At what point must Budget disclose fuel-related charges, fees, or costs to the renter?
Budget Franchise · 2025 FDDAnswer from 2025 FDD Document
tion with the advertising, marketing, promotion, offering for rent, or renting of any vehicle, shall not misrepresent, in any manner, expressly or by implication:
- A. the renters who return their vehicle with a full gas tank will not incur any fuel-related charges;
- B. Any fuel-related charge, fee, or cost, or related requirement; or
- C. Any charge, fee, or cost, or material term or condition, relating to the rental of any vehicle.
II.
IT IS FURTHER ORDERED that Respondent, directly or through any corporation, subsidiary, division, or other device, in connection with the advertising, marketing, promotion, offering for rent, or renting of any vehicle, shall disclose clearly and conspicuously, at the time of rental transaction,
- A. any fuel-related charges, fees, or costs, including any fuel-related charges, fees, or costs which a renter who drives the vehicle less than any specified amount may incur;
- B. any requirements related to fuel-related charges, fees, or costs, including any fuel-related requirements which a renter who drives the vehicle less than any specified amount may need to satisfy; and
- C. the manner, if any, in which a renter can avoid such fuel-related charges, fees, or costs, or related requirements.
III.
IT IS FURTHER ORDERED that Respondent, directly or through any corporation, subsidiary, division, or other device, in connection with the advertising, marketing, promotion, offering for rent, or renting of any vehicle, shall not make, expressly or by implication, any representation about the benefits, costs, or parameters of any fuel-related option, unless it discloses clearly and conspicuously, and in close proximity to the representation, all material terms and conditions relating to the fuel option.
IV.
IT IS FURTHER ORDERED that Respondent Budget Rent A Car System, Inc. and its successors and assigns, for five (5) years after the last date of dissemination of any representation covered by this order, shall maintain and upon request make available to the Federal Trade Commission for inspection and copying:
- A.
Source: Item 23 — RECEIPTS (FDD pages 80–426)
What This Means (2025 FDD)
According to Budget's 2025 Franchise Disclosure Document, Budget must clearly and conspicuously disclose any fuel-related charges, fees, or costs to the renter "at the time of rental transaction." The FDD specifies that "at the time of rental transaction" means after the renter arrives at the location from which the vehicle will be rented but before the renter signs the rental contract.
This disclosure includes any fuel-related charges, fees, or costs that a renter who drives the vehicle less than a specified amount may incur. It also encompasses any requirements related to these fuel-related charges, fees, or costs, including requirements that a renter who drives the vehicle less than a specified amount may need to satisfy. Furthermore, Budget must disclose the manner, if any, in which a renter can avoid such fuel-related charges, fees, or costs, or related requirements.
Budget is also prohibited from misrepresenting any fuel-related charges, fees, or costs, or related requirements. Additionally, Budget cannot make any representations about the benefits, costs, or parameters of any fuel-related option without clearly and conspicuously disclosing all material terms and conditions relating to the fuel option in close proximity to the representation. This ensures that renters have all the necessary information to make informed decisions about fuel-related options and charges before signing the rental agreement.