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Car rentals are a popular option when traveling on vacation, for company employee travel, for auto repair service facilities needing to provide interim vehicles to customers, and for many other occasions. Most people expect that when they rent a car from a rental car company, the vehicle is safe, but is it? How can a renter know if the vehicle they are driving is safe? With an average of 2,186,700 rental cars in service in 2017, according to Auto Rental News, this is an important question. 

What are the rental car inspection standards? 

Rental car companies have the responsibility of providing safe and regularly inspected vehicles. Advance Auto Parts says, “When a vehicle joins the fleet at most automotive-rental companies, it is subject to safety inspections each time it is contracted out to a new driver. For example, the Hertz Corporation has implemented the Hertz Clean & Safe protocol for rental-car maintenance at its suburban and airport locations in the United States. The 35-point checklist is shared with customers before they drive off the lot.” A thorough inspection should include both cleanliness and safety features. The safety inspection should test windshield wipers, seatbelt function, as well as  a check of the tire tread. 

How do rental car companies handle recalls? 

U.S Secretary of Transportation Anthony Foxx and NHTSA Administrator Mark Rosekind have advocated for safe rental cars free of open recalls. Legislation to handle these recalls was passed by Congress. This legislation is called the Fixing America’s Surface Transportation (FAST) Act of 2015. On June 1, 2016 the NHTSA (National Highway Traffic Safety Administration) announced that rental car agencies must fix any and all open safety defects before renting out vehicles to customers. 

“When a family picks up a rental car on vacation, they should be able to expect it is free of any known safety defect,” said Foxx. “I thank Congress and the safety advocates who helped turn this common-sense idea into law.” 

Automotive manufacturers send recall details directly to rental companies to stay in compliance with the Federal Motor Vehicle Safety Act which requires any rental car company with a fleet of more than 35 cars to repair safety recalls before renting cars out. 

“When a car rental company fails to do routine maintenance, does not adhere to product recalls by performing needed repairs, or does not check the status of vehicles before and after they are rented, they are negligent. If you believe that a defect with a rental car caused your accident resulting in injury, you may be eligible to file a claim and hold the company liable for any damages you sustained. We are available 24/7 to assist you, and there are no costs or attorney fees unless we make a monetary recovery for you,” said Fort Myers Car Accident Attorney, Randall Spivey. 

Fort Myers Car Accident Attorney, Randall L. Spivey is a Board Certified Trial Attorney – the highest recognition for competence bestowed by the Florida Bar and a distinction earned by just one (1%) percent of Florida attorneys.  He has handled over 2,000 personal injury and wrongful death cases throughout Florida.  For a free and confidential consultation to discuss your legal rights, contact the Spivey Law Firm, Personal Injury Attorneys, P.A., in Lee County at 239.337.7483 or toll free at 1.888.477.4839, or by email to Randall@SpiveyLaw.com.  Visit SpiveyLaw.com for more information.  You can contact Spivey Law Firm, Personal Injury Attorneys, P.A.in Charlotte County at 941.764.7748 and in Collier County 239.793.7748.