept it.
The hanger shall also provide a box for the enrollee to indicate whether this change applies to this rental transaction only or to all future rental transactions. The hanger shall also notify the renter that he or she may make that change, prior to leaving the lot, by returning the form to an employee designated to receive the form who is present at the lot where the renter takes possession of the car, to receive any change in the rental agreement from the renter.
(2)(A)This subdivision is not effective unless the employee designated pursuant to subparagraph (E) of paragraph (8) (9) of subdivision (a) is actually present at the required location.
(B)This subdivision does not relieve the rental company from the disclosures required to be made within the text of a contract or holder in which the contract is placed; in or on an advertisement containing a rental rate; or in a telephonic, in-person, or computer-transmitted quotation or reservation.
(t)The amendments made to this section during the 200102 Regular Session of the Legislature do not affect litigation pending on or before January 1, 2003, alleging a violation of Section 22325 of the Business and Professions Code as it read at the time the action was commenced.
(u)(1)When a rental company enters into a rental agreement in the state for the rental of a vehicle to any renter who is not a resident of this country and, as part of, or associated with, the rental agreement, the renter purchases liability insurance, as defined in subdivision (b) of Section 1758.85 of the Insurance Code, from the rental company in its capacity as a rental car agent for an authorized insurer, the rental company shall be authorized to accept, and, if served as set forth in this subdivision, shall accept, service of a summons and complaint and any other required documents against the foreign renter for any accident or collision resulting from the operation of the rental vehicle within the state during the rental period. If the rental company has a registered agent for service of process on file with the Secretary of State, process shall be served on the rental companys registered agent, either by first-class mail, return receipt requested, or by personal service.
(2)Within 30 days of acceptance of service of process, the rental company shall provide a copy of the summons and complaint and any other required documents served in accordance with this subdivision to the foreign renter by first-class mail, return receipt requested.
(3)Any plaintiff, or his or her representative, who elects to serve the foreign renter by delivering a copy of the summons and complaint and any other required documents to the rental company pursuant to paragraph (1) shall agree to limit his or her recovery against the foreign renter and the rental company to the limits of the protection extended by the liability insurance.
(4)Notwithstanding the requirements of Sections 17450 to 17456, inclusive, of the Vehicle Code, service of process in compliance with paragraph (1) shall be deemed valid and effective service.
(5)Notwithstanding any other provision of law, the requirement that the rental company accept service of process pursuant to paragraph (1) shall not create any duty, obligation, or agency relationship other than that provided in paragraph (1).
(v)This section shall remain in effect only until January 1, 2020, and as of that date is repealed, unless a later enacted statute, that is enacted before January 1, 2020, deletes or extends that date.
SEC. 2.Section 1936 of the Civil Code, as amended by Section 5.7 of Chapter 913 of the Statutes of 2014, is repealed.SEC. 3.Section 1936.01 of the Civil Code is repealed.SEC. 4.Section 1936.015 of the Civil Code is repealed.SEC. 5.Section 1936.05 of the Civil Code is amended to read:1936.05.(a)For purposes of this section:
(1)Additional charges means charges other than a per period base rental rate established by the business program.
(2)Business program means (A) a contract between a rental company and a business program sponsor that has established the per period base rental rate, and any other material terms relating to additional charges, on which the rental company will rent passenger vehicles to persons authorized by the sponsor, or (B) a plan, program, or other arrangement established by a rental company at the request of, or with the consent of, a business program sponsor under which the rental company offers to rent passenger vehicles to persons authorized by the sponsor at per period base rental rates, and any other material terms relating to additional charges, that are not the same as those generally offered by the rental company to the public.
(3)Business program sponsor means a legal entity, other than a natural person, that is a corporation, limited liability company, or partnership.
(4)Business renter means, for any business program sponsor, a person who is authorized by the sponsor, through the use of an identifying number or program name or code, to enter into a rental contract under the sponsors business program. In no case shall the term business renter include a person renting as: (A) a nonemployee member of a not-for-profit organization, (B) the purchaser of a voucher or other prepaid rental arrangement from a person, including a tour operator, engaged in the business of reselling those vouchers or prepaid rental arrangements to the general public, (C) an individual whose car rental is eligible for reimbursement in whole or in part as a result of the person being insured or provided coverage under a policy of insurance issued by an insurance company, or (D) an individual whose car rental is eligible for reimbursement in whole or in part as a result of the person purchasing passenger vehicle repair services from a person licensed to perform such services.
(5)Qualified business rental under a business program established for a business program sponsor by a rental company means the rental of a passenger vehicle under the business program if either (A) in the 12-month period ending on the date of the rental or in the calendar year immediately preceding the year in which the rental occurs, the rentals under all business programs established by the rental company for the business program sponsor and its affiliates produced gross rental revenues in excess of twenty-five thousand dollars ($25,000) or (B) the rental company in good faith estimates that rentals under all the business programs established by the rental company for the business program sponsor and its affiliates will produce gross rental revenues in excess of twenty-five thousand dollars ($25,000) in the 12-month period commencing with the date of the rental or in the calendar year in which the rental occurs. The rental company has the burden of establishing by objectively verifiable evidence that the rental was a qualified business rental.
(6)Quote means telephonic, in-person, and computer-transmitted quotations.
(b)Notwithstanding any provision to the contrary contained in subdivision (m) of Section 1936, a rental car company may, in connection with the qualified business rental of a passenger vehicle to a business renter of a business program sponsor under the sponsors business program, do both of the following:
(1)Separately quote additional charges for the rental if, at the time the quote is provided, the person receiving the quote is also provided a good faith estimate of the total of all the charges for the entire rental. The estimate may exclude mileage charges and charges for optional items and services that cannot be determined prior to completing the reservation based upon the information provided by the renter.
(2)Separately impose additional charges for the rental, if the rental contract, or another document provided to the business renter at the time and place the rental commences, clearly and conspicuously discloses the total of all the charges for the entire rental, exclusive of charges that cannot be determined at the time the rental commences.
(c)A renter may bring an action against a rental company for the recovery of damages and appropriate equitable relief for a violation of this section. The prevailing party shall be entitled to recover reasonable attorneys fees and costs.
(d)Any waiver of any of the provisions of this section shall be void and unenforceable as contrary to public policy.
(e)Nothing in this section shall be interpreted to mean that a rental company is not required to comply with the requirements of paragraphs (2) to (6), (3) to (7), inclusive, of subdivision (m) of Section 1936.
(a)For the purpose of this section, the following definitions shall apply:
(1)Rental company means a person or entity in the business of renting passenger vehicles to the public.
(2)Renter means any person in a manner obligated under a contract for the lease or hire of a passenger vehicle from a rental company for a period of less than 30 days.
(3)Additional mandatory charges means any charges imposed by a governmental entity that a renter must pay to hire or lease the vehicle for the period of time to which the rental rate applies, including, but not limited to, a customer facility charge, airport concession fee, tourism commission assessment, vehicle license recovery fee, or other government imposed taxes or fees.
(4)Airport concession fee means a charge collected by a rental company from a renter that is the renters proportionate share of the amount paid by the rental company to the owner or operator of an airport for the right or privilege of conducting a vehicle rental business on the airports premises.
(5)Authorized driver means all of the following:
(A)The renter.
(B)The renters spouse if that person is a licensed driver and satisfies the rental companys minimum age requirement.
(C)The renters employer or coworker if he or she is engaged in business activity with the renter, is a licensed driver, and satisfies the rental companys minimum age requirement.
(D)A person expressly listed by the rental company on that renters contract as an authorized driver.
(6)Customer facility charge means any fee, including an alternative fee, required by an airport to be collected by a rental company from a renter for any of the following purposes:
(i)To finance, design, and construct consolidated airport car rental facilities.
(ii)To finance, design, construct, and operate common-use transportation systems that move passengers between airport terminals and those consolidated car rental facilities, and acquire vehicles for use in that system.
(iii)To finance, design, and construct terminal modifications solely to accommodate and provide customer access to common-use transportation systems.
(7)Damage waiver means a rental companys agreement not to hold a renter liable for all or any portion of any damage or loss related to the rented vehicle, any loss of use of the rented vehicle, or any storage, impound, towing, or administrative charges.
(8)Electronic surveillance technology means a technological method or system used to observe, monitor, or collect information, including telematics, Global Positioning System (GPS), wireless technology, or location-based technologies. Electronic surveillance technology does not include event data recorders (EDR), sensing and diagnostic modules (SDM), or other systems that are used either:
(A)For the purpose of identifying, diagnosing, or monitoring functions related to the potential need to repair, service, or perform maintenance on the rental vehicle.
(B)As part of the vehicles airbag sensing and diagnostic system in order to capture safety systems-related data for retrieval after a crash has occurred or in the event that the collision sensors are activated to prepare the decisionmaking computer to make the determination to deploy or not to deploy the airbag.
(9)Estimated time for replacement means the number of hours of labor, or fraction thereof, needed to replace damaged vehicle parts as set forth in collision damage estimating guides generally used in the vehicle repair business and commonly known as crash books.
(10)Estimated time for repair means a good faith estimate of the reasonable number of hours of labor, or fraction thereof, needed to repair damaged vehicle parts.
(11)Membership program means a service offered by a rental company that permits customers to bypass the rental counter and go directly to the car previously reserved. A membership program shall meet all of the following requirements:
(A)The renter initiates enrollment by completing an application on which the renter can specify a preference for type of vehicle and acceptance or declination of optional services.
(B)The rental company fully discloses, prior to the enrollees first rental as a participant in the program, all terms and conditions of the rental agreement as well as all required disclosures.
(C)The renter may terminate enrollment at any time.
(D)The rental company fully explains to the renter that designated preferences, as well as acceptance or declination of optional services, may be changed by the renter at any time for the next and future rentals.
(12)Passenger vehicle means a passenger vehicle as defined in Section 465 of the Vehicle Code.
(13)Quote means an estimated cost of rental provided by a rental company or a third party to a potential customer by telephone, in-person, computer-transmission, or other means, that is based on information provided by the potential customer and used to generate an estimated cost of rental, including, but not limited to, any of the following: potential dates of rental, locations, or classes of car.
(14)Tourism commission assessment means the charge collected by a rental company from a renter that has been established by the California Travel and Tourism Commission pursuant to Section 13995.65 of the Government Code.
(15)Vehicle license fee means the tax imposed pursuant to the Vehicle License Fee Law (Part 5 (commencing with Section 10701) of Division 2 of the Revenue and Taxation Code).
(16)Vehicle registration fee means any fee imposed pursuant to any provision of Chapter 6 (commencing with Section 9101) of Division 3 of the Vehicle Code.
(17)Vehicle license recovery fee means a charge that seeks to recover the amount of any vehicle license fee and vehicle registration fee paid by a rental company for the particular class of vehicle being rented.
(b)Except as limited by subdivision (c), a rental company and a renter may agree that the renter will be responsible for no more than all of the following:
(1)Physical or mechanical damage to the rented vehicle up to its fair market value, as determined in the customary market for the sale of that vehicle, regardless of the cause of the damage.
(2)Loss due to theft of the rented vehicle up to its fair market value, as determined in the customary market for the sale of that vehicle, provided that the rental company establishes by clear and convincing evidence that the renter or the authorized driver failed to exercise ordinary care while in possession of the vehicle. In addition, the renter shall be presumed to have no liability for any loss due to theft if (A) an authorized driver has possession of the ignition key furnished by the rental company or an authorized driver establishes that the ignition key furnished by the rental company was not in the vehicle at the time of the theft, and (B) an authorized driver files an official report of the theft with the police or other law enforcement agency within 24 hours of learning of the theft and reasonably cooperates with the rental company and the police or other law enforcement agency in providing information concerning the theft. The presumption set forth in this paragraph is a presumption affecting the burden of proof which the rental company may rebut by establishing that an authorized driver committed, or aided and abetted the commission of, the theft.
(3)Physical damage to the rented vehicle up to its fair market value, as determined in the customary market for the sale of that vehicle, resulting from vandalism occurring after, or in connection with, the theft of the rented vehicle. However, the renter shall have no liability for any damage due to vandalism if the renter would have no liability for theft pursuant to paragraph (2).
(4)Physical damage to the rented vehicle up to a total of five hundred dollars ($500) resulting from vandalism unrelated to the theft of the rented vehicle.
(5)Actual charges for towing, storage, and impound fees paid by the rental company if the renter is liable for damage or loss.
(6)An administrative charge, which shall include the cost of appraisal and all other costs and expenses incident to the damage, loss, repair, or replacement of the rented vehicle.
(c)The total amount of the renters liability to the rental company resulting from damage to the rented vehicle shall not exceed the sum of the following:
(1)The estimated cost of parts which the rental company would have to pay to replace damaged vehicle parts. All discounts and price reductions or adjustments that are or will be received by the rental company shall be subtracted from the estimate to the extent not already incorporated in the estimate, or otherwise promptly credited or refunded to the renter.
(2)The estimated cost of labor to replace damaged vehicle parts, which shall not exceed the product of (A) the rate for labor usually paid by the rental company to replace vehicle parts of the type that were damaged and (B) the estimated time for replacement. All discounts and price reductions or adjustments that are or will be received by the rental company shall be subtracted from the estimate to the extent not already incorporated in the estimate, or otherwise promptly credited or refunded to the renter.
(3)(A)The estimated cost of labor to repair damaged vehicle parts, which shall not exceed the lesser of the following:
(i)The product of the rate for labor usually paid by the rental company to repair vehicle parts of the type that were damaged and the estimated time for repair.
(ii)The sum of the estimated labor and parts costs determined under paragraphs (1) and (2) to replace the same vehicle parts.
(B)All discounts and price reductions or adjustments that are or will be received by the rental company shall be subtracted from the estimate to the extent not already incorporated in the estimate, or otherwise promptly credited or refunded to the renter.
(4)For the purpose of converting the estimated time for repair into the same units of time in which the rental rate is expressed, a day shall be deemed to consist of eight hours.
(5)Actual charges for towing, storage, and impound fees paid by the rental company.
(6)The administrative charge described in paragraph (6) of subdivision (b) shall not exceed (A) fifty dollars ($50) if the total estimated cost for parts and labor is more than one hundred dollars ($100) up to and including five hundred dollars ($500), (B) one hundred dollars ($100) if the total estimated cost for parts and labor exceeds five hundred dollars ($500) up to and including one thousand five hundred dollars ($1,500), and (C) one hundred fifty dollars ($150) if the total estimated cost for parts and labor exceeds one thousand five hundred dollars ($1,500). An administrative charge shall not be imposed if the total estimated cost of parts and labor is one hundred dollars ($100) or less.
(d)(1)The total amount of an authorized drivers liability to the rental company, if any, for damage occurring during the authorized drivers operation of the rented vehicle shall not exceed the amount of the renters liability under subdivision (c).
(2)A rental company shall not recover from the renter or other authorized driver an amount exceeding the renters liability under subdivision (c).
(3)A claim against a renter resulting from damage or loss, excluding loss of use, to a rental vehicle shall be reasonably and rationally related to the actual loss incurred. A rental company shall mitigate damages where possible and shall not assert or collect a claim for physical damage which exceeds the actual costs of the repairs performed or the estimated cost of repairs, if the rental company chooses not to repair the vehicle, including all discounts and price reductions. However, if the vehicle is a total loss vehicle, the claim shall not exceed the total loss vehicle value established in accordance with procedures that are customarily used by insurance companies when paying claims on total loss vehicles, less the proceeds from salvaging the vehicle, if those proceeds are retained by the rental company.
(4)If insurance coverage exists under the renters applicable personal or business insurance policy and the coverage is confirmed during regular business hours, the renter may require that the rental company submit any claims to the renters applicable personal or business insurance carrier. The rental company shall not make any written or oral representations that it will not present claims or negotiate with the renters insurance carrier. For purposes of this paragraph, confirmation of coverage includes telephone confirmation from insurance company representatives during regular business hours. Upon request of the renter and after confirmation of coverage, the amount of claim shall be resolved between the insurance carrier and the rental company. The renter shall remain responsible for payment to the rental car company for any loss sustained that the renters applicable personal or business insurance policy does not cover.
(5)A rental company shall not recover from the renter or other authorized driver for an item described in subdivision (b) to the extent the rental company obtains recovery from another person.
(6)This section applies only to the maximum liability of a renter or other authorized driver to the rental company resulting from damage to the rented vehicle and not to the liability of another person.
(e)(1)Except as provided in subdivision (f), a damage waiver shall provide or, if not expressly stated in writing, shall be deemed to provide that the renter has no liability for damage, loss, loss of use, or a cost or expense incident thereto.
(2)Except as provided in subdivision (f), every limitation, exception, or exclusion to a damage waiver is void and unenforceable.
(f)A rental company may provide in the rental contract that a damage waiver does not apply under any of the following circumstances:
(1)Damage or loss results from an authorized drivers (A) intentional, willful, wanton, or reckless conduct, (B) operation of the vehicle under the influence of drugs or alcohol in violation of Section 23152 of the Vehicle Code, (C) towing or pushing anything, or (D) operation of the vehicle on an unpaved road if the damage or loss is a direct result of the road or driving conditions.
(2)Damage or loss occurs while the vehicle is (A) used for commercial hire, (B) used in connection with conduct that could be properly charged as a felony, (C) involved in a speed test or contest or in driver training activity, (D) operated by a person other than an authorized driver, or (E) operated outside the United States.
(3)An authorized driver who has (A) provided fraudulent information to the rental company, or (B) provided false information and the rental company would not have rented the vehicle if it had instead received true information.
(g)(1)A rental company that offers or provides a damage waiver for any consideration in addition to the rental rate shall clearly and conspicuously disclose the following information in the rental contract or holder in which the contract is placed and, also, in signs posted at the place, such as the counter, where the renter signs the rental contract, and, for renters who are enrolled in the rental companys membership program, in a sign that shall be posted in a location clearly visible to those renters as they enter the location where their reserved rental cars are parked or near the exit of the bus or other conveyance that transports the enrollee to a reserved car: (A) the nature of the renters liability, such as liability for all collision damage regardless of cause, (B) the extent of the renters liability, such as liability for damage or loss up to a specified amount, (C) the renters personal insurance policy or the credit card used to pay for the car rental transaction may provide coverage for all or a portion of the renters potential liability, (D) the renter should consult with his or her insurer to determine the scope of insurance coverage, including the amount of the deductible, if any, for which the renter is obligated, (E) the renter may purchase an optional damage waiver to cover all liability, subject to whatever exceptions the rental company expressly lists that are permitted under subdivision (f), and (F) the range of charges for the damage waiver.
(2)In addition to the requirements of paragraph (1), if a damage waiver is offered orally at the rental counter, a rental company shall orally disclose at the time of the offer, that the damage waiver may be duplicative of coverage that the customer maintains under his or her own policy of motor vehicle insurance. The renters receipt of the oral disclosure shall be demonstrated through the renters acknowledging receipt of the oral disclosure near that part of the contract where the renter indicates, by the renters own initials, his or her acceptance or declination of the damage waiver. Adjacent to that same part, the contract also shall state that the damage waiver is optional. Further, the contract for these renters, and, if a damage waiver may be obtained online, the Internet Web site page on which an estimate of total charges is provided pursuant to subparagraph (A) of paragraph (2) of subdivision (m) for any reservation made through the rental companys online reservation system, shall include a clear and conspicuous written disclosure that the damage waiver may be duplicative of coverage that the customer maintains under his or her own policy of motor vehicle insurance. No oral disclosure shall be required for renters that are participants in the rental companys membership program.
(3)The following is an example, for purposes of illustration and not limitation, of a notice fulfilling the requirements of paragraph (1) for a rental company that imposes liability on the renter for collision damage to the full value of the vehicle:
NOTICE ABOUT YOUR FINANCIAL RESPONSIBILITY AND OPTIONAL DAMAGE WAIVER
You are responsible for all collision damage to the rented vehicle even if someone else caused it or the cause is unknown. You are responsible for the cost of repair up to the value of the vehicle, and towing, storage, and impound fees.
Your own insurance, or the issuer of the credit card you use to pay for the car rental transaction, may cover all or part of your financial responsibility for the rented vehicle. You should check with your insurance company, or credit card issuer, to find out about your coverage and the amount of the deductible, if any, for which you may be liable.
Further, if you use a credit card that provides coverage for your potential liability, you should check with the issuer to determine if you must first exhaust the coverage limits of your own insurance before the credit card coverage applies.
The rental company will not hold you responsible if you buy a damage waiver. But a damage waiver will not protect you if (list exceptions).
(A)When the above notice is printed in the rental contract or holder in which the contract is placed, the following shall be printed immediately following the notice:
The cost of an optional damage waiver is $____ for every (day or week).
(B)When the above notice appears on a sign, the following shall appear immediately adjacent to the notice:
The cost of an optional damage waiver is $____ to $____ for every (day or week), depending upon the vehicle rented.
(h)Notwithstanding any other provision of law, a rental company may sell a damage waiver subject to the following rate limitations for each full or partial 24-hour rental day for the damage waiver:
(1)For rental vehicles that the rental company designates as an economy car, compact car, or another term having similar meaning to the two smallest body-size categories of vehicles established by the Association of Car Rental Industry Systems Standards for North America, as of January 1, 2014, when offered for rental, the rate shall not exceed eleven dollars ($11).
(2)For rental vehicles that the rental company designates as an intermediate car, standard car, or full-size car, or another term having similar meaning to the next three body-size categories of vehicles established by the Association of Car Rental Industry Systems Standards for North America, as of January 1, 2014, and that are also either vehicles of the next model year, model-year or not older than the previous years model, when offered for rental, the rate shall not exceed seventeen dollars ($17). For rental vehicles that are older than the previous years model-year, the rate shall not exceed eleven dollars ($11).
(i)A rental company that disseminates in this state an advertisement containing a rental rate shall include in that advertisement a clearly readable statement of the charge for a damage waiver and a statement that a damage waiver is optional.
(j)(1)A rental company shall not require the purchase of a damage waiver, optional insurance, or another optional good or service.
(2)A rental company shall not engage in any unfair, deceptive, or coercive conduct to induce a renter to purchase the damage waiver, optional insurance, or another optional good or service, including conduct such as, but not limited to, refusing to honor the renters reservation, limiting the availability of vehicles, requiring a deposit, or debiting or blocking the renters credit card account for a sum equivalent to a deposit if the renter declines to purchase the damage waiver, optional insurance, or another optional good or service.
(k)(1)In the absence of express permission granted by the renter subsequent to damage to, or loss of, the vehicle, a rental company shall not seek to recover any portion of a claim arising out of damage to, or loss of, the rented vehicle by processing a credit card charge or causing a debit or block to be placed on the renters credit card account.
(2)A rental company shall not engage in any unfair, deceptive, or coercive tactics in attempting to recover or in recovering on any claim arising out of damage to, or loss of, the rented vehicle.
(l)(1)A customer facility charge may be collected by a rental company under the following circumstances:
(A)Collection of the fee by the rental company is required by an airport operated by a city, a county, a city and county, a joint powers authority, a special district, or the San Diego County Regional Airport Authority formed pursuant to Division 17 (commencing with Section 170000) of the Public Utilities Code.
(B)The fee is calculated on a per contract basis or as provided in paragraph (2).
(C)The fee is a user fee, not a tax imposed upon real property or an incident of property ownership under Article XIIID of the California Constitution.
(D)Except as otherwise provided in subparagraph (E), the fee shall be ten dollars ($10) per contract or the amount provided in paragraph (2).
(E)The fee for a consolidated rental car facility shall be collected only from customers of on-airport rental car companies. If the fee imposed by the airport is for both a consolidated rental car facility and a common-use transportation system, the fee collected from customers of on-airport rental car companies shall be ten dollars ($10) or the amount provided in paragraph (2), but the fee imposed on customers of off-airport rental car companies who are transported on the common-use transportation system is proportionate to the costs of the common-use transportation system only. The fee is uniformly applied to each class of on-airport or off-airport customers, provided that the airport requires off-airport customers to use the common-use transportation system. For purposes of this subparagraph, on-airport rental car company means a rental company operating under an airport property lease or an airport concession or license agreement whose customers use or will use the consolidated rental car facility and the collection of the fee as to those customers is consistent with subparagraph (C).
(F)Revenues collected from the fee do not exceed the reasonable costs of financing, designing, and constructing the facility and financing, designing, constructing, and operating any common-use transportation system, or acquiring vehicles for use in that system, and shall not be used for any other purpose.
(G)The fee is separately identified on the rental agreement.
(H)This paragraph does not apply to fees which are governed by Section 50474.1 of the Government Code or Section 57.5 of the San Diego Unified Port District Act (Chapter 67 of the First Extraordinary Session of the Statutes of 1962).
(I)(i)The aggregate amount to be collected shall not exceed the reasonable costs, as determined by an audit, by an independent auditor, paid for by the airport, to finance, design, and construct those facilities. The auditor shall independently examine and substantiate the necessity for and the amount of the customer facility charge, including whether the airports actual or projected costs are supported and justified, any steps the airport may take to limit costs, potential alternatives for meeting the airports revenue needs other than the collection of the fee, and whether and to what extent car rental companies or other businesses or individuals using the facility or common-use transportation system may pay for the costs associated with these facilities and systems other than the fee from rental customers, or whether the airport did not comply with any provision of this subclause. Copies of the audit shall be provided to the Assembly and Senate Committees on Judiciary, the Assembly Committee on Transportation, and the Senate Committee on Transportation and Housing and shall be posted on the airports Internet Web site. In the case of a customer facility charge for a common-use transportation system, the audit also shall consider the reasonable costs of providing the transit system or busing network. Any audit required by this subclause may be included as a part of an audit of an airports finances. Notwithstanding clause (iii) of subparagraph (A) of paragraph (6) of subdivision (a), the fees designated as a customer facility charge shall not be used to pay for terminal expansion, gate expansion, runway expansion, changes in hours of operation, or changes in the number of flights arriving or departing from the airport.
(ii)Except as provided in clause (iii), the authorization given pursuant to this section for an airport to impose a customer facility charge shall become inoperative when the bonds used for financing are paid.
(iii)If a bond or other form of indebtedness is not used for financing, or the bond or other form of indebtedness used for financing has been paid, the Oakland International Airport may require the collection of a customer facility charge for a period of up to 10 years from the imposition of the charge for the purposes allowed by, and subject to the conditions imposed by, this section.
(I)
(J)For any airport seeking to require rental car companies to collect an alternative customer facility charge pursuant to paragraph (2), the following provisions apply:
(i)Notwithstanding Section 10231.5 of the Government Code, the airport shall provide reports on an annual basis to the Senate and Assembly Committees on Judiciary detailing all of the following:
(I)The total amount of the customer facility charge collected.
(II)How the funds are being spent.
(III)The amount of and reason for any changes in the airports budget or financial needs for the facility or common-use transportation system.
(IV)Whether airport concession fees authorized by Section 1936.01 have increased since the prior report, if any.
(ii)(I)The aggregate amount to be collected shall not exceed the reasonable costs, as determined by an audit, by an independent auditor, paid for by the airport, to finance, design, and construct those facilities. The auditor shall independently examine and substantiate the necessity for and the amount of the customer facility charge, including whether the airports actual or projected costs are supported and justified, any steps the airport may take to limit costs, potential alternatives for meeting the airports revenue needs other than the collection of the fee, and whether and to what extent car rental companies or other businesses or individuals using the facility or common-use transportation system may pay for the costs associated with these facilities and systems other than the fee from rental customers, or whether the airport did not comply with any provision of this subclause. Copies of the audit shall be provided to the Assembly and Senate Committees on Judiciary, the Assembly Committee on Transportation, and the Senate Committee on Transportation and Housing and shall be posted on the airports Internet Web site. In the case of a customer facility charge for a common-use transportation system, the audit also shall consider the reasonable costs of providing the transit system or busing network. Any audit required by this subclause may be included as a part of an audit of an airports finances. Notwithstanding clause (iii) of subparagraph (A) of paragraph (6) of subdivision (a), the fees designated as a customer facility charge shall not be used to pay for terminal expansion, gate expansion, runway expansion, changes in hours of operation, or changes in the number of flights arriving or departing from the airport.
(II)Except as provided in subclause (III), the authorization given pursuant to this section for an airport to impose a customer facility charge shall become inoperative when the bonds used for financing are paid.
(III)If a bond or other form of indebtedness is not used for financing, or the bond or other form of indebtedness used for financing has been paid, the Oakland International Airport may require the collection of a customer facility charge for a period of up to 10 years from the imposition of the charge for the purposes allowed by, and subject to the conditions imposed by, this section.
(ii)(I)The airport shall complete the audit required by clause (i) of subclause (I) prior to the initial collection of the customer facility charge.
(IV)
(II)Notwithstanding Section 10231.5 of the Government Code, copies of the audit shall be provided to the Assembly and Senate Committees on Judiciary, the Assembly Committee on Transportation, and the Senate Committee on Transportation and Housing and shall be posted on the airports Internet Web site.
(V)
(III)Prior to any increase pursuant to paragraph (2), the airport shall update the information provided in the initial collection audit pursuant to subclause (I). Notwithstanding Section 10231.5 of the Government Code, copies of the updated audit shall be provided to the Assembly and Senate Committees on Judiciary, the Assembly Committee on Transportation, and the Senate Committee on Transportation and Housing, and shall be posted on the airports Internet Web site.
(VI)
(IV)An audit shall be completed every three years after initial collection only if the customer facility charge is collected for the purpose of operating a common-use transportation system or to acquire vehicles for use in the system pursuant to clause (ii) of subparagraph (A) of paragraph (6) of subdivision (a). A regularly conducted audit of airport finances that includes the customer facility charge information, that satisfies the requirements of this subdivision, and is produced in accordance with the generally accepted accounting principles of the Government Accounting Standards Board, shall satisfy the requirements of this subclause. This obligation shall continue until the fee authorization becomes inoperative pursuant to subclause (II). Notwithstanding Section 10231.5 of the Government Code, the information reported pursuant to this subclause shall be compiled into one document, shall be provided to the Assembly and Senate Committees on Judiciary, the Assembly Committee on Transportation, and the Senate Committee on Transportation and Housing and shall be posted on the airports Internet Web site accessible to the public. The information reported shall be contained within one easily accessible page contained within the airports Internet Web site.
(VII)
(V)This section shall not be construed to require an airport to audit a common-use transportation system not financed by a customer facility charge and used for the purposes permitted pursuant to clause (ii) of subparagraph (A) of paragraph (6) of subdivision (a).
(VIII)
(VI)The airport shall post on the airports Internet Web site copies of the completed audits required by this clause for a period of six years following the audits completion.
(iii)Use of the bonds shall be limited to construction and design of the consolidated rental car facility, terminal modifications, and operating costs of the common-use transportation system, as specified in paragraph (6) of subdivision (a).
(2)Any airport may require rental car companies to collect an alternative customer facility charge under the following conditions:
(A)The airport first conducts a publicly noticed hearing pursuant to the Ralph M. Brown Act (Chapter 9 (commencing with Section 54950) of Part 1 of Division 2 of Title 5 of the Government Code) to review the costs of financing the design and construction of a consolidated rental car facility and the design, construction, and operation of any common-use transportation system in which all of the following occur:
(i)The airport establishes the amount of revenue necessary to finance the reasonable cost to design and construct a consolidated rental car facility and to design, construct, and operate any common-use transportation system, or acquire vehicles for use in that system, based on evidence presented during the hearing.
(ii)The airport finds, based on evidence presented during the hearing, that the fee authorized in paragraph (1) will not generate sufficient revenue to finance the reasonable costs to design and construct a consolidated rental car facility and to design, construct, and operate any common-use transportation system, or acquire vehicles for use in that system.
(iii)The airport finds that the reasonable cost of the project requires the additional amount of revenue that would be generated by the proposed daily rate, including any rate increase, authorized pursuant to this paragraph.
(iv)The airport outlines each of the following:
(I)Steps it has taken to limit costs.
(II)Other potential alternatives for meeting its revenue needs other than the collection of the fee.
(III)The extent to which rental car companies or other businesses or individuals using the facility or common-use transportation system will pay for the costs associated with these facilities and systems other than the fee from rental customers.
(B)The airport may not require the fee authorized in this paragraph to be collected at any time that the fee authorized in paragraph (1) of this subdivision is being collected.
(C)Pursuant to the procedure set forth in this subdivision, the fee may be collected at a rate charged on a per-day basis subject to the following conditions:
(i)Commencing January 1, 2011, the amount of the fee may not exceed six dollars ($6) per day.
(ii)Commencing January 1, 2014, the amount of the fee may not exceed seven dollars and fifty cents ($7.50) per day.
(iii)Commencing January 1, 2017, and thereafter, the amount of the fee may not exceed nine dollars ($9) per day.
(iv)At no time shall the fee authorized in this paragraph be collected from any customer for more than five days for each individual rental car contract.
(v)An airport subject to this paragraph shall initiate the process for obtaining the authority to require or increase the alternative fee no later than January 1, 2018. Any airport that obtains the authority to require or increase an alternative fee shall be authorized to continue collecting that fee until the fee authorization becomes inoperative pursuant to subparagraph (C) of paragraph (4) of subdivision (a).
