Bills Target Alleged Auto Rental Geographic Discrimination

Two New York lawmakers want to stop car rental companies from charging higher rates to residents living in certain boroughs of the state, according to the New York Post.

Two car rental companies out of 11 that do business in the five boroughs - Thrifty and Dollar - charge Brooklyn, Queens and Bronx residents an additional fee based on their residence. Brooklyn residents pay an additional $55 daily to rent from either of those companies, Bronx residents pay $53 per day, and residents of Queens pay $11 each day. Those figures come from a survey from Manhattan Borough President Scott Stringer, state Sen. Daniel Squadron and Assemblyman Brian Kavanagh.

Staten Island and Manhattan residents are not subject to any extra fee.

Claiming geographic discrimination, the two lawmakers and Stringer say the car rental companies are taking advantage of consumers and penalizing those who live beyond Manhattan.

State bills that Squadron and Kavanagh are sponsoring would make it unlawful for car rental companies to charge customers more based on where they live. A similar bill stalled in committee last year. Squadron and Kavanagh's bills are set to be introduced soon.

Thrifty and Dollar charge the additional fee for consumers renting in New York state, Newark, N.J. or Philadelphia. The fee applies regardless of where the customer intends to drive the rental car.