Rental passenger vehicle transactions: third parties.

Assembly Member Berman's rental vehicle transparency legislation extends California's vehicle rental disclosure requirements to third-party booking platforms while mandating more detailed cost estimates and vehicle information for consumers. The measure amends existing rental company regulations to require both direct providers and third parties to furnish comprehensive pricing estimates, including all taxes and government fees, as soon as customers specify rental dates, location and vehicle type.

The bill institutes new disclosure protocols requiring rental companies and third-party platforms to display total charges in a typeface at least as large as advertised rental rates when presenting online quotes. While estimates may exclude certain variable costs like mileage charges and optional add-ons, companies must clearly indicate the vehicle's fuel source before reservation completion. The legislation also maintains current exemptions from additional driver fees for family members and certain coworkers.

To address shared responsibility between rental companies and booking platforms, the measure establishes that rental companies bear no liability for third-party disclosure violations if they provide accurate charge information to the platform. Similarly, third parties face no responsibility if rental companies fail to comply with requirements when sharing pricing details. The bill preserves existing protections against charging rental fees during vehicle delivery or pickup periods at non-business locations and maintains restrictions on separate transportation fees except where facility charges permit.