Car Rentals in New York
Dear New Yorker and New York Traveler: This is a Message from the State of New York 
Renting a car is often a necessity, even for people who own one. There are many reasons why consumers wind up at the rental counter: vacations, business trips, a car to take the kids to camp, a replacement vehicle while our own cars are in the shop. In all, there are millions of car rentals each year in New York.
Yet despite the fact that renting a car is a common experience, the transaction itself can be very confusing. Given the long, complicated contract and the recent changes in the state law regulating car rentals, that is not surprising.
For example, there are a host of add-on charges presented to consumers at the counter, each with a cryptic name, often referred to simply by initials – SLP, CDW, PAI, PEC, and on and on. What are these extra charges? Do I have to pay them to rent the vehicle? Should
I take any of them? Will my own car or homeowner’s insurance policies provide all the insurance coverage I need? How about my credit card? Do the car rental companies have to provide minimum levels of insurance coverage even if I do not buy extra insurance from them? Is that minimum coverage enough? Can the car rental company charge me extra to have other people besides the renter drive the car? Do I have to have a credit card to rent a vehicle? Can they refuse to rent a car to me if I am under 25 years old? Can they charge me more just because I am under 25?
This tip sheet will help you to answer these questions. Once you know the answers, you may be able experience significant savings on your next car rental, just by avoiding unnecessary optional charges.
You should also be aware that New York State law prohibits car rental companies from refusing to rent to consumers who are 18
or older, who do not have a credit card, or because of race, color, ethnic origin, religion, disability or sex. If a car rental company is violating New York’s laws governing this business, I want to know about it so that my office can stop it.
To learn more, or if you have a complaint against a company, call or write:
Attorney General Andrew M. Cuomo
The Capitol
Albany, New York 12224
1-800-771-7755 www.oag.state.ny.us
Sincerely,