The bill amends RCW 47.04.310 to regulate the fees that rental car companies can include in their rental agreements. It specifies that rental car companies may include separately stated surcharges, fees, or charges, such as child restraint system rental fees and applicable taxes, but they are prohibited from separately stating a vehicle license cost recovery fee. Additionally, the bill clarifies that rental car companies cannot imply that the state of Washington imposes any vehicle license cost recovery fee on customers. If a rental car company chooses to describe its actual costs related to licensing, titling, registering, and inspecting rental cars, it must include a disclaimer stating that these costs are not imposed on customers by any governmental agency.

Furthermore, the bill outlines that if a rental car company charges a child restraint system rental fee, it must reflect the company's good faith estimate of the costs to provide such systems. If the child restraint system is not available in a timely manner, customers have the right to cancel their rental agreement without penalties and receive a full refund. The bill aims to enhance transparency in rental agreements and protect consumers from misleading charges.

Statutes affected:
Original Bill: 47.04.310