WHAT IF YOU DAMAGE A RENTAL CAR?
We Must Provide You With
An Important Notice About Your
Liability For Damage To A Rental Car
ATCP 118.02(2)(2) Rental companies that offer or sell a damage waiver shall provide each renter a written notice having the following form and content. The rental company shall provide the notice to the renter as part of the rental agreement, or as a separate document without other text or markings, before the renter enters into a rental agreement. If a separate document is used, the rental company shall give each renter one complete copy of the notice signed by that renter and shall retain one complete signed copy with the company’s copy of the rental agreement for a period of six years. The rental company may retain its copy in photographic or electronic form. A rental company that retains its copy in photographic or electronic form shall print that copy for the department upon request. The notice shall: ATCP 118.02(2)(a)(a) Be printed with text in 11-point type, except that title and headings shall be capitalized and in 13-point type bold face. If a separate document is used, it shall be printed on paper 8 1/2 by 11 inches in size. NOTICE ABOUT LIABILITY FOR DAMAGE TO THE RENTAL CAR
The State of Wisconsin requires us to provide the following information about your liability for damage to a rental car and the purchase of a damage waiver.
LIABILITY FOR DAMAGE TO THE RENTAL CAR
The rental agreement makes you and any authorized driver liable for any damage to the rental car caused by an accident, or by intentional, reckless or wanton misconduct, or by theft that you may have intentionally caused. Total liability for any damage is limited to:
1) reasonable repair costs, less discounts available to us, or the fair market value of the car, whichever is less, and
2) actual and reasonable towing costs, and for storage costs during the period before you notify the rental company of the damage to the vehicle or for 14 days after the damage occurs, whichever period is shorter.
LIABILITY FOR DAMAGE AFTER THE RENTAL CAR HAS BEEN STOLEN
If a person who drives the rental car without your authorization causes damage to the car, you may be liable for the damage as though you or an authorized person was driving the car unless you do all of the following:
1) Refrain from leaving the ignition key in the car when you are not in the car.
2) Always keep the ignition key in your possession.
3) Immediately report to the local police if you learn the car has been stolen, or that an unauthorized person is driving the car.
4) Cooperate fully with the local police by providing any information you know that may be helpful.
INSURANCE OR CREDIT CARD COVERAGE
Liability for any damage may be covered by your personal insurance policy or credit card agreement. Check your insurance policy or credit card agreement about coverage.
DAMAGE WAIVER COVERAGE
A damage waiver is not insurance coverage. If you purchase a damage waiver for $ ____ per day, we will waive our right to hold you or any authorized driver liable for damage. Even if you buy a damage waiver, you and any authorized driver will remain liable for damage if any of the following apply:
NOTICE OF RIGHT TO INSPECT DAMAGE
If the car is damaged, we may not collect any amount for the damage unless you, or an authorized driver against whom we claim liability, have been promptly notified of your and your insurers’ right to inspect the unrepaired car within two working days after we were notified of the damage. If you request, we must also give you a copy of any estimate we have obtained from a repair shop regarding any damage claim. Within 2 working days after receiving that estimate, you may request a second estimate from a competing repair shop and we must give you a copy of the second estimate.
COMPLAINTS
If you have any complaints about our attempt to hold you liable for damages or would like a copy of the state law that fully sets forth your rights and obligations, contact:
Bureau of Consumer Protection
P.O. Box 8911, Madison, WI 53708-8911
Call toll-free 1-800-422-7128
Date: Renter’s Signature
ATCP 118.02 HistoryHistory: Cr. Register, September, 1991, No. 429, eff. 10-1-91; am. (2) (b), Register, June, 1999, No. 522, eff. 7-1-99; CR 01-028: am. (2) (b) Register September 2001 No. 549, eff. 10-1-01; CR 04-005: am. (2) Register October 2004 No. 586, eff. 11-1-04; CR 06-028: am. (2) Register November 2006 No. 611, eff. 12-1-06; CR 18-019: am. (2) (b) Form Register January 2020 No. 769, eff. 2-1-20. ATCP 118.03ATCP 118.03 Modification of notice. In the event a rental agreement is otherwise in full compliance with the provisions of ss. 344.57 to 344.579, Stats., and that agreement contractually limits or eliminates the liability of a renter or authorized driver for one or more of the acts or circumstances itemized in s. 344.576 (2) (a) to (j), Stats., a rental company may modify the required notice provided in connection with that agreement. The modification may be made only to items listed under the “Damage Waiver Coverage” portion of the notice and shall be at least as favorable to the renter as required under the notice specified in s. ATCP 118.02. Any modification made under this section shall differ from the required notice only to the extent necessary to delete items of liability not exempted from coverage under a damage waiver purchased in connection with the rental agreement or to explain a contractually granted limitation on any item. ATCP 118.03 HistoryHistory: Cr. Register, September, 1991, No. 429, eff. 10-1-91; am. Register, June, 1999, No. 522, eff. 7-1-99. ATCP 118.04ATCP 118.04 Violations. Any person who violates a provision of this subchapter is subject to the penalties provided in s. 344.579, Stats. ATCP 118.10ATCP 118.10 Definitions. In this subchapter: ATCP 118.10(1)(1) “Department” means the Wisconsin department of agriculture, trade and consumer protection. ATCP 118.10 HistoryHistory: CR 08-075: cr. Register April 2009 No. 640, eff. 5-1-09. ATCP 118.12ATCP 118.12 Notice of charges related to nonmoving traffic violations. ATCP 118.12(1)(1) A rental company shall give notice to prospective renters according to this section if the rental company may charge a renter’s credit card for forfeitures, costs, towing or storage charges incurred but not paid by the renter related to nonmoving traffic violations involving a private passenger vehicle rented from the rental company. ATCP 118.12(2)(2) A rental company that is required to give notice under sub. (1) shall do all of the following: ATCP 118.12(2)(a)(a) Include the following verbatim notice, in 16-point boldface type in the following format, immediately adjacent to the renter signature line in the rental agreement: “WHAT IF YOU FAIL TO PAY A PARKING TICKET?
We Will Charge Your Credit Card For Unpaid Parking Tickets You May Incur While The Vehicle Is In Your Possession.”
ATCP 118.12(2)(b)(b) Include the following verbatim written notice in the rental agreement, or in an accompanying document without other text or markings, before the renter signs the rental agreement: “NOTICE ABOUT CHARGES AGAINST YOUR CREDIT CARD FOR UNPAID PARKING TICKETS
IF YOU FAIL TO PAY any forfeitures, costs, or towing and storage charges for nonmoving traffic violations incurred while you are in possession of the rental or leased vehicle, the rental company may pay those sums and CHARGE TO YOUR CREDIT CARD the amount paid for the forfeitures, costs, or charges plus an administrative fee of not more than $30.”
ATCP 118.12(2)(c)(c) The notice under par. (b) shall be printed in 11-point type, except that capitalized portions shall be in 13-point type boldface type. If the notice is contained on a separate document, it shall be printed on 8 ½ by 11 inch paper. ATCP 118.12(2)(d)(d) The rental company shall give each renter a copy of the notice under par. (b) along with the renter’s copy of the signed rental agreement, and shall retain a copy with a copy of the signed rental agreement for at least 6 years. The rental company may retain its copy in photographic or electronic form. A rental company that retains its copy in photographic or electronic form shall print that copy for the department upon request. ATCP 118.12 HistoryHistory: CR 08-075: cr. Register April 2009 No. 640, eff. 5-1-09; CR 18-019: am. (2) (a), (c) Register January 2020 No. 769, eff. 2-1-20.
