Avis, Budget to Refund Plate Pass Users in Settlement Deal

Avis and Budget customers in Florida who rented cars between March and September 2008 will receive refunds for fees charged for Plate Pass service on days they did not use the service, according to the South Florida Business Journal. The deal between the companies and Florida’s attorney general was announced Dec. 15. Customers had alleged that the two car rental companies did not clearly inform them about the use of a toll plaza Plate Pass.

With the Plate Pass, auto renters can avoid lines at state toll plazas and receive a bill for the amount of the tolls. A small service fee is also added.

Avis, which owns Budget, had changed its policy so that customers who used the pass just once during the car’s rental were billed $2.50 a day for the remainder of the rental period, even if the pass was not used. Initially, customers were only charged for days they used the pass.

Avis has since agreed to clearly notify customers of the charges and will contribute $10,000 to the Florida Law Enforcement of the Year fund as part of the settlement agreement.

Customers can claim a reimbursement by accessing http://www.myfloridalegal.com/avis, or call (866) 966-7226 for assistance.