Budget Rent A Car System as part of its new amendments to its rental car agreement terms released today, revised a section on Electric Vehicles with specifics added for Tesla. As such it is likely to be similar to other rental car company EV agreements as EV use grows. Hertz said in September it is investing to create the largest rental fleet of EVs in North America, with tens of thousands of EVs available for rent at 500 Hertz locations across 38 states. The company’s current goal is for one-quarter of its fleet to be electric by the end of 2024. (Autoinformed.com: Hertz and GM Plot Major EV Rental Expansion)
“This EV Amendment simultaneously amends the terms of your rental from Budget with respect to the terms herein only. All other terms of your rental remain in full force and effect. In the event of any conflict between the terms of this EV Amendment and your other rental terms, the terms of this EV Amendment shall govern,” Budget said. In other words EVs are singled out.
First off, one-way rentals of EVs are not permitted. “Due to unique infrastructure needs associated with EVs, your EV must be returned to your rental location on the date/time specified in your rental terms.
If your EV is not returned to the renting location, all costs incurred in transporting your EV back to the renting location will be assessed to you. In addition, you will be assessed a fee for Budget’s loss of use of the EV between the time that you should have returned the EV to the renting location and the time that it is returned to the renting location up to a maximum of thirty (30) days. The loss of use fee will be your daily rental rate,” Budget said.
Budget said it will rent an EV with at least a 70% charge on the battery. “The range of your EV will vary based on a number of factors including vehicle load, driver’s actions such as speed and acceleration, climate and terrain factors such as inclines. Budget does not warrant or guarantee the range of an EV,” Budget said.
Then this: Your EV must be returned to Budget with a battery charge level of at least 70%. If returned at less than 70%, but more than 10% battery charge level, a charging fee of $35 will be assessed to you. If returned with less than a 10% battery charge level, you will be assessed an additional low charge fee of $35 (a total of $70 charging fees if returned with a battery charge of less than 10%). The charging fee is based on the kilowatt hours, overhead, loss of use of the EV and administrative costs Budget incurs in charging the vehicle.
While roadside assistance is available for the EV, fuel cannot be delivered to EVs. “If you require roadside service because you depleted your EV’s batteries, your EV will be towed to your renting location and the towing expense will be assessed to you. If you require another vehicle due to a breakdown, you may be provided a gasoline powered vehicle in which case, all fuel provisions of your rental terms shall apply with respect to your replacement vehicle,” Budget said.
Budget’s Unique Tesla Stipulations
If you rented a Tesla EV, you will be able to access Tesla Superchargers, subject to availability, to recharge Tesla vehicles provided, however:
- Any fees, charges and/or costs to access and utilize the Tesla Superchargers shall be your responsibility;
- Any Tesla “idle fees,” as defined and charged by Tesla, shall be your responsibility (Tesla’s website https://www.tesla.com/support/supercharger-idle-fee).
The provisions of “Battery Charging Levels at Vehicle Return” shall continue to apply to you.
- Tesla vehicles may not be washed at an automatic car wash. Any damage caused by an automatic car wash shall be assessed to you pursuant to the “damage/loss to the car” provisions of your rental terms and will not be covered by Loss Damage Waiver (LDW). If you do not purchase LDW and rely on your personal insurance to cover your damage to the EV, it is your responsibility to ensure your insurance provides coverage for EV’s and/or EV components.
Budget Changes EV Rental Terms. Singles out Tesla
Budget Rent A Car System as part of its new amendments to its rental car agreement terms released today, revised a section on Electric Vehicles with specifics added for Tesla. As such it is likely to be similar to other rental car company EV agreements as EV use grows. Hertz said in September it is investing to create the largest rental fleet of EVs in North America, with tens of thousands of EVs available for rent at 500 Hertz locations across 38 states. The company’s current goal is for one-quarter of its fleet to be electric by the end of 2024. (Autoinformed.com: Hertz and GM Plot Major EV Rental Expansion)
“This EV Amendment simultaneously amends the terms of your rental from Budget with respect to the terms herein only. All other terms of your rental remain in full force and effect. In the event of any conflict between the terms of this EV Amendment and your other rental terms, the terms of this EV Amendment shall govern,” Budget said. In other words EVs are singled out.
First off, one-way rentals of EVs are not permitted. “Due to unique infrastructure needs associated with EVs, your EV must be returned to your rental location on the date/time specified in your rental terms.
If your EV is not returned to the renting location, all costs incurred in transporting your EV back to the renting location will be assessed to you. In addition, you will be assessed a fee for Budget’s loss of use of the EV between the time that you should have returned the EV to the renting location and the time that it is returned to the renting location up to a maximum of thirty (30) days. The loss of use fee will be your daily rental rate,” Budget said.
Budget said it will rent an EV with at least a 70% charge on the battery. “The range of your EV will vary based on a number of factors including vehicle load, driver’s actions such as speed and acceleration, climate and terrain factors such as inclines. Budget does not warrant or guarantee the range of an EV,” Budget said.
Then this: Your EV must be returned to Budget with a battery charge level of at least 70%. If returned at less than 70%, but more than 10% battery charge level, a charging fee of $35 will be assessed to you. If returned with less than a 10% battery charge level, you will be assessed an additional low charge fee of $35 (a total of $70 charging fees if returned with a battery charge of less than 10%). The charging fee is based on the kilowatt hours, overhead, loss of use of the EV and administrative costs Budget incurs in charging the vehicle.
While roadside assistance is available for the EV, fuel cannot be delivered to EVs. “If you require roadside service because you depleted your EV’s batteries, your EV will be towed to your renting location and the towing expense will be assessed to you. If you require another vehicle due to a breakdown, you may be provided a gasoline powered vehicle in which case, all fuel provisions of your rental terms shall apply with respect to your replacement vehicle,” Budget said.
Budget’s Unique Tesla Stipulations
If you rented a Tesla EV, you will be able to access Tesla Superchargers, subject to availability, to recharge Tesla vehicles provided, however:
The provisions of “Battery Charging Levels at Vehicle Return” shall continue to apply to you.