(3)Notwithstanding any other provision of law, including, but not limited to, Part 1 (commencing with Section 6001) to Part 1.7 (commencing with Section 7280), inclusive, of Division 2 of the Revenue and Taxation Code, the fees collected pursuant to this section, or another law whereby a local agency operating an airport requires a rental car company to collect a facility financing fee from its customers, are not subject to sales, use, or transaction taxes.
(m)(1) When providing a quote, or imposing charges for a rental, the rental company may separately state the rental rate, additional mandatory charges, if any, and a mileage charge, if any, that a renter must pay to hire or lease the vehicle for the period of time to which the rental rate applies.
(2)If additional mandatory charges are imposed, the rental company shall do each of the following:
(A)At the time the quote is given, provide the person receiving the quote with a good faith estimate of the rental rate and all additional mandatory charges, as well as the total charges for the entire rental. The total charges, if provided on an Internet Web site page, shall be displayed in a typeface at least as large as any rental rate disclosed on that page and shall be provided on a page that the person receiving the quote may reach by following links through no more than two Internet Web site pages, including the page on which the rental rate is first provided. The good faith estimate may exclude mileage charges and charges for optional items that cannot be determined prior to completing the reservation based upon the information provided by the person.
(B)At the time and place the rental commences, clearly and conspicuously disclose in the rental contract, or that portion of the contract that is provided to the renter, the total of the rental rate, additional mandatory charges, for the entire rental, exclusive of charges that cannot be determined at the time the rental commences. Charges imposed pursuant to this subparagraph shall be no more than the amount of the quote provided in a confirmed reservation, unless the person changes the terms of the rental contract subsequent to making the reservation.
(C)Provide each person, other than those persons within the rental company, offering quotes to actual or prospective customers access to information about additional mandatory charges, as well as access to information about when those charges apply. Any person providing quotes to actual or prospective customers for the hire or lease of a vehicle from a rental company shall provide the quotes in the manner described in subparagraph (A).
(3)In addition to the rental rate, additional mandatory charges, if any, and mileage charges, if any, a rental company may charge for an item or service provided in connection with a particular rental transaction if the renter could have avoided incurring the charge by choosing not to obtain or utilize the optional item or service. Items and services for which the rental company may impose an additional charge, include, but are not limited to, optional insurance and accessories requested by the renter, service charges incident to the renters 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 renter did not return the vehicle with as much fuel as was in the fuel tank at the beginning of the rental. A rental company also may impose an additional charge based on reasonable age criteria established by the rental company.
(4)A rental company shall not charge a fee for authorized drivers in addition to the rental charge for an individual renter.
(5)If a rental company states a rental rate in print advertisement or in a telephonic, in-person, or computer-transmitted quotation, the rental company shall disclose clearly in that advertisement or quotation the terms of mileage conditions relating to the advertised or quoted rental rate, including, but not limited to, to the extent applicable, the amount of mileage and gas charges, the number of miles for which no charges will be imposed, and a description of geographic driving limitations within the United States and Canada.
(6)All rate advertisements that include car rentals at airport destinations shall clearly and conspicuously include a toll-free telephone number whereby a customer can be told the specific amount of the customer facility charge to which the customer will be obligated.
(7)If a rental company delivers a vehicle to a renter at a location other than the location where the rental company normally carries on its business, the rental company shall not charge the renter an amount for the rental for the period before the delivery of the vehicle. If a rental company picks up a rented vehicle from a renter at a location other than the location where the rental company normally carries on its business, the rental company shall not charge the renter an amount for the rental for the period after the renter notifies the rental company to pick up the vehicle.
(8)Except as otherwise permitted pursuant to the customer facility charge, a rental company may not separately charge, in addition to the rental rate, a fee for transporting the renter to the location where the rented vehicle will be delivered to the renter.
(n)A rental company shall not use any information relating to the renters use of the rental vehicle that was obtained using electronic surveillance technology, except in the following circumstances:
(1)(A)When the equipment is used by the rental company only for the purpose of locating a stolen, abandoned, or missing rental vehicle after one of the following:
(i)The renter or law enforcement has informed the rental company that the vehicle is missing or has been stolen or abandoned.
(ii)The rental vehicle has not been returned following three days after the contracted return date, or by three days following the end of an extension of that return date.
(iii)The rental company discovers the rental vehicle has been stolen or abandoned, and, if stolen, it shall report the vehicle stolen to law enforcement by filing a stolen vehicle report, unless law enforcement has already informed the rental company that the vehicle is missing or has been stolen or abandoned.
(B)If electronic surveillance technology is activated pursuant to subparagraph (A), a rental company shall maintain a record, in either electronic or written form, of information relevant to the activation of that technology. That information shall include the rental agreement, including the return date, and the date and time the electronic surveillance technology was activated. The record shall also include, if relevant, a record of written or other communication with the renter, including communications regarding extensions of the rental, police reports, or other written communication with law enforcement officials. The record shall be maintained for a period of at least 12 months from the time the record is created and shall be made available upon the renters request. The rental company shall maintain and furnish explanatory codes necessary to read the record. A rental company shall not be required to maintain a record if electronic surveillance technology is activated to recover a rental vehicle that is stolen or missing at a time other than during a rental period.
(2)In response to a specific request from law enforcement pursuant to a subpoena or search warrant.
(3)This subdivision does not prohibit a rental company from equipping rental vehicles with GPS-based technology that provides navigation assistance to the occupants of the rental vehicle, if the rental company does not use information relating to the renters use of the rental vehicle that was obtained using that technology, except for the purposes of providing such navigation assistance or discovering or repairing a defect in the technology and the information may then be used only for that purpose.
(4)This subdivision does not prohibit a rental company from equipping rental vehicles with electronic surveillance technology that allows for the remote locking or unlocking of the vehicle at the request of the renter, if the rental company does not use, access, or obtain information relating to the renters use of the rental vehicle that was obtained using that technology, except as necessary to lock or unlock the vehicle.
(5)This subdivision does not prohibit a rental company from equipping rental vehicles with electronic surveillance technology that allows the company to provide roadside assistance, such as towing, flat tire, or fuel services, at the request of the renter, if the rental company does not use, access, or obtain information relating to the renters use of the rental vehicle that was obtained using that technology except as necessary to provide the requested roadside assistance.
(6)This subdivision does not prohibit a rental company from using information from electronic surveillance technology for the purpose of determining the date and time the vehicle is returned to the rental company, the return location, the total mileage driven and the vehicle fuel level of the returned vehicle. This paragraph, however, shall apply only after the renter has returned the vehicle to the rental company, or is at one of the rental companies companys facilities and is in the process of returning the vehicle, and the information shall only be used for the purpose described in this paragraph.
(o)A rental company shall not use electronic surveillance technology to track a renter in order to impose fines or surcharges relating to the renters use of the rental vehicle.
(p)A renter may bring an action against a rental company for the recovery of damages and appropriate equitable relief for a violation of this section. The prevailing party shall be entitled to recover reasonable attorneys fees and costs.
(q)A rental company that brings an action against a renter for loss due to theft of the vehicle shall bring the action in the county in which the renter resides or, if the renter is not a resident of this state, in the jurisdiction in which the renter resides.
(r)A waiver of any of the provisions of this section shall be void and unenforceable as contrary to public policy.
(s)A rental companys disclosure requirements shall be satisfied for renters who are enrolled in the rental companys membership program if all of the following conditions are met:
(1)Prior to the enrollees first rental as a participant in the program, the renter receives, in writing, the following:
(A)All of the disclosures required by paragraph (1) of subdivision (g), including the terms and conditions of the rental agreement then in effect.
(B)An Internet Web site address, as well as a contact number or address, where the enrollee can learn of changes to the rental agreement or to the laws of this state governing rental agreements since the effective date of the rental companys most recent restatement of the rental agreement and distribution of that restatement to its members.
(2)At the commencement of each rental period, the renter is provided, on the rental record or the folder in which it is inserted, with a printed notice stating that he or she had either previously selected or declined an optional damage waiver and that the renter has the right to change preferences.
(t)The amendments made to this section during the 200102 Regular Session of the Legislature do not affect litigation pending on or before January 1, 2003, alleging a violation of Section 22325 of the Business and Professions Code as it read at the time the action was commenced.
(u)(1)When a rental company enters into a rental agreement in the state for the rental of a vehicle to any renter who is not a resident of this country and, as part of, or associated with, the rental agreement, the renter purchases liability insurance, as defined in subdivision (b) of Section 1758.85 of the Insurance Code, from the rental company in its capacity as a rental car agent for an authorized insurer, the rental company shall be authorized to accept, and, if served as set forth in this subdivision, shall accept, service of a summons and complaint and any other required documents against the foreign renter for any accident or collision resulting from the operation of the rental vehicle within the state during the rental period. If the rental company has a registered agent for service of process on file with the Secretary of State, process shall be served on the rental companys registered agent, either by first-class mail, return receipt requested, or by personal service.
(2)Within 30 days of acceptance of service of process, the rental company shall provide a copy of the summons and complaint and any other required documents served in accordance with this subdivision to the foreign renter by first-class mail, return receipt requested.
(3)Any plaintiff, or his or her representative, who elects to serve the foreign renter by delivering a copy of the summons and complaint and any other required documents to the rental company pursuant to paragraph (1) shall agree to limit his or her recovery against the foreign renter and the rental company to the limits of the protection extended by the liability insurance.
(4)Notwithstanding the requirements of Sections 17450 to 17456, inclusive, of the Vehicle Code, service of process in compliance with paragraph (1) shall be deemed valid and effective service.
(5)Notwithstanding any other provision of law, the requirement that the rental company accept service of process pursuant to paragraph (1) shall not create any duty, obligation, or agency relationship other than that provided in paragraph (1).
SEC. 2.Section 1936 of the Civil Code, as amended by Section 5.7 of Chapter 913 of the Statutes of 2014, is repealed.SEC. 3.Section 1936.01 of the Civil Code is repealed.SEC. 4.Section 1936.015 of the Civil Code is repealed.SEC. 5.Section 1936.05 of the Civil Code is amended to read:1936.05.(a)For purposes of this section:
(1)Additional charges means charges other than a per period base rental rate established by the business program.
(2)Business program means (A) a contract between a rental company and a business program sponsor that has established the per period base rental rate, and any other material terms relating to additional charges, on which the rental company will rent passenger vehicles to persons authorized by the sponsor, or (B) a plan, program, or other arrangement established by a rental company at the request of, or with the consent of, a business program sponsor under which the rental company offers to rent passenger vehicles to persons authorized by the sponsor at per period base rental rates, and any other material terms relating to additional charges, that are not the same as those generally offered by the rental company to the public.
(3)Business program sponsor means a legal entity, other than a natural person, that is a corporation, limited liability company, or partnership.
(4)Business renter means, for any business program sponsor, a person who is authorized by the sponsor, through the use of an identifying number or program name or code, to enter into a rental contract under the sponsors business program. In no case shall the term business renter include a person renting as: (A) a nonemployee member of a not-for-profit organization, (B) the purchaser of a voucher or other prepaid rental arrangement from a person, including a tour operator, engaged in the business of reselling those vouchers or prepaid rental arrangements to the general public, (C) an individual whose car rental is eligible for reimbursement in whole or in part as a result of the person being insured or provided coverage under a policy of insurance issued by an insurance company, or (D) an individual whose car rental is eligible for reimbursement in whole or in part as a result of the person purchasing passenger vehicle repair services from a person licensed to perform such services.
(5)Qualified business rental under a business program established for a business program sponsor by a rental company means the rental of a passenger vehicle under the business program if either (A) in the 12-month period ending on the date of the rental or in the calendar year immediately preceding the year in which the rental occurs, the rentals under all business programs established by the rental company for the business program sponsor and its affiliates produced gross rental revenues in excess of twenty-five thousand dollars ($25,000) or (B) the rental company in good faith estimates that rentals under all the business programs established by the rental company for the business program sponsor and its affiliates will produce gross rental revenues in excess of twenty-five thousand dollars ($25,000) in the 12-month period commencing with the date of the rental or in the calendar year in which the rental occurs. The rental company has the burden of establishing by objectively verifiable evidence that the rental was a qualified business rental.
(6)Quote means telephonic, in-person, and computer-transmitted quotations.
(b)Notwithstanding any provision to the contrary contained in subdivision (m) of Section 1936, a rental car company may, in connection with the qualified business rental of a passenger vehicle to a business renter of a business program sponsor under the sponsors business program, do both of the following:
(1)Separately quote additional charges for the rental if, at the time the quote is provided, the person receiving the quote is also provided a good faith estimate of the total of all the charges for the entire rental. The estimate may exclude mileage charges and charges for optional items and services that cannot be determined prior to completing the reservation based upon the information provided by the renter.
(2)Separately impose additional charges for the rental, if the rental contract, or another document provided to the business renter at the time and place the rental commences, clearly and conspicuously discloses the total of all the charges for the entire rental, exclusive of charges that cannot be determined at the time the rental commences.
(c)A renter may bring an action against a rental company for the recovery of damages and appropriate equitable relief for a violation of this section. The prevailing party shall be entitled to recover reasonable attorneys fees and costs.
(d)Any waiver of any of the provisions of this section shall be void and unenforceable as contrary to public policy.
(e)Nothing in this section shall be interpreted to mean that a rental company is not required to comply with the requirements of paragraphs (2) to (6), inclusive, of subdivision (m) of Section 1936.
TextPage 15.(a)For the purpose of this section, the following definitions shall apply:
(1)Rental company means a person or entity in the business of renting passenger vehicles to the public.
(2)Renter means any person in a manner obligated under a contract for the lease or hire of a passenger vehicle from a rental company for a period of less than 30 days.
(3)Additional mandatory charges means any charges in addition to a per period base rental rate and mileage charge, if any, imposed by a governmental entity that a renter must pay to hire or lease the vehicle for the period of time to which the rental rate applies, including, but not limited to, a customer facility charge, airport concession fee, tourism commission assessment, vehicle license recovery fee, registration fee, or other government imposed taxes or fees.
(4)Airport concession fee means a charge collected by a rental company from a renter that is the renters proportionate share of the amount paid by the rental company to the owner or operator of an airport for the right or privilege of conducting a vehicle rental business on the airports premises.
(5)Authorized driver means all of the following:
(A)The renter.
(B)The renters spouse if that person is a licensed driver and satisfies the rental companys minimum age requirement.
(C)The renters employer or coworker if he or she is engaged in business activity with the renter, is a licensed driver, and satisfies the rental companys minimum age requirement.
(D)A person expressly listed by the rental company on that renters contract as an authorized driver.
(6)Customer facility charge means any fee, including an alternative fee, required by an airport to be collected by a rental company from a renter for any of the following purposes:
(i)To finance, design, and construct consolidated airport car rental facilities.
(ii)To finance, design, construct, and operate common-use transportation systems that move passengers between airport terminals and those consolidated car rental facilities, and acquire vehicles for use in that system.
(iii)To finance, design, and construct terminal modifications solely to accommodate and provide customer access to common-use transportation systems.
(7)Damage waiver means a rental companys agreement not to hold a renter liable for all or any portion of any damage or loss related to the rented vehicle, any loss of use of the rented vehicle, or any storage, impound, towing, or administrative charges.
(8)Electronic surveillance technology means a technological method or system used to observe, monitor, or collect information, including telematics, Global Positioning System (GPS), wireless technology, or location-based technologies. Electronic surveillance technology does not include event data recorders (EDR), sensing and diagnostic modules (SDM), or other systems that are used either:
(A)For the purpose of identifying, diagnosing, or monitoring functions related to the potential need to repair, service, or perform maintenance on the rental vehicle.
(B)As part of the vehicles airbag sensing and diagnostic system in order to capture safety systems-related data for retrieval after a crash has occurred or in the event that the collision sensors are activated to prepare the decisionmaking computer to make the determination to deploy or not to deploy the airbag.
(9)Estimated time for replacement means the number of hours of labor, or fraction thereof, needed to replace damaged vehicle parts as set forth in collision damage estimating guides generally used in the vehicle repair business and commonly known as crash books.
(10)Estimated time for repair means a good faith estimate of the reasonable number of hours of labor, or fraction thereof, needed to repair damaged vehicle parts.
(11)Membership program means a service offered by a rental company that permits customers to bypass the rental counter and go directly to the car previously reserved. A membership program shall meet all of the following requirements:
(A)The renter initiates enrollment by completing an application on which the renter can specify a preference for type of vehicle and acceptance or declination of optional services.
(B)The rental company fully discloses, prior to the enrollees first rental as a participant in the program, all terms and conditions of the rental agreement as well as all required disclosures.
(C)The renter may terminate enrollment at any time.
(D)The rental company fully explains to the renter that designated preferences, as well as acceptance or declination of optional services, may be changed by the renter at any time for the next and future rentals.
(12)Passenger vehicle means a passenger vehicle as defined in Section 465 of the Vehicle Code.
(13)Quote means an estimated cost of rental provided by a rental company or a third party to a potential customer by telephone, in-person, computer-transmission, or other means, that is based on information provided by the potential customer and used to generate an estimated cost of rental, including, but not limited to, any of the following: potential dates of rental, locations, or classes of car.
(14)Tourism commission assessment means the charge collected by a rental company from a renter that has been established by the California Travel and Tourism Commission pursuant to Section 13995.65 of the Government Code.
(15)Vehicle license fee means the tax imposed pursuant to the Vehicle License Fee Law (Part 5 (commencing with Section 10701) of Division 2 of the Revenue and Taxation Code).
(16)Vehicle registration fee means any fee imposed pursuant to any provision of Chapter 6 (commencing with Section 9101) of Division 3 of the Vehicle Code.
(16)
(17)Vehicle license recovery fee means a charge that seeks to recover the amount of any vehicle license fees fee and vehicle registration fee paid by a rental company for the particular class of vehicle being rented.
(b)Except as limited by subdivision (c), a rental company and a renter may agree that the renter will be responsible for no more than all of the following:
(1)Physical or mechanical damage to the rented vehicle up to its fair market value, as determined in the customary market for the sale of that vehicle, regardless of the cause of the damage.
(2)Loss due to theft of the rented vehicle up to its fair market value, as determined in the customary market for the sale of that vehicle, provided that the rental company establishes by clear and convincing evidence that the renter or the authorized driver failed to exercise ordinary care while in possession of the vehicle. In addition, the renter shall be presumed to have no liability for any loss due to theft if (A) an authorized driver has possession of the ignition key furnished by the rental company or an authorized driver establishes that the ignition key furnished by the rental company was not in the vehicle at the time of the theft, and (B) an authorized driver files an official report of the theft with the police or other law enforcement agency within 24 hours of learning of the theft and reasonably cooperates with the rental company and the police or other law enforcement agency in providing information concerning the theft. The presumption set forth in this paragraph is a presumption affecting the burden of proof which the rental company may rebut by establishing that an authorized driver committed, or aided and abetted the commission of, the theft.
(3)Physical damage to the rented vehicle up to its fair market value, as determined in the customary market for the sale of that vehicle, resulting from vandalism occurring after, or in connection with, the theft of the rented vehicle. However, the renter shall have no liability for any damage due to vandalism if the renter would have no liability for theft pursuant to paragraph (2).
(4)Physical damage to the rented vehicle up to a total of five hundred dollars ($500) resulting from vandalism unrelated to the theft of the rented vehicle.
(5)Actual charges for towing, storage, and impound fees paid by the rental company if the renter is liable for damage or loss.
(6)An administrative charge, which shall include the cost of appraisal and all other costs and expenses incident to the damage, loss, repair, or replacement of the rented vehicle.
(c)The total amount of the renters liability to the rental company resulting from damage to the rented vehicle shall not exceed the sum of the following:
(1)The estimated cost of parts which the rental company would have to pay to replace damaged vehicle parts. All discounts and price reductions or adjustments that are or will be received by the rental company shall be subtracted from the estimate to the extent not already incorporated in the estimate, or otherwise promptly credited or refunded to the renter.
(2)The estimated cost of labor to replace damaged vehicle parts, which shall not exceed the product of (A) the rate for labor usually paid by the rental company to replace vehicle parts of the type that were damaged and (B) the estimated time for replacement. All discounts and price reductions or adjustments that are or will be received by the rental company shall be subtracted from the estimate to the extent not already incorporated in the estimate, or otherwise promptly credited or refunded to the renter.
(3)(A)The estimated cost of labor to repair damaged vehicle parts, which shall not exceed the lesser of the following:
(i)The product of the rate for labor usually paid by the rental company to repair vehicle parts of the type that were damaged and the estimated time for repair.
(ii)The sum of the estimated labor and parts costs determined under paragraphs (1) and (2) to replace the same vehicle parts.
(B)All discounts and price reductions or adjustments that are or will be received by the rental company shall be subtracted from the estimate to the extent not already incorporated in the estimate, or otherwise promptly credited or refunded to the renter.
(4)For the purpose of converting the estimated time for repair into the same units of time in which the rental rate is expressed, a day shall be deemed to consist of eight hours.
(5)Actual charges for towing, storage, and impound fees paid by the rental company.
(6)The administrative charge described in paragraph (6) of subdivision (b) shall not exceed (A) fifty dollars ($50) if the total estimated cost for parts and labor is more than one hundred dollars ($100) up to and including five hundred dollars ($500), (B) one hundred dollars ($100) if the total estimated cost for parts and labor exceeds five hundred dollars ($500) up to and including one thousand five hundred dollars ($1,500), and (C) one hundred fifty dollars ($150) if the total estimated cost for parts and labor exceeds one thousand five hundred dollars ($1,500). An administrative charge shall not be imposed if the total estimated cost of parts and labor is one hundred dollars ($100) or less.
(d)(1)The total amount of an authorized drivers liability to the rental company, if any, for damage occurring during the authorized drivers operation of the rented vehicle shall not exceed the amount of the renters liability under subdivision (c).
(2)A rental company shall not recover from the renter or other authorized driver an amount exceeding the renters liability under subdivision (c).
(3)A claim against a renter resulting from damage or loss, excluding loss of use, to a rental vehicle shall be reasonably and rationally related to the actual loss incurred. A rental company shall mitigate damages where possible and shall not assert or collect a claim for physical damage which exceeds the actual costs of the repairs performed or the estimated cost of repairs, if the rental company chooses not to repair the vehicle, including all discounts and price reductions. However, if the vehicle is a total loss vehicle, the claim shall not exceed the total loss vehicle value established in accordance with procedures that are customarily used by insurance companies when paying claims on total loss vehicles, less the proceeds from salvaging the vehicle, if those proceeds are retained by the rental company.
(4)If insurance coverage exists under the renters applicable personal or business insurance policy and the coverage is confirmed during regular business hours, the renter may require that the rental company submit any claims to the renters applicable personal or business insurance carrier. The rental company shall not make any written or oral representations that it will not present claims or negotiate with the renters insurance carrier. For purposes of this paragraph, confirmation of coverage includes telephone confirmation from insurance company representatives during regular business hours. Upon request of the renter and after confirmation of coverage, the amount of claim shall be resolved between the insurance carrier and the rental company. The renter shall remain responsible for payment to the rental car company for any loss sustained that the renters applicable personal or business insurance policy does not cover.
(5)A rental company shall not recover from the renter or other authorized driver for an item described in subdivision (b) to the extent the rental company obtains recovery from another person.
(6)This section applies only to the maximum liability of a renter or other authorized driver to the rental company resulting from damage to the rented vehicle and not to the liability of another person.
(e)(1)Except as provided in subdivision (f), a damage waiver shall provide or, if not expressly stated in writing, shall be deemed to provide that the renter has no liability for damage, loss, loss of use, or a cost or expense incident thereto.
(2)Except as provided in subdivision (f), every limitation, exception, or exclusion to a damage waiver is void and unenforceable.
(f)A rental company may provide in the rental contract that a damage waiver does not apply under any of the following circumstances:
(1)Damage or loss results from an authorized drivers (A) intentional, willful, wanton, or reckless conduct, (B) operation of the vehicle under the influence of drugs or alcohol in violation of Section 23152 of the Vehicle Code, (C) towing or pushing anything, or (D) operation of the vehicle on an unpaved road if the damage or loss is a direct result of the road or driving conditions.
(2)Damage or loss occurs while the vehicle is (A) used for commercial hire, (B) used in connection with conduct that could be properly charged as a felony, (C) involved in a speed test or contest or in driver training activity, (D) operated by a person other than an authorized driver, or (E) operated outside the United States.
(3)An authorized driver who has (A) provided fraudulent information to the rental company, or (B) provided false information and the rental company would not have rented the vehicle if it had instead received true information.
(g)(1)A rental company that offers or provides a damage waiver for any consideration in addition to the rental rate shall clearly and conspicuously disclose the following information in the rental contract or holder in which the contract is placed and, also, in signs posted at the place, such as the counter, where the renter signs the rental contract, and, for renters who are enrolled in the rental companys membership program, in a sign that shall be posted in a location clearly visible to those renters as they enter the location where their reserved rental cars are parked or near the exit of the bus or other conveyance that transports the enrollee to a reserved car: (A) the nature of the renters liability, such as liability for all collision damage regardless of cause, (B) the extent of the renters liability, such as liability for damage or loss up to a specified amount, (C) the renters personal insurance policy or the credit card used to pay for the car rental transaction may provide coverage for all or a portion of the renters potential liability, (D) the renter should consult with his or her insurer to determine the scope of insurance coverage, including the amount of the deductible, if any, for which the renter is obligated, (E) the renter may purchase an optional damage waiver to cover all liability, subject to whatever exceptions the rental company expressly lists that are permitted under subdivision (f), and (F) the range of charges for the damage waiver.
(2)In addition to the requirements of paragraph (1), if a damage waiver is offered orally at the rental counter, a rental company shall orally disclose at the time of the offer, that the damage waiver may be duplicative of coverage that the customer maintains under his or her own policy of motor vehicle insurance. The renters receipt of the oral disclosure shall be demonstrated through the renters acknowledging receipt of the oral disclosure near that part of the contract where the renter indicates, by the renters own initials, his or her acceptance or declination of the damage waiver. Adjacent to that same part, the contract also shall state that the damage waiver is optional. Further, the contract for these renters, and, if a damage waiver may be obtained online, the Internet Web site page on which an estimate of total charges is provided pursuant to subparagraph (A) of paragraph (2) of subdivision (m) for any reservation made through the rental companys online reservation system, shall include a clear and conspicuous written disclosure that the damage waiver may be duplicative of coverage that the customer maintains under his or her own policy of motor vehicle insurance. No oral disclosure shall be required for renters that are participants in the rental companys membership program.
(3)The following is an example, for purposes of illustration and not limitation, of a notice fulfilling the requirements of paragraph (1) for a rental company that imposes liability on the renter for collision damage to the full value of the vehicle:
NOTICE ABOUT YOUR FINANCIAL RESPONSIBILITY AND OPTIONAL DAMAGE WAIVER
You are responsible for all collision damage to the rented vehicle even if someone else caused it or the cause is unknown. You are responsible for the cost of repair up to the value of the vehicle, and towing, storage, and impound fees.
Your own insurance, or the issuer of the credit card you use to pay for the car rental transaction, may cover all or part of your financial responsibility for the rented vehicle. You should check with your insurance company, or credit card issuer, to find out about your coverage and the amount of the deductible, if any, for which you may be liable.
Further, if you use a credit card that provides coverage for your potential liability, you should check with the issuer to determine if you must first exhaust the coverage limits of your own insurance before the credit card coverage applies.
The rental company will not hold you responsible if you buy a damage waiver. But a damage waiver will not protect you if (list exceptions).
(A)When the above notice is printed in the rental contract or holder in which the contract is placed, the following shall be printed immediately following the notice:
The cost of an optional damage waiver is $____ for every (day or week).
(B)When the above notice appears on a sign, the following shall appear immediately adjacent to the notice:
The cost of an optional damage waiver is $____ to $____ for every (day or week), depending upon the vehicle rented.
(h)Notwithstanding any other provision of law, a rental company may sell a damage waiver subject to the following rate limitations for each full or partial 24-hour rental day for the damage waiver:
(1)For rental vehicles that the rental company designates as an economy car, compact car, or another term having similar meaning to the two smallest body-size categories of vehicles established by the Association of Car Rental Industry Systems Standards for North America, as of January 1, 2014, when offered for rental, the rate shall not exceed eleven dollars ($11).
(2)For rental vehicles that the rental company designates as an intermediate car, standard car, or full-size car, or another term having similar meaning to the next three body-size categories of vehicles established by the Association of Car Rental Industry Systems Standards for North America, as of January 1, 2014, and that are also either vehicles of the next model year, or not older than the previous years model, when offered for rental, the rate shall not exceed seventeen dollars ($17). For rental vehicles that are older than the previous years model-year, the rate shall not exceed eleven dollars ($11).
(i)A rental company that disseminates in this state an advertisement containing a rental rate shall include in that advertisement a clearly readable statement of the charge for a damage waiver and a statement that a damage waiver is optional.
(j)(1)A rental company shall not require the purchase of a damage waiver, optional insurance, or another optional good or service.
(2)A rental company shall not engage in any unfair, deceptive, or coercive conduct to induce a renter to purchase the damage waiver, optional insurance, or another optional good or service, including conduct such as, but not limited to, refusing to honor the renters reservation, limiting the availability of vehicles, requiring a deposit, or debiting or blocking the renters credit card account for a sum equivalent to a deposit if the renter declines to purchase the damage waiver, optional insurance, or another optional good or service.
(k)(1)In the absence of express permission granted by the renter subsequent to damage to, or loss of, the vehicle, a rental company shall not seek to recover any portion of a claim arising out of damage to, or loss of, the rented vehicle by processing a credit card charge or causing a debit or block to be placed on the renters credit card account.
(2)A rental company shall not engage in any unfair, deceptive, or coercive tactics in attempting to recover or in recovering on any claim arising out of damage to, or loss of, the rented vehicle.
(l)(1)A customer facility charge may be collected by a rental company under the following circumstances:
(A)Collection of the fee by the rental company is required by an airport operated by a city, a county, a city and county, a joint powers authority, a special district, or the San Diego County Regional Airport Authority formed pursuant to Division 17 (commencing with Section 170000) of the Public Utilities Code.
(B)The fee is calculated on a per contract basis or as provided in paragraph (2).
(C)The fee is a user fee, not a tax imposed upon real property or an incident of property ownership under Article XIIID of the California Constitution.
(D)Except as otherwise provided in subparagraph (E), the fee shall be ten dollars ($10) per contract or the amount provided in paragraph (2).
(E)The fee for a consolidated rental car facility shall be collected only from customers of on-airport rental car companies. If the fee imposed by the airport is for both a consolidated rental car facility and a common-use transportation system, the fee collected from customers of on-airport rental car companies shall be ten dollars ($10) or the amount provided in paragraph (2), but the fee imposed on customers of off-airport rental car companies who are transported on the common-use transportation system is proportionate to the costs of the common-use transportation system only. The fee is uniformly applied to each class of on-airport or off-airport customers, provided that the airport requires off-airport customers to use the common-use transportation system. For purposes of this subparagraph, on-airport rental car company means a rental company operating under an airport property lease or an airport concession or license agreement whose customers use or will use the consolidated rental car facility and the collection of the fee as to those customers is consistent with subparagraph (C).
(F)Revenues collected from the fee do not exceed the reasonable costs of financing, designing, and constructing the facility and financing, designing, constructing, and operating any common-use transportation system, or acquiring vehicles for use in that system, and shall not be used for any other purpose.
(G)The fee is separately identified on the rental agreement.
(H)This paragraph does not apply to fees which are governed by Section 50474.1 of the Government Code or Section 57.5 of the San Diego Unified Port District Act (Chapter 67 of the First Extraordinary Session of the Statutes of 1962).
(I)For any airport seeking to require rental car companies to collect an alternative customer facility charge pursuant to paragraph (2), the following provisions apply:
(i)Notwithstanding Section 10231.5 of the Government Code, the airport shall provide reports on an annual basis to the Senate and Assembly Committees on Judiciary detailing all of the following:
(I)The total amount of the customer facility charge collected.
(II)How the funds are being spent.
(III)The amount of and reason for any changes in the airports budget or financial needs for the facility or common-use transportation system.
(IV)Whether airport concession fees authorized by Section 1936.01 have increased since the prior report, if any.
(ii)(I)The aggregate amount to be collected shall not exceed the reasonable costs, as determined by an audit, by an independent auditor, paid for by the airport, to finance, design, and construct those facilities. The auditor shall independently examine and substantiate the necessity for and the amount of the customer facility charge, including whether the airports actual or projected costs are supported and justified, any steps the airport may take to limit costs, potential alternatives for meeting the airports revenue needs other than the collection of the fee, and whether and to what extent car rental companies or other businesses or individuals using the facility or common-use transportation system may pay for the costs associated with these facilities and systems other than the fee from rental customers, or whether the airport did not comply with any provision of this subclause. Copies of the audit shall be provided to the Assembly and Senate Committees on Judiciary, the Assembly Committee on Transportation, and the Senate Committee on Transportation and Housing and shall be posted on the airports Internet Web site. In the case of a customer facility charge for a common-use transportation system, the audit also shall consider the reasonable costs of providing the transit system or busing network. Any audit required by this subclause may be included as a part of an audit of an airports finances. Notwithstanding clause (iii) of subparagraph (A) of paragraph (6) of subdivision (a), the fees designated as a customer facility charge shall not be used to pay for terminal expansion, gate expansion, runway expansion, changes in hours of operation, or changes in the number of flights arriving or departing from the airport.
