You’re on a business trip, or better yet, on vacation, rent a car at the airport. Easy. Tens of thousands do every day to the USA. But what is, if we park the car and it never?
In the case of a rental car was stolen, what happens then maybe not so simple.
According to the written lease contract and the circumstances of the flight, the customer may be held liable if the cost to the car, usually a few miles late model sedan with a value of $ 12,000 to $ 20,000 . What is more, the lessor can only rent the reluctance of customers from the replacement of the car, even if they have paid for the damage and theft of exemptions, until it is completed, thorough investigation. This may take several days to more than a week.
The responsibility is usually only a problem if a tenant led to a neglect, that the flight or whether it is not sufficiently ensured.
More than a million cars are stolen each year in this country, and car rentals are not immune. Indeed, such as cars, easy to identify through the windows or labels vehicle registration and, generally lack sophisticated anti-theft devices, have specific targets for thieves in recent years.
“This is a serious problem for us,” said Seth Kaminsky, Vice President of security for Avis Inc., which has its headquarters in Garden City, LI Like most officials in enterprises, he was reluctant to discuss peculiarities.
Locations flights are more common in countries along the Mexican border, especially in Texas, and states like New York and Florida with major ports, “said Jan Armstrong, Executive Vice President of the American Car Rental Association in Washington, that most large companies. Most often, these cars are sold are intact, and not for their parts, and then to the USA for sale.
“We lost 3500 cars in a single month in Florida,” said Armstrong. “It was 300 of them in a week in Detroit. The figures are mind-boggling.
On Dollar Rent A Car System, managers from one site to determine if a lease replacement is based in part on how the theft took place, “said Mark A. Lorenzo, operates three sites of dollars in Manhattan.
“It is a judgement,” he said. “If someone comes to me and fifth on 155 and not a job, and said, ‘Yo, stole my car to someone,’ I do not know.” On the other hand, Mr. Lorenzo said, if an Out-of-town family with children crying said that someone stole his car rentals, it would probably give them a replacement car.
Other companies, such as Hertz, the biggest donor in the USA, with 200000 cars, rent a substitute upon request.
With the stolen cars to 33.6 percent since 1986, according to the Federal Bureau of Investigation, arrivals of some officials say they have all the reasons for greater concern.
“A large part of the problem lies in the fact that, if people rent cars may not realize that something that is worth $ 18000 $ 20000,” said Demetria Mudar, a spokesman for Avis. “Much part comes responsibilities “.
Rental companies tend to decisions on a case by case and can not decide to maintain the tenant responsible if adequate measures, such as car parking garage in a well lit. But the conditions of the lease are injured when a stolen car, because the key is still in the ignition. In these cases, Ms. Clark said, “all bets.”
But business officials say that almost all tenants can not from any liability when they purchase a flight and damage waiver. Banned in Illinois and New York, exemption from the rule to cost $ 11 to $ 13 per day.