Rental passenger vehicles.

Existing law generally governs the transactions between a rental car company, also referred to as a rental company, and its customers, including, among other provisions, required disclosures by a rental company, mandatory contract provisions for a vehicle rental agreement, restrictions on a rental company's use of electronic surveillance technology, and authorization for a rental company to collect specific types of fees and charges from its customers. Existing law defines terms for its purposes. Existing law requires a rental company that offers or provides a damage waiver for consideration in addition to the rental rate to disclose specified information about the renter's liability and how the renter's personal insurance policy or credit card may provide coverage for all or a portion of the renter's potential liability. Existing law requires this information to be posted on a sign in a clearly visible location and describes how a rental company's disclosure requirements may be satisfied for renters who are enrolled in the rental company's membership program. Existing law requires a rental car agent, if it sells insurance, or its endorsee, to make specified disclosures to the renter relating to that insurance, that may be displayed by clear and conspicuous signs posted where rental agreements are executed. Existing law also requires a car rental agency to inform each customer of a state law regarding child restraint systems by posting in a conspicuous place a notice not smaller than 15 by 20 inches with a specific statement. This bill would authorize a rental company to comply with these sign posting requirements or the above-described child restraint systems notice requirement by using an electronic sign. Existing law, as part of the restrictions on the use of electronic surveillance technology referenced above, prohibits a rental car company from using, accessing, or obtaining any information relating to the renter's use of the rental vehicle that was obtained using electronic surveillance technology unless certain conditions are met, including that the rental vehicle has not been returned following one week after the contracted return date, or by one week following the end of an extension of that return date. This bill would instead authorize a rental car company to use, access, or obtain that information if the rental vehicle has not been returned following 3 calendar days after the contracted return date, or by 3 calendar days following the end of an extension of that return date.