(II)Except as provided in subclause (III), the authorization given pursuant to this section for an airport to impose a customer facility charge shall become inoperative when the bonds used for financing are paid.
(III)If a bond or other form of indebtedness is not used for financing, or the bond or other form of indebtedness used for financing has been paid, the Oakland International Airport may require the collection of a customer facility charge for a period of up to 10 years from the imposition of the charge for the purposes allowed by, and subject to the conditions imposed by, this section.
(IV)Notwithstanding Section 10231.5 of the Government Code, copies of the audit shall be provided to the Assembly and Senate Committees on Judiciary, the Assembly Committee on Transportation, and the Senate Committee on Transportation and Housing and shall be posted on the airports Internet Web site.
(V)Prior to any increase pursuant to paragraph (2), the airport shall update the information provided in the initial collection audit pursuant to subclause (I). Notwithstanding Section 10231.5 of the Government Code, copies of the updated audit shall be provided to the Assembly and Senate Committees on Judiciary, the Assembly Committee on Transportation, and the Senate Committee on Transportation and Housing, and shall be posted on the airports Internet Web site.
(VI)An audit shall be completed every three years after initial collection only if the customer facility charge is collected for the purpose of operating a common-use transportation system or to acquire vehicles for use in the system pursuant to clause (ii) of subparagraph (A) of paragraph (6) of subdivision (a). A regularly conducted audit of airport finances that includes the customer facility charge information, that satisfies the requirements of this subdivision, and is produced in accordance with the generally accepted accounting principles of the Government Accounting Standards Board, shall satisfy the requirements of this subclause. This obligation shall continue until the fee authorization becomes inoperative pursuant to subclause (II). Notwithstanding Section 10231.5 of the Government Code, the information reported pursuant to this subclause shall be compiled into one document, shall be provided to the Assembly and Senate Committees on Judiciary, the Assembly Committee on Transportation, and the Senate Committee on Transportation and Housing and shall be posted on the airports Internet Web site accessible to the public. The information reported shall be contained within one easily accessible page contained within the airports Internet Web site.
(VII)This section shall not be construed to require an airport to audit a common-use transportation system not financed by a customer facility charge and used for the purposes permitted pursuant to clause (ii) of subparagraph (A) of paragraph (6) of subdivision (a).
(VIII)The airport shall post on the airports Internet Web site copies of the completed audits required by this clause for a period of six years following the audits completion.
(iii)Use of the bonds shall be limited to construction and design of the consolidated rental car facility, terminal modifications, and operating costs of the common-use transportation system, as specified in paragraph (6) of subdivision (a).
(2)Any airport may require rental car companies to collect an alternative customer facility charge under the following conditions:
(A)The airport first conducts a publicly noticed hearing pursuant to the Ralph M. Brown Act (Chapter 9 (commencing with Section 54950) of Part 1 of Division 2 of Title 5 of the Government Code) to review the costs of financing the design and construction of a consolidated rental car facility and the design, construction, and operation of any common-use transportation system in which all of the following occur:
(i)The airport establishes the amount of revenue necessary to finance the reasonable cost to design and construct a consolidated rental car facility and to design, construct, and operate any common-use transportation system, or acquire vehicles for use in that system, based on evidence presented during the hearing.
(ii)The airport finds, based on evidence presented during the hearing, that the fee authorized in paragraph (1) will not generate sufficient revenue to finance the reasonable costs to design and construct a consolidated rental car facility and to design, construct, and operate any common-use transportation system, or acquire vehicles for use in that system.
(iii)The airport finds that the reasonable cost of the project requires the additional amount of revenue that would be generated by the proposed daily rate, including any rate increase, authorized pursuant to this paragraph.
(iv)The airport outlines each of the following:
(I)Steps it has taken to limit costs.
(II)Other potential alternatives for meeting its revenue needs other than the collection of the fee.
(III)The extent to which rental car companies or other businesses or individuals using the facility or common-use transportation system will pay for the costs associated with these facilities and systems other than the fee from rental customers.
(B)The airport may not require the fee authorized in this paragraph to be collected at any time that the fee authorized in paragraph (1) of this subdivision is being collected.
(C)Pursuant to the procedure set forth in this subdivision, the fee may be collected at a rate charged on a per-day basis subject to the following conditions:
(i)Commencing January 1, 2011, the amount of the fee may not exceed six dollars ($6) per day.
(ii)Commencing January 1, 2014, the amount of the fee may not exceed seven dollars and fifty cents ($7.50) per day.
(iii)Commencing January 1, 2017, and thereafter, the amount of the fee may not exceed nine dollars ($9) per day.
(iv)At no time shall the fee authorized in this paragraph be collected from any customer for more than five days for each individual rental car contract.
(v)An airport subject to this paragraph shall initiate the process for obtaining the authority to require or increase the alternative fee no later than January 1, 2018. Any airport that obtains the authority to require or increase an alternative fee shall be authorized to continue collecting that fee until the fee authorization becomes inoperative pursuant to subparagraph (C) of paragraph (4) of subdivision (a).
(3)Notwithstanding any other provision of law, including, but not limited to, Part 1 (commencing with Section 6001) to Part 1.7 (commencing with Section 7280), inclusive, of Division 2 of the Revenue and Taxation Code, the fees collected pursuant to this section, or another law whereby a local agency operating an airport requires a rental car company to collect a facility financing fee from its customers, are not subject to sales, use, or transaction taxes.
(m)(1) When providing a quote, or imposing charges for a rental, the rental company may separately state the rental rate, additional mandatory charges, if any, and a mileage charge, if any, that a renter must pay to hire or lease the vehicle for the period of time to which the rental rate applies.
(2)If additional mandatory charges are imposed, the rental company shall do each of the following:
(A)At the time the quote is given, provide the person receiving the quote with a good faith estimate of the rental rate and all additional mandatory charges, as well as the total charges for the entire rental. The total charges, if provided on an Internet Web site page, shall be displayed in a typeface at least as large as any rental rate disclosed on that page and shall be provided on a page that the person receiving the quote may reach by following links through no more than two Internet Web site pages, including the page on which the rental rate is first provided. The good faith estimate may exclude mileage charges and charges for optional items that cannot be determined prior to completing the reservation based upon the information provided by the person.
(B)At the time and place the rental commences, clearly and conspicuously disclose in the rental contract, or that portion of the contract that is provided to the renter, the total of the rental rate, additional mandatory charges, for the entire rental, exclusive of charges that cannot be determined at the time the rental commences. Charges imposed pursuant to this subparagraph shall be no more than the amount of the quote provided in a confirmed reservation, unless the person changes the terms of the rental contract subsequent to making the reservation.
(C)Provide each person, other than those persons within the rental company, offering quotes to actual or prospective customers access to information about additional mandatory charges, as well as access to information about when those charges apply. Any person providing quotes to actual or prospective customers for the hire or lease of a vehicle from a rental company shall provide the quotes in the manner described in subparagraph (A).
(3)In addition to the rental rate, additional mandatory charges, if any, and mileage charges, if any, a rental company may charge for an item or service provided in connection with a particular rental transaction if the renter could have avoided incurring the charge by choosing not to obtain or utilize the optional item or service. Items and services for which the rental company may impose an additional charge, include, but are not limited to, optional insurance and accessories requested by the renter, service charges incident to the renters 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 renter did not return the vehicle with as much fuel as was in the fuel tank at the beginning of the rental. A rental company also may impose an additional charge based on reasonable age criteria established by the rental company.
(4)A rental company shall not charge a fee for authorized drivers in addition to the rental charge for an individual renter.
(5)If a rental company states a rental rate in print advertisement or in a telephonic, in-person, or computer-transmitted quotation, the rental company shall disclose clearly in that advertisement or quotation the terms of mileage conditions relating to the advertised or quoted rental rate, including, but not limited to, to the extent applicable, the amount of mileage and gas charges, the number of miles for which no charges will be imposed, and a description of geographic driving limitations within the United States and Canada.
(6)All rate advertisements that include car rentals at airport destinations shall clearly and conspicuously include a toll-free telephone number whereby a customer can be told the specific amount of the customer facility charge to which the customer will be obligated.
(7)If a rental company delivers a vehicle to a renter at a location other than the location where the rental company normally carries on its business, the rental company shall not charge the renter an amount for the rental for the period before the delivery of the vehicle. If a rental company picks up a rented vehicle from a renter at a location other than the location where the rental company normally carries on its business, the rental company shall not charge the renter an amount for the rental for the period after the renter notifies the rental company to pick up the vehicle.
(8)Except as otherwise permitted pursuant to the customer facility charge, a rental company may not separately charge, in addition to the rental rate, a fee for transporting the renter to the location where the rented vehicle will be delivered to the renter.
(n)A rental company shall not use any information relating to the renters use of the rental vehicle that was obtained using electronic surveillance technology, except in the following circumstances:
(1)(A)When the equipment is used by the rental company only for the purpose of locating a stolen, abandoned, or missing rental vehicle after one of the following:
(i)The renter or law enforcement has informed the rental company that the vehicle is missing or has been stolen or abandoned.
(ii)The rental vehicle has not been returned following two three days after the contracted return date, or by two three days following the end of an extension of that return date.
(iii)The rental company discovers the rental vehicle has been stolen or abandoned, and, if stolen, it shall report the vehicle stolen to law enforcement by filing a stolen vehicle report, unless law enforcement has already informed the rental company that the vehicle is missing or has been stolen or abandoned.
(B)If electronic surveillance technology is activated pursuant to subparagraph (A), a rental company shall maintain a record, in either electronic or written form, of information relevant to the activation of that technology. That information shall include the rental agreement, including the return date, and the date and time the electronic surveillance technology was activated. The record shall also include, if relevant, a record of written or other communication with the renter, including communications regarding extensions of the rental, police reports, or other written communication with law enforcement officials. The record shall be maintained for a period of at least 12 months from the time the record is created and shall be made available upon the renters request. The rental company shall maintain and furnish explanatory codes necessary to read the record. A rental company shall not be required to maintain a record if electronic surveillance technology is activated to recover a rental vehicle that is stolen or missing at a time other than during a rental period.
(2)In response to a specific request from law enforcement pursuant to a subpoena or search warrant.
(3)This subdivision does not prohibit a rental company from equipping rental vehicles with GPS-based technology that provides navigation assistance to the occupants of the rental vehicle, if the rental company does not use information relating to the renters use of the rental vehicle that was obtained using that technology, except for the purposes of providing such navigation assistance or discovering or repairing a defect in the technology and the information may then be used only for that purpose.
(4)This subdivision does not prohibit a rental company from equipping rental vehicles with electronic surveillance technology that allows for the remote locking or unlocking of the vehicle at the request of the renter, if the rental company does not use, access, or obtain information relating to the renters use of the rental vehicle that was obtained using that technology, except as necessary to lock or unlock the vehicle.
(5)This subdivision does not prohibit a rental company from equipping rental vehicles with electronic surveillance technology that allows the company to provide roadside assistance, such as towing, flat tire, or fuel services, at the request of the renter, if the rental company does not use, access, or obtain information relating to the renters use of the rental vehicle that was obtained using that technology except as necessary to provide the requested roadside assistance.
(6)This subdivision does not prohibit a rental company from using information from electronic surveillance technology for the purpose of determining the date and time the vehicle is returned to the rental company, the return location, the total mileage driven and the vehicle fuel level of the returned vehicle. This paragraph, however, shall apply only after the renter has returned the vehicle to the rental company, or is at one of the rental companies facilities and is in the process of returning the vehicle, and the information shall only be used for the purpose described in this paragraph.
(o)A rental company shall not use electronic surveillance technology to track a renter in order to impose fines or surcharges relating to the renters use of the rental vehicle.
(p)A renter may bring an action against a rental company for the recovery of damages and appropriate equitable relief for a violation of this section. The prevailing party shall be entitled to recover reasonable attorneys fees and costs.
(q)A rental company that brings an action against a renter for loss due to theft of the vehicle shall bring the action in the county in which the renter resides or, if the renter is not a resident of this state, in the jurisdiction in which the renter resides.
(r)A waiver of any of the provisions of this section shall be void and unenforceable as contrary to public policy.
(s)A rental companys disclosure requirements shall be satisfied for renters who are enrolled in the rental companys membership program if all of the following conditions are met:
(1)Prior to the enrollees first rental as a participant in the program, the renter receives, in writing, the following:
(A)All of the disclosures required by paragraph (1) of subdivision (g), including the terms and conditions of the rental agreement then in effect.
(B)An Internet Web site address, as well as a contact number or address, where the enrollee can learn of changes to the rental agreement or to the laws of this state governing rental agreements since the effective date of the rental companys most recent restatement of the rental agreement and distribution of that restatement to its members.
(2)At the commencement of each rental period, the renter is provided, on the rental record or the folder in which it is inserted, with a printed notice stating that he or she had either previously selected or declined an optional damage waiver and that the renter has the right to change preferences.
(t)The amendments made to this section during the 200102 Regular Session of the Legislature do not affect litigation pending on or before January 1, 2003, alleging a violation of Section 22325 of the Business and Professions Code as it read at the time the action was commenced.
(u)(1)When a rental company enters into a rental agreement in the state for the rental of a vehicle to any renter who is not a resident of this country and, as part of, or associated with, the rental agreement, the renter purchases liability insurance, as defined in subdivision (b) of Section 1758.85 of the Insurance Code, from the rental company in its capacity as a rental car agent for an authorized insurer, the rental company shall be authorized to accept, and, if served as set forth in this subdivision, shall accept, service of a summons and complaint and any other required documents against the foreign renter for any accident or collision resulting from the operation of the rental vehicle within the state during the rental period. If the rental company has a registered agent for service of process on file with the Secretary of State, process shall be served on the rental companys registered agent, either by first-class mail, return receipt requested, or by personal service.
(2)Within 30 days of acceptance of service of process, the rental company shall provide a copy of the summons and complaint and any other required documents served in accordance with this subdivision to the foreign renter by first-class mail, return receipt requested.
(3)Any plaintiff, or his or her representative, who elects to serve the foreign renter by delivering a copy of the summons and complaint and any other required documents to the rental company pursuant to paragraph (1) shall agree to limit his or her recovery against the foreign renter and the rental company to the limits of the protection extended by the liability insurance.
(4)Notwithstanding the requirements of Sections 17450 to 17456, inclusive, of the Vehicle Code, service of process in compliance with paragraph (1) shall be deemed valid and effective service.
(5)Notwithstanding any other provision of law, the requirement that the rental company accept service of process pursuant to paragraph (1) shall not create any duty, obligation, or agency relationship other than that provided in paragraph (1).
SEC. 2.Section 1936 of the Civil Code, as amended by Section 5.7 of Chapter 913 of the Statutes of 2014, is repealed.SEC. 3.Section 1936.01 of the Civil Code is repealed.SEC. 4.Section 1936.015 of the Civil Code is repealed.SEC. 5.Section 1936.05 of the Civil Code is amended to read:1936.05.(a)For purposes of this section:
(1)Additional charges means charges other than a per period base rental rate established by the business program.
(2)Business program means (A) a contract between a rental company and a business program sponsor that has established the per period base rental rate, and any other material terms relating to additional charges, on which the rental company will rent passenger vehicles to persons authorized by the sponsor, or (B) a plan, program, or other arrangement established by a rental company at the request of, or with the consent of, a business program sponsor under which the rental company offers to rent passenger vehicles to persons authorized by the sponsor at per period base rental rates, and any other material terms relating to additional charges, that are not the same as those generally offered by the rental company to the public.
(3)Business program sponsor means a legal entity, other than a natural person, that is a corporation, limited liability company, or partnership.
(4)Business renter means, for any business program sponsor, a person who is authorized by the sponsor, through the use of an identifying number or program name or code, to enter into a rental contract under the sponsors business program. In no case shall the term business renter include a person renting as: (A) a nonemployee member of a not-for-profit organization, (B) the purchaser of a voucher or other prepaid rental arrangement from a person, including a tour operator, engaged in the business of reselling those vouchers or prepaid rental arrangements to the general public, (C) an individual whose car rental is eligible for reimbursement in whole or in part as a result of the person being insured or provided coverage under a policy of insurance issued by an insurance company, or (D) an individual whose car rental is eligible for reimbursement in whole or in part as a result of the person purchasing passenger vehicle repair services from a person licensed to perform such services.
(5)Qualified business rental under a business program established for a business program sponsor by a rental company means the rental of a passenger vehicle under the business program if either (A) in the 12-month period ending on the date of the rental or in the calendar year immediately preceding the year in which the rental occurs, the rentals under all business programs established by the rental company for the business program sponsor and its affiliates produced gross rental revenues in excess of twenty-five thousand dollars ($25,000) or (B) the rental company in good faith estimates that rentals under all the business programs established by the rental company for the business program sponsor and its affiliates will produce gross rental revenues in excess of twenty-five thousand dollars ($25,000) in the 12-month period commencing with the date of the rental or in the calendar year in which the rental occurs. The rental company has the burden of establishing by objectively verifiable evidence that the rental was a qualified business rental.
(6)Quote means telephonic, in-person, and computer-transmitted quotations.
(b)Notwithstanding any provision to the contrary contained in subdivision (m) of Section 1936, a rental car company may, in connection with the qualified business rental of a passenger vehicle to a business renter of a business program sponsor under the sponsors business program, do both of the following:
(1)Separately quote additional charges for the rental if, at the time the quote is provided, the person receiving the quote is also provided a good faith estimate of the total of all the charges for the entire rental. The estimate may exclude mileage charges and charges for optional items and services that cannot be determined prior to completing the reservation based upon the information provided by the renter.
(2)Separately impose additional charges for the rental, if the rental contract, or another document provided to the business renter at the time and place the rental commences, clearly and conspicuously discloses the total of all the charges for the entire rental, exclusive of charges that cannot be determined at the time the rental commences.
(c)A renter may bring an action against a rental company for the recovery of damages and appropriate equitable relief for a violation of this section. The prevailing party shall be entitled to recover reasonable attorneys fees and costs.
(d)Any waiver of any of the provisions of this section shall be void and unenforceable as contrary to public policy.
(e)Nothing in this section shall be interpreted to mean that a rental company is not required to comply with the requirements of paragraphs (2) to (6), inclusive, of subdivision (m) of Section 1936.
(a)For the purpose of this section, the following definitions shall apply:
(1)Rental company means a person or entity in the business of renting passenger vehicles to the public.
(2)Renter means any person in a manner obligated under a contract for the lease or hire of a passenger vehicle from a rental company for a period of less than 30 days.
(3)Additional mandatory charges means any charges in addition to a per period base rental rate and mileage charge, if any, that a renter must pay to hire or lease the vehicle for the period of time to which the rental rate applies, including, but not limited to, a customer facility charge, airport concession fee, tourism commission assessment, vehicle license recovery fee, registration fee, or other government imposed taxes or fees.
(4)Airport concession fee means a charge collected by a rental company from a renter that is the renters proportionate share of the amount paid by the rental company to the owner or operator of an airport for the right or privilege of conducting a vehicle rental business on the airports premises.
(3)
(5)Authorized driver means all of the following:
(A)The renter.
(B)The renters spouse if that person is a licensed driver and satisfies the rental companys minimum age requirement.
(C)The renters employer or coworker if he or she is engaged in business activity with the renter, is a licensed driver, and satisfies the rental companys minimum age requirement.
(D)A person expressly listed by the rental company on that renters contract as an authorized driver.
(4)
(6)(A)Customer facility charge means any fee, including an alternative fee, required by an airport to be collected by a rental company from a renter for any of the following purposes:
(i)To finance, design, and construct consolidated airport car rental facilities.
(ii)To finance, design, construct, and operate common-use transportation systems that move passengers between airport terminals and those consolidated car rental facilities, and acquire vehicles for use in that system.
(iii)To finance, design, and construct terminal modifications solely to accommodate and provide customer access to common-use transportation systems.
(B)The aggregate amount to be collected shall not exceed the reasonable costs, as determined by an audit, by an independent auditor, paid for by the airport, to finance, design, and construct those facilities. The auditor shall independently examine and substantiate the necessity for and the amount of the customer facility charge, including whether the airports actual or projected costs are supported and justified, any steps the airport may take to limit costs, potential alternatives for meeting the airports revenue needs other than the collection of the fee, and whether and to what extent car rental companies or other businesses or individuals using the facility or common-use transportation system may pay for the costs associated with these facilities and systems other than the fee from rental customers, or whether the airport did not comply with any provision of this subparagraph. Copies of the audit shall be provided to the Assembly and Senate Committees on Judiciary, the Assembly Committee on Transportation, and the Senate Committee on Transportation and Housing and shall be posted on the airports Internet Web site. In the case of a customer facility charge for a common-use transportation system, the audit also shall consider the reasonable costs of providing the transit system or busing network pursuant to clause (ii) of subparagraph (A). Any audit required by this subparagraph may be included as a part of an audit of an airports finances. Notwithstanding clause (iii) of subparagraph (A), the fees designated as a customer facility charge shall not be used to pay for terminal expansion, gate expansion, runway expansion, changes in hours of operation, or changes in the number of flights arriving or departing from the airport.
(C)Except as provided in subparagraph (D), the authorization given pursuant to this section for an airport to impose a customer facility charge shall become inoperative when the bonds used for financing are paid.
(D)If a bond or other form of indebtedness is not used for financing, or the bond or other form of indebtedness used for financing has been paid, the Oakland International Airport may require the collection of a customer facility charge for a period of up to 10 years from the imposition of the charge for the purposes allowed by, and subject to the conditions imposed by, this section.
(5)
(7)Damage waiver means a rental companys agreement not to hold a renter liable for all or any portion of any damage or loss related to the rented vehicle, any loss of use of the rented vehicle, or any storage, impound, towing, or administrative charges.
(6)
(8)Electronic surveillance technology means a technological method or system used to observe, monitor, or collect information, including telematics, Global Positioning System (GPS), wireless technology, or location-based technologies. Electronic surveillance technology does not include event data recorders (EDR), sensing and diagnostic modules (SDM), or other systems that are used either:
(A)For the purpose of identifying, diagnosing, or monitoring functions related to the potential need to repair, service, or perform maintenance on the rental vehicle.
(B)As part of the vehicles airbag sensing and diagnostic system in order to capture safety systems-related data for retrieval after a crash has occurred or in the event that the collision sensors are activated to prepare the decisionmaking computer to make the determination to deploy or not to deploy the airbag.
(7)
(9)Estimated time for replacement means the number of hours of labor, or fraction thereof, needed to replace damaged vehicle parts as set forth in collision damage estimating guides generally used in the vehicle repair business and commonly known as crash books.
(8)
(10)Estimated time for repair means a good faith estimate of the reasonable number of hours of labor, or fraction thereof, needed to repair damaged vehicle parts.
(9)
(11)Membership program means a service offered by a rental company that permits customers to bypass the rental counter and go directly to the car previously reserved. A membership program shall meet all of the following requirements:
(A)The renter initiates enrollment by completing an application on which the renter can specify a preference for type of vehicle and acceptance or declination of optional services.
(B)The rental company fully discloses, prior to the enrollees first rental as a participant in the program, all terms and conditions of the rental agreement as well as all required disclosures.
(C)The renter may terminate enrollment at any time.
(D)The rental company fully explains to the renter that designated preferences, as well as acceptance or declination of optional services, may be changed by the renter at any time for the next and future rentals.
(E)An employee designated to receive the form specified in subparagraph (C) of paragraph (1) of subdivision (s) is present at the lot where the renter takes possession of the car, to receive any change in the rental agreement from the renter.
(10)
(12)Passenger vehicle means a passenger vehicle as defined in Section 465 of the Vehicle Code.
(13)Quote means an estimated cost of rental provided by a rental company or a third party to a potential customer by telephone, in-person, computer-transmission, or other means, that is based on information provided by the potential customer and used to generate an estimated cost of rental, including, but not limited to, any of the following: potential dates of rental, locations, or classes of car.
(14)Tourism commission assessment means the charge collected by a rental company from a renter that has been established by the California Travel and Tourism Commission pursuant to Section 13995.65 of the Government Code.
(15)Vehicle license fee means the tax imposed pursuant to the Vehicle License Fee Law (Part 5 (commencing with Section 10701) of Division 2 of the Revenue and Taxation Code).
(16)Vehicle license recovery fee means a charge that seeks to recover the amount of vehicle license fees paid by a rental company for the particular class of vehicle being rented.
(b)Except as limited by subdivision (c), a rental company and a renter may agree that the renter will be responsible for no more than all of the following:
(1)Physical or mechanical damage to the rented vehicle up to its fair market value, as determined in the customary market for the sale of that vehicle, resulting from collision regardless of the cause of the damage.
(2)Loss due to theft of the rented vehicle up to its fair market value, as determined in the customary market for the sale of that vehicle, provided that the rental company establishes by clear and convincing evidence that the renter or the authorized driver failed to exercise ordinary care while in possession of the vehicle. In addition, the renter shall be presumed to have no liability for any loss due to theft if (A) an authorized driver has possession of the ignition key furnished by the rental company or an authorized driver establishes that the ignition key furnished by the rental company was not in the vehicle at the time of the theft, and (B) an authorized driver files an official report of the theft with the police or other law enforcement agency within 24 hours of learning of the theft and reasonably cooperates with the rental company and the police or other law enforcement agency in providing information concerning the theft. The presumption set forth in this paragraph is a presumption affecting the burden of proof which the rental company may rebut by establishing that an authorized driver committed, or aided and abetted the commission of, the theft.
(3)Physical damage to the rented vehicle up to its fair market value, as determined in the customary market for the sale of that vehicle, resulting from vandalism occurring after, or in connection with, the theft of the rented vehicle. However, the renter shall have no liability for any damage due to vandalism if the renter would have no liability for theft pursuant to paragraph (2).
(4)Physical damage to the rented vehicle up to a total of five hundred dollars ($500) resulting from vandalism unrelated to the theft of the rented vehicle.
(5)Actual charges for towing, storage, and impound fees paid by the rental company if the renter is liable for damage or loss.
(6)An administrative charge, which shall include the cost of appraisal and all other costs and expenses incident to the damage, loss, repair, or replacement of the rented vehicle.
(c)The total amount of the renters liability to the rental company resulting from damage to the rented vehicle shall not exceed the sum of the following:
(1)The estimated cost of parts which the rental company would have to pay to replace damaged vehicle parts. All discounts and price reductions or adjustments that are or will be received by the rental company shall be subtracted from the estimate to the extent not already incorporated in the estimate, or otherwise promptly credited or refunded to the renter.
(2)The estimated cost of labor to replace damaged vehicle parts, which shall not exceed the product of (A) the rate for labor usually paid by the rental company to replace vehicle parts of the type that were damaged and (B) the estimated time for replacement. All discounts and price reductions or adjustments that are or will be received by the rental company shall be subtracted from the estimate to the extent not already incorporated in the estimate, or otherwise promptly credited or refunded to the renter.
(3)(A)The estimated cost of labor to repair damaged vehicle parts, which shall not exceed the lesser of the following:
(i)The product of the rate for labor usually paid by the rental company to repair vehicle parts of the type that were damaged and the estimated time for repair.
(ii)The sum of the estimated labor and parts costs determined under paragraphs (1) and (2) to replace the same vehicle parts.
(B)All discounts and price reductions or adjustments that are or will be received by the rental company shall be subtracted from the estimate to the extent not already incorporated in the estimate, or otherwise promptly credited or refunded to the renter.
(4)For the purpose of converting the estimated time for repair into the same units of time in which the rental rate is expressed, a day shall be deemed to consist of eight hours.
(5)Actual charges for towing, storage, and impound fees paid by the rental company.
(6)The administrative charge described in paragraph (6) of subdivision (b) shall not exceed (A) fifty dollars ($50) if the total estimated cost for parts and labor is more than one hundred dollars ($100) up to and including five hundred dollars ($500), (B) one hundred dollars ($100) if the total estimated cost for parts and labor exceeds five hundred dollars ($500) up to and including one thousand five hundred dollars ($1,500), and (C) one hundred fifty dollars ($150) if the total estimated cost for parts and labor exceeds one thousand five hundred dollars ($1,500). An administrative charge shall not be imposed if the total estimated cost of parts and labor is one hundred dollars ($100) or less.
(d)(1)The total amount of an authorized drivers liability to the rental company, if any, for damage occurring during the authorized drivers operation of the rented vehicle shall not exceed the amount of the renters liability under subdivision (c).
(2)A rental company shall not recover from the renter or other authorized driver an amount exceeding the renters liability under subdivision (c).
(3)A claim against a renter resulting from damage or loss, excluding loss of use, to a rental vehicle shall be reasonably and rationally related to the actual loss incurred. A rental company shall mitigate damages where possible and shall not assert or collect a claim for physical damage which exceeds the actual costs of the repairs performed or the estimated cost of repairs, if the rental company chooses not to repair the vehicle, including all discounts and price reductions. However, if the vehicle is a total loss vehicle, the claim shall not exceed the total loss vehicle value established in accordance with procedures that are customarily used by insurance companies when paying claims on total loss vehicles, less the proceeds from salvaging the vehicle, if those proceeds are retained by the rental company.
(4)If insurance coverage exists under the renters applicable personal or business insurance policy and the coverage is confirmed during regular business hours, the renter may require that the rental company submit any claims to the renters applicable personal or business insurance carrier. The rental company shall not make any written or oral representations that it will not present claims or negotiate with the renters insurance carrier. For purposes of this paragraph, confirmation of coverage includes telephone confirmation from insurance company representatives during regular business hours. Upon request of the renter and after confirmation of coverage, the amount of claim shall be resolved between the insurance carrier and the rental company. The renter shall remain responsible for payment to the rental car company for any loss sustained that the renters applicable personal or business insurance policy does not cover.
(5)A rental company shall not recover from the renter or other authorized driver for an item described in subdivision (b) to the extent the rental company obtains recovery from another person.
(6)This section applies only to the maximum liability of a renter or other authorized driver to the rental company resulting from damage to the rented vehicle and not to the liability of another person.
(e)(1)Except as provided in subdivision (f), a damage waiver shall provide or, if not expressly stated in writing, shall be deemed to provide that the renter has no liability for damage, loss, loss of use, or a cost or expense incident thereto.
(2)Except as provided in subdivision (f), every limitation, exception, or exclusion to a damage waiver is void and unenforceable.
(f)A rental company may provide in the rental contract that a damage waiver does not apply under any of the following circumstances:
(1)Damage or loss results from an authorized drivers (A) intentional, willful, wanton, or reckless conduct, (B) operation of the vehicle under the influence of drugs or alcohol in violation of Section 23152 of the Vehicle Code, (C) towing or pushing anything, or (D) operation of the vehicle on an unpaved road if the damage or loss is a direct result of the road or driving conditions.
(2)Damage or loss occurs while the vehicle is (A) used for commercial hire, (B) used in connection with conduct that could be properly charged as a felony, (C) involved in a speed test or contest or in driver training activity, (D) operated by a person other than an authorized driver, or (E) operated outside the United States.
(3)An authorized driver who has (A) provided fraudulent information to the rental company, or (B) provided false information and the rental company would not have rented the vehicle if it had instead received true information.
(g)(1)A rental company that offers or provides a damage waiver for any consideration in addition to the rental rate shall clearly and conspicuously disclose the following information in the rental contract or holder in which the contract is placed and, also, in signs posted at the place, such as the counter, where the renter signs the rental contract, and, for renters who are enrolled in the rental companys membership program, in a sign that shall be posted in a location clearly visible to those renters as they enter the location where their reserved rental cars are parked or near the exit of the bus or other conveyance that transports the enrollee to a reserved car: (A) the nature of the renters liability, such as liability for all collision damage regardless of cause, (B) the extent of the renters liability, such as liability for damage or loss up to a specified amount, (C) the renters personal insurance policy or the credit card used to pay for the car rental transaction may provide coverage for all or a portion of the renters potential liability, (D) the renter should consult with his or her insurer to determine the scope of insurance coverage, including the amount of the deductible, if any, for which the renter is obligated, (E) the renter may purchase an optional damage waiver to cover all liability, subject to whatever exceptions the rental company expressly lists that are permitted under subdivision (f), and (F) the range of charges for the damage waiver.
(2)In addition to the requirements of paragraph (1), if a damage waiver is offered orally at the rental counter, a rental company that offers or provides a damage waiver shall orally disclose to all renters, except those who are participants in the rental companys membership program at the time of the offer, that the damage waiver may be duplicative of coverage that the customer maintains under his or her own policy of motor vehicle insurance. The renters receipt of the oral disclosure shall be demonstrated through the renters acknowledging receipt of the oral disclosure near that part of the contract where the renter indicates, by the renters own initials, his or her acceptance or declination of the damage waiver. Adjacent to that same part, the contract also shall state that the damage waiver is optional. Further, the contract for these renters, and, if a damage waiver may be obtained online, the Internet Web site page on which an estimate of total charges is provided pursuant to subparagraph (A) of paragraph (2) of subdivision (m) for any reservation made through the rental companys online reservation system, shall include a clear and conspicuous written disclosure that the damage waiver may be duplicative of coverage that the customer maintains under his or her own policy of motor vehicle insurance. No oral disclosure shall be required for renters that are participants in the rental companys membership program.
