S T A T E O F N E W Y O R K
________________________________________________________________________
8522
2025-2026 Regular Sessions
I N A S S E M B L Y
May 20, 2025
___________
Introduced by M. of A. SANTABARBARA -- read once and referred to the
Committee on Consumer Affairs and Protection
AN ACT to amend the general business law, in relation to enacting the
"guaranteed reservation protection for rental car customers act"
THE PEOPLE OF THE STATE OF NEW YORK, REPRESENTED IN SENATE AND ASSEM-
BLY, DO ENACT AS FOLLOWS:
Section 1. Short title. This act shall be known and may be cited as
the "guaranteed reservation protection for rental car customers act".
§ 2. Section 396-z of the general business law is amended by adding a
new subdivision 9-a to read as follows:
9-A. (A) A RENTAL VEHICLE COMPANY SHALL NOT CHARGE ANY AUTHORIZED
DRIVER A RENTAL RATE HIGHER THAN THE RATE QUOTED IN SUCH DRIVER'S RESER-
VATION UNLESS SUCH ADDITIONAL CHARGE IS AUTHORIZED BY THIS SECTION.
(B) IF THE VEHICLE RESERVED BY AN AUTHORIZED DRIVER IS UNAVAILABLE AT
THE TIME OF SUCH DRIVER'S RESERVATION, THE RENTAL VEHICLE COMPANY SHALL
PROVIDE A VEHICLE OF EQUAL OR GREATER VALUE AT NO ADDITIONAL CHARGE. IF
THE RENTAL VEHICLE COMPANY IS UNABLE TO PROVIDE SUCH A VEHICLE, THE
RENTAL VEHICLE COMPANY SHALL REIMBURSE THE AUTHORIZED DRIVER FOR SUCH
DRIVER'S REASONABLE TRANSPORTATION EXPENSES TO SECURE AN ALTERNATIVE
RENTAL VEHICLE OR OTHER TRAVEL OPTION.
(C) EVERY RENTAL VEHICLE COMPANY SHALL INFORM CUSTOMERS OF THE
REQUIREMENTS OF THIS SUBDIVISION ON ITS WEBSITE AND ON POSTED SIGNS
PROMINENTLY AND CONSPICUOUSLY DISPLAYED WHERE THEY MAY BE EASILY SEEN BY
CUSTOMERS.
§ 3. This act shall take effect on the ninetieth day after it shall
have become a law; provided that the amendments to section 396-z of the
general business law made by section two of this act shall survive the
expiration and reversion of such section as provided in section 4 of
chapter 109 of the laws of 2018, as amended.
EXPLANATION--Matter in ITALICS (underscored) is new; matter in brackets
[ ] is old law to be omitted.
LBD11858-01-5