What's happening
This bill prohibits rental vehicle companies in New York from charging customers extra fees for using tolls, except the actual toll cost.
Why it matters
Reduces "hidden" rental car costs. By prohibiting rental companies from adding extra fees to toll charges, this bill ensures renters only pay the actual toll—potentially saving consumers from surprise or inflated charges after returning their vehicles.
Promotes transparency in rental agreements. Renters will have clearer expectations of their expenses, making it easier to compare rental options and understand the true cost of using toll roads during their rental period.
Limits potential for abusive fee practices. Some rental agencies have been criticized for charging customers excessive "convenience" or "administrative" fees for toll processing; this measure directly targets and eliminates that practice in New York, strengthening consumer protections.
Could influence industry practices beyond NY. If enacted, this law may encourage similar reforms in other states or prompt rental companies to adjust their nationwide policies, potentially benefiting travelers outside New York as well.
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Ban Rental Car Toll Fees
Plain English, a few words. Used as the page title.
Sponsors
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History
- Reported referred to ways and means
- Reported referred to codes
- Referred to consumer affairs and protection
- Referred to consumer affairs and protection
Companion bill
The same bill in the other chamber. A bill becomes law when one version passes both houses and the governor signs it, so either number can carry it.
Ban Rental Car Toll Fees
In Senate Committee · Consumer Protection · Sponsor Brad Hoylman-Sigal
Full text
1 pageUnderlined is new[Struck] is removedOfficial text on nysenate.gov ↗
STATE OF NEW YORK
6233
2019-2020 Regular Sessions
IN ASSEMBLY
March 4, 2019
Introduced by M. of A. GUNTHER -- read once and referred to the Committee on Consumer Affairs and Protection
AN ACT to amend the general business law, in relation to prohibiting rental vehicle companies from imposing any fees, charges or penalties, other than the actual cost of a toll, on an authorized driver for such driver's use of a rental vehicle
The People of the State of New York, represented in Senate and Assembly, do enact as follows:
Section 1. Section 396-Z of the general business law is amended by adding a new subdivision 13-b to read as follows:
13-b. A rental vehicle company shall not impose any fees, charges or penalties, other than the actual cost of a toll, on an authorized driver for such driver's use of a rental vehicle through a toll collection facility that utilizes an electronic toll collection system, as defined in section twenty-nine hundred eighty-five of the public authorities law, or a photo-monitoring system for the payment of tolls.
§ 2. This act shall take effect on the sixtieth day after it shall have become a law; provided that the amendments to section 396-Z of the general business law made by section one of this act shall survive the expiration and reversion of such section as provided in section 4 of chapter 656 of the laws of 2002, as amended.
EXPLANATION--Matter in italics (underscored) is new; matter in brackets
[ ] is old law to be omitted.
LBD07854-01-9
Reflowed for reading: line numbers and page breaks removed. Cite the official text.
Summaries, headlines and scores are AI-generated from the official bill text. How we score bills. Source: NYS Open Legislation.