(3)The following is an example, for purposes of illustration and not limitation, of a notice fulfilling the requirements of paragraph (1) for a rental company that imposes liability on the renter for collision damage to the full value of the vehicle:
NOTICE ABOUT YOUR FINANCIAL RESPONSIBILITY AND OPTIONAL DAMAGE WAIVER
You are responsible for all collision damage to the rented vehicle even if someone else caused it or the cause is unknown. You are responsible for the cost of repair up to the value of the vehicle, and towing, storage, and impound fees.
Your own insurance, or the issuer of the credit card you use to pay for the car rental transaction, may cover all or part of your financial responsibility for the rented vehicle. You should check with your insurance company, or credit card issuer, to find out about your coverage and the amount of the deductible, if any, for which you may be liable.
Further, if you use a credit card that provides coverage for your potential liability, you should check with the issuer to determine if you must first exhaust the coverage limits of your own insurance before the credit card coverage applies.
The rental company will not hold you responsible if you buy a damage waiver. But a damage waiver will not protect you if (list exceptions).
(A)When the above notice is printed in the rental contract or holder in which the contract is placed, the following shall be printed immediately following the notice:
The cost of an optional damage waiver is $____ for every (day or week).
(B)When the above notice appears on a sign, the following shall appear immediately adjacent to the notice:
The cost of an optional damage waiver is $____ to $____ for every (day or week), depending upon the vehicle rented.
(h)Notwithstanding any other provision of law, a rental company may sell a damage waiver subject to the following rate limitations for each full or partial 24-hour rental day for the damage waiver:
(1)For rental vehicles that the rental company designates as an economy car, compact car, or another term having similar meaning to the two smallest body-size categories of vehicles established by the Association of Car Rental Industry Systems Standards for North America, as of January 1, 2014, when offered for rental, the rate shall not exceed eleven dollars ($11).
(2)For rental vehicles that the rental company designates as an intermediate car, standard car, or full-size car, or another term having similar meaning to the next three body-size categories of vehicles established by the Association of Car Rental Industry Systems Standards for North America, as of January 1, 2014, and that are also either vehicles of the next model year, or not older than the previous years model, when offered for rental, the rate shall not exceed seventeen dollars ($17). For rental vehicles that are older than the previous years model-year, the rate shall not exceed eleven dollars ($11).
(i)A rental company that disseminates in this state an advertisement containing a rental rate shall include in that advertisement a clearly readable statement of the charge for a damage waiver and a statement that a damage waiver is optional.
(j)(1)A rental company shall not require the purchase of a damage waiver, optional insurance, or another optional good or service.
(2)A rental company shall not engage in any unfair, deceptive, or coercive conduct to induce a renter to purchase the damage waiver, optional insurance, or another optional good or service, including conduct such as, but not limited to, refusing to honor the renters reservation, limiting the availability of vehicles, requiring a deposit, or debiting or blocking the renters credit card account for a sum equivalent to a deposit if the renter declines to purchase the damage waiver, optional insurance, or another optional good or service.
(k)(1)In the absence of express permission granted by the renter subsequent to damage to, or loss of, the vehicle, a rental company shall not seek to recover any portion of a claim arising out of damage to, or loss of, the rented vehicle by processing a credit card charge or causing a debit or block to be placed on the renters credit card account.
(2)A rental company shall not engage in any unfair, deceptive, or coercive tactics in attempting to recover or in recovering on any claim arising out of damage to, or loss of, the rented vehicle.
(l)(1)A customer facility charge may be collected by a rental company under the following circumstances:
(A)Collection of the fee by the rental company is required by an airport operated by a city, a county, a city and county, a joint powers authority, a special district, or the San Diego County Regional Airport Authority formed pursuant to Division 17 (commencing with Section 170000) of the Public Utilities Code.
(B)The fee is calculated on a per contract basis or as provided in paragraph (2).
(C)The fee is a user fee, not a tax imposed upon real property or an incident of property ownership under Article XIIID of the California Constitution.
(D)Except as otherwise provided in subparagraph (E), the fee shall be ten dollars ($10) per contract or the amount provided in paragraph (2).
(E)The fee for a consolidated rental car facility shall be collected only from customers of on-airport rental car companies. If the fee imposed by the airport is for both a consolidated rental car facility and a common-use transportation system, the fee collected from customers of on-airport rental car companies shall be ten dollars ($10) or the amount provided in paragraph (2), but the fee imposed on customers of off-airport rental car companies who are transported on the common-use transportation system is proportionate to the costs of the common-use transportation system only. The fee is uniformly applied to each class of on-airport or off-airport customers, provided that the airport requires off-airport customers to use the common-use transportation system. For purposes of this subparagraph, on-airport rental car company means a rental company operating under an airport property lease or an airport concession or license agreement whose customers use or will use the consolidated rental car facility and the collection of the fee as to those customers is consistent with subparagraph (C).
(F)Revenues collected from the fee do not exceed the reasonable costs of financing, designing, and constructing the facility and financing, designing, constructing, and operating any common-use transportation system, or acquiring vehicles for use in that system, and shall not be used for any other purpose.
(G)The fee is separately identified on the rental agreement.
(H)This paragraph does not apply to fees which are governed by Section 50474.1 of the Government Code or Section 57.5 of the San Diego Unified Port District Act (Chapter 67 of the First Extraordinary Session of the Statutes of 1962).
(I)For any airport seeking to require rental car companies to collect an alternative customer facility charge pursuant to paragraph (2), the following provisions apply:
(i)Notwithstanding Section 10231.5 of the Government Code, the airport shall provide reports on an annual basis to the Senate and Assembly Committees on Judiciary detailing all of the following:
(I)The total amount of the customer facility charge collected.
(II)How the funds are being spent.
(III)The amount of and reason for any changes in the airports budget or financial needs for the facility or common-use transportation system.
(IV)Whether airport concession fees authorized by Section 1936.01 have increased since the prior report, if any.
(ii)(I)The airport shall complete the audit required by subparagraph (B) of paragraph (4) of subdivision (a) prior to the initial collection of the customer facility charge. Notwithstanding
(ii)(I)The aggregate amount to be collected shall not exceed the reasonable costs, as determined by an audit, by an independent auditor, paid for by the airport, to finance, design, and construct those facilities. The auditor shall independently examine and substantiate the necessity for and the amount of the customer facility charge, including whether the airports actual or projected costs are supported and justified, any steps the airport may take to limit costs, potential alternatives for meeting the airports revenue needs other than the collection of the fee, and whether and to what extent car rental companies or other businesses or individuals using the facility or common-use transportation system may pay for the costs associated with these facilities and systems other than the fee from rental customers, or whether the airport did not comply with any provision of this subclause. Copies of the audit shall be provided to the Assembly and Senate Committees on Judiciary, the Assembly Committee on Transportation, and the Senate Committee on Transportation and Housing and shall be posted on the airports Internet Web site. In the case of a customer facility charge for a common-use transportation system, the audit also shall consider the reasonable costs of providing the transit system or busing network. Any audit required by this subclause may be included as a part of an audit of an airports finances. Notwithstanding clause (iii) of subparagraph (A) of paragraph (6) of subdivision (a), the fees designated as a customer facility charge shall not be used to pay for terminal expansion, gate expansion, runway expansion, changes in hours of operation, or changes in the number of flights arriving or departing from the airport.
(II)Except as provided in subclause (III), the authorization given pursuant to this section for an airport to impose a customer facility charge shall become inoperative when the bonds used for financing are paid.
(III)If a bond or other form of indebtedness is not used for financing, or the bond or other form of indebtedness used for financing has been paid, the Oakland International Airport may require the collection of a customer facility charge for a period of up to 10 years from the imposition of the charge for the purposes allowed by, and subject to the conditions imposed by, this section.
(IV)Notwithstanding Section 10231.5 of the Government Code, copies of the audit shall be provided to the Assembly and Senate Committees on Judiciary, the Assembly Committee on Transportation, and the Senate Committee on Transportation and Housing and shall be posted on the airports Internet Web site.
(II)
(V)Prior to any increase pursuant to paragraph (2), the airport shall update the information provided in the initial collection audit pursuant to subclause (I). Notwithstanding Section 10231.5 of the Government Code, copies of the updated audit shall be provided to the Assembly and Senate Committees on Judiciary, the Assembly Committee on Transportation, and the Senate Committee on Transportation and Housing, and shall be posted on the airports Internet Web site.
(III)
(VI)An audit shall be completed every three years after initial collection only if the customer facility charge is collected for the purpose of operating a common-use transportation system or to acquire vehicles for use in the system pursuant to clause (ii) of subparagraph (A) of paragraph (4) (6) of subdivision (a). A regularly conducted audit of airport finances that includes the customer facility charge information, that satisfies the requirements of subparagraph (B) of paragraph (4) of subdivision (a) this subdivision, and is produced in accordance with the generally accepted accounting principles of the Government Accounting Standards Board, shall satisfy the requirements of this subclause. This obligation shall continue until the fee authorization becomes inoperative pursuant to subparagraph (C) of paragraph (4) of subdivision (a) subclause (II). Notwithstanding Section 10231.5 of the Government Code, the information reported pursuant to this subclause shall be compiled into one document, shall be provided to the Assembly and Senate Committees on Judiciary, the Assembly Committee on Transportation, and the Senate Committee on Transportation and Housing and shall be posted on the airports Internet Web site accessible to the public. The information reported shall be contained within one easily accessible page contained within the airports Internet Web site.
(IV)
(VII)This section shall not be construed to require an airport to audit a common-use transportation system not financed by a customer facility charge and used for the purposes permitted pursuant to clause (ii) of subparagraph (A) of paragraph (4) (6) of subdivision (a).
(V)
(VIII)The airport shall post on the airports Internet Web site copies of the completed audits required by this clause for a period of six years following the audits completion.
(iii)Use of the bonds shall be limited to construction and design of the consolidated rental car facility, terminal modifications, and operating costs of the common-use transportation system, as specified in paragraph (4) (6) of subdivision (a).
(2)Any airport may require rental car companies to collect an alternative customer facility charge under the following conditions:
(A)The airport first conducts a publicly noticed hearing pursuant to the Ralph M. Brown Act (Chapter 9 (commencing with Section 54950) of Part 1 of Division 2 of Title 5 of the Government Code) to review the costs of financing the design and construction of a consolidated rental car facility and the design, construction, and operation of any common-use transportation system in which all of the following occur:
(i)The airport establishes the amount of revenue necessary to finance the reasonable cost to design and construct a consolidated rental car facility and to design, construct, and operate any common-use transportation system, or acquire vehicles for use in that system, based on evidence presented during the hearing.
(ii)The airport finds, based on evidence presented during the hearing, that the fee authorized in paragraph (1) will not generate sufficient revenue to finance the reasonable costs to design and construct a consolidated rental car facility and to design, construct, and operate any common-use transportation system, or acquire vehicles for use in that system.
(iii)The airport finds that the reasonable cost of the project requires the additional amount of revenue that would be generated by the proposed daily rate, including any rate increase, authorized pursuant to this paragraph.
(iv)The airport outlines each of the following:
(I)Steps it has taken to limit costs.
(II)Other potential alternatives for meeting its revenue needs other than the collection of the fee.
(III)The extent to which rental car companies or other businesses or individuals using the facility or common-use transportation system will pay for the costs associated with these facilities and systems other than the fee from rental customers.
(B)The airport may not require the fee authorized in this paragraph to be collected at any time that the fee authorized in paragraph (1) of this subdivision is being collected.
(C)Pursuant to the procedure set forth in this subdivision, the fee may be collected at a rate charged on a per-day basis subject to the following conditions:
(i)Commencing January 1, 2011, the amount of the fee may not exceed six dollars ($6) per day.
(ii)Commencing January 1, 2014, the amount of the fee may not exceed seven dollars and fifty cents ($7.50) per day.
(iii)Commencing January 1, 2017, and thereafter, the amount of the fee may not exceed nine dollars ($9) per day.
(iv)At no time shall the fee authorized in this paragraph be collected from any customer for more than five days for each individual rental car contract.
(v)An airport subject to this paragraph shall initiate the process for obtaining the authority to require or increase the alternative fee no later than January 1, 2018. Any airport that obtains the authority to require or increase an alternative fee shall be authorized to continue collecting that fee until the fee authorization becomes inoperative pursuant to subparagraph (C) of paragraph (4) of subdivision (a).
(3)Notwithstanding any other provision of law, including, but not limited to, Part 1 (commencing with Section 6001) to Part 1.7 (commencing with Section 7280), inclusive, of Division 2 of the Revenue and Taxation Code, the fees collected pursuant to this section, or another law whereby a local agency operating an airport requires a rental car company to collect a facility financing fee from its customers, are not subject to sales, use, or transaction taxes.
(m)(1)A rental company shall only advertise, quote, and charge a rental rate that includes the entire amount except taxes, a customer facility charge, if any, and a mileage charge, if any, that a renter must pay to hire or lease the vehicle for the period of time to which the rental rate applies. A rental company shall not charge in addition to the rental rate, taxes, a customer facility charge, if any, and a mileage charge, if any, any fee that is required to be paid by the renter as a condition of hiring or leasing the vehicle, including, but not limited to, required fuel or airport surcharges other than customer facility charges, nor a fee for transporting the renter to the location where the rented vehicle will be delivered to the renter.
(2)In addition to the rental rate, taxes, customer facility charges, if any, and mileage charges, if any, a rental company may charge for an item or service provided in connection with a particular rental transaction if the renter could have avoided incurring the charge by choosing not to obtain or utilize the optional item or service. Items and services for which the rental company may impose an additional charge include, but are not limited to, optional insurance and accessories requested by the renter, service charges incident to the renters 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 renter did not return the vehicle with as much fuel as was in the fuel tank at the beginning of the rental. A rental company also may impose an additional charge based on reasonable age criteria established by the rental company.
(m)(1) When providing a quote, or imposing charges for a rental, the rental company may separately state the rental rate, additional mandatory charges, if any, and a mileage charge, if any, that a renter must pay to hire or lease the vehicle for the period of time to which the rental rate applies.
(2)If additional mandatory charges are imposed, the rental company shall do each of the following:
(A)At the time the quote is given, provide the person receiving the quote with a good faith estimate of the rental rate and all additional mandatory charges, as well as the total charges for the entire rental. The total charges, if provided on an Internet Web site page, shall be displayed in a typeface at least as large as any rental rate disclosed on that page and shall be provided on a page that the person receiving the quote may reach by following links through no more than two Internet Web site pages, including the page on which the rental rate is first provided. The good faith estimate may exclude mileage charges and charges for optional items that cannot be determined prior to completing the reservation based upon the information provided by the person.
(B)At the time and place the rental commences, clearly and conspicuously disclose in the rental contract, or that portion of the contract that is provided to the renter, the total of the rental rate, additional mandatory charges, for the entire rental, exclusive of charges that cannot be determined at the time the rental commences. Charges imposed pursuant to this subparagraph shall be no more than the amount of the quote provided in a confirmed reservation, unless the person changes the terms of the rental contract subsequent to making the reservation.
(C)Provide each person, other than those persons within the rental company, offering quotes to actual or prospective customers access to information about additional mandatory charges, as well as access to information about when those charges apply. Any person providing quotes to actual or prospective customers for the hire or lease of a vehicle from a rental company shall provide the quotes in the manner described in subparagraph (A).
(3)In addition to the rental rate, additional mandatory charges, if any, and mileage charges, if any, a rental company may charge for an item or service provided in connection with a particular rental transaction if the renter could have avoided incurring the charge by choosing not to obtain or utilize the optional item or service. Items and services for which the rental company may impose an additional charge, include, but are not limited to, optional insurance and accessories requested by the renter, service charges incident to the renters 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 renter did not return the vehicle with as much fuel as was in the fuel tank at the beginning of the rental. A rental company also may impose an additional charge based on reasonable age criteria established by the rental company.
(3)
(4)A rental company shall not charge a fee for authorized drivers in addition to the rental charge for an individual renter.
(4)
(5)If a rental company states a rental rate in print advertisement or in a telephonic, in-person, or computer-transmitted quotation, the rental company shall disclose clearly in that advertisement or quotation the terms of mileage conditions relating to the advertised or quoted rental rate, including, but not limited to, to the extent applicable, the amount of mileage and gas charges, the number of miles for which no charges will be imposed, and a description of geographic driving limitations within the United States and Canada.
(5)(A)When a rental rate is stated in an advertisement, quotation, or reservation in connection with a car rental at an airport where a customer facility charge is imposed, the rental company shall disclose clearly the existence and amount of the customer facility charge. For purposes of this subparagraph, advertisements include radio, television, other electronic media, and print advertisements. For purposes of this subparagraph, quotations and reservations include those that are telephonic, in-person, and computer-transmitted. If the rate advertisement is intended to include transactions at more than one airport imposing a customer facility charge, a range of fees may be stated in the advertisement. However, all
(6)All rate advertisements that include car rentals at airport destinations shall clearly and conspicuously include a toll-free telephone number whereby a customer can be told the specific amount of the customer facility charge to which the customer will be obligated.
(B)If a person or entity other than a rental car company, including a passenger carrier or a seller of travel services, advertises or quotes a rate for a car rental at an airport where a customer facility charge is imposed, that person or entity shall, provided that he, she, or it is provided with information about the existence and amount of the fee, to the extent not specifically prohibited by federal law, clearly disclose the existence and amount of the fee in any telephonic, in-person, or computer-transmitted quotation at the time of making an initial quotation of a rental rate and at the time of making a reservation of a rental car. If a rental car company provides the person or entity with rate and customer facility charge information, the rental car company is not responsible for the failure of that person or entity to comply with this subparagraph when quoting or confirming a rate to a third person or entity.
(6)
(7)If a rental company delivers a vehicle to a renter at a location other than the location where the rental company normally carries on its business, the rental company shall not charge the renter an amount for the rental for the period before the delivery of the vehicle. If a rental company picks up a rented vehicle from a renter at a location other than the location where the rental company normally carries on its business, the rental company shall not charge the renter an amount for the rental for the period after the renter notifies the rental company to pick up the vehicle.
(8)Except as otherwise permitted pursuant to the customer facility charge, a rental company may not separately charge, in addition to the rental rate, a fee for transporting the renter to the location where the rented vehicle will be delivered to the renter.
(n)A rental company shall not use, access, or obtain use any information relating to the renters use of the rental vehicle that was obtained using electronic surveillance technology, except in the following circumstances:
(1)(A)When the equipment is used by the rental company only for the purpose of locating a stolen, abandoned, or missing rental vehicle after one of the following:
(i)The renter or law enforcement has informed the rental company that the vehicle is missing or has been stolen or abandoned.
(ii)The rental vehicle has not been returned following one week two days after the contracted return date, or by one week two days following the end of an extension of that return date.
(iii)The rental company discovers the rental vehicle has been stolen or abandoned, and, if stolen, it shall report the vehicle stolen to law enforcement by filing a stolen vehicle report, unless law enforcement has already informed the rental company that the vehicle is missing or has been stolen or abandoned.
(B)If electronic surveillance technology is activated pursuant to subparagraph (A), a rental company shall maintain a record, in either electronic or written form, of information relevant to the activation of that technology. That information shall include the rental agreement, including the return date, and the date and time the electronic surveillance technology was activated. The record shall also include, if relevant, a record of written or other communication with the renter, including communications regarding extensions of the rental, police reports, or other written communication with law enforcement officials. The record shall be maintained for a period of at least 12 months from the time the record is created and shall be made available upon the renters request. The rental company shall maintain and furnish explanatory codes necessary to read the record. A rental company shall not be required to maintain a record if electronic surveillance technology is activated to recover a rental vehicle that is stolen or missing at a time other than during a rental period.
(2)In response to a specific request from law enforcement pursuant to a subpoena or search warrant.
(3)This subdivision does not prohibit a rental company from equipping rental vehicles with GPS-based technology that provides navigation assistance to the occupants of the rental vehicle, if the rental company does not use, access, or obtain use information relating to the renters use of the rental vehicle that was obtained using that technology, except for the purposes of providing such navigation assistance or discovering or repairing a defect in the technology and the information may then be used only for that purpose.
(4)This subdivision does not prohibit a rental company from equipping rental vehicles with electronic surveillance technology that allows for the remote locking or unlocking of the vehicle at the request of the renter, if the rental company does not use, access, or obtain information relating to the renters use of the rental vehicle that was obtained using that technology, except as necessary to lock or unlock the vehicle.
(5)This subdivision does not prohibit a rental company from equipping rental vehicles with electronic surveillance technology that allows the company to provide roadside assistance, such as towing, flat tire, or fuel services, at the request of the renter, if the rental company does not use, access, or obtain information relating to the renters use of the rental vehicle that was obtained using that technology except as necessary to provide the requested roadside assistance.
(6)This subdivision does not prohibit a rental company from obtaining, accessing, or using information from electronic surveillance technology for the sole purpose of determining the date and time the vehicle is returned to the rental company, and the return location, the total mileage driven and the vehicle fuel level of the returned vehicle. This paragraph, however, shall apply only after the renter has returned the vehicle to the rental company, or is at one of the rental companies facilities and is in the process of returning the vehicle, and the information shall only be used for the purpose described in this paragraph.
(o)A rental company shall not use electronic surveillance technology to track a renter in order to impose fines or surcharges relating to the renters use of the rental vehicle.
(p)A renter may bring an action against a rental company for the recovery of damages and appropriate equitable relief for a violation of this section. The prevailing party shall be entitled to recover reasonable attorneys fees and costs.
(q)A rental company that brings an action against a renter for loss due to theft of the vehicle shall bring the action in the county in which the renter resides or, if the renter is not a resident of this state, in the jurisdiction in which the renter resides.
(r)A waiver of any of the provisions of this section shall be void and unenforceable as contrary to public policy.
(s)(1)A rental companys disclosure requirements shall be satisfied for renters who are enrolled in the rental companys membership program if all of the following conditions are met:
(A)
(1)Prior to the enrollees first rental as a participant in the program, the renter receives, in writing, the following:
(i)
(A)All of the disclosures required by paragraph (1) of subdivision (g), including the terms and conditions of the rental agreement then in effect.
(ii)
(B)An Internet Web site address, as well as a contact number or address, where the enrollee can learn of changes to the rental agreement or to the laws of this state governing rental agreements since the effective date of the rental companys most recent restatement of the rental agreement and distribution of that restatement to its members.
(B)
(2)At the commencement of each rental period, the renter is provided, on the rental record or the folder in which it is inserted, with a printed notice stating that he or she had either previously selected or declined an optional damage waiver and that the renter has the right to change preferences.
(C)At the commencement of each rental period, the rental company provides, on the rearview mirror, a hanger on which a statement is printed, in a box, in at least 12-point boldface type, notifying the renter that the collision damage waiver offered by the rental company may be duplicative of coverage that the customer maintains under his or her own policy of motor vehicle insurance. If it is not feasible to hang the statement from the rearview mirror, it shall be hung from the steering wheel.
The hanger shall provide the renter a box to initial if he or she (not his or her employer) has previously accepted or declined the collision damage waiver and that he or she now wishes to change his or her decision to accept or decline the collision damage waiver, as follows:
If I previously accepted the collision damage waiver, I now decline it.
If I previously declined the collision damage waiver, I now accept it.
The hanger shall also provide a box for the enrollee to indicate whether this change applies to this rental transaction only or to all future rental transactions. The hanger shall also notify the renter that he or she may make that change, prior to leaving the lot, by returning the form to an employee designated to receive the form who is present at the lot where the renter takes possession of the car, to receive any change in the rental agreement from the renter.
(2)(A)This subdivision is not effective unless the employee designated pursuant to subparagraph (E) of paragraph (8) of subdivision (a) is actually present at the required location.
(B)This subdivision does not relieve the rental company from the disclosures required to be made within the text of a contract or holder in which the contract is placed; in or on an advertisement containing a rental rate; or in a telephonic, in-person, or computer-transmitted quotation or reservation.
(t)The amendments made to this section during the 200102 Regular Session of the Legislature do not affect litigation pending on or before January 1, 2003, alleging a violation of Section 22325 of the Business and Professions Code as it read at the time the action was commenced.
(u)(1)When a rental company enters into a rental agreement in the state for the rental of a vehicle to any renter who is not a resident of this country and, as part of, or associated with, the rental agreement, the renter purchases liability insurance, as defined in subdivision (b) of Section 1758.85 of the Insurance Code, from the rental company in its capacity as a rental car agent for an authorized insurer, the rental company shall be authorized to accept, and, if served as set forth in this subdivision, shall accept, service of a summons and complaint and any other required documents against the foreign renter for any accident or collision resulting from the operation of the rental vehicle within the state during the rental period. If the rental company has a registered agent for service of process on file with the Secretary of State, process shall be served on the rental companys registered agent, either by first-class mail, return receipt requested, or by personal service.
(2)Within 30 days of acceptance of service of process, the rental company shall provide a copy of the summons and complaint and any other required documents served in accordance with this subdivision to the foreign renter by first-class mail, return receipt requested.
(3)Any plaintiff, or his or her representative, who elects to serve the foreign renter by delivering a copy of the summons and complaint and any other required documents to the rental company pursuant to paragraph (1) shall agree to limit his or her recovery against the foreign renter and the rental company to the limits of the protection extended by the liability insurance.
(4)Notwithstanding the requirements of Sections 17450 to 17456, inclusive, of the Vehicle Code, service of process in compliance with paragraph (1) shall be deemed valid and effective service.
(5)Notwithstanding any other provision of law, the requirement that the rental company accept service of process pursuant to paragraph (1) shall not create any duty, obligation, or agency relationship other than that provided in paragraph (1).
(v)This section shall remain in effect only until January 1, 2020, and as of that date is repealed, unless a later enacted statute, that is enacted before January 1, 2020, deletes or extends that date.
SEC. 2.Section 1936 of the Civil Code, as amended by Section 5.7 of Chapter 913 of the Statutes of 2014, is repealed.1936.(a)For the purpose of this section, the following definitions shall apply:
(1)Rental company means a person or entity in the business of renting passenger vehicles to the public.
(2)Renter means any person in a manner obligated under a contract for the lease or hire of a passenger vehicle from a rental company for a period of less than 30 days.
(3)Authorized driver means all of the following:
(A)The renter.
(B)The renters spouse if that person is a licensed driver and satisfies the rental companys minimum age requirement.
(C)The renters employer or coworker if he or she is engaged in business activity with the renter, is a licensed driver, and satisfies the rental companys minimum age requirement.
(D)A person expressly listed by the rental company on that renters contract as an authorized driver.
(4)(A)Customer facility charge means any fee, including an alternative fee, required by an airport to be collected by a rental company from a renter for any of the following purposes:
(i)To finance, design, and construct consolidated airport car rental facilities.
(ii)To finance, design, construct, and operate common-use transportation systems that move passengers between airport terminals and those consolidated car rental facilities, and acquire vehicles for use in that system.
(iii)To finance, design, and construct terminal modifications solely to accommodate and provide customer access to common-use transportation systems.
(B)The aggregate amount to be collected shall not exceed the reasonable costs, as determined by an audit, by an independent auditor, paid for by the airport, to finance, design, and construct those facilities. The auditor shall independently examine and substantiate the necessity for and the amount of the customer facility charge, including whether the airports actual or projected costs are supported and justified, any steps the airport may take to limit costs, potential alternatives for meeting the airports revenue needs other than the collection of the fee, and whether and to what extent car rental companies or other businesses or individuals using the facility or common-use transportation system may pay for the costs associated with these facilities and systems other than the fee from rental customers, or whether the airport did not comply with any provision of this subparagraph. Copies of the audit shall be provided to the Assembly and Senate Committees on Judiciary, the Assembly Committee on Transportation, and the Senate Committee on Transportation and Housing and shall be posted on the airports Internet Web site. In the case of a customer facility charge for a common-use transportation system, the audit also shall consider the reasonable costs of providing the transit system or busing network pursuant to clause (ii) of subparagraph (A). Any audit required by this subparagraph may be included as a part of an audit of an airports finances. Notwithstanding clause (iii) of subparagraph (A), the fees designated as a customer facility charge shall not be used to pay for terminal expansion, gate expansion, runway expansion, changes in hours of operation, or changes in the number of flights arriving or departing from the airport.
(C)Except as provided in subparagraph (D), the authorization given pursuant to this section for an airport to impose a customer facility charge shall become inoperative when the bonds used for financing are paid.
(D)If a bond or other form of indebtedness is not used for financing, or the bond or other form of indebtedness used for financing has been paid, the Oakland International Airport may require the collection of a customer facility charge for a period of up to 10 years from the imposition of the charge for the purposes allowed by, and subject to the conditions imposed by, this section.
(5)Damage waiver means a rental companys agreement not to hold a renter liable for all or any portion of any damage or loss related to the rented vehicle, any loss of use of the rented vehicle, or any storage, impound, towing, or administrative charges.
(6)Electronic surveillance technology means a technological method or system used to observe, monitor, or collect information, including telematics, Global Positioning System (GPS), wireless technology, or location-based technologies. Electronic surveillance technology does not include event data recorders (EDR), sensing and diagnostic modules (SDM), or other systems that are used either:
(A)For the purpose of identifying, diagnosing, or monitoring functions related to the potential need to repair, service, or perform maintenance on the rental vehicle.
(B)As part of the vehicles airbag sensing and diagnostic system in order to capture safety systems-related data for retrieval after a crash has occurred or in the event that the collision sensors are activated to prepare the decisionmaking computer to make the determination to deploy or not to deploy the airbag.
(7)Estimated time for replacement means the number of hours of labor, or fraction thereof, needed to replace damaged vehicle parts as set forth in collision damage estimating guides generally used in the vehicle repair business and commonly known as crash books.
(8)Estimated time for repair means a good faith estimate of the reasonable number of hours of labor, or fraction thereof, needed to repair damaged vehicle parts.
(9)Membership program means a service offered by a rental company that permits customers to bypass the rental counter and go directly to the car previously reserved. A membership program shall meet all of the following requirements:
(A)The renter initiates enrollment by completing an application on which the renter can specify a preference for type of vehicle and acceptance or declination of optional services.
(B)The rental company fully discloses, prior to the enrollees first rental as a participant in the program, all terms and conditions of the rental agreement as well as all required disclosures.
(C)The renter may terminate enrollment at any time.
(D)The rental company fully explains to the renter that designated preferences, as well as acceptance or declination of optional services, may be changed by the renter at any time for the next and future rentals.
(E)An employee designated to receive the form specified in subparagraph (C) of paragraph (1) of subdivision (s) is present at the lot where the renter takes possession of the car, to receive any change in the rental agreement from the renter.
(10)Passenger vehicle means a passenger vehicle as defined in Section 465 of the Vehicle Code.
(b)Except as limited by subdivision (c), a rental company and a renter may agree that the renter will be responsible for no more than all of the following:
(1)Physical or mechanical damage to the rented vehicle up to its fair market value, as determined in the customary market for the sale of that vehicle, resulting from collision regardless of the cause of the damage.
(2)Loss due to theft of the rented vehicle up to its fair market value, as determined in the customary market for the sale of that vehicle, provided that the rental company establishes by clear and convincing evidence that the renter or the authorized driver failed to exercise ordinary care while in possession of the vehicle. In addition, the renter shall be presumed to have no liability for any loss due to theft if (A) an authorized driver has possession of the ignition key furnished by the rental company or an authorized driver establishes that the ignition key furnished by the rental company was not in the vehicle at the time of the theft, and (B) an authorized driver files an official report of the theft with the police or other law enforcement agency within 24 hours of learning of the theft and reasonably cooperates with the rental company and the police or other law enforcement agency in providing information concerning the theft. The presumption set forth in this paragraph is a presumption affecting the burden of proof which the rental company may rebut by establishing that an authorized driver committed, or aided and abetted the commission of, the theft.
(3)Physical damage to the rented vehicle up to its fair market value, as determined in the customary market for the sale of that vehicle, resulting from vandalism occurring after, or in connection with, the theft of the rented vehicle. However, the renter shall have no liability for any damage due to vandalism if the renter would have no liability for theft pursuant to paragraph (2).
(4)Physical damage to the rented vehicle up to a total of five hundred dollars ($500) resulting from vandalism unrelated to the theft of the rented vehicle.
(5)Actual charges for towing, storage, and impound fees paid by the rental company if the renter is liable for damage or loss.
(6)An administrative charge, which shall include the cost of appraisal and all other costs and expenses incident to the damage, loss, repair, or replacement of the rented vehicle.
(c)The total amount of the renters liability to the rental company resulting from damage to the rented vehicle shall not exceed the sum of the following:
(1)The estimated cost of parts which the rental company would have to pay to replace damaged vehicle parts. All discounts and price reductions or adjustments that are or will be received by the rental company shall be subtracted from the estimate to the extent not already incorporated in the estimate, or otherwise promptly credited or refunded to the renter.
(2)The estimated cost of labor to replace damaged vehicle parts, which shall not exceed the product of (A) the rate for labor usually paid by the rental company to replace vehicle parts of the type that were damaged and (B) the estimated time for replacement. All discounts and price reductions or adjustments that are or will be received by the rental company shall be subtracted from the estimate to the extent not already incorporated in the estimate, or otherwise promptly credited or refunded to the renter.
