516D.4 Damage or loss — collision damage waiver.

1. a. A rental company shall not hold, or attempt to hold, an authorized driver liable for physical damage to a rental vehicle, loss due to theft of a rental vehicle, or damages resulting from the loss of use of a rental vehicle, unless the rental company offers the customer a collision damage waiver under the terms and conditions described in subsection 2, or unless one or more of the following applies:

(1) The damage or loss is caused intentionally by an authorized driver or is a result of the authorized driver’s willful, abusive, reckless, or wanton misconduct.

(2) The damage or loss arises out of the authorized driver’s operation of the rental vehicle while intoxicated or under the influence of a drug.

(3) The damage or loss is caused while the authorized driver is engaged in a race, training activity, contest, or use of the rental vehicle for an illegal purpose.

(4) The rental agreement is based on false or misleading information supplied by the customer or an authorized driver.

(5) The damage or loss is caused by operating the rental vehicle other than on regularly maintained hard surface roadways, including private driveways and parking lots.

(6) The damage or loss arises out of the use of the rental vehicle to transport persons or property for hire or to push or tow anything.

(7) The damage or loss occurs while the rental vehicle is operated by a driver other than an authorized driver.

(8) The damage or loss arises out of the use of the rental vehicle outside the continental United States unless such use is specifically authorized by the rental agreement.

(9) The damage or loss is attributable to theft which occurs with the prior knowledge or knowing participation of an authorized driver, or which is attributable to the authorized driver leaving the rental vehicle unattended with the keys in the rental vehicle.

b. This section does not alter the liability of a customer or authorized driver for bodily injury or the death of another and for property damage other than to the rental vehicle in accordance with the rental agreement. This section does not prohibit a rental company from accepting or negotiating master contracts with companies or government entities in advance of need whereby the companies or government entities specifically agree to assume liability in exchange for rate concessions. This section does not prohibit a rental company from entering into agreements with insurance companies to provide replacement vehicles to insurance company customers whereby the insurance company agrees to assume the risk of loss.

c. If the rental vehicle is not repaired, damages shall not exceed the fair market value of the vehicle, as determined in the customary market for that vehicle, less salvage or actual sale value, plus additional license and tax fees incurred because of the sale, plus administrative fees. A claim shall not be made for loss of use if the rental vehicle is not repaired.

2. a. A rental company may offer a collision damage waiver under the following terms and conditions:

(1) All restrictions, conditions, and exclusions must be printed in the rental agreement, or on a separate sheet or document, in ten point type, or larger; or written in pen and ink or typewritten in or on the face of the rental agreement in a blank space provided for such restrictions, conditions, and exclusions. The rental agreement may provide that the collision damage waiver may be voided under the conditions set forth in subsection 1, paragraph “a”, subparagraphs (1) through (9).

(2) The rental agreement, separate sheet, or document must clearly and conspicuously state both the daily and estimated total charge for the collision damage waiver.

(3) (a) The rental agreement, separate sheet, or document given to the customer prior to entering into the rental agreement must display in ten point type, or larger, the following notice:

NOTICE: This contract offers, for an additional charge, a collision damage waiver to cover all or part of your responsibility for damage to the rental vehicle.

Before deciding whether to purchase the collision damage waiver, you may wish to determine whether your own automobile insurance affords you coverage for damage to the rental vehicle and the amount of the deductible under your own insurance coverage. The purchase of this collision damage waiver is not mandatory and may be declined.

(b) The customer must separately acknowledge that the customer received the above notice, that the customer desires to purchase the collision damage waiver, and the terms of the collision damage waiver to which the customer agrees.

(4) The car rental company shall not pay commissions to a rental counter agent or representative for selling collision damage waivers and is prohibited from considering volume of sales of collision damage waivers in an employee evaluation or determination of promotion.

b. However, notwithstanding whether a rental company offers a collision damage waiver under the provisions of this subsection, the rental company shall not hold an authorized driver liable for damage or loss due to theft except where subsection 1, paragraph “a”, subparagraph (9) applies.

91 Acts, ch 204, §4; 2012 Acts, ch 1023, §127