Originally Posted by
freethemind
I rented a car (with a NY license plate) from Budget in NYC and I received a notice of parking violation that says "insp sticker expired (NYS)" and the fine was $65. Do I have to pay for it or is it the rental car company's responsibility? If it's other traffic violation (e.g. parking without a permit) I would suck up and pay for it but it seems a bit unfair for me to pay for something that is beyond my control.
p.s. it never occurs to me to check for the sticker. I thought that would be the rental car's responsibility to give me a car with a valid sticker.
Live in NYC and rent all the time, and am here to tell you no, you don't have to pay the ticket.
If it was for something like illegal parking (on a fire hydrant or elsewhere clearly not allowed), expired parking meter, moving violation, etc.. things that are under a drivers control, then yes you would have to pay. But since you don't own the vehicle in question maintaining it and keeping up with inspections is not your responsibility.
Within 48 hours or maybe several days NYC will send copy of ticket electronically to Budget's corporate offices for handing these matters. Normally first thing any rental car place will do then is charge CC on file (one used for payment of rental) for cost of ticket and any associated fees.
While the inspection violation is Budget's problem, sadly you're on the hook for the other parking violation. National, Budget, Enterprise, Hertz, all of them pay tickets within a week or so after receiving notice electronically. When you consider the large number of rentals per day for any given location and potential outstanding liability it makes sense to pay sooner rather than later. No car rental place can afford to have a vehicle with outstanding tickets. Doing so would subject another renter to that ride being impounded or booted for outstanding tickets.
All rental car places will tell you that if ticket is successfully fought and won (good luck with that), just send them proof and will refund any charges back to card.
OP you need to contact Budget's department for tickets (or wait until they reach out to you, and they will), to dispute any charges for the inspection violation if they do hit your card. Under no circumstances should you contact your CC first and dispute the charges. Even if feel are in the right National, Enterprise, Budget and the rest almost always put anyone who disputes charges (again even if they are in the right) on their "Do Not Rent" lists.
If you are charged for the inspection violation and after reaching out to Budget they won't reverse the charge, then consider all options.