(3)(A)The estimated cost of labor to repair damaged vehicle parts, which shall not exceed the lesser of the following:
(i)The product of the rate for labor usually paid by the rental company to repair vehicle parts of the type that were damaged and the estimated time for repair.
(ii)The sum of the estimated labor and parts costs determined under paragraphs (1) and (2) to replace the same vehicle parts.
(B)All discounts and price reductions or adjustments that are or will be received by the rental company shall be subtracted from the estimate to the extent not already incorporated in the estimate, or otherwise promptly credited or refunded to the renter.
(4)For the purpose of converting the estimated time for repair into the same units of time in which the rental rate is expressed, a day shall be deemed to consist of eight hours.
(5)Actual charges for towing, storage, and impound fees paid by the rental company.
(6)The administrative charge described in paragraph (6) of subdivision (b) shall not exceed (A) fifty dollars ($50) if the total estimated cost for parts and labor is more than one hundred dollars ($100) up to and including five hundred dollars ($500), (B) one hundred dollars ($100) if the total estimated cost for parts and labor exceeds five hundred dollars ($500) up to and including one thousand five hundred dollars ($1,500), and (C) one hundred fifty dollars ($150) if the total estimated cost for parts and labor exceeds one thousand five hundred dollars ($1,500). An administrative charge shall not be imposed if the total estimated cost of parts and labor is one hundred dollars ($100) or less.
(d)(1)The total amount of an authorized drivers liability to the rental company, if any, for damage occurring during the authorized drivers operation of the rented vehicle shall not exceed the amount of the renters liability under subdivision (c).
(2)A rental company shall not recover from the renter or other authorized driver an amount exceeding the renters liability under subdivision (c).
(3)A claim against a renter resulting from damage or loss, excluding loss of use, to a rental vehicle shall be reasonably and rationally related to the actual loss incurred. A rental company shall mitigate damages where possible and shall not assert or collect a claim for physical damage which exceeds the actual costs of the repairs performed or the estimated cost of repairs, if the rental company chooses not to repair the vehicle, including all discounts and price reductions. However, if the vehicle is a total loss vehicle, the claim shall not exceed the total loss vehicle value established in accordance with procedures that are customarily used by insurance companies when paying claims on total loss vehicles, less the proceeds from salvaging the vehicle, if those proceeds are retained by the rental company.
(4)If insurance coverage exists under the renters applicable personal or business insurance policy and the coverage is confirmed during regular business hours, the renter may require that the rental company submit any claims to the renters applicable personal or business insurance carrier. The rental company shall not make any written or oral representations that it will not present claims or negotiate with the renters insurance carrier. For purposes of this paragraph, confirmation of coverage includes telephone confirmation from insurance company representatives during regular business hours. Upon request of the renter and after confirmation of coverage, the amount of claim shall be resolved between the insurance carrier and the rental company. The renter shall remain responsible for payment to the rental car company for any loss sustained that the renters applicable personal or business insurance policy does not cover.
(5)A rental company shall not recover from the renter or other authorized driver for an item described in subdivision (b) to the extent the rental company obtains recovery from another person.
(6)This section applies only to the maximum liability of a renter or other authorized driver to the rental company resulting from damage to the rented vehicle and not to the liability of another person.
(e)(1)Except as provided in subdivision (f), a damage waiver shall provide or, if not expressly stated in writing, shall be deemed to provide that the renter has no liability for damage, loss, loss of use, or a cost or expense incident thereto.
(2)Except as provided in subdivision (f), every limitation, exception, or exclusion to a damage waiver is void and unenforceable.
(f)A rental company may provide in the rental contract that a damage waiver does not apply under any of the following circumstances:
(1)Damage or loss results from an authorized drivers (A) intentional, willful, wanton, or reckless conduct, (B) operation of the vehicle under the influence of drugs or alcohol in violation of Section 23152 of the Vehicle Code, (C) towing or pushing anything, or (D) operation of the vehicle on an unpaved road if the damage or loss is a direct result of the road or driving conditions.
(2)Damage or loss occurs while the vehicle is (A) used for commercial hire, (B) used in connection with conduct that could be properly charged as a felony, (C) involved in a speed test or contest or in driver training activity, (D) operated by a person other than an authorized driver, or (E) operated outside the United States.
(3)An authorized driver who has (A) provided fraudulent information to the rental company, or (B) provided false information and the rental company would not have rented the vehicle if it had instead received true information.
(g)(1)A rental company that offers or provides a damage waiver for any consideration in addition to the rental rate shall clearly and conspicuously disclose the following information in the rental contract or holder in which the contract is placed and, also, in signs posted at the place, such as the counter, where the renter signs the rental contract, and, for renters who are enrolled in the rental companys membership program, in a sign that shall be posted in a location clearly visible to those renters as they enter the location where their reserved rental cars are parked or near the exit of the bus or other conveyance that transports the enrollee to a reserved car: (A) the nature of the renters liability, such as liability for all collision damage regardless of cause, (B) the extent of the renters liability, such as liability for damage or loss up to a specified amount, (C) the renters personal insurance policy or the credit card used to pay for the car rental transaction may provide coverage for all or a portion of the renters potential liability, (D) the renter should consult with his or her insurer to determine the scope of insurance coverage, including the amount of the deductible, if any, for which the renter is obligated, (E) the renter may purchase an optional damage waiver to cover all liability, subject to whatever exceptions the rental company expressly lists that are permitted under subdivision (f), and (F) the range of charges for the damage waiver.
(2)In addition to the requirements of paragraph (1), a rental company that offers or provides a damage waiver shall orally disclose to all renters, except those who are participants in the rental companys membership program, that the damage waiver may be duplicative of coverage that the customer maintains under his or her own policy of motor vehicle insurance. The renters receipt of the oral disclosure shall be demonstrated through the renters acknowledging receipt of the oral disclosure near that part of the contract where the renter indicates, by the renters own initials, his or her acceptance or declination of the damage waiver. Adjacent to that same part, the contract also shall state that the damage waiver is optional. Further, the contract for these renters shall include a clear and conspicuous written disclosure that the damage waiver may be duplicative of coverage that the customer maintains under his or her own policy of motor vehicle insurance.
(3)The following is an example, for purposes of illustration and not limitation, of a notice fulfilling the requirements of paragraph (1) for a rental company that imposes liability on the renter for collision damage to the full value of the vehicle:
NOTICE ABOUT YOUR FINANCIAL RESPONSIBILITY AND OPTIONAL DAMAGE WAIVER
You are responsible for all collision damage to the rented vehicle even if someone else caused it or the cause is unknown. You are responsible for the cost of repair up to the value of the vehicle, and towing, storage, and impound fees.
Your own insurance, or the issuer of the credit card you use to pay for the car rental transaction, may cover all or part of your financial responsibility for the rented vehicle. You should check with your insurance company, or credit card issuer, to find out about your coverage and the amount of the deductible, if any, for which you may be liable.
Further, if you use a credit card that provides coverage for your potential liability, you should check with the issuer to determine if you must first exhaust the coverage limits of your own insurance before the credit card coverage applies.
The rental company will not hold you responsible if you buy a damage waiver. But a damage waiver will not protect you if (list exceptions).
(A)When the above notice is printed in the rental contract or holder in which the contract is placed, the following shall be printed immediately following the notice:
The cost of an optional damage waiver is $____ for every (day or week).
(B)When the above notice appears on a sign, the following shall appear immediately adjacent to the notice:
The cost of an optional damage waiver is $____ to $____ for every (day or week), depending upon the vehicle rented.
(h)Notwithstanding any other provision of law, a rental company may sell a damage waiver subject to the following rate limitations for each full or partial 24-hour rental day for the damage waiver:
(1)For rental vehicles that the rental company designates as an economy car, compact car, or another term having similar meaning to the two smallest body-size categories of vehicles established by the Association of Car Rental Industry Systems Standards for North America, as of January 1, 2014, when offered for rental, the rate shall not exceed eleven dollars ($11).
(2)For rental vehicles that the rental company designates as an intermediate car, standard car, or full-size car, or another term having similar meaning to the next three body-size categories of vehicles established by the Association of Car Rental Industry Systems Standards for North America, as of January 1, 2014, and that are also either vehicles of the next model year, or not older than the previous years model, when offered for rental, the rate shall not exceed seventeen dollars ($17). For rental vehicles that are older than the previous years model year, the rate shall not exceed eleven dollars ($11).
(i)A rental company that disseminates in this state an advertisement containing a rental rate shall include in that advertisement a clearly readable statement of the charge for a damage waiver and a statement that a damage waiver is optional.
(j)(1)A rental company shall not require the purchase of a damage waiver, optional insurance, or another optional good or service.
(2)A rental company shall not engage in any unfair, deceptive, or coercive conduct to induce a renter to purchase the damage waiver, optional insurance, or another optional good or service, including conduct such as, but not limited to, refusing to honor the renters reservation, limiting the availability of vehicles, requiring a deposit, or debiting or blocking the renters credit card account for a sum equivalent to a deposit if the renter declines to purchase the damage waiver, optional insurance, or another optional good or service.
(k)(1)In the absence of express permission granted by the renter subsequent to damage to, or loss of, the vehicle, a rental company shall not seek to recover any portion of a claim arising out of damage to, or loss of, the rented vehicle by processing a credit card charge or causing a debit or block to be placed on the renters credit card account.
(2)A rental company shall not engage in any unfair, deceptive, or coercive tactics in attempting to recover or in recovering on any claim arising out of damage to, or loss of, the rented vehicle.
(l)(1)A customer facility charge may be collected by a rental company under the following circumstances:
(A)Collection of the fee by the rental company is required by an airport operated by a city, a county, a city and county, a joint powers authority, a special district, or the San Diego County Regional Airport Authority formed pursuant to Division 17 (commencing with Section 170000) of the Public Utilities Code.
(B)The fee is calculated on a per contract basis or as provided in paragraph (2).
(C)The fee is a user fee, not a tax imposed upon real property or an incident of property ownership under Article XIIID of the California Constitution.
(D)Except as otherwise provided in subparagraph (E), the fee shall be ten dollars ($10) per contract or the amount provided in paragraph (2).
(E)The fee for a consolidated rental car facility shall be collected only from customers of on-airport rental car companies. If the fee imposed by the airport is for both a consolidated rental car facility and a common-use transportation system, the fee collected from customers of on-airport rental car companies shall be ten dollars ($10) or the amount provided in paragraph (2), but the fee imposed on customers of off-airport rental car companies who are transported on the common-use transportation system is proportionate to the costs of the common-use transportation system only. The fee is uniformly applied to each class of on-airport or off-airport customers, provided that the airport requires off-airport customers to use the common-use transportation system. For purposes of this subparagraph, on-airport rental car company means a rental company operating under an airport property lease or an airport concession or license agreement whose customers use or will use the consolidated rental car facility and the collection of the fee as to those customers is consistent with subparagraph (C).
(F)Revenues collected from the fee do not exceed the reasonable costs of financing, designing, and constructing the facility and financing, designing, constructing, and operating any common-use transportation system, or acquiring vehicles for use in that system, and shall not be used for any other purpose.
(G)The fee is separately identified on the rental agreement.
(H)This paragraph does not apply to fees which are governed by Section 50474.1 of the Government Code or Section 57.5 of the San Diego Unified Port District Act (Chapter 67 of the First Extraordinary Session of the Statutes of 1962).
(I)For any airport seeking to require rental car companies to collect an alternative customer facility charge pursuant to paragraph (2), the following provisions apply:
(i)Notwithstanding Section 10231.5 of the Government Code, the airport shall provide reports on an annual basis to the Senate and Assembly Committees on Judiciary detailing all of the following:
(I)The total amount of the customer facility charge collected.
(II)How the funds are being spent.
(III)The amount of and reason for any changes in the airports budget or financial needs for the facility or common-use transportation system.
(IV)Whether airport concession fees authorized by Section 1936.01 have increased since the prior report, if any.
(ii)(I)The airport shall complete the audit required by subparagraph (B) of paragraph (4) of subdivision (a) prior to the initial collection of the customer facility charge. Notwithstanding Section 10231.5 of the Government Code, copies of the audit shall be provided to the Assembly and Senate Committees on Judiciary, the Assembly Committee on Transportation, and the Senate Committee on Transportation and Housing and shall be posted on the airports Internet Web site.
(II)Prior to any increase pursuant to paragraph (2), the airport shall update the information provided in the initial collection audit pursuant to subclause (I). Notwithstanding Section 10231.5 of the Government Code, copies of the updated audit shall be provided to the Assembly and Senate Committees on Judiciary, the Assembly Committee on Transportation, and the Senate Committee on Transportation and Housing, and shall be posted on the airports Internet Web site.
(III)An audit shall be completed every three years after initial collection only if the customer facility charge is collected for the purpose of operating a common-use transportation system or to acquire vehicles for use in the system pursuant to clause (ii) of subparagraph (A) of paragraph (4) of subdivision (a). A regularly conducted audit of airport finances that includes the customer facility charge information, that satisfies the requirements of subparagraph (B) of paragraph (4) of subdivision (a), and is produced in accordance with the generally accepted accounting principles of the Government Accounting Standards Board, shall satisfy the requirements of this subclause. This obligation shall continue until the fee authorization becomes inoperative pursuant to subparagraph (C) of paragraph (4) of subdivision (a). Notwithstanding Section 10231.5 of the Government Code, the information reported pursuant to this subclause shall be compiled into one document, shall be provided to the Assembly and Senate Committees on Judiciary, the Assembly Committee on Transportation, and the Senate Committee on Transportation and Housing and shall be posted on the airports Internet Web site accessible to the public. The information reported shall be contained within one easily accessible page contained within the airports Internet Web site.
(IV)This section shall not be construed to require an airport to audit a common-use transportation system not financed by a customer facility charge and used for the purposes permitted pursuant to clause (ii) of subparagraph (A) of paragraph (4) of subdivision (a).
(V)The airport shall post on the airports Internet Web site copies of the completed audits required by this clause for a period of six years following the audits completion.
(iii)Use of the bonds shall be limited to construction and design of the consolidated rental car facility, terminal modifications, and operating costs of the common-use transportation system, as specified in paragraph (4) of subdivision (a).
(2)Any airport may require rental car companies to collect an alternative customer facility charge under the following conditions:
(A)The airport first conducts a publicly noticed hearing pursuant to the Ralph M. Brown Act (Chapter 9 (commencing with Section 54950) of Part 1 of Division 2 of Title 5 of the Government Code) to review the costs of financing the design and construction of a consolidated rental car facility and the design, construction, and operation of any common-use transportation system in which all of the following occur:
(i)The airport establishes the amount of revenue necessary to finance the reasonable cost to design and construct a consolidated rental car facility and to design, construct, and operate any common-use transportation system, or acquire vehicles for use in that system, based on evidence presented during the hearing.
(ii)The airport finds, based on evidence presented during the hearing, that the fee authorized in paragraph (1) will not generate sufficient revenue to finance the reasonable costs to design and construct a consolidated rental car facility and to design, construct, and operate any common-use transportation system, or acquire vehicles for use in that system.
(iii)The airport finds that the reasonable cost of the project requires the additional amount of revenue that would be generated by the proposed daily rate, including any rate increase, authorized pursuant to this paragraph.
(iv)The airport outlines each of the following:
(I)Steps it has taken to limit costs.
(II)Other potential alternatives for meeting its revenue needs other than the collection of the fee.
(III)The extent to which rental car companies or other businesses or individuals using the facility or common-use transportation system will pay for the costs associated with these facilities and systems other than the fee from rental customers.
(B)The airport may not require the fee authorized in this paragraph to be collected at any time that the fee authorized in paragraph (1) of this subdivision is being collected.
(C)Pursuant to the procedure set forth in this subdivision, the fee may be collected at a rate charged on a per-day basis subject to the following conditions:
(i)Commencing January 1, 2011, the amount of the fee may not exceed six dollars ($6) per day.
(ii)Commencing January 1, 2014, the amount of the fee may not exceed seven dollars and fifty cents ($7.50) per day.
(iii)Commencing January 1, 2017, and thereafter, the amount of the fee may not exceed nine dollars ($9) per day.
(iv)At no time shall the fee authorized in this paragraph be collected from any customer for more than five days for each individual rental car contract.
(v)An airport subject to this paragraph shall initiate the process for obtaining the authority to require or increase the alternative fee no later than January 1, 2018. Any airport that obtains the authority to require or increase an alternative fee shall be authorized to continue collecting that fee until the fee authorization becomes inoperative pursuant to subparagraph (C) of paragraph (4) of subdivision (a).
(3)Notwithstanding any other provision of law, including, but not limited to, Part 1 (commencing with Section 6001) to Part 1.7 (commencing with Section 7280), inclusive, of Division 2 of the Revenue and Taxation Code, the fees collected pursuant to this section, or another law whereby a local agency operating an airport requires a rental car company to collect a facility financing fee from its customers, are not subject to sales, use, or transaction taxes.
(m)(1)A rental company shall only advertise, quote, and charge a rental rate that includes the entire amount except taxes, a customer facility charge, if any, and a mileage charge, if any, that a renter must pay to hire or lease the vehicle for the period of time to which the rental rate applies. A rental company shall not charge in addition to the rental rate, taxes, a customer facility charge, if any, and a mileage charge, if any, any fee that is required to be paid by the renter as a condition of hiring or leasing the vehicle, including, but not limited to, required fuel or airport surcharges other than customer facility charges, nor a fee for transporting the renter to the location where the rented vehicle will be delivered to the renter.
(2)In addition to the rental rate, taxes, customer facility charges, if any, and mileage charges, if any, a rental company may charge for an item or service provided in connection with a particular rental transaction if the renter could have avoided incurring the charge by choosing not to obtain or utilize the optional item or service. Items and services for which the rental company may impose an additional charge include, but are not limited to, optional insurance and accessories requested by the renter, service charges incident to the renters 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 renter did not return the vehicle with as much fuel as was in the fuel tank at the beginning of the rental. A rental company also may impose an additional charge based on reasonable age criteria established by the rental company.
(3)A rental company shall not charge a fee for authorized drivers in addition to the rental charge for an individual renter.
(4)If a rental company states a rental rate in print advertisement or in a telephonic, in-person, or computer-transmitted quotation, the rental company shall disclose clearly in that advertisement or quotation the terms of mileage conditions relating to the advertised or quoted rental rate, including, but not limited to, to the extent applicable, the amount of mileage and gas charges, the number of miles for which no charges will be imposed, and a description of geographic driving limitations within the United States and Canada.
(5)(A)When a rental rate is stated in an advertisement, quotation, or reservation in connection with a car rental at an airport where a customer facility charge is imposed, the rental company shall disclose clearly the existence and amount of the customer facility charge. For purposes of this subparagraph, advertisements include radio, television, other electronic media, and print advertisements. For purposes of this subparagraph, quotations and reservations include those that are telephonic, in-person, and computer-transmitted. If the rate advertisement is intended to include transactions at more than one airport imposing a customer facility charge, a range of fees may be stated in the advertisement. However, all rate advertisements that include car rentals at airport destinations shall clearly and conspicuously include a toll-free telephone number whereby a customer can be told the specific amount of the customer facility charge to which the customer will be obligated.
(B)If a person or entity other than a rental car company, including a passenger carrier or a seller of travel services, advertises or quotes a rate for a car rental at an airport where a customer facility charge is imposed, that person or entity shall, provided that he, she, or it is provided with information about the existence and amount of the fee, to the extent not specifically prohibited by federal law, clearly disclose the existence and amount of the fee in any telephonic, in-person, or computer-transmitted quotation at the time of making an initial quotation of a rental rate and at the time of making a reservation of a rental car. If a rental car company provides the person or entity with rate and customer facility charge information, the rental car company is not responsible for the failure of that person or entity to comply with this subparagraph when quoting or confirming a rate to a third person or entity.
(6)If a rental company delivers a vehicle to a renter at a location other than the location where the rental company normally carries on its business, the rental company shall not charge the renter an amount for the rental for the period before the delivery of the vehicle. If a rental company picks up a rented vehicle from a renter at a location other than the location where the rental company normally carries on its business, the rental company shall not charge the renter an amount for the rental for the period after the renter notifies the rental company to pick up the vehicle.
(n)A rental company shall not use, access, or obtain any information relating to the renters use of the rental vehicle that was obtained using electronic surveillance technology, except in the following circumstances:
(1)(A)When the equipment is used by the rental company only for the purpose of locating a stolen, abandoned, or missing rental vehicle after one of the following:
(i)The renter or law enforcement has informed the rental company that the vehicle is missing or has been stolen or abandoned.
(ii)The rental vehicle has not been returned following one week after the contracted return date, or by one week following the end of an extension of that return date.
(iii)The rental company discovers the rental vehicle has been stolen or abandoned, and, if stolen, it shall report the vehicle stolen to law enforcement by filing a stolen vehicle report, unless law enforcement has already informed the rental company that the vehicle is missing or has been stolen or abandoned.
(B)If electronic surveillance technology is activated pursuant to subparagraph (A), a rental company shall maintain a record, in either electronic or written form, of information relevant to the activation of that technology. That information shall include the rental agreement, including the return date, and the date and time the electronic surveillance technology was activated. The record shall also include, if relevant, a record of written or other communication with the renter, including communications regarding extensions of the rental, police reports, or other written communication with law enforcement officials. The record shall be maintained for a period of at least 12 months from the time the record is created and shall be made available upon the renters request. The rental company shall maintain and furnish explanatory codes necessary to read the record. A rental company shall not be required to maintain a record if electronic surveillance technology is activated to recover a rental vehicle that is stolen or missing at a time other than during a rental period.
(2)In response to a specific request from law enforcement pursuant to a subpoena or search warrant.
(3)This subdivision does not prohibit a rental company from equipping rental vehicles with GPS-based technology that provides navigation assistance to the occupants of the rental vehicle, if the rental company does not use, access, or obtain information relating to the renters use of the rental vehicle that was obtained using that technology, except for the purposes of discovering or repairing a defect in the technology and the information may then be used only for that purpose.
(4)This subdivision does not prohibit a rental company from equipping rental vehicles with electronic surveillance technology that allows for the remote locking or unlocking of the vehicle at the request of the renter, if the rental company does not use, access, or obtain information relating to the renters use of the rental vehicle that was obtained using that technology, except as necessary to lock or unlock the vehicle.
(5)This subdivision does not prohibit a rental company from equipping rental vehicles with electronic surveillance technology that allows the company to provide roadside assistance, such as towing, flat tire, or fuel services, at the request of the renter, if the rental company does not use, access, or obtain information relating to the renters use of the rental vehicle that was obtained using that technology except as necessary to provide the requested roadside assistance.
(6)This subdivision does not prohibit a rental company from obtaining, accessing, or using information from electronic surveillance technology for the sole purpose of determining the date and time the vehicle is returned to the rental company, and the total mileage driven and the vehicle fuel level of the returned vehicle. This paragraph, however, shall apply only after the renter has returned the vehicle to the rental company, and the information shall only be used for the purpose described in this paragraph.
(o)A rental company shall not use electronic surveillance technology to track a renter in order to impose fines or surcharges relating to the renters use of the rental vehicle.
(p)A renter may bring an action against a rental company for the recovery of damages and appropriate equitable relief for a violation of this section. The prevailing party shall be entitled to recover reasonable attorneys fees and costs.
(q)A rental company that brings an action against a renter for loss due to theft of the vehicle shall bring the action in the county in which the renter resides or, if the renter is not a resident of this state, in the jurisdiction in which the renter resides.
(r)A waiver of any of the provisions of this section shall be void and unenforceable as contrary to public policy.
(s)(1)A rental companys disclosure requirements shall be satisfied for renters who are enrolled in the rental companys membership program if all of the following conditions are met:
(A)Prior to the enrollees first rental as a participant in the program, the renter receives, in writing, the following:
(i)All of the disclosures required by paragraph (1) of subdivision (g), including the terms and conditions of the rental agreement then in effect.
(ii)An Internet Web site address, as well as a contact number or address, where the enrollee can learn of changes to the rental agreement or to the laws of this state governing rental agreements since the effective date of the rental companys most recent restatement of the rental agreement and distribution of that restatement to its members.
(B)At the commencement of each rental period, the renter is provided, on the rental record or the folder in which it is inserted, with a printed notice stating that he or she had either previously selected or declined an optional damage waiver and that the renter has the right to change preferences.
(C)At the commencement of each rental period, the rental company provides, on the rearview mirror, a hanger on which a statement is printed, in a box, in at least 12-point boldface type, notifying the renter that the collision damage waiver offered by the rental company may be duplicative of coverage that the customer maintains under his or her own policy of motor vehicle insurance. If it is not feasible to hang the statement from the rearview mirror, it shall be hung from the steering wheel.
The hanger shall provide the renter a box to initial if he or she (not his or her employer) has previously accepted or declined the collision damage waiver and that he or she now wishes to change his or her decision to accept or decline the collision damage waiver, as follows:
If I previously accepted the collision damage waiver, I now decline it.
If I previously declined the collision damage waiver, I now accept it.
The hanger shall also provide a box for the enrollee to indicate whether this change applies to this rental transaction only or to all future rental transactions. The hanger shall also notify the renter that he or she may make that change, prior to leaving the lot, by returning the form to an employee designated to receive the form who is present at the lot where the renter takes possession of the car, to receive any change in the rental agreement from the renter.
(2)(A)This subdivision is not effective unless the employee designated pursuant to subparagraph (E) of paragraph (8) of subdivision (a) is actually present at the required location.
(B)This subdivision does not relieve the rental company from the disclosures required to be made within the text of a contract or holder in which the contract is placed; in or on an advertisement containing a rental rate; or in a telephonic, in-person, or computer-transmitted quotation or reservation.
(t)The amendments made to this section during the 200102 Regular Session of the Legislature do not affect litigation pending on or before January 1, 2003, alleging a violation of Section 22325 of the Business and Professions Code as it read at the time the action was commenced.
(u)This section shall become operative on January 1, 2020.
SEC. 3.Section 1936.01 of the Civil Code is repealed.1936.01.(a)For the purpose of this section, the following definitions shall apply:
(1)Airport concession fee means a charge collected by a rental company from a renter that is the renters proportionate share of the amount paid by the rental company to the owner or operator of an airport for the right or privilege of conducting a vehicle rental business on the airports premises.
(2)Quote means an estimated cost of rental provided by a rental company or a third party to a potential customer by telephone, in-person, computer-transmission, or other means, that is based on information provided by the potential customer and used to generate an estimated cost of rental, including, but not limited to, any of the following: potential dates of rental, locations, or classes of car.
(3)Tourism commission assessment means the charge collected by a rental company from a renter that has been established by the California Travel and Tourism Commission pursuant to Section 13995.65 of the Government Code.
(b)Notwithstanding subdivision (m) of Section 1936, the following provisions shall apply:
(1)A rental company shall only advertise a rental rate that includes the entire amount, except taxes, a customer facility charge, if any, and a mileage charge, if any, that a renter must pay to hire or lease the vehicle for the period of time to which the rental rate applies.
(2)When providing a quote, or imposing charges for a rental, the rental company may separately state the rental rate, taxes, customer facility charge, if any, airport concession fee, if any, tourism commission assessment, if any, and a mileage charge, if any, that a renter must pay to hire or lease the vehicle for the period of time to which the rental rate applies. A rental company may not charge in addition to the rental rate, taxes, a customer facility charge, if any, airport concession fee, if any, tourism commission assessment, if any, and a mileage charge, if any, any fee that must be paid by the renter as a condition of hiring or leasing the vehicle, such as, but not limited to, required fuel or airport surcharges other than customer facility charges and airport concession fees.
(3)If customer facility charges, airport concession fees, or tourism commission assessments are imposed, the rental company shall do each of the following:
(A)At the time the quote is given, provide the person receiving the quote with a good faith estimate of the rental rate, taxes, customer facility charge, if any, airport concession fee, if any, and tourism commission assessment, if any, as well as the total charges for the entire rental. The total charges, if provided on an Internet Web site, shall be displayed in a typeface at least as large as any rental rate disclosed on that page and shall be provided on a page that the person receiving the quote may reach by following links through no more than two Internet Web site pages, including the page on which the rental rate is first provided. The good faith estimate may exclude mileage charges and charges for optional items that cannot be determined prior to completing the reservation based upon the information provided by the person.
(B)At the time and place the rental commences, clearly and conspicuously disclose in the rental contract, or that portion of the contract that is provided to the renter, the total of the rental rate, taxes, customer facility charge, if any, airport concession fee, if any, and tourism commission assessment, if any, for the entire rental, exclusive of charges that cannot be determined at the time the rental commences. Charges imposed pursuant to this subparagraph shall be no more than the amount of the quote provided in a confirmed reservation, unless the person changes the terms of the rental contract subsequent to making the reservation.
(C)Provide each person, other than those persons within the rental company, offering quotes to actual or prospective customers access to information about customer facility charges, airport concession fees, and tourism commission assessments as well as access to information about when those charges apply. Any person providing quotes to actual or prospective customers for the hire or lease of a vehicle from a rental company shall provide the quotes in the manner described in subparagraph (A).
(4)In addition to the rental rate, taxes, customer facility charges, if any, airport concession fees, if any, tourism commission assessments, if any, and mileage charges, if any, a rental company may charge for an item or service provided in connection with a particular rental transaction if the renter could have avoided incurring the charge by choosing not to obtain or utilize the optional item or service. Items and services for which the rental company may impose an additional charge, include, but are not limited to, optional insurance and accessories requested by the renter, service charges incident to the renters 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 renter did not return the vehicle with as much fuel as was in the fuel tank at the beginning of the rental. A rental company also may impose an additional charge based on reasonable age criteria established by the rental company.
(5)A rental company may not charge any fee for authorized drivers in addition to the rental charge for an individual renter.
(6)If a rental company states a rental rate in print advertisement or in a telephonic, in-person, or computer-transmitted quote, the rental company shall clearly disclose in that advertisement or quote the terms of any mileage conditions relating to the rental rate disclosed in the advertisement or quote, including, but not limited to, to the extent applicable, the amount of mileage and gas charges, the number of miles for which no charges will be imposed, and a description of geographic driving limitations within the United States and Canada.
(7)(A) When a rental rate is stated in an advertisement, in connection with a car rental at an airport where a customer facility charge is imposed, the rental company shall clearly disclose the existence and amount of the customer facility charge. For the purposes of this subparagraph, advertisements include radio, television, other electronic media, and print advertisements. If the rental rate advertisement is intended to include transactions at more than one airport imposing a customer facility charge, a range of charges may be stated in the advertisement. However, all rental rate advertisements that include car rentals at airport destinations shall clearly and conspicuously include a toll-free telephone number whereby a customer can be told the specific amount of the customer facility charge to which the customer will be obligated.
(B)If any person or entity other than a rental car company, including a passenger carrier or a seller of travel services, advertises a rental rate for a car rental at an airport where a customer facility charge is imposed, that person or entity shall, provided they are provided with information about the existence and amount of the charge, to the extent not specifically prohibited by federal law, clearly disclose the existence and amount of the charge. If a rental car company provides the person or entity with rental rate and customer facility charge information, the rental car company is not responsible for the failure of that person or entity to comply with this subparagraph.
(8)If a rental company delivers a vehicle to a renter at a location other than the location where the rental company normally carries on its business, the rental company may not charge the renter any amount for the rental for the period before the delivery of the vehicle. If a rental company picks up a rented vehicle from a renter at a location other than the location where the rental company normally carries on its business, the rental company may not charge the renter any amount for the rental for the period after the renter notifies the rental company to pick up the vehicle.
(9)Except as otherwise permitted pursuant to the customer facility charge, a rental company may not separately charge, in addition to the rental rate, a fee for transporting the renter to the location where the rented vehicle will be delivered to the renter.
(c)A renter may bring an action against a rental company for the recovery of damages and appropriate equitable relief for a violation of this section. The prevailing party shall be entitled to recover reasonable attorneys fees and costs.
(d)Any waiver of any of the provisions of this section shall be void and unenforceable as contrary to public policy.
(e)This section shall become operative only if the Secretary of Business, Transportation and Housing provides notice to the Legislature and the Secretary of State and posts notice on its Internet Web site that the conditions described in Section 13995.92 of the Government Code have been satisfied.
SEC. 4.Section 1936.015 of the Civil Code is repealed.1936.015.(a)For the purposes of this section, the following definitions shall apply:
(1)Vehicle license fee has the same meaning as in Sections 10751 and 10752 of the Revenue and Taxation Code, as that fee existed on January 1, 2009.
(2)Increased vehicle license fee means the amount of the fee increase in the vehicle license fee above 0.65 percent of the value of the vehicle.
(3)Increased vehicle license recovery fee means a charge that seeks to recover the amount of increased vehicle license fees actually paid by a rental company for the particular class of vehicle being rented. The increased vehicle license recovery fee shall be calculated as provided in paragraph (1) of subdivision (b).
(b)Notwithstanding subdivision (m) of Section 1936 or subdivision (b) of Section 1936.01, upon an increase of the vehicle license fee above 0.65 percent of the value of the vehicle pursuant to legislation enacted with the Budget Act of 2009, the following provisions shall apply with respect to the increased vehicle license fee:
(1)A rental company shall calculate the amount of the increased vehicle license recovery fee in the following manner:
(A)The initial calculation required by this section shall be made as of August 21, 2009, and shall include the three-month period of May 21, 2009, to August 21, 2009, inclusive. Subsequent calculations shall be made every three months thereafter.
