In 2011, a class-action law suit was filed against Fox Rent A Car and Violation Management Services, a company contracted by car rental companies to process traffic, toll and parking violations while their cars are being rented.

1. Car Rental Companies Surprise
Customers with Ridiculous Toll Road

2. The answer to making
traveling down toll roads
easier and saying good-bye to
the long lines of brake lights
filled with irritated drivers
fumbling for loose change, a
thing of the past was; cashless
toll roads.

3. For many commuters, license
plate-readers and electronic
transponders were welcomed
with open arms. But, what
many failed to think about
was, how these cashless toll
roads will impact drivers
renting cars in unfamiliar
cities.

4. Unfortunately, many of us found out the answer to this question the
hard way, by nasty charges left behind on our credit card bill after
renting a car. So, for the rest of you who have yet to be greeted with
a huge “surprise” fee for driving on toll roads on a rental, keep on
reading to find out how you can save your hard-earned money.

5. In 2011, a class-action law
suit was filed against Fox
Rent A Car and Violation
Management Services, a
company contracted by
car rental companies to
process traffic, toll and
parking violations while
their cars are being rented

6. The lawsuit claimed that Fox Rent A Car didn’t give their
customers any way to pay for tolls without incurring fees and
that both Fox Rent A Car and Violation Management Services
“conspired to turn Fox customer’s tolls into an illegal profit
center for themselves.”

7. The case settled out of
court quickly but as the
number of cashless toll
roads rise, so do the
complaints about their
ridiculous fees imposed by
car rental companies.

8. The result? More lawsuits.
In 2012, car rental
companies Hertz, Avis, and
electronic toll payment
service company, PlatePass,
were slapped with class-
action lawsuits. Hertz and
PlatePass settled in 2013
and were ordered to
provide $11 million in
refunds to consumers.

9. Now, many rental car
companies have clarified
any fees their customers
can incur while renting their
cars and while using
cashless toll systems. Many
consumers however, still
feel ripped off by car rental
company’s toll fees, mostly
because they aren’t given a
choice and they have to pay
for them.

10. • National, Enterprise, and Alamo: $2.95 daily
fee for their TollPass Program, and up to
$14.75 per rental period, this on top of the
cost of the tolls.
• Budget and Avis: expect a $2.95 daily
convenience fee for their e-Toll system. This
fee is applied every day, even on days when
the driver doesn’t drive on a toll road. Drivers
are also expected to pay for tolls they’ve
driven through at the “cash toll rate,” and not
the discounted fee normally given to
subscribers. Fees max out at $14.75 per rental
car, per month.
Below are some of the toll fees charged by some car rental
companies. What do you think of their fees?

11. • Hertz: Hertz charges a $4.95 daily administrative fee for drivers using
the PlatePass System. This fee is charged every day, even on days when
drivers choose not to drive on toll roads. Fees max out at $27.75 per
rental car, per month. However, Hertz also offers a Toll Day Pass; for
$9.90 – $14.30 daily, drivers can be covered for all tolls and fees. This
comes with a promise from Hertz that customers “will never receive
any subsequent toll charges or administration fees.”
• Dollar and Thrifty: In certain states, these two companies are using a
system called Pass24, a flat-fee, prepaid toll system. For $5.95 a day or
$27.95 a week, customers can prepay for both fees and tolls.
Fees charged by some car rental companies. What do you think
of their fees?

12. Before renting from any car
rental company, it’s important
to be familiar with their toll
fees to avoid incurring any
outrageous fees. Do your
homework. Find out if there
are any cashless toll roads in
the area you are going to be
traveling, and if there are, find
out if you can do without them.
If you can, then you can opt out
of the above fees.

13. It’s also important to contact your car insurance company before
traveling to find out what your policy covers. Some auto insurance
coverage plans cover policyholders if they are involved in an accident
while driving a rental car. If that’s the case, then you can also opt out of
the rental company’s add-on insurance. Of course, not all car insurance
policies are created equal so be sure to talk to your auto insurance
agent first!