The American Car Rental Association provides the following updates on current issues of interest to U.S. car rental operators:

President Biden and a bipartisan group of senators announced a compromise agreement on a $1.2 trillion “Bipartisan Infrastructure Framework.” A summary has been released that includes funding to improve, expand, and repair the nation’s roads and bridges as well as $7.5 billion dedicated to installing electric vehicle charging stations. Up to 500,000 of these charging stations will be available along highways and in underserved communities.

ACRA has released a statement that supports the growth of EV charging stations to respond to renters’ charging needs if EVs are going to continue to expand into the nation’s rental fleets. The rental industry is an important participant in achieving sustainable mobility, according to ACRA. For instance, 25% of all U.S. light duty vehicle miles traveled each year are in a rented vehicle. And in many cases, a driver’s first experience in a zero emissions vehicle will be in a rental vehicle. 

ACRA Survey

ACRA’s Board of Directors has authorized a survey of all ACRA operator members to gain data on the impact of the COVID pandemic on the car rental industry. 

Surveys need to be returned by Aug. 1, 2021, to ACRA’s counsel Leslie Pujo, who will anonymize the responses and aggregate them for release. 

The survey will help gather data to use with federal and state legislators, as well as the media, on the pandemic’s impact on the U.S. car rental industry. 

Congressional Focus

Under the “American Rescue Plan Act” (COVID 4.0 relief bill), Congress allocated $800 million in funds to airport concessionaires. The Federal Aviation Administration (FAA) has released frequently asked questions and an allocation chart for the bill’s airport grant program, including the concession grants. ACRA members that operate on airport should review these FAQs and the allocation chart for information on potential rent and relief from airports.

State Developments

Activities in most state legislatures are over for 2021. ACRA remains engaged in a number of issues across the country.

Hawaii has stated that it will require all peer-to-peer car rental companies to collect and submit the state’s car rental surcharges.

California is considering ACRA-supported legislation to remove the state’s cap on LDW charges. The bill has passed the California Assembly. The California Senate’s Judiciary Committee held a hearing on the bill on June 29.

Oregon has passed a law to make it harder for thieves to steal catalytic converts from rental and other vehicles. The law prohibits scrap metal businesses from purchasing the devices from entities other than registered commercial sellers.

New Members

Please welcome Car Rental Help Center (San Diego), Ride Rental Cars (Danville, Va.), Centerline Car Rental (St. Croix, U.S. Virgin Islands), and Devotech, LLC (Tom’s River, N.J.) as new operator members. Renewed operator members include Cavenaugh Auto Rental (Walnut Ridge, Ark.), Hart Leasing Inc. (Avis Car Rental Licensee in Iowa), and Coates Motor Rental Inc (Avis Licensee in Ala.). 

Please also welcome Basham & Scott (Brunswick, Maine) as a new vendor member. Renewed vendor memberships include Geotab Inc., Card Connect Partners, and Zubie.

International Car Rental Show

The 2021 International Car Rental Show will take place Aug. 15-17 at Caesars Las Vegas as an in-person and virtual event. Visit the show’s website for registration information and for special registration rates for ACRA members. If you are attending the event with three company employees, you will receive triple the discount on your registration.