(B)The rental company shall determine the total amount of the increased vehicle license fee actually paid during the twelve months preceding the calculation date, for each particular class of vehicle being rented.
(C)The total amount of increased vehicle license fee actually paid for each class of vehicle shall be divided by the number of vehicles in the class, to determine the average increased vehicle license fee for each class.
(D)The average increased vehicle license fee for vehicles in each class shall be prorated at one three-hundred-and-sixty-fifth, to determine the daily increased vehicle license recovery fee for vehicles in each particular class of vehicle, to be charged for each full or partial 24-hour rental day that the vehicle is rented.
(2)As of November 21, 2009, and annually as of each November 21 thereafter, a rental company shall reconcile the amount of increased vehicle license fees actually paid by the rental company during the preceding 12 months for each class of vehicle and the amount of increased vehicle license recovery fees charged to customers during that same 12-month period for rental of vehicles in those classes. The rental company shall post that information on its Internet Web site by December 31 of each year.
(3)The total of all increased vehicle license fees charged to customers by the rental company for each class of vehicle shall not exceed the total of increased vehicle license recovery fees actually paid for vehicles in those classes on an annual basis.
(4)A rental company shall only advertise a rental rate that includes the entire amount, except taxes, the increased vehicle license recovery fee, a customer facility charge, if any, and a mileage charge, if any, that a renter must pay to hire or lease the vehicle for the period of time to which the rental rate applies.
(5)When providing a quote, or imposing charges for a rental, the rental company may separately state the rental rate, taxes, the increased vehicle license recovery fee, customer facility charge, if any, airport concession fee, if any, tourism commission assessment, if any, and a mileage charge, if any, that a renter must pay to hire or lease the vehicle for the period of time to which the rental rate applies. A rental company may not charge in addition to the rental rate, taxes, the increased vehicle license recovery fee, a customer facility charge, if any, airport concession fee, if any, tourism commission assessment, if any, and a mileage charge, if any, any fee that must be paid by the renter as a condition of hiring or leasing the vehicle, such as, but not limited to, required fuel or airport surcharges other than customer facility charges and airport concession fees.
(6)If customer facility charges, airport concession fees, or tourism commission assessments are imposed, the rental company shall do each of the following:
(A)At the time the quote is given, provide the person receiving the quote with a good faith estimate of the rental rate, taxes, the increased vehicle license recovery fee, customer facility charge, if any, airport concession fee, if any, and tourism commission assessment, if any, as well as the total charges for the entire rental. The total charges, if provided on an Internet Web site, shall be displayed in a typeface at least as large as any rental rate disclosed on that page and shall be provided on a page that the person receiving the quote may reach by following links through no more than two Internet Web site pages, including the page on which the rental rate is first provided. The good faith estimate may exclude mileage charges and charges for optional items that cannot be determined prior to completing the reservation based upon the information provided by the person.
(B)At the time and place the rental commences, clearly and conspicuously disclose in the rental contract, or that portion of the contract that is provided to the renter, the total of the rental rate, taxes, the increased vehicle license recovery fee, customer facility charge, if any, airport concession fee, if any, and tourism commission assessment, if any, for the entire rental, exclusive of charges that cannot be determined at the time the rental commences. Charges imposed pursuant to this subparagraph shall be no more than the amount of the quote provided in a confirmed reservation, unless the person changes the terms of the rental contract subsequent to making the reservation.
(C)Provide each person, other than those persons within the rental company, offering quotes to actual or prospective customers access to information about the increased vehicle license recovery fee, customer facility charges, airport concession fees, and tourism commission assessments as well as access to information about when those charges apply. Any person providing quotes to actual or prospective customers for the hire or lease of a vehicle from a rental company shall provide the quotes in the manner described in subparagraph (A).
(7)In addition to the rental rate, taxes, the increased vehicle license recovery fee, customer facility charges, if any, airport concession fees, if any, tourism commission assessments, if any, and mileage charges, if any, a rental company may charge for an item or service provided in connection with a particular rental transaction if the renter could have avoided incurring the charge by choosing not to obtain or utilize the optional item or service. Items and services for which the rental company may impose an additional charge, include, but are not limited to, optional insurance and accessories requested by the renter, service charges incident to the renters 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 renter did not return the vehicle with as much fuel as was in the fuel tank at the beginning of the rental. A rental company also may impose an additional charge based on reasonable age criteria established by the rental company.
(8)A rental company may not charge any fee for authorized drivers in addition to the rental charge for an individual renter.
(9)If a rental company states a rental rate in print advertisement or in a telephonic, in-person, or computer-transmitted quote, the rental company shall clearly disclose in that advertisement or quote the terms of any mileage conditions relating to the rental rate disclosed in the advertisement or quote, including, but not limited to, to the extent applicable, the amount of mileage and gas charges, the number of miles for which no charges will be imposed, and a description of geographic driving limitations within the United States and Canada.
(10)(A)When a rental rate is stated in an advertisement, in connection with a car rental at an airport where a customer facility charge is imposed, the rental company shall clearly disclose the existence and amount of the customer facility charge. For the purposes of this subparagraph, advertisements include radio, television, other electronic media, and print advertisements. If the rental rate advertisement is intended to include transactions at more than one airport imposing a customer facility charge, a range of charges may be stated in the advertisement. However, all rental rate advertisements that include car rentals at airport destinations shall clearly and conspicuously include a toll-free telephone number whereby a customer can be told the specific amount of the customer facility charge to which the customer will be obligated.
(B)If any person or entity other than a rental company, including a passenger carrier or a seller of travel services, advertises a rental rate for a car rental at an airport where a customer facility charge is imposed, that person or entity shall, provided they are provided with information about the existence and amount of the charge, to the extent not specifically prohibited by federal law, clearly disclose the existence and amount of the charge. If a rental company provides the person or entity with rental rate and customer facility charge information, the rental company is not responsible for the failure of that person or entity to comply with this subparagraph.
(11)If a rental company delivers a vehicle to a renter at a location other than the location where the rental company normally carries on its business, the rental company may not charge the renter any amount for the rental for the period before the delivery of the vehicle. If a rental company picks up a rented vehicle from a renter at a location other than the location where the rental company normally carries on its business, the rental company may not charge the renter any amount for the rental for the period after the renter notifies the rental company to pick up the vehicle.
(12)Except as otherwise permitted pursuant to the customer facility charge, a rental company may not separately charge, in addition to the rental rate, a fee for transporting the renter to the location where the rented vehicle will be delivered to the renter.
(c)A renter may bring an action against a rental company for the recovery of damages and appropriate equitable relief for a violation of this section. The prevailing party shall be entitled to recover reasonable attorneys fees and costs.
(d)Any waiver of any of the provisions of this section shall be void and unenforceable as contrary to public policy.
(e)(1)This section shall become operative only if Senate Bill 3 or Assembly Bill 3 of the 200910 Third Extraordinary Session of the Legislature is enacted and increases the vehicle license fee above 0.65 percent of the value of the vehicle and shall cease to become operative 12 months after the restoration of the vehicle license fee to no more than 0.65 percent of the value of the vehicle.
(2)Provisions of this section relating to the disclosure and separately stated charges for a customer facility charge or an airport concession fee shall remain operative so long as the Secretary of Business, Transportation and Housing provides notice to the Legislature and the Secretary of State and posts notice on its Internet Web site that the conditions described in Section 13995.92 of the Government Code have been satisfied.
SEC. 5.Section 1936.05 of the Civil Code is amended to read:1936.05.(a)For purposes of this section:
(1)Additional charges means charges other than a per period base rental rate established by the business program.
(2)Business program means (A) a contract between a rental company and a business program sponsor that has established the per period base rental rate, and any other material terms relating to additional charges, on which the rental company will rent passenger vehicles to persons authorized by the sponsor, or (B) a plan, program, or other arrangement established by a rental company at the request of, or with the consent of, a business program sponsor under which the rental company offers to rent passenger vehicles to persons authorized by the sponsor at per period base rental rates, and any other material terms relating to additional charges, that are not the same as those generally offered by the rental company to the public.
(3)Business program sponsor means a legal entity, other than a natural person, that is a corporation, limited liability company, or partnership.
(4)Business renter means, for any business program sponsor, a person who is authorized by the sponsor, through the use of an identifying number or program name or code, to enter into a rental contract under the sponsors business program. In no case shall the term business renter include a person renting as: (A) a nonemployee member of a not-for-profit organization, (B) the purchaser of a voucher or other prepaid rental arrangement from a person, including a tour operator, engaged in the business of reselling those vouchers or prepaid rental arrangements to the general public, (C) an individual whose car rental is eligible for reimbursement in whole or in part as a result of the person being insured or provided coverage under a policy of insurance issued by an insurance company, or (D) an individual whose car rental is eligible for reimbursement in whole or in part as a result of the person purchasing passenger vehicle repair services from a person licensed to perform such services.
(5)Qualified business rental under a business program established for a business program sponsor by a rental company means the rental of a passenger vehicle under the business program if either (A) in the 12-month period ending on the date of the rental or in the calendar year immediately preceding the year in which the rental occurs, the rentals under all business programs established by the rental company for the business program sponsor and its affiliates produced gross rental revenues in excess of twenty-five thousand dollars ($25,000) or (B) the rental company in good faith estimates that rentals under all the business programs established by the rental company for the business program sponsor and its affiliates will produce gross rental revenues in excess of twenty-five thousand dollars ($25,000) in the 12-month period commencing with the date of the rental or in the calendar year in which the rental occurs. The rental company has the burden of establishing by objectively verifiable evidence that the rental was a qualified business rental.
(6)Quote means telephonic, in-person, and computer-transmitted quotations.
(b)Notwithstanding any provision to the contrary contained in paragraph (1) of subdivision (m) of Section 1936, a rental car company may, in connection with the qualified business rental of a passenger vehicle to a business renter of a business program sponsor under the sponsors business program, do both of the following:
(1)Separately quote additional charges for the rental if, at the time the quote is provided, the person receiving the quote is also provided a good faith estimate of the total of all the charges for the entire rental. The estimate may exclude mileage charges and charges for optional items and services that cannot be determined prior to completing the reservation based upon the information provided by the renter.
(2)Separately impose additional charges for the rental, if the rental contract, or another document provided to the business renter at the time and place the rental commences, clearly and conspicuously discloses the total of all the charges for the entire rental, exclusive of charges that cannot be determined at the time the rental commences.
(c)A renter may bring an action against a rental company for the recovery of damages and appropriate equitable relief for a violation of this section. The prevailing party shall be entitled to recover reasonable attorneys fees and costs.
(d)Any waiver of any of the provisions of this section shall be void and unenforceable as contrary to public policy.
(e)Nothing in this section shall be interpreted to mean that a rental company is not required to comply with the requirements of paragraphs (2) to (6), inclusive, of subdivision (m) of Section 1936.
SECTION 1.Section 1936.01 of the Civil Code is amended to read:1936.01.(a)For the purpose of this section, the following definitions shall apply:
(1)Airport concession fee means a charge collected by a rental company from a renter that is the renters proportionate share of the amount paid by the rental company to the owner or operator of an airport for the right or privilege of conducting a vehicle rental business on the airports premises.
(2)Quote means an estimated cost of rental provided by a rental company or a third party to a potential customer by telephone, in-person, computer-transmission, or other means, that is based on information provided by the potential customer and used to generate an estimated cost of rental, including, but not limited to, any of the following: potential dates of rental, locations, or classes of car.
(3)Tourism commission assessment means the charge collected by a rental company from a renter that has been established by the California Travel and Tourism Commission pursuant to Section 13995.65 of the Government Code.
(b)Notwithstanding subdivision (m) of Section 1936, the following provisions shall apply:
(1)A rental company shall only advertise a rental rate that includes the entire amount, except taxes, a customer facility charge, if any, and a mileage charge, if any, that a renter must pay to hire or lease the vehicle for the period of time to which the rental rate applies.
(2)When providing a quote, or imposing charges for a rental, the rental company may separately state the rental rate, taxes, customer facility charge, if any, airport concession fee, if any, tourism commission assessment, if any, and a mileage charge, if any, that a renter must pay to hire or lease the vehicle for the period of time to which the rental rate applies. A rental company may not charge in addition to the rental rate, taxes, a customer facility charge, if any, airport concession fee, if any, tourism commission assessment, if any, and a mileage charge, if any, any fee that must be paid by the renter as a condition of hiring or leasing the vehicle, such as, but not limited to, required fuel or airport surcharges other than customer facility charges and airport concession fees.
(3)If customer facility charges, airport concession fees, or tourism commission assessments are imposed, the rental company shall do each of the following:
(A)At the time the quote is given, provide the person receiving the quote with a good faith estimate of the rental rate, taxes, customer facility charge, if any, airport concession fee, if any, and tourism commission assessment, if any, as well as the total charges for the entire rental. The total charges, if provided on an Internet Web site, shall be displayed in a typeface at least as large as any rental rate disclosed on that page and shall be provided on a page that the person receiving the quote may reach by following links through no more than two Internet Web site pages, including the page on which the rental rate is first provided. The good faith estimate may exclude mileage charges and charges for optional items that cannot be determined prior to completing the reservation based upon the information provided by the person.
(B)At the time and place the rental commences, clearly and conspicuously disclose in the rental contract, or that portion of the contract that is provided to the renter, the total of the rental rate, taxes, customer facility charge, if any, airport concession fee, if any, and tourism commission assessment, if any, for the entire rental, exclusive of charges that cannot be determined at the time the rental commences. Charges imposed pursuant to this subparagraph shall be no more than the amount of the quote provided in a confirmed reservation, unless the person changes the terms of the rental contract subsequent to making the reservation.
(C)Provide each person, other than those persons within the rental company, offering quotes to actual or prospective customers access to information about customer facility charges, airport concession fees, and tourism commission assessments as well as access to information about when those charges apply. Any person providing quotes to actual or prospective customers for the hire or lease of a vehicle from a rental company shall provide the quotes in the manner described in subparagraph (A).
(4)In addition to the rental rate, taxes, customer facility charges, if any, airport concession fees, if any, tourism commission assessments, if any, and mileage charges, if any, a rental company may charge for an item or service provided in connection with a particular rental transaction if the renter could have avoided incurring the charge by choosing not to obtain or utilize the optional item or service. Items and services for which the rental company may impose an additional charge, include, but are not limited to, optional insurance and accessories requested by the renter, service charges incident to the renters 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 renter did not return the vehicle with as much fuel as was in the fuel tank at the beginning of the rental. A rental company also may impose an additional charge based on reasonable age criteria established by the rental company.
(5)A rental company may not charge any fee for authorized drivers in addition to the rental charge for an individual renter.
(6)If a rental company states a rental rate in print advertisement or in a telephonic, in-person, or computer-transmitted quote, the rental company shall clearly disclose in that advertisement or quote the terms of any mileage conditions relating to the rental rate disclosed in the advertisement or quote, including, but not limited to, to the extent applicable, the amount of mileage and gas charges, the number of miles for which no charges will be imposed, and a description of geographic driving limitations within the United States and Canada.
(7)(A) When a rental rate is stated in an advertisement, in connection with a car rental at an airport where a customer facility charge is imposed, the rental company shall clearly disclose the existence and amount of the customer facility charge. For the purposes of this subparagraph, advertisements include radio, television, other electronic media, and print advertisements. If the rental rate advertisement is intended to include transactions at more than one airport imposing a customer facility charge, a range of charges may be stated in the advertisement. However, all rental rate advertisements that include car rentals at airport destinations shall clearly and conspicuously include a toll-free telephone number whereby a customer can be told the specific amount of the customer facility charge to which the customer will be obligated.
(B)If any person or entity other than a rental car company, including a passenger carrier or a seller of travel services, advertises a rental rate for a car rental at an airport where a customer facility charge is imposed, that person or entity shall, provided they are provided with information about the existence and amount of the charge, to the extent not specifically prohibited by federal law, clearly disclose the existence and amount of the charge. If a rental car company provides the person or entity with rental rate and customer facility charge information, the rental car company is not responsible for the failure of that person or entity to comply with this subparagraph.
(8)If a rental company delivers a vehicle to a renter at a location other than the location where the rental company normally carries on its business, the rental company may not charge the renter any amount for the rental for the period before the delivery of the vehicle. If a rental company picks up a rented vehicle from a renter at a location other than the location where the rental company normally carries on its business, the rental company may not charge the renter any amount for the rental for the period after the renter notifies the rental company to pick up the vehicle.
(9)Except as otherwise permitted pursuant to the customer facility charge, a rental company may not separately charge, in addition to the rental rate, a fee for transporting the renter to the location where the rented vehicle will be delivered to the renter.
(c)A renter may bring an action against a rental company for the recovery of damages and appropriate equitable relief for a violation of this section. The prevailing party shall be entitled to recover reasonable attorneys fees and costs.
(d)Any waiver of any of the provisions of this section shall be void and unenforceable as contrary to public policy.
(a)For the purpose of this section, the following definitions shall apply:
(1)Airport concession fee means a charge collected by a rental company from a renter that is the renters proportionate share of the amount paid by the rental company to the owner or operator of an airport for the right or privilege of conducting a vehicle rental business on the airports premises.
(2)Quote means an estimated cost of rental provided by a rental company or a third party to a potential customer by telephone, in-person, computer-transmission, or other means, that is based on information provided by the potential customer and used to generate an estimated cost of rental, including, but not limited to, any of the following: potential dates of rental, locations, or classes of car.
(3)Tourism commission assessment means the charge collected by a rental company from a renter that has been established by the California Travel and Tourism Commission pursuant to Section 13995.65 of the Government Code.
(b)Notwithstanding subdivision (m) of Section 1936, the following provisions shall apply:
(1)A rental company shall only advertise a rental rate that includes the entire amount, except taxes, a customer facility charge, if any, and a mileage charge, if any, that a renter must pay to hire or lease the vehicle for the period of time to which the rental rate applies.
(2)When providing a quote, or imposing charges for a rental, the rental company may separately state the rental rate, taxes, customer facility charge, if any, airport concession fee, if any, tourism commission assessment, if any, and a mileage charge, if any, that a renter must pay to hire or lease the vehicle for the period of time to which the rental rate applies. A rental company may not charge in addition to the rental rate, taxes, a customer facility charge, if any, airport concession fee, if any, tourism commission assessment, if any, and a mileage charge, if any, any fee that must be paid by the renter as a condition of hiring or leasing the vehicle, such as, but not limited to, required fuel or airport surcharges other than customer facility charges and airport concession fees.
(3)If customer facility charges, airport concession fees, or tourism commission assessments are imposed, the rental company shall do each of the following:
(A)At the time the quote is given, provide the person receiving the quote with a good faith estimate of the rental rate, taxes, customer facility charge, if any, airport concession fee, if any, and tourism commission assessment, if any, as well as the total charges for the entire rental. The total charges, if provided on an Internet Web site, shall be displayed in a typeface at least as large as any rental rate disclosed on that page and shall be provided on a page that the person receiving the quote may reach by following links through no more than two Internet Web site pages, including the page on which the rental rate is first provided. The good faith estimate may exclude mileage charges and charges for optional items that cannot be determined prior to completing the reservation based upon the information provided by the person.
(B)At the time and place the rental commences, clearly and conspicuously disclose in the rental contract, or that portion of the contract that is provided to the renter, the total of the rental rate, taxes, customer facility charge, if any, airport concession fee, if any, and tourism commission assessment, if any, for the entire rental, exclusive of charges that cannot be determined at the time the rental commences. Charges imposed pursuant to this subparagraph shall be no more than the amount of the quote provided in a confirmed reservation, unless the person changes the terms of the rental contract subsequent to making the reservation.
(C)Provide each person, other than those persons within the rental company, offering quotes to actual or prospective customers access to information about customer facility charges, airport concession fees, and tourism commission assessments as well as access to information about when those charges apply. Any person providing quotes to actual or prospective customers for the hire or lease of a vehicle from a rental company shall provide the quotes in the manner described in subparagraph (A).
(4)In addition to the rental rate, taxes, customer facility charges, if any, airport concession fees, if any, tourism commission assessments, if any, and mileage charges, if any, a rental company may charge for an item or service provided in connection with a particular rental transaction if the renter could have avoided incurring the charge by choosing not to obtain or utilize the optional item or service. Items and services for which the rental company may impose an additional charge, include, but are not limited to, optional insurance and accessories requested by the renter, service charges incident to the renters 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 renter did not return the vehicle with as much fuel as was in the fuel tank at the beginning of the rental. A rental company also may impose an additional charge based on reasonable age criteria established by the rental company.
(5)A rental company may not charge any fee for authorized drivers in addition to the rental charge for an individual renter.
(6)If a rental company states a rental rate in print advertisement or in a telephonic, in-person, or computer-transmitted quote, the rental company shall clearly disclose in that advertisement or quote the terms of any mileage conditions relating to the rental rate disclosed in the advertisement or quote, including, but not limited to, to the extent applicable, the amount of mileage and gas charges, the number of miles for which no charges will be imposed, and a description of geographic driving limitations within the United States and Canada.
(7)(A) When a rental rate is stated in an advertisement, in connection with a car rental at an airport where a customer facility charge is imposed, the rental company shall clearly disclose the existence and amount of the customer facility charge. For the purposes of this subparagraph, advertisements include radio, television, other electronic media, and print advertisements. If the rental rate advertisement is intended to include transactions at more than one airport imposing a customer facility charge, a range of charges may be stated in the advertisement. However, all rental rate advertisements that include car rentals at airport destinations shall clearly and conspicuously include a toll-free telephone number whereby a customer can be told the specific amount of the customer facility charge to which the customer will be obligated.
(B)If any person or entity other than a rental car company, including a passenger carrier or a seller of travel services, advertises a rental rate for a car rental at an airport where a customer facility charge is imposed, that person or entity shall, provided they are provided with information about the existence and amount of the charge, to the extent not specifically prohibited by federal law, clearly disclose the existence and amount of the charge. If a rental car company provides the person or entity with rental rate and customer facility charge information, the rental car company is not responsible for the failure of that person or entity to comply with this subparagraph.
(8)If a rental company delivers a vehicle to a renter at a location other than the location where the rental company normally carries on its business, the rental company may not charge the renter any amount for the rental for the period before the delivery of the vehicle. If a rental company picks up a rented vehicle from a renter at a location other than the location where the rental company normally carries on its business, the rental company may not charge the renter any amount for the rental for the period after the renter notifies the rental company to pick up the vehicle.
(9)Except as otherwise permitted pursuant to the customer facility charge, a rental company may not separately charge, in addition to the rental rate, a fee for transporting the renter to the location where the rented vehicle will be delivered to the renter.
(c)A renter may bring an action against a rental company for the recovery of damages and appropriate equitable relief for a violation of this section. The prevailing party shall be entitled to recover reasonable attorneys fees and costs.
(d)Any waiver of any of the provisions of this section shall be void and unenforceable as contrary to public policy.
(e)This section shall become operative only if the Secretary of Business, Transportation and Housing provides notice to the Legislature and the Secretary of State and posts notice on its Internet Web site that the conditions described in Section 13995.92 of the Government Code have been satisfied.
|
Date
|
Status
|
|---|---|
| Jun 15, 2015 | In committee: Set, first hearing. Hearing canceled at the request of author. |
| Sep 28, 2015 | Chaptered by Secretary of State - Chapter 333, Statutes of 2015. |
| Sep 28, 2015 | Approved by the Governor. |
| Sep 14, 2015 | Enrolled and presented to the Governor at 4 p.m. |
| Sep 1, 2015 | Senate amendments concurred in. To Engrossing and Enrolling. (Ayes 80. Noes 0.). |
| Sep 1, 2015 | Senate amendments concurred in. To Engrossing and Enrolling. (Ayes 80. Noes 0. Page 2727.). |
| Aug 27, 2015 | Read third time. Passed. Ordered to the Assembly. (Ayes 40. Noes 0. Page 2200.). |
| Aug 27, 2015 | Read third time. Passed. Ordered to the Assembly. |
| Aug 27, 2015 | In Assembly. Concurrence in Senate amendments pending. May be considered on or after August 30 pursuant to Assembly Rule 77. |
| Aug 24, 2015 | Reconsideration granted. (Ayes 27. Noes 0. Page 2158.) |
| Aug 24, 2015 | Read third time. Passed. Ordered to the Assembly. (Ayes 39. Noes 0. Page 2156.). |
| Aug 24, 2015 | Read third time. Passed. Ordered to the Assembly. |
| Aug 24, 2015 | Motion to reconsider made by Senator Allen. |
| Aug 17, 2015 | Read second time and amended. Ordered to third reading. |
| Jul 16, 2015 | From committee: Amend, and do pass as amended. (Ayes 7. Noes 0.) (July 14). |
| Jul 6, 2015 | From committee chair, with author's amendments: Amend, and re-refer to committee. Read second time, amended, and re-referred to Com. on JUD. |
| Feb 25, 2015 | Read first time. To print. |
| May 14, 2015 | Referred to Com. on JUD. |
| May 4, 2015 | Read third time. Passed. Ordered to the Senate. (Ayes 77. Noes 1. Page 1256.) |
| May 4, 2015 | Read third time. Passed. Ordered to the Senate. |
| May 4, 2015 | In Senate. Read first time. To Com. on RLS. for assignment. |
| May 1, 2015 | Measure version as amended on April 30 corrected. |
| Apr 30, 2015 | Read third time and amended. Ordered to third reading. (Page 1215.) |
| Apr 30, 2015 | Read third time and amended. Ordered to third reading. |
| Apr 16, 2015 | Read second time. Ordered to third reading. |
| Apr 15, 2015 | Read second time and amended. Ordered returned to second reading. |
| Apr 14, 2015 | From committee: Amend, and do pass as amended. (Ayes 10. Noes 0.) (April 14). |
| Apr 6, 2015 | Re-referred to Com. on JUD. |
| Apr 6, 2015 | In committee: Hearing postponed by committee. |
| Mar 26, 2015 | Referred to Com. on JUD. |
| Mar 26, 2015 | From committee chair, with author's amendments: Amend, and re-refer to Com. on JUD. Read second time and amended. |
| Feb 26, 2015 | From printer. May be heard in committee March 28. |
|
Date
|
Description
|
Location
|
Votes
|
|
|---|---|---|---|---|
| Sep 1, 2015 | AB 675 ALEJO Concurrence in Senate Amendments | Assembly Floor |
Passed |
|
| Aug 27, 2015 | Assembly 3rd Reading AB675 Alejo By Jackson | Senate Floor |
Passed |
|
| Aug 24, 2015 | Assembly 3rd Reading AB675 Alejo By Jackson Reconsider | Senate Floor |
Passed |
|
| Aug 24, 2015 | Assembly 3rd Reading AB675 Alejo By Jackson | Senate Floor |
Passed |
|
| Jul 14, 2015 | Do pass as amended | Senate Standing Committee on Judiciary |
Passed |
|
| May 4, 2015 | AB 675 ALEJO Assembly Third Reading | Assembly Floor |
Passed |
|
| Apr 14, 2015 | Do pass as amended. | Assembly Standing Committee on Judiciary |
Passed |
This list shows positions taken on this bill by organizations on the date displayed, which is linked to the original source.
Positions by individuals are not included.
|
Organization
|
Position
|
Date
|
|---|---|---|
| Avis Rental Cars | ** Support | Apr 30, 2015 |
| Enterprise | ** Support | Aug 27, 2015 |
| Enterprise Rental Cars | ** Support | Apr 30, 2015 |
| Hertz | ** Support | Aug 27, 2015 |
| Hertz Rental Cars | ** Support | Apr 30, 2015 |
AB 675
Page 2
CONCURRENCE IN SENATE AMENDMENTS
AB 675
(Alejo)
As Amended August 17, 2015
Majority vote
ASSEMBLY: |
77-1 |
(May 4, 2015) |
SENATE: |
39-0 |
(August 27, 2015) |
Original Committee Reference: JUD.
SUMMARY: Revises and recasts the statute governing agreements between rental car companies and their customers in order to allow a rental car company to better separate rental fees from government-imposed charges and achieve other relatively non-controversial changes. Specifically, this bill:
Permits a rental car company, when providing a quote or imposing charges, to separately state the rental rate, additional mandatory charges, if any, and a mileage charge, if any, that a renter must pay to hire or lease the vehicle for the period of time to which the rental rate applies. Requires all rate advertisements to include a specified disclaimer.
Defines "additional mandatory charges" to mean any charges imposed by a government entity that the renter must pay, including, but not limited to, a customer facility charge, airport concession fee, tourism commission assessment, vehicle license recovery fee, or other government imposed taxes or fees. Defines several other new terms for the purpose of identifying and clarifying additional mandatory charges.
Makes several organizational changes to account for provisions that have become inoperative, to consolidate sections so as to avoid redundancy, or otherwise provide a more logical structure to the existing statute.
Removes a sunset and thus makes permanent a provision in existing law relating to the service of a summons and complaint against a renter who resides outside of this country for an accident or collision resulting from the operation of a rental vehicle within California.
The Senate amendments:
Restore provisions relating to disclosures on the effect of damage waivers, a rental car company's ability to obtain information from electronic surveillance technology, and a requirement that a rental car company provide a specified notice on a rearview mirror hangar.
Require rate advertisements to contain a specified disclaimer.
Remove the sunset on a provision relating to service of summons and complain against a foreign renter.
Make additional non-substantive organizational and definitional changes.
EXISTING LAW sets forth general rules governing contracts between rental car companies and their customers on a variety of matters, including, but not limited to, the manner in which rental car companies advertise and quote rental charges and additional fees, the renter's liability or lack thereof for damages to a rental vehicle, the amount that rental car companies may charge for damage waivers and the manner in which they are offered, and the conditions under which a rental car company may access, obtain, and use geo-location and other information from the rental vehicle's electronic surveillance technology.
FISCAL EFFECT: None
COMMENTS: According to the author, the purpose of this bill is to "modernize" Civil Code Section 1936, which regulates rental car contracts. Civil Code Section 1936 sets forth the general rules governing rental car contracts and the respective duties and liabilities of rental car companies and their customers. One of the key issues that prompted the initial legislation, and which has been the subject of several amendments over the years, concerns the various taxes, assessments, and surcharges typically tacked on to the rental company's fees and the manner in which the company may quote those fees and charges to customers. Under existing law a rental car company must quote the entire amount, with the rental fees and additional surcharges "bundled" together into a single quote. Because rental car companies wanted customers to know which part of the total was attributable to the rental car company and which part to government-imposed fees, the statute was amended in 2007 to authorize rental car companies to separate, or effectively itemize, company fees from other mandatory charges. However the problem with existing law, according to the author, is that it specifically names the fees and charges that existed in 2007 when the legislation was amended. Since that time, several new mandatory charges have been imposed, but they cannot be separately listed because they are not specifically named. This bill would address this shortcoming by permitting the rental car company to separate its rental charges from any "additional mandatory charges." This bill defines "additional mandatory charges" to mean any charges imposed by a government entity that the renter must pay, including, but not limited to, a customer facility charge, airport concession fee, tourism commission assessment, vehicle license recovery fee, or other government imposed taxes or fees.
The author believes that this measure will promote transparency by clearly delineating the private charges imposed by the rental car company from the many government-imposed exactions, including tourism fees, airport concession and facility fees, vehicle fees, and related fees and surcharges. According to the author, delineation will allow the consumer to know which parts of the total charge reflect the rental company's fees, and which parts represent government-imposed fees. The author stresses, however, that this bill will preserve the existing consumer protection that requires the rental car company to clearly and conspicuously quote the total charge.
In addition to the primary goal of unbundling government charges from the fees charged by the rental company, this bill also makes a number of organizational and definitional changes to Civil Code Section 1936 and delete sections or subdivisions that have become inoperative or redundant. Related changes move substantive provisions that were awkwardly placed in definitional sections into more appropriate substantive sections.
Analysis Prepared by: Thomas Clark / JUD. / (916) 319-2334 FN: 0001407
AB 675
Page 7
|
Office of Senate Floor Analyses (916) 651-1520 Fax: (916) 327-4478 |
THIRD READING
Bill No: AB 675
Amended: 8/17/15 in Senate
SENATE JUDICIARY COMMITTEE: 7-0, 7/14/15
AYES: Jackson, Moorlach, Anderson, Hertzberg, Leno, Monning, Wieckowski
SENATE FLOOR: 39-0, 8/24/15
AYES: Allen, Anderson, Bates, Beall, Berryhill, Block, Cannella, De León, Fuller, Gaines, Galgiani, Glazer, Hall, Hancock, Hernandez, Hertzberg, Hill, Hueso, Huff, Jackson, Leno, Leyva, Liu, McGuire, Mendoza, Mitchell, Monning, Moorlach, Morrell, Nguyen, Nielsen, Pan, Pavley, Roth, Runner, Stone, Vidak, Wieckowski, Wolk
NO VOTE RECORDED: Lara
[NOTE: This bill was granted a motion of reconsideration.]
ASSEMBLY FLOOR: 77-1, 5/4/15 - See last page for vote
SUBJECT: Rental vehicles: advertising and quotes: charges
Enterprise
Hertz
DIGEST: This bill authorizes a rental company, when quoting a rental rate, to separately state the rental rate, additional mandatory charges, if any, and a mileage charge, if any, that a renter must pay to hire or lease the vehicle for the period of time to which the rental rate applies. This bill defines “additional mandatory charges” to mean any separately stated charges that the rental car company requires the renter to pay to hire or lease the vehicle for the period of time to which the rental rate applies, which are imposed by a governmental entity and specifically relate to the operation of a rental car business, including, but not limited to, a customer facility charge, airport concession fee, tourism commission assessment, vehicle license recovery fee, or other government imposed taxes or fees.
Existing law:
Provides that a rental company shall only advertise, quote, and charge a rental rate that includes the entire amount except taxes, a customer facility charge, if any, and a mileage charge, if any, that a renter must pay to hire or lease the vehicle for the period of time to which the rental rate applies. (Civ. Code Sec. 1936(m).)
Provides that a rental company shall not charge in addition to the rental rate, taxes, a customer facility charge, if any, and a mileage charge, if any, any fee that is required to be paid by the renter as a condition of hiring or leasing the vehicle, including, but not limited to, required fuel or airport surcharges other than customer facility charges, nor a fee for transporting the renter to the location where the rented vehicle will be delivered to the renter. (Civ. Code Sec. 1936(m).)
States, notwithstanding the above, that when providing a quote, or imposing charges for a rental, a rental company may separately state an airport concession fee, if any, and a tourism commission assessment, if any, that a renter must pay to hire or lease the vehicle for the period of time to which the rental rate applies. (Civ. Code Sec. 1936.01(a).)
States, notwithstanding the above, that when providing a quote, or imposing charges for a rental, a rental company may separately state an increased vehicle license recovery fee, as defined, that a renter must pay to hire or lease the vehicle for the period of time to which the rental rate applies. (Civ. Code Sec. 1936.015(b).)
States that at the time a quote is given, a rental company must provide the person receiving the quote with a good faith estimate of the rental rate and all additional charges, as well as the total charges for the entire rental. The total charges, if provided on an Internet Web site page, must be displayed in a typeface at least as large as any rental rate disclosed on that page and must be provided on a page that the person receiving the quote may reach by following links through no more than two Internet Web site pages, including the page on which the rental rate is first provided. The good faith estimate may exclude mileage charges and charges for optional items that cannot be determined prior to completing the reservation based upon the information provided by the person. (Civ. Code Secs. 1936.01(b), 1936.015(b).)
Provides that when a rental rate is stated in an advertisement, quotation, or reservation in connection with a car rental at an airport where a customer facility charge is imposed, the rental company shall disclose clearly the existence and amount of the customer facility charge. Existing law provides that all rate advertisements that include car rentals at airport destinations shall clearly and conspicuously include a toll-free telephone number whereby a customer can be told the specific amount of the customer facility charge to which the customer will be obligated. (Civ. Code Sec. 1936(m).)
Requires, until January 1, 2020, a rental company or its registered agent to accept service of a summons and complaint and any other required documents against a renter who resides out of this country for an accident or collision resulting from the operation of the rental vehicle in this state, if the rental company provides liability insurance coverage as part of, or associated with, the rental agreement. Existing law requires any plaintiff who elects to serve the foreign renter by delivering the summons and complaint and any other required documents to the rental company pursuant to these provisions to agree to limit his or her recovery against the foreign renter and rental company to the limits of the protection of the liability insurance. (Civ. Code Sec. 1936.)
This bill:
States that when providing a quote, or imposing charges for a rental, the rental company may separately state the rental rate, additional mandatory charges, if any, and a mileage charge, if any, that a renter must pay to hire or lease the vehicle for the period of time to which the rental rate applies. A rental company shall not charge in addition to the rental rate, additional mandatory charges, or a mileage charge, as those may be applicable, any other fee that is required to be paid by the renter as a condition of hiring or leasing the vehicle.
Provides that all rate advertisements shall include the following disclaimer, which shall be prominently displayed: “Additional mandatory charges may be imposed, including, but not limited to, a customer facility charge, airport concession fee, tourism commission assessment, vehicle license recovery fee, or other government imposed taxes or fees. For more information, including an estimate of your total rental cost, visit our Internet Web site at [www.____.com].”
Defines “additional mandatory charges” to mean any separately stated charges that the rental car company requires the renter to pay to hire or lease the vehicle for the period of time to which the rental rate applies, which are imposed by a governmental entity and specifically relate to the operation of a rental car business, including, but not limited to, a customer facility charge, airport concession fee, tourism commission assessment, vehicle license recovery fee, or other government imposed taxes or fees.
Defines “vehicle license fee” to mean the tax imposed pursuant to the Vehicle License Fee Law (Part 5 (commencing with Section 10701) of Division 2 of the Revenue and Taxation Code).
Defines “vehicle license recovery fee” to mean a charge that seeks to recover the amount of any vehicle license fee and vehicle registration fee paid by a rental company for the particular class of vehicle being rented.
Defines “vehicle registration fee” to mean any fee imposed pursuant to any provision of Chapter 6 (commencing with Section 9101) of Division 3 of the Vehicle Code.
Removes the sunset applicable to the service of a summons and complaint against a renter who resides out of this country and extends this provision indefinitely.
Makes other technical and conforming changes.
Background
Section 1936 of the Civil Code governs the rental of passenger vehicles to the public. In general, existing law requires rental car companies to bundle, or include in the rental rate, all mandatory charges imposed by a governmental entity when advertising or providing quotes to consumers, except for those which the Legislature has specifically authorized to be separately stated. Under existing law, Section 1936 authorizes rental companies to separately state taxes, customer facility charges, if any, and mileage charges, if any, when quoting a vehicle rental rate. In 2006, the Legislature passed AB 2592 (Leno, Chapter 790, Statutes of 2006), which authorized rental companies to separately state airport concession fees and tourism commission assessments in quotes provided to consumers. After the 2009 Budget Act temporarily increased the vehicle license fee from the rate of 0.65 percent of the value of a vehicle to 1.15 percent, the Legislature passed SB 348 (Cogdill, Chapter 156, Statutes of 2009), which authorized rental companies to separately state the “increased vehicle license fee,” defined as that portion of the vehicle license fee above 0.65 percent of the value of a vehicle, prorated to the length of the rental period. Thus, existing law authorizes rental companies to separately state taxes, increased vehicle license recovery fees, customer facility charges, airport concession fees, tourism commission assessments, and mileage charges alongside the rental rate when quoting or charging for the rental of a passenger vehicle.
This bill removes the list of charges that may be separately stated, and instead authorizes rental companies to separately state “additional mandatory charges,” which are charges imposed by a governmental entity that specifically relate to the operation of a rental car business, including, but not limited to, a customer facility charge, airport concession fee, tourism commission assessment, vehicle license recovery fee, and other government imposed taxes or fees. This bill repeals sections of the Civil Code governing the charges that may be separately stated by a rental car company, and consolidates those provisions in Civil Code Section 1936. This bill also requires rental rate advertisements to conspicuously disclose that “additional mandatory charges” may be imposed, and eliminates a sunset on rental car service of process requirements for foreign renters.
Comments
The author writes:
The purpose of the bill is to modernize the relevant code sections regulating the rental car industry by making them more consistent with practices in other states, and to promote transparency in pricing for consumers. Specifically, AB 675 promotes transparency in rental car pricing by clearly delineating private charges imposed by the rental car business, from the many public exactions associated with this industry, including tourism fees, airport concession fees, airport facility fees, vehicle license fees, and other similar charges. However, the bill preserves the requirement that the customer be given a “quote,” which must match the charges ultimately imposed by the contract, to continue to protect consumer expectations.
Other states do not manage the billing practices of the rental care industry as California currently does. The basis for the California law’s extraordinary detail is no longer wholly needed. The basic and fundamentally important consumer protections in relevant code, relating to provision of a “quote” upon which the customer may rely, are preserved.
Section 1936 was originally enacted 25 years ago, to combat misleading pricing practices wherein the advertised rate could be appreciably less than the actual amount of the charge by the time the customer left the counter. Since 2007, rental car companies have been authorized to separately state specific mandatory charges (airport facility fees, concession fees, tourism assessments, and when the vehicle license fee was increased, a vehicle license recovery fee), provided the customer was provided a “bundled” out-the-door quote at the time the car was reserved. AB 675 does not change the disclosure requirements worked out in 2007 – but does allow companies to separately state additional mandatory, government-imposed charges – beyond those specifically authorized 9 years ago. This will align California disclosure practices with other states, and provide the industry needed protection as new government fees are imposed. As more fees are contemplated, the law needs to be revised to promote more accurate display of pricing so consumers know which charges are private and which are public. The requirement to “rebundle” or provide a reliable quote is maintained.
Related/Prior Legislation
AB 1981 (Brown, Chapter 417, Statutes of 2014) removed the manufacturer’s suggested retail price as one of the criteria for determining the rate of a damage waiver sold by a rental company, and instead set the rate of damage waivers according to the vehicle’s classification using criteria set by the 2014 Association of Car Rental Industry Systems Standards for North America. This bill increased the maximum rate of the damage waiver to $11 per rental day for vehicles designated as an “economy car,” “compact car,” or another term denoting the two smallest categories of vehicles described by the standards. This bill increased the maximum rate of the damage waiver to $17 per rental day for vehicles in the next three body-size categories of vehicles designated in the standards, except as specified.
AB 2747 (Committee on Judiciary, Chapter 913, Statutes of 2014), the Assembly Committee on Judiciary’s Omnibus Bill, extended until January 1, 2020, a sunset provision pertaining to a requirement for rental companies to accept service of a summons and complaint against a renter who resides out of this country for an accident or collision resulting from the operation of the rental vehicle in this state, as provided.
SB 348 (Cogdill, Chapter 156, Statutes of 2009) See Background.
AB 2592 (Leno, Chapter. 790, Statutes of 2006) See Background.
FISCAL EFFECT: Appropriation: No Fiscal Com.: No Local: No
Avis Budget Group (co-source)
Enterprise (co-source)
Hertz (co-source)
OPPOSITION: (Verified 8/19/15)
None received
ASSEMBLY FLOOR: 77-1, 5/4/15
AYES: Achadjian, Alejo, Travis Allen, Baker, Bigelow, Bloom, Bonilla, Bonta, Brough, Brown, Burke, Calderon, Chang, Chau, Chávez, Chiu, Chu, Cooley, Cooper, Dababneh, Daly, Dodd, Eggman, Frazier, Beth Gaines, Gallagher, Cristina Garcia, Eduardo Garcia, Gatto, Gipson, Gomez, Gonzalez, Gordon, Gray, Grove, Hadley, Harper, Roger Hernández, Holden, Irwin, Jones, Jones-Sawyer, Kim, Lackey, Linder, Lopez, Low, Maienschein, Mathis, Mayes, McCarty, Medina, Melendez, Mullin, Nazarian, Obernolte, O'Donnell, Olsen, Patterson, Perea, Quirk, Rendon, Ridley-Thomas, Rodriguez, Salas, Santiago, Steinorth, Mark Stone, Thurmond, Ting, Wagner, Waldron, Weber, Wilk, Williams, Wood, Atkins
NOES: Levine
NO VOTE RECORDED: Campos, Dahle
Prepared by: Tobias Halvarson / JUD. / (916) 651-4113
8/26/15 14:08:17
**** END ****
AB 675
Page 7
|
Office of Senate Floor Analyses (916) 651-1520 Fax: (916) 327-4478 |
THIRD READING
Bill No: AB 675
Amended: 8/17/15 in Senate
SENATE JUDICIARY COMMITTEE: 7-0, 7/14/15
AYES: Jackson, Moorlach, Anderson, Hertzberg, Leno, Monning, Wieckowski
ASSEMBLY FLOOR: 77-1, 5/4/15 - See last page for vote
SUBJECT: Rental vehicles: advertising and quotes: charges
Enterprise
Hertz
DIGEST: This bill authorizes a rental company, when quoting a rental rate, to separately state the rental rate, additional mandatory charges, if any, and a mileage charge, if any, that a renter must pay to hire or lease the vehicle for the period of time to which the rental rate applies. This bill defines “additional mandatory charges” to mean any separately stated charges that the rental car company requires the renter to pay to hire or lease the vehicle for the period of time to which the rental rate applies, which are imposed by a governmental entity and specifically relate to the operation of a rental car business, including, but not limited to, a customer facility charge, airport concession fee, tourism commission assessment, vehicle license recovery fee, or other government imposed taxes or fees.
Existing law:
Provides that a rental company shall only advertise, quote, and charge a rental rate that includes the entire amount except taxes, a customer facility charge, if any, and a mileage charge, if any, that a renter must pay to hire or lease the vehicle for the period of time to which the rental rate applies. (Civ. Code Sec. 1936(m).)
Provides that a rental company shall not charge in addition to the rental rate, taxes, a customer facility charge, if any, and a mileage charge, if any, any fee that is required to be paid by the renter as a condition of hiring or leasing the vehicle, including, but not limited to, required fuel or airport surcharges other than customer facility charges, nor a fee for transporting the renter to the location where the rented vehicle will be delivered to the renter. (Civ. Code Sec. 1936(m).)
States, notwithstanding the above, that when providing a quote, or imposing charges for a rental, a rental company may separately state an airport concession fee, if any, and a tourism commission assessment, if any, that a renter must pay to hire or lease the vehicle for the period of time to which the rental rate applies. (Civ. Code Sec. 1936.01(a).)
States, notwithstanding the above, that when providing a quote, or imposing charges for a rental, a rental company may separately state an increased vehicle license recovery fee, as defined, that a renter must pay to hire or lease the vehicle for the period of time to which the rental rate applies. (Civ. Code Sec. 1936.015(b).)
States that at the time a quote is given, a rental company must provide the person receiving the quote with a good faith estimate of the rental rate and all additional charges, as well as the total charges for the entire rental. The total charges, if provided on an Internet Web site page, must be displayed in a typeface at least as large as any rental rate disclosed on that page and must be provided on a page that the person receiving the quote may reach by following links through no more than two Internet Web site pages, including the page on which the rental rate is first provided. The good faith estimate may exclude mileage charges and charges for optional items that cannot be determined prior to completing the reservation based upon the information provided by the person. (Civ. Code Secs. 1936.01(b), 1936.015(b).)
Provides that when a rental rate is stated in an advertisement, quotation, or reservation in connection with a car rental at an airport where a customer facility charge is imposed, the rental company shall disclose clearly the existence and amount of the customer facility charge. Existing law provides that all rate advertisements that include car rentals at airport destinations shall clearly and conspicuously include a toll-free telephone number whereby a customer can be told the specific amount of the customer facility charge to which the customer will be obligated. (Civ. Code Sec. 1936(m).)
Requires, until January 1, 2020, a rental company or its registered agent to accept service of a summons and complaint and any other required documents against a renter who resides out of this country for an accident or collision resulting from the operation of the rental vehicle in this state, if the rental company provides liability insurance coverage as part of, or associated with, the rental agreement. Existing law requires any plaintiff who elects to serve the foreign renter by delivering the summons and complaint and any other required documents to the rental company pursuant to these provisions to agree to limit his or her recovery against the foreign renter and rental company to the limits of the protection of the liability insurance. (Civ. Code Sec. 1936.)
This bill:
States that when providing a quote, or imposing charges for a rental, the rental company may separately state the rental rate, additional mandatory charges, if any, and a mileage charge, if any, that a renter must pay to hire or lease the vehicle for the period of time to which the rental rate applies. A rental company shall not charge in addition to the rental rate, additional mandatory charges, or a mileage charge, as those may be applicable, any other fee that is required to be paid by the renter as a condition of hiring or leasing the vehicle.
Provides that all rate advertisements shall include the following disclaimer, which shall be prominently displayed: “Additional mandatory charges may be imposed, including, but not limited to, a customer facility charge, airport concession fee, tourism commission assessment, vehicle license recovery fee, or other government imposed taxes or fees. For more information, including an estimate of your total rental cost, visit our Internet Web site at [www.____.com].”
Defines “additional mandatory charges” to mean any separately stated charges that the rental car company requires the renter to pay to hire or lease the vehicle for the period of time to which the rental rate applies, which are imposed by a governmental entity and specifically relate to the operation of a rental car business, including, but not limited to, a customer facility charge, airport concession fee, tourism commission assessment, vehicle license recovery fee, or other government imposed taxes or fees.
Defines “vehicle license fee” to mean the tax imposed pursuant to the Vehicle License Fee Law (Part 5 (commencing with Section 10701) of Division 2 of the Revenue and Taxation Code).
Defines “vehicle license recovery fee” to mean a charge that seeks to recover the amount of any vehicle license fee and vehicle registration fee paid by a rental company for the particular class of vehicle being rented.
Defines “vehicle registration fee” to mean any fee imposed pursuant to any provision of Chapter 6 (commencing with Section 9101) of Division 3 of the Vehicle Code.
Removes the sunset applicable to the service of a summons and complaint against a renter who resides out of this country and extends this provision indefinitely.
Makes other technical and conforming changes.
Background
Section 1936 of the Civil Code governs the rental of passenger vehicles to the public. In general, existing law requires rental car companies to bundle, or include in the rental rate, all mandatory charges imposed by a governmental entity when advertising or providing quotes to consumers, except for those which the Legislature has specifically authorized to be separately stated. Under existing law, Section 1936 authorizes rental companies to separately state taxes, customer facility charges, if any, and mileage charges, if any, when quoting a vehicle rental rate. In 2006, the Legislature passed AB 2592 (Leno, Chapter 790, Statutes of 2006), which authorized rental companies to separately state airport concession fees and tourism commission assessments in quotes provided to consumers. After the 2009 Budget Act temporarily increased the vehicle license fee from the rate of 0.65 percent of the value of a vehicle to 1.15 percent, the Legislature passed SB 348 (Cogdill, Chapter 156, Statutes of 2009), which authorized rental companies to separately state the “increased vehicle license fee,” defined as that portion of the vehicle license fee above 0.65 percent of the value of a vehicle, prorated to the length of the rental period. Thus, existing law authorizes rental companies to separately state taxes, increased vehicle license recovery fees, customer facility charges, airport concession fees, tourism commission assessments, and mileage charges alongside the rental rate when quoting or charging for the rental of a passenger vehicle.
This bill removes the list of charges that may be separately stated, and instead authorizes rental companies to separately state “additional mandatory charges,” which are charges imposed by a governmental entity that specifically relate to the operation of a rental car business, including, but not limited to, a customer facility charge, airport concession fee, tourism commission assessment, vehicle license recovery fee, and other government imposed taxes or fees. This bill repeals sections of the Civil Code governing the charges that may be separately stated by a rental car company, and consolidates those provisions in Civil Code Section 1936. This bill also requires rental rate advertisements to conspicuously disclose that “additional mandatory charges” may be imposed, and eliminates a sunset on rental car service of process requirements for foreign renters.
Comments
The author writes:
The purpose of the bill is to modernize the relevant code sections regulating the rental car industry by making them more consistent with practices in other states, and to promote transparency in pricing for consumers. Specifically, AB 675 promotes transparency in rental car pricing by clearly delineating private charges imposed by the rental car business, from the many public exactions associated with this industry, including tourism fees, airport concession fees, airport facility fees, vehicle license fees, and other similar charges. However, the bill preserves the requirement that the customer be given a “quote,” which must match the charges ultimately imposed by the contract, to continue to protect consumer expectations.
Other states do not manage the billing practices of the rental care industry as California currently does. The basis for the California law’s extraordinary detail is no longer wholly needed. The basic and fundamentally important consumer protections in relevant code, relating to provision of a “quote” upon which the customer may rely, are preserved.
Section 1936 was originally enacted 25 years ago, to combat misleading pricing practices wherein the advertised rate could be appreciably less than the actual amount of the charge by the time the customer left the counter. Since 2007, rental car companies have been authorized to separately state specific mandatory charges (airport facility fees, concession fees, tourism assessments, and when the vehicle license fee was increased, a vehicle license recovery fee), provided the customer was provided a “bundled” out-the-door quote at the time the car was reserved. AB 675 does not change the disclosure requirements worked out in 2007 – but does allow companies to separately state additional mandatory, government-imposed charges – beyond those specifically authorized 9 years ago. This will align California disclosure practices with other states, and provide the industry needed protection as new government fees are imposed. As more fees are contemplated, the law needs to be revised to promote more accurate display of pricing so consumers know which charges are private and which are public. The requirement to “rebundle” or provide a reliable quote is maintained.
Related/Prior Legislation
AB 1981 (Brown, Chapter 417, Statutes of 2014) removed the manufacturer’s suggested retail price as one of the criteria for determining the rate of a damage waiver sold by a rental company, and instead set the rate of damage waivers according to the vehicle’s classification using criteria set by the 2014 Association of Car Rental Industry Systems Standards for North America. This bill increased the maximum rate of the damage waiver to $11 per rental day for vehicles designated as an “economy car,” “compact car,” or another term denoting the two smallest categories of vehicles described by the standards. This bill increased the maximum rate of the damage waiver to $17 per rental day for vehicles in the next three body-size categories of vehicles designated in the standards, except as specified.
AB 2747 (Committee on Judiciary, Chapter 913, Statutes of 2014), the Assembly Committee on Judiciary’s Omnibus Bill, extended until January 1, 2020, a sunset provision pertaining to a requirement for rental companies to accept service of a summons and complaint against a renter who resides out of this country for an accident or collision resulting from the operation of the rental vehicle in this state, as provided.
SB 348 (Cogdill, Chapter 156, Statutes of 2009) See Background.
AB 2592 (Leno, Chapter. 790, Statutes of 2006) See Background.
FISCAL EFFECT: Appropriation: No Fiscal Com.: No Local: No
Avis Budget Group (co-source)
Enterprise (co-source)
Hertz (co-source)
OPPOSITION: (Verified 8/19/15)
None received
ASSEMBLY FLOOR: 77-1, 5/4/15
AYES: Achadjian, Alejo, Travis Allen, Baker, Bigelow, Bloom, Bonilla, Bonta, Brough, Brown, Burke, Calderon, Chang, Chau, Chávez, Chiu, Chu, Cooley, Cooper, Dababneh, Daly, Dodd, Eggman, Frazier, Beth Gaines, Gallagher, Cristina Garcia, Eduardo Garcia, Gatto, Gipson, Gomez, Gonzalez, Gordon, Gray, Grove, Hadley, Harper, Roger Hernández, Holden, Irwin, Jones, Jones-Sawyer, Kim, Lackey, Linder, Lopez, Low, Maienschein, Mathis, Mayes, McCarty, Medina, Melendez, Mullin, Nazarian, Obernolte, O'Donnell, Olsen, Patterson, Perea, Quirk, Rendon, Ridley-Thomas, Rodriguez, Salas, Santiago, Steinorth, Mark Stone, Thurmond, Ting, Wagner, Waldron, Weber, Wilk, Williams, Wood, Atkins
NOES: Levine
NO VOTE RECORDED: Campos, Dahle
Prepared by: Tobias Halvarson / JUD. / (916) 651-4113
8/19/15 20:55:48
**** END ****
AB 675 (Alejo)
Page 8 of 8
Senator Hannah-Beth Jackson, Chair
2015-2016 Regular Session
AB 675 (Alejo)
Version: July 6, 2015
Hearing Date: July 14, 2015
Fiscal: No
Urgency: No
TH
SUBJECT
Rental Vehicles: Disclosures: Obligations
DESCRIPTION
Existing law governs contracts between rental car companies and their customers in connection with the rental of a passenger vehicle. Under existing law, a rental company may only quote a rental rate that includes the entire amount, but may separately state taxes, an increased vehicle license recovery fee, a customer facility charge, if any, an airport concession fee, if any, a tourism commission assessment, if any, and a mileage charge, if any, that a renter must pay to hire or lease the vehicle for the period of time to which the rental rate applies.
This bill would authorize a rental company, when quoting a rental rate, to separately state the rental rate, additional mandatory charges, if any, and a mileage charge, if any, that a renter must pay to hire or lease the vehicle for the period of time to which the rental rate applies. This bill would define “additional mandatory charges” to mean any separately stated charges that the rental car company requires the renter to pay to hire or lease the vehicle for the period of time to which the rental rate applies, which are imposed by a governmental entity and specifically relate to the operation of a rental car business, including, but not limited to, a customer facility charge, airport concession fee, tourism commission assessment, vehicle license recovery fee, or other government imposed taxes or fees.
BACKGROUND
Section 1936 of the Civil Code governs the rental of passenger vehicles to the public. In general, existing law requires rental car companies to bundle, or include in the rental rate, all mandatory charges imposed by a governmental entity when advertising or providing quotes to consumers, except for those which the Legislature has specifically authorized to be separately stated. Under existing law, Section 1936 authorizes rental companies to separately state taxes, customer facility charges, if any, and mileage charges, if any, when quoting a vehicle rental rate. In 2006, the Legislature passed AB 2592 (Leno, Ch. 790, Stats. 2006), which authorized rental companies to separately state airport concession fees and tourism commission assessments in quotes provided to consumers. After the 2009 Budget Act temporarily increased the vehicle license fee from the rate of 0.65 percent of the value of a vehicle to 1.15 percent, the Legislature passed SB 348 (Cogdill, Ch. 156, Stats. 2009), which authorized rental companies to separately state the “increased vehicle license fee,” defined as that portion of the vehicle license fee above 0.65 percent of the value of a vehicle, prorated to the length of the rental period. Thus, current law authorizes rental companies to separately state taxes, increased vehicle license recovery fees, customer facility charges, airport concession fees, tourism commission assessments, and mileage charges alongside the rental rate when quoting or charging for the rental of a passenger vehicle.
This bill would remove the list of charges that may be separately stated, and instead authorize rental companies to separately state “additional mandatory charges,” which are charges imposed by a governmental entity that specifically relate to the operation of a rental car business, including, but not limited to, a customer facility charge, airport concession fee, tourism commission assessment, vehicle license recovery fee, and other government imposed taxes or fees. This bill would repeal sections of the Civil Code governing the charges that may be separately stated by a rental car company, and consolidate those provisions in Civil Code Section 1936. This bill would also require rental rate advertisements to conspicuously disclose that “additional mandatory charges” may be imposed, and would eliminate a sunset on rental car service of process requirements for foreign renters.
CHANGES TO EXISTING LAW
Existing law provides that a rental company shall only advertise, quote, and charge a rental rate that includes the entire amount except taxes, a customer facility charge, if any, and a mileage charge, if any, that a renter must pay to hire or lease the vehicle for the period of time to which the rental rate applies. (Civ. Code Sec. 1936(m).)
Existing law provides that a rental company shall not charge in addition to the rental rate, taxes, a customer facility charge, if any, and a mileage charge, if any, any fee that is required to be paid by the renter as a condition of hiring or leasing the vehicle, including, but not limited to, required fuel or airport surcharges other than customer facility charges, nor a fee for transporting the renter to the location where the rented vehicle will be delivered to the renter. (Civ. Code Sec. 1936(m).)
Existing law provides, notwithstanding the above, that when providing a quote, or imposing charges for a rental, a rental company may separately state an airport concession fee, if any, and a tourism commission assessment, if any, that a renter must pay to hire or lease the vehicle for the period of time to which the rental rate applies. (Civ. Code Sec. 1936.01(a).)
Existing law provides, notwithstanding the above, that when providing a quote, or imposing charges for a rental, a rental company may separately state an increased vehicle license recovery fee, as defined, that a renter must pay to hire or lease the vehicle for the period of time to which the rental rate applies. (Civ. Code Sec. 1936.015(b).)
Existing law provides that at the time a quote is given, a rental company must provide the person receiving the quote with a good faith estimate of the rental rate and all additional charges, as well as the total charges for the entire rental. The total charges, if provided on an Internet Web site page, must be displayed in a typeface at least as large as any rental rate disclosed on that page and must be provided on a page that the person receiving the quote may reach by following links through no more than two Internet Web site pages, including the page on which the rental rate is first provided. The good faith estimate may exclude mileage charges and charges for optional items that cannot be determined prior to completing the reservation based upon the information provided by the person. (Civ. Code Secs. 1936.01(b), 1936.015(b).)
Existing law states that when a rental rate is stated in an advertisement, quotation, or reservation in connection with a car rental at an airport where a customer facility charge is imposed, the rental company shall disclose clearly the existence and amount of the customer facility charge. Existing law provides that all rate advertisements that include car rentals at airport destinations shall clearly and conspicuously include a toll-free telephone number whereby a customer can be told the specific amount of the customer facility charge to which the customer will be obligated. (Civ. Code Sec. 1936(m).)
This bill would state that when providing a quote, or imposing charges for a rental, the rental company may separately state the rental rate, additional mandatory charges, if any, and a mileage charge, if any, that a renter must pay to hire or lease the vehicle for the period of time to which the rental rate applies. A rental company may not charge any other fee that is required to be paid by the renter as a condition of hiring or leasing the vehicle aside from the rental rate, taxes, additional mandatory charges, if any, and a mileage charge, if any.
This bill would provide that all rate advertisements shall include the following disclaimer, which shall be prominently displayed: “Additional mandatory charges may be imposed, including, but not limited to, a customer facility charge, airport concession fee, tourism commission assessment, vehicle license recovery fee, or other government imposed taxes or fees. For more information, including an estimate of your total rental cost, visit our Internet Web site at [www.____.com].”
This bill would define “additional mandatory charges” to mean any separately stated charges that the rental car company requires the renter to pay to hire or lease the vehicle for the period of time to which the rental rate applies, which are imposed by a governmental entity and specifically relate to the operation of a rental car business, including, but not limited to, a customer facility charge, airport concession fee, tourism commission assessment, vehicle license recovery fee, or other government imposed taxes or fees.
This bill would define “vehicle license fee” to mean the tax imposed pursuant to the Vehicle License Fee Law (Part 5 (commencing with Section 10701) of Division 2 of the Revenue and Taxation Code).
This bill would define “vehicle license recovery fee” to mean a charge that seeks to recover the amount of any vehicle license fee and vehicle registration fee paid by a rental company for the particular class of vehicle being rented.
This bill would define “vehicle registration fee” to mean any fee imposed pursuant to any provision of Chapter 6 (commencing with Section 9101) of Division 3 of the Vehicle Code.
This bill would make other technical and conforming changes.
Existing law requires, until January 1, 2020, a rental company or its registered agent to accept service of a summons and complaint and any other required documents against a renter who resides out of this country for an accident or collision resulting from the operation of the rental vehicle in this state, if the rental company provides liability insurance coverage as part of, or associated with, the rental agreement. Existing law requires any plaintiff who elects to serve the foreign renter by delivering the summons and complaint and any other required documents to the rental company pursuant to these provisions to agree to limit his or her recovery against the foreign renter and rental company to the limits of the protection of the liability insurance. (Civ. Code Sec. 1936.)
This bill would remove the sunset and extend this provision indefinitely.
COMMENT
Stated need for the bill
The author writes:
The purpose of the bill is to modernize the relevant code sections regulating the rental car industry by [making] them more consistent with practices in other states, and to promote transparency in pricing for consumers.
Specifically, AB 675 promotes transparency in rental car pricing by clearly delineating private charges imposed by the rental car business, from the many public exactions associated with this industry, including tourism fees, airport concession fees, airport facility fees, vehicle license fees, and other similar charges. However, the bill preserves the requirement that the customer be given a “quote,” which must match the charges ultimately imposed by the contract, to continue to protect consumer expectations.
Other states do not manage the billing practices of the rental care industry as California currently does. The basis for the California law’s extraordinary detail is no longer wholly needed. The basic and fundamentally important consumer protections in relevant code, relating to provision of a “quote” upon which the customer may rely, are preserved.
. . .
Section 1936 was originally enacted 25 years ago, to combat misleading pricing practices wherein the advertised rate could be appreciably less than the actual amount of the charge by the time the customer left the counter. Since 2007, rental car companies have been authorized to separately state specific mandatory charges (airport facility fees, concession fees, tourism assessments, and when the vehicle license fee was increased, a vehicle license recovery fee), provided the customer was provided a “bundled” out-the-door quote at the time the car was reserved. AB 675 does not change the disclosure requirements worked out in 2007 – but does allow companies to separately state additional mandatory, government-imposed charges – beyond those specifically authorized 9 years ago. This will align California disclosure practices with other states, and provide the industry needed protection as new government fees . . . are imposed.
As more fees are contemplated . . . the law needs to be revised to promote more accurate display of pricing so consumers know which charges are private and which are public. The requirement to “rebundle” or provide a reliable quote is maintained.
Unbundling government charges
With the exception of sales tax, most businesses in California appear to absorb taxes, fees, and other government-imposed charges into their overhead, rather than pass them directly on to consumers. Typically, businesses that are required to pay specific government charges absorb those costs into their pricing models, and then compete with one another on essentially a level playing field (at least as far as government charges are concerned). There are exceptions, notably in the utility sector where rate structures often times separately state different taxes and fees, but on the whole it appears that the marketplace prefers the simplicity of pricing goods and services with government imposed charges “bundled” within the price quoted to consumers.
Existing law governing rental car pricing permits these companies to separately state a number of specific government fees and charges. Some of these fees, like airport consumer facility charges, are only collected in specific rental situations. Others, like increased vehicle license fees, are collected on all rental contracts. This bill would enlarge the scope of government-imposed fees that could be separately stated when quoting or billing for car rentals to include any charge imposed by a governmental entity that specifically relates to the operation of a rental car business. Thus, should this bill become law, rental car companies in California would be authorized to separately charge consumers for their share of a vehicle’s annual registration and licensing fees, as well as any future vehicle-specific fees the Legislature might impose, such as an assessment on the number of miles travelled by a vehicle. This bill would not authorize rental car companies to separately state other government-imposed charges levied generally against other businesses, like real property taxes or unemployment insurance for company employees.
It is unclear whether this change in the law would result in additional government-imposed charges being shifted to rental car customers. Ostensibly, consumers already pay for these charges as part of the “bundled” rental rate for renting a vehicle. Further, a rental car company could not use the ability to “unbundle” government-imposed charges in order to attract consumers with deceptively stated rental rates. Under existing law, rental car companies must state not only the rental rate but also the total charges for each rental when providing a quote to a potential customer. Existing law also prohibits rental car companies from misleading consumers by quoting a lower rental rate and then increasing the total charges due on a rental with the imposition of separately stated fees and charges after an initial quote was generated.
At most, the changes proposed in this bill would allow rental car companies to separately disclose the amounts attributable to government fees and charges when quoting a rental car rate to a consumer. As stated by the sponsors, Avis Budget Group, Enterprise, and Hertz, this bill “represents a modest modernization of California law by enhancing transparency in advertising and pricing” by “allowing rental car companies to disclose the multitude of government exactions associated with rental car transactions and, after disclosure, rebundling all fees and charges in one price for the consumer.” Given that all rental car companies in California would, absent collusion, be subject to market forces and would continue to compete on rental rates quoted to consumers, it is unclear whether this bill would have any net effect on vehicle rental rates in the state.
Eliminating sunset regarding rental car accident service of process
Existing law, until January 1, 2020, requires a rental car company that enters into a vehicle rental agreement with a renter who is not a resident of this country to do the following when that renter purchases liability insurance as part of the agreement: (1) accept service of process of any summons and complaint against the renter for any accident resulting from the operation of the rental car within California; and (2) mail a copy of the summons and complaint to the renter. Existing law specifies how process must be served on a rental car company and requires that a plaintiff agree to limit his or her recovery to the limits of protection provided by the insurance.
Prior to the enactment of this provision, Californians faced difficulties when a foreign driver using a rental car recklessly injured or killed a California resident. The foreign driver would leave the country and return home, and the California resident would be tasked with trying to locate and serve the foreign resident with a civil complaint. This provision was originally enacted with a five-year sunset by AB 621 (Calderon, Ch. 531, Stats. 2011), and was extended to January 1, 2020, by AB 2747 (Committee on Judiciary, Ch. 913, Stats. 2014). This bill would eliminate that sunset date and extend this provision indefinitely.
Technical Amendment
The author offers the following technical amendments to delete an extraneous word that was retained during the last set of amendments to this bill, and to correct the placement of the word “and” in a sentence.
Author’s Amendment:
On page 40, line 18, strike “taxes”
On page 40, line 25, strike “if any, a mileage charge, if any, and” and insert “if any, and a mileage charge, if any,”
Support: None Known
Opposition: None Known
HISTORY
Source: Avis Budget Group; Enterprise; Hertz
Related Pending Legislation: None Known
Prior Legislation:
AB 1981 (Brown, Ch. 417, Stats. 2014) removed the manufacturer’s suggested retail price as one of the criteria for determining the rate of a damage waiver sold by a rental company, and instead set the rate of damage waivers according to the vehicle’s classification using criteria set by the 2014 Association of Car Rental Industry Systems Standards for North America. This bill increased the maximum rate of the damage waiver to $11 per rental day for vehicles designated as an “economy car,” “compact car,” or another term denoting the two smallest categories of vehicles described by the standards. This bill increased the maximum rate of the damage waiver to $17 per rental day for vehicles in the next 3 body-size categories of vehicles designated in the standards, except as specified.
AB 2747 (Committee on Judiciary, Ch. 913, Stats. 2014), the Assembly Committee on Judiciary’s Omnibus Bill, extended until January 1, 2020, a sunset provision pertaining to a requirement for rental companies to accept service of a summons and complaint against a renter who resides out of this country for an accident or collision resulting from the operation of the rental vehicle in this state, as provided.
SB 348 (Cogdill, Ch. 156, Stats. 2009) See Background.
AB 2592 (Leno, Ch. 790, Stats. 2006) See Background.
Prior Vote:
Assembly Floor (Ayes 77, Noes 1)
Assembly Judiciary Committee (Ayes 10, Noes 0)
**************
AB 675
Page 3
ASSEMBLY THIRD READING
AB 675
(Alejo)
As Amended April 30, 2015
Majority vote
Committee |
Votes |
Ayes |
Noes |
Judiciary |
10-0 |
Mark Stone, Wagner, Alejo, Chau, Chiu, Gallagher, Cristina Garcia, Holden, Maienschein, O'Donnell |
|
SUMMARY: Revises the statute governing agreements between rental car companies and their customers in order to achieve relatively non-controversial changes. Specifically, this bill:
Permits a rental car company, when providing a quote or imposing charges, to separately state the rental rate, additional mandatory charges, if any, and a mileage charge, if any, that a renter must pay to hire or lease the vehicle for the period of time to which the rental rate applies.
Provides, consistent with existing law, that if additional mandatory charges apply, the rental company shall do the following:
Provide the person receiving the quote, at the time the quote is given, with a good faith estimate of the rental rate and all mandatory charges, as well as the total charges for the entire rental. Specifies that if quotes and total charges are provided online, then the total charges shall be displayed in a typeface at least as large as any rental rate and shall be obtainable by the person receiving the quote by following links through no more than two Internet Web site pages, including the page on which the rental rate is first provided.
Clearly and conspicuously disclose in the rental contract the total of the rental rate, additional mandatory charges, for the entire rental period, exclusive of charges that cannot be determined at the time the rental commences. Prohibits the rental car company from charging more than the quoted amount unless the renter makes changes subsequent to making the reservation.
Provides that if a damage waiver is offered orally at the rental counter, a rental company shall orally disclose at the time of the offer that the damage waiver may be duplicative of coverage provided by the customer's own motor vehicle insurance policy. However, if the damage waiver is obtained online, then the rental car company may forgo the oral disclosure and instead provide a clear and conspicuous written disclosure on the company's Internet Web site, at the time the quote is given.
Permits the rental car company to use information from the rental vehicle's electronic surveillance technology if the rental vehicle has not been returned three days following the contracted return date, or three days following the end of an extension of the return date.
Eliminates a requirement that the rental car company hang on the rear-view mirror of all rental vehicles a paper hanger that duplicates the damage waiver information that is already disclosed when offered at the counter or online.
Defines "additional mandatory charges" to mean any charges imposed by a government entity that the renter must pay, including, but not limited to, a customer facility charge, airport concession fee, tourism commission assessment, vehicle license recovery fee, or other government imposed taxes or fees.
Makes several organizational changes to account for provisions that have become inoperative, to consolidate sections so as to avoid redundancy, or otherwise provide a more logical structure to the existing statute.
EXISTING LAW sets forth general rules governing contracts between rental car companies and their customers on a variety of matters, including, but not limited to, the manner in which rental car companies advertise and quote rental charges and additional fees, the renter's liability or lack thereof for damages to a rental vehicle, the amount that rental car companies may charge for damage waivers and the manner in which they are offered, and the conditions under which a rental car company may access, obtain, and use geo-location and other information from the rental vehicle's electronic surveillance technology.
FISCAL EFFECT: None
COMMENTS: According to the author, the purpose of this bill is to "modernize" Civil Code Section 1936, which regulates rental car contracts. The author believes that this measure will promote transparency by clearly delineating the private charges imposed by the rental car company from the many government-imposed exactions, including tourism fees, airport concession and facility fees, vehicle fees, and related fees and surcharges. According to the author, delineation will allow the consumer to know which parts of the total charge reflect the rental company's fees, and which parts represent government-imposed fees. However, the author stresses, the existing consumer protection that requires the rental car company to clearly and conspicuously quote the total charge will be preserved in this bill. The author contends that the other changes proposed by this bill – such as allowing disclosures to be made online when a rental vehicle is reserved online – "simply modernize the code." This bill, in fact, makes many changes to existing law; however, the changes are not nearly as extensive as they appear at first glance. For example, many of the changes – some of which were apparently made by Legislative Counsel – delete sections or subdivisions that have become inoperative or redundant. For example, part of the adjacent statute, Civil Code Section 1936.01, duplicates much of Civil Code Section 1936 except for some provisions that have become inoperative. Therefore, this bill deletes Civil Code Section 1936.01 but re-inserts the still operative parts of that statute into Civil Code Section 1936. Other changes move substantive provisions that were awkwardly placed in definitional sections into more appropriate substantive sections.
In brief, there are three substantive changes made by this bill that merit attention: 1) updating a provision that allows a rental car company to separate its rental fees from government-imposed charges in order to reflect more recently imposed charges; 2) eliminating a requirement that damage waiver disclosures be made orally to reflect the fact that an increasing number of people reserve rental vehicles online; and 3) notwithstanding a general prohibition on the use of information obtained from the rental vehicle's global positioning system (GPS) device, permitting the company to access and use GPS information to locate the vehicle if the vehicle is not returned within three days after the contracted return date, shortened from the one week period in existing law.
Separation of Private and Public Fees. Civil Code Section 1936 sets forth the general rules governing rental car contracts and the respective duties and liabilities of rental car companies and their customers. One of the key issues that prompted the initial legislation, and which has been the subject of several amendments over the years, concerns the various taxes, assessments, and surcharges typically tacked on to the rental company's fees and the manner in which the company may quote those fees and charges to customers. Under existing law a rental car company must quote the entire amount, with the rental fees and additional surcharges "bundled" together into a single quote. Because rental car companies wanted customers to know which part of the total was attributable to the rental car company and which part to government-imposed fees, the statute was amended in 2007 to authorize rental car companies to separate, or effectively itemize, company fees from other mandatory charges. The problem with existing law, however, is that it specifically names the fees and charges that existed in 2007 when the legislation was amended. Since that time, several new mandatory charges have been imposed, but they cannot be separately listed because they are not specifically named. This bill would address this shortcoming by permitting the rental car company to separate its rental charges from any "additional mandatory charges."
Damage Waiver Disclosure. Under existing law the rental car company must disclose to the consumer that the damage waiver offered by the company may be duplicative of the renter's personal car insurance policy. Since 2001, existing law has mandated that this disclosure must be made orally at the counter and at the time when the damage waiver is offered. However, since 2001, the method by which rental vehicles are reserved and rental agreements are entered into has changed dramatically because of the Internet, with most customers reserving rental vehicles and selecting options online. This bill would acknowledge this reality by allowing the disclosure to be made online if the vehicle is reserved online. If the customer reserves the vehicle or selects the damage waiver option at the counter, then the disclosure must still be made orally. Relatedly, this bill would eliminate an existing requirement for a paper "hanger," since it repeats the disclosure and options offered online or at the counter.
Use of GPS Information. California is one of a handful of states that prohibit rental car companies from using information obtained from the rental vehicle's GPS device to track the vehicle during the rental period, except in a few narrowly defined exceptions. One of the exceptions allows the rental company to access and use the information if the customer fails to return the vehicle within one week of the contracted return date. The author and sponsor contend, not unreasonably, that one week is a long time to wait before using GPS to try to determine the whereabouts of a vehicle that has not been returned, and where the renter has failed to notify the rental company or sought to extend the contracted return date. This bill would reduce the period from one week to three days after the contracted return date.
Analysis Prepared by: Thomas Clark / JUD. / (916) 319-2334 FN: 0000210
AB 675
Page 3
ASSEMBLY THIRD READING
AB 675
(Alejo)
As Amended April 15, 2015
Majority vote
Committee |
Votes |
Ayes |
Noes |
Judiciary |
10-0 |
Mark Stone, Wagner, Alejo, Chau, Chiu, Gallagher, Cristina Garcia, Holden, Maienschein, O'Donnell |
|
SUMMARY: Revises the statute governing agreements between rental car companies and their customers in order to achieve relatively non-controversial changes. Specifically, this bill:
Permits a rental car company, when providing a quote or imposing charges, to separately state the rental rate, additional mandatory charges, if any, and a mileage charge, if any, that a renter must pay to hire or lease the vehicle for the period of time to which the rental rate applies.
Provides, consistent with existing law, that if additional mandatory charges apply, the rental company shall do the following:
Provide the person receiving the quote, at the time the quote is given, with a good faith estimate of the rental rate and all mandatory charges, as well as the total charges for the entire rental. Specifies that if quotes and total charges are provided online, then the total charges shall be displayed in a typeface at least as large as any rental rate and shall be obtainable by the person receiving the quote by following links through no more than two Internet Web site pages, including the page on which the rental rate is first provided.
Clearly and conspicuously disclose in the rental contract the total of the rental rate, additional mandatory charges, for the entire rental period, exclusive of charges that cannot be determined at the time the rental commences. Prohibits the rental car company from charging more than the quoted amount unless the renter makes changes subsequent to making the reservation.
Provides that if a damage waiver is offered orally at the rental counter, a rental company shall orally disclose at the time of the offer that the damage waiver may be duplicative of coverage provided by the customer's own motor vehicle insurance policy. However, if the damage waiver is obtained online, then the rental car company may forgo the oral disclosure and instead provide a clear and conspicuous written disclosure on the company's Internet Web site, at the time the quote is given.
Permits the rental car company to use information from the rental vehicle's electronic surveillance technology if the rental vehicle has not been returned three days following the contracted return date, or three days following the end of an extension of the return date.
Eliminates a requirement that the rental car company hang on the rear-view mirror of all rental vehicles a paper hanger that duplicates the damage waiver information that is already disclosed when offered at the counter or online.
Defines "additional mandatory charges" to mean any charges imposed by a government entity that the renter must pay, including, but not limited to, a customer facility charge, airport concession fee, tourism commission assessment, vehicle license recovery fee, or other government imposed taxes or fees.
Makes several organizational changes to account for provisions that have become inoperative, to consolidate sections so as to avoid redundancy, or otherwise provide a more logical structure to the existing statute.
EXISTING LAW sets forth general rules governing contracts between rental car companies and their customers on a variety of matters, including, but not limited to, the manner in which rental car companies advertise and quote rental charges and additional fees, the renter's liability or lack thereof for damages to a rental vehicle, the amount that rental car companies may charge for damage waivers and the manner in which they are offered, and the conditions under which a rental car company may access, obtain, and use geo-location and other information from the rental vehicle's electronic surveillance technology.
FISCAL EFFECT: None
COMMENTS: According to the author, the purpose of this bill is to "modernize" Civil Code Section 1936, which regulates rental car contracts. The author believes that this measure will promote transparency by clearly delineating the private charges imposed by the rental car company from the many government-imposed exactions, including tourism fees, airport concession and facility fees, vehicle fees, and related fees and surcharges. According to the author, delineation will allow the consumer to know which parts of the total charge reflect the rental company's fees, and which parts represent government-imposed fees. However, the author stresses, the existing consumer protection that requires the rental car company to clearly and conspicuously quote the total charge will be preserved in this bill. The author contends that the other changes proposed by this bill – such as allowing disclosures to be made online when a rental vehicle is reserved online – "simply modernize the code." This bill, in fact, makes many changes to existing law; however, the changes are not nearly as extensive as they appear at first glance. For example, many of the changes – some of which were apparently made by Legislative Counsel – delete sections or subdivisions that have become inoperative or redundant. For example, part of the adjacent statute, Civil Code Section 1936.01, duplicates much of Civil Code Section 1936 except for some provisions that have become inoperative. Therefore, this bill deletes Civil Code Section 1936.01 but re-inserts the still operative parts of that statute into Civil Code Section 1936. Other changes move substantive provisions that were awkwardly placed in definitional sections into more appropriate substantive sections.
In brief, there are three substantive changes made by this bill that merit attention: 1) updating a provision that allows a rental car company to separate its rental fees from government-imposed charges in order to reflect more recently imposed charges; 2) eliminating a requirement that damage waiver disclosures be made orally to reflect the fact that an increasing number of people reserve rental vehicles online; and 3) notwithstanding a general prohibition on the use of information obtained from the rental vehicle's GPS device, permitting the company to access and use GPS information to locate the vehicle if the vehicle is not returned within three days after the contracted return date, shortened from the one week period in existing law.
Separation of Private and Public Fees. Civil Code Section 1936 sets forth the general rules governing rental car contracts and the respective duties and liabilities of rental car companies and their customers. One of the key issues that prompted the initial legislation, and which has been the subject of several amendments over the years, concerns the various taxes, assessments, and surcharges typically tacked on to the rental company's fees and the manner in which the company may quote those fees and charges to customers. Under existing law a rental car company must quote the entire amount, with the rental fees and additional surcharges "bundled" together into a single quote. Because rental car companies wanted customers to know which part of the total was attributable to the rental car company and which part to government-imposed fees, the statute was amended in 2007 to authorize rental car companies to separate, or effectively itemize, company fees from other mandatory charges. The problem with existing law, however, is that it specifically names the fees and charges that existed in 2007 when the legislation was amended. Since that time, several new mandatory charges have been imposed, but they cannot be separately listed because they are not specifically named. This bill would address this shortcoming by permitting the rental car company to separate its rental charges from any "additional mandatory charges."
Damage Waiver Disclosure. Under existing law the rental car company must disclose to the consumer that the damage waiver offered by the company may be duplicative of the renter's personal car insurance policy. Since 2001, existing law has mandated that this disclosure must be made orally at the counter and at the time when the damage waiver is offered. However, since 2001, the method by which rental vehicles are reserved and rental agreements are entered into has changed dramatically because of the Internet, with most customers reserving rental vehicles and selecting options online. This bill would acknowledge this reality by allowing the disclosure to be made online if the vehicle is reserved online. If the customer reserves the vehicle or selects the damage waiver option at the counter, then the disclosure must still be made orally. Relatedly, this bill would eliminate an existing requirement for a paper "hanger," since it repeats the disclosure and options offered online or at the counter.
Use of GPS Information. California is one of a handful of states that prohibit rental car companies from using information obtained from the rental vehicle's GPS device to track the vehicle during the rental period, except in a few narrowly defined exceptions. One of the exceptions allows the rental company to access and use the information if the customer fails to return the vehicle within one week of the contracted return date. The author and sponsor contend, not unreasonably, that one week is a long time to wait before using GPS to try to determine the whereabouts of a vehicle that has not been returned, and where the renter has failed to notify the rental company or sought to extend the contracted return date. This bill would reduce the period from one week to three days after the contracted return date.
Analysis Prepared by: Thomas Clark / JUD. / (916) 319-2334 FN: 0000168
AB 675
Page 6
Date of Hearing: April 14, 2015
ASSEMBLY COMMITTEE ON JUDICIARY
Mark Stone, Chair
AB 675
(Alejo) – As Amended March 26, 2015
As Proposed to be Amended
SUBJECT: Rental vehicles: separately stated charges: disclosures
KEY ISSUES:
Should a rental car company be permitted to LIST rental rate charges SEPARATELY from government-imposed fees, if any, so long as the quote provided to the consumer clearly and conspicuously states the total price?
Should a required damage waiver disclosure be updated to account for the fact that most people now reserve rental vehicles online?
Should the period of time after which a rental car company may use location data from a rental vehicle's GPS device be reduced from seven DAYS to three days after the contracted return date, if the car has not been returned by that date AND NO extension OF THE RENTAL CONTRACT HAS BEEN requested?
SYNOPSIS
This bill makes several changes in the statute governing rental agreements between rental car companies and their customers, in large measure to reflect new government surcharges and the shift to online reservations. Existing law requires rental car companies, when quoting a price to a prospective customer, to quote the total cost: the base rental fee, plus any surcharges that are typically added to the base fee. Existing law allows the rental car company to provide a statement that separates the company's rental fee from specified government charges, but unfortunately the statute specifically identifies only those charges that were in place when the statute was last amended. Since then, the list of mandatory fees has grown. This bill would authorize separation of these newer fees along with any fees still to come, by permitting the rental car company to separately state its rental fees from any "additional mandatory charges," defined as any charges imposed by a government entity.
The bill would make two other substantive changes. First, a damage waiver disclosure that currently must be made orally at the rental counter could, under this bill, be made online if the car is reserved online. (Relatedly, the bill eliminates an existing requirement that a redundant disclosure be hung from the rear-view mirror.) Second, in order to better prevent theft and facilitate recovery of unreturned vehicles, a rental company would be permitted to use the car's GPS device to locate a car three days after the contracted return date (instead of the one week period specified under existing law.) Finally, the bill makes several technical and organizational changes in order to create a more logical ordering of provisions, eliminate adjacent statutes that have become inoperative, and move the operative parts of the deleted statutes into the principle statute, Civil Code Section 1936. The analysis reflects amendments to be taken in this Committee. There is no known opposition to this bill.
SUMMARY: Revises the statute governing agreements between rental car companies and their customers in order to achieve relatively non-controversial changes. Specifically, this bill:
Permits a rental car company, when providing a quote or imposing charges, to separately state the rental rate, additional mandatory charges, if any, and a mileage charge, if any, that a renter must pay to hire or lease the vehicle for the period of time to which the rental rate applies.
Provides, consistent with existing law, that if additional mandatory charges apply, the rental company shall do the following:
Provide the person receiving the quote, at the time the quote is given, with a good faith estimate of the rental rate and all mandatory charges, as well as the total charges for the entire rental. Specifies that if quotes and total charges are provided online, then the total charges shall be displayed in a typeface at least as large as any rental rate and shall be obtainable by the person receiving the quote by following links through no more than two Internet web site pages, including the page on which the rental rate is first provided.
Clearly and conspicuously disclose in the rental contract the total of the rental rate, additional mandatory charges, for the entire rental period, exclusive of charges that cannot be determined at the time the rental commences. Prohibits the rental car company from charging more than the quoted amount unless the renter makes changes subsequent to making the reservation.
Provides that if a damage waiver is offered orally at the rental counter, a rental company shall orally disclose at the time of the offer that the damage waiver may be duplicative of coverage provided by the customer's own motor vehicle insurance policy. However, if the damage waiver is obtained online, then the rental car company may forgo the oral disclosure and instead provide a clear and conspicuous written disclosure on the company's Internet Web site, at the time the quote is given.
Permits the rental car company to use information from the rental vehicle's electronic surveillance technology if the rental vehicle has not been returned three days following the contracted return date, or three days following the end of an extension of the return date.
Eliminates a requirement that the rental car company hang on the rear-view mirror of all rental vehicles a paper hanger that duplicates the damage waiver information that is already disclosed when offered at the counter or online.
Defines "additional mandatory charges" to mean any charges imposed by a government entity that the renter must pay, including, but not limited to, a customer facility charge, airport concession fee, tourism commission assessment, vehicle license recovery fee, or other government imposed taxes or fees.
Makes several organizational changes to account for provisions that have become inoperative, to consolidate sections so as to avoid redundancy, or otherwise provide a more logical structure to the existing statute.
EXISTING LAW:
Sets forth general rules governing contracts between rental car companies and their customers on a variety of matters, including, but not limited to, the manner in which rental car companies advertise and quote rental charges and additional fees, the renter's liability or lack thereof for damages to a rental vehicle, the amount that rental car companies may charge for damage waivers and the manner in which they are offered, and the conditions under which a rental car company may access, obtain, and use geo-location and other information from the rental vehicle's electronic surveillance technology. (Civil Code Section 1936; subsequent citations refer to the Civil Code unless otherwise indicated.)
Requires a rental car company that offers a damage waiver to disclose specified information to the renter in a prescribed manner, including providing an oral disclosure at the counter that the damage waiver may be duplicative of coverage that the customer maintains under his or her own motor vehicle insurance policy. (Section 1936 (g).)
Provides that a rental car company shall only advertise, quote, and charge a rental rate that includes the entire amount that the renter must pay to hire or lease the vehicle for the period of time to which the rental rate applies. (Section 1936 (m).)
Permits a rental car company to separately state the rental rate from fees and charges imposed by other entities, including any customer facility charge, airport concession fee, or tourism commission assessment, so long as the advertised or quoted rental rate includes the entire amount. (Civil Code Section 1936.01 (b).)
Prohibits a rental car company from using, accessing, or obtaining any information relating to the renter's use of the rental vehicle that was obtained using electronic surveillance technology, subject to certain exceptions, including when the technology is used to locate a stolen, abandoned, or missing rental vehicle after one of the following:
The renter or law enforcement has informed the rental car company that the vehicle is missing or has been stolen or abandoned.
The rental vehicle has not been returned following one week after the contracted return date, or one week following the end of an extension of that return date.
The rental car company discovers that the vehicle has been stolen or abandoned and, if stolen, reports the vehicle stolen to law enforcement by filing a stolen vehicle report. (Section 1936 (n) (1) (i)-(iii).)
FISCAL EFFECT: As currently in print this bill is keyed non-fiscal.
COMMENTS: According to the author, the purpose of this bill is to "modernize" Civil Code Section 1936, which regulates rental car contracts. The author believes that this measure will promote transparency by clearly delineating the private charges imposed by the rental car company from the many government-imposed exactions, including tourism fees, airport concession and facility fees, vehicle fees, and related fees and surcharges. According to the author, delineation will allow the consumer to know which parts of the total charge reflect the rental company's fees, and which parts represent government-imposed fees. However, the author stresses, the existing consumer protection that requires the rental car company to clearly and conspicuously quote the total charge will be preserved in this bill. The author contends that the other changes proposed by this bill – such as allowing disclosures to be made online when a rental vehicle is reserved online – "simply modernize the code." The bill, in fact, makes many changes to existing law; however, the changes are not nearly as extensive as they appear at first glance. For example, many of the changes – some of which were apparently made by Legislative Counsel – delete sections or subdivisions that have become inoperative or redundant. For example, part of the adjacent statute, Section 1936.01, duplicates much of Section 1936 except for some provisions that have become inoperative. Therefore, this bill deletes Section 1936.01 but re-inserts the still operative parts of that statute into Section 1936. Other changes move substantive provisions that were awkwardly placed in definitional sections into more appropriate substantive sections.
In brief, there are three substantive changes made by this bill that merit attention: (1) updating a provision that allows a rental car company to separate its rental fees from government-imposed charges in order to reflect more recently imposed charges; (2) eliminating a requirement that damage waiver disclosures be made orally to reflect the fact that an increasing number of people reserve rental vehicles online; and (3) notwithstanding a general prohibition on the use of information obtained from the rental vehicle's GPS device, permitting the company to access and use GPS information to locate the vehicle if the vehicle is not returned within three days after the contracted return date, shortened from the one week period in existing law.
Separation of Private and Public Fees: Civil Code Section 1936 sets forth the general rules governing rental car contracts and the respective duties and liabilities of rental car companies and their customers. One of the key issues that prompted the initial legislation, and which has been the subject of several amendments over the years, concerns the various taxes, assessments, and surcharges typically tacked on to the rental company's fees and the manner in which the company may quote those fees and charges to customers. For example, consumer advocates previously alleged that rental companies used a "bait and switch" technique of advertising or quoting only the base amount of the total rental rate to customers, meaning customers only learned of the additional charges when they picked up the vehicle at the rental location. Legislation addressing this issue was first enacted in 1988, amended in 1996, and substantially re-written in 2001. Among other things, past measures required a rental car company to quote the entire amount, with the rental fees and additional surcharges "bundled" together into a single quote. Because rental car companies understandably wanted their customers to know which part of the total was attributable to the rental car company and which part represented government-imposed fees, the statute was amended again in 2007 to authorize rental car companies to separate, or effectively itemize, company fees from charges required by some other entity, such as a government surcharge to expand or maintain airport facilities, so long as the total charge was clearly and conspicuously quoted to the consumer. The problem with existing law on this point, however, is that it specifically names the fees and charges that may be separated, instead of identifying additional mandatory charges, such as government fees, in general. Since last amended, several new mandatory charges have been imposed, but they cannot be separately listed with the other specified mandatory charges. This bill would address this shortcoming by permitting the rental car company to separate its rental charges from any "additional mandatory charges," which are defined to include any government-imposed charges.
Damage Waiver Disclosure: Another previous criticism that consumer groups have made against rental car companies in the past was about both the cost and the necessity of the "damage waiver" offered by rental car companies. Consumer groups alleged that these waivers – which supposedly relieved the renter from liability for damage to the vehicle – were often quite limited in what they covered and, moreover, were often unnecessary insofar as they duplicated coverage by the renter's personal car insurance policy. To address this, the law was amended to require the company to disclose to the consumer that the damage waiver may be duplicative of his or her personal car insurance policy. Since 2001, existing law has mandated that this disclosure must be made orally at the counter and at the time when the damage waiver is offered. However, since 2001, the method by which rental vehicles are reserved and rental agreements are entered into has changed dramatically because of the Internet. Today, many if not most consumers reserve rental vehicles online and select available options, including the option of whether to accept the damage waiver offer. Most people make these choices in advance so they can simply pick up their vehicles without having to stand in line and have an employee at the counter explain the options and make the required disclosures in person. This bill would acknowledge this reality by allowing the disclosure to be made online if the vehicle is reserved online. If the customer reserves the vehicle or selects the damage waiver option at the counter, then the disclosure must still have to be made orally.
Relatedly, this bill would eliminate an existing requirement for a paper "hanger," repeating the damage waiver disclosure, to be hung from the rear-view mirror of every vehicle. Presumably, the paper hanger gives the renter one last chance to opt for the damage waiver, if he or she had refused, or to refuse it, if he or she had accepted. According to the sponsor, most of these paper hangers end up on the floors or in the back seats of the rental vehicles and are rarely, if ever, used. This no doubt reflects the fact that the customer is not likely to change his or her mind between the walk from the counter – where the disclosure and option may have just been provided – and the lot. If the customer has reserved the vehicle online so as to avoid interacting with an employee at the counter, existing law only makes the paper hanger effective if it is handed to an employee at the counter. Given that the disclosure is already made online or at the counter – and if made at the counter provided only moments before the customer is likely to see the paper hanger before leaving the lot – the author and sponsor believe that the paper hanger disclosure is ineffective, inefficient, and wasteful. It is difficult to disagree.
Use of GPS Information: California is one of just a handful of states that prohibit rental car companies from using information obtained from the rental vehicle's GPS device to locate their vehicles, except in a few narrowly defined situations. A high-profile court case in Connecticut involved a rental company that used GPS information to charge customers extra fees for "recklessly" using the vehicle, or driving a vehicle out-of-state or otherwise outside of a contractually-restricted geographical area. A customer sued the company and a court found that the charges, at least under the terms of the specific contract, were unwarranted. In response to this case, a small number of states, most notably Connecticut, New York, and California, passed laws that limit the ability of rental car companies to use GPS information for such purposes. Indeed, California enacted a general prohibition against the use of this information, unless it is to provide the customer with requested services. Otherwise, current law prohibits GPS information from being accessed until the vehicle is returned, unless the vehicle is missing, abandoned, or stolen, or the customer fails to return the vehicle within one week of the contracted return date or any extension thereof. The author and sponsor contend, not unreasonably, that one week is a long time to wait before using GPS to try to determine the whereabouts of a vehicle that has not been returned, and where the renter has failed to notify the rental company or sought to extend the contracted return date. This bill would reduce the period from one week to three days after the contracted return date.
ARGUMENTS IN SUPPORT: According to the sponsors – the major car rental companies, Avis, Enterprise, and Hertz – this bill "seeks to modernize the relevant rental car code sections by making them more consistent with practices in other states and promoting transparency in pricing for consumers. In lieu of outdated practices, the bill also requires internet disclosure for the optional damage waiver and to combat theft, allows rental car companies to locate missing vehicles sooner. . . .[T]his bill makes a few small updates to the codes written nearly 30 years ago. As technology changes and the market follows, it is imperative that our code section allows us to continue serving customers while maintaining the critical consumer protections envisioned when originally crafted."
Proposed Author Amendments: The author will take the following amendments in this Committee. The first three amendments listed below are technical and clarifying in nature. The fourth changes the time frame for using GPS information from two days following failure to return the vehicle to three days following failure to return.
On page 4 line 11 after "charges" insert: imposed by a government entity, and on lines 11 to 13 delete "in addition to a per period base rental and mileage charge, if any"
On page 8 after line 17 add a new paragraph (16) which reads: "Vehicle Registration Fee" means any fee imposed pursuant to any provision of Division 3, Chapter 6 of the Vehicle Code.
On page 8 line 18 change "(16)" to "(17)" and on line 19 after "fees" insert: and vehicle registrations fees
On page 24 on line 23 change "two" to three in both places in which it occurs in line 23.
REGISTERED SUPPORT / OPPOSITION:
Support
Avis Rental Cars
Enterprise Rental Cars
Hertz Rental Cars
Opposition
None on file
Analysis Prepared by: Thomas Clark / JUD. / (916) 319-2334
Discussed in Hearing
Assembly Floor
Assembly Floor
Senate Floor
Senate Floor
Senate Floor
Senate Standing Committee on Judiciary
Assembly Floor
Assembly Floor
Bill Author
Bill Co-Author(s):