Auto Rental News
MenuMENU
SearchSEARCH

Add-on Fees Run Amok?

Vancouver man claims Canadian auto rental company overcharged him by $300.

by Staff
December 2, 2009
2 min to read


A Vancouver man has told CBC News that Advantage Car and Truck Rental in Toronto (not affiliated with Advantage Rent A Car owned by Hertz in the U.S.) charged him more than $300 above the grand total he was quoted online.

David Carman booked a rental car online this past September for a trip to Toronto in early October. He said Advantage offered the best rate for a 13-day rental from Toronto’s Pearson Airport.

Ad Loading...

Carman said that when he returned the car 13 days later, he was charged more than $300 above the $470.77 grand total he was quoted online. The amount had already been charged to his credit card.

Carman was charged an extra $9.95 per day because his wife had been added as an extra driver. He claimed that charge was not listed anywhere on Advantage’s Web site when he booked the rental car. He complained he was given a “lowball quote” online, but that the rental agreement contained some extra fees.

CBC News investigated and found that other rental car agencies, such as Thrifty and Hertz, also charge for a spouse to be an additional driver. Avis and Budget do not.

Carman was also hit with a daily charge of $3.99, listed as "GC-OC" on his final bill. Advantage said that is an administration fee charged when customers decline insurance and use their gold card for coverage. In addition, although he only had the car for 13 days, Carman was also charged for a full two-week rental, instead of one week and six days, which increased his bill by another $60.

Advantage President Bruce Taylor declined an interview, but wrote to CBC News that the company is now addressing the complaint and will be issuing Carman a partial refund for the extra-day rental charge.

Ad Loading...

One Canadian group, Public Interest Advocacy Centre, is pushing the federal and provincial governments to pass tougher laws to protect consumers from extra fees.

More Rental Operations

Two execs hold up a sign with Southwest and CarTrawler logos

Southwest Airlines Selects CarTrawler For Its Car Rental Booking Platform

The platform is designed to allow customers to compare and book rental vehicles more easily during the travel booking process.

Read More →
Speaker John Healy on stage with a podium, screen, and red curtains in the background.
Rental Operationsby Martin RomjueMay 27, 2026

Cross-Pressures, Evolving Trends Drive 2026 Rental Car Industry

A combination of cautious economic behavior, shifts in the rental vehicle market, and technological influences are shaping car rental operator decisions.

Read More →
Award winner on stage with presenters in front of yellow curtain.
Rental Operationsby Martin RomjueMay 27, 2026

Government Affairs Executive Wins Leading Rental Car Industry Award

Robert Muhs started in the car rental industry with Avis Budget Group two years before the first International Car Rental Show.

Read More →
Ad Loading...
The rental car team at the Green Motion franchise office near the Maputo International Airport in Mozambique.

Green Motion Expands Its African Presence with Mozambique Launch

This new rental car outlet reflects the growing demand for reliable transportation and the emphasis on sustainable travel across the continent.

Read More →
Photos of CEOs Colm Brady and Francois Kruger on a blue background and above a headline.
Telematicsby News/Media ReleaseMay 22, 2026

RentalMatics, GeoInt Partner On Rental Car Speed Tracking Tech

Rental operators can now detect and act on speeding while vehicles are still on rent, thereby reducing fines, admin workload, vehicle wear, and safety risks.

Read More →
NextPass 407 ETR

NextPass Expands Toll Payment Service to Highway In Toronto

Fleets and consumer can use a transponder-less option when traveling between Canada and the U.S.

Read More →
Ad Loading...
A black Jeep is displayed at the Zubie-Bosch-TSD exhibit during the International Car Rental Show.

Zubie, PurCo Integrate Rental Damage Detection With Telematics

The combination brings actionable vehicle insights into PurCo’s PurInspect platform, improving damage detection and operational efficiency for rental fleets.

Read More →
50 states map showing LOR rates for each state with different shades of light to dark green

U.S. Length Of Rental (LOR) Declines Slightly in Q1 2026

LOR related to insurance claims overall continues to trend downward, but ongoing market and economic conditions could affect future results while the industry deals with staffing and productivity challenges.

Read More →
Illustration of a driverless futuristic front seat/dashboard view of other cars on a freeway with city skyline on horizon.

Hertz, Uber Deepen Roles In Self-Driving And Driver-Led Fleet Services

The business arrangement connects demand with scalable fleet management services and supports a range of mobility uses.

Read More →
Ad Loading...
A tech collage of electronic devices against a computer chip blueprint map.
Rental OperationsMay 1, 2026

Why Car Rental Can No Longer Run On Workarounds

The shift from branch-based software to connected operations is turning rental technology into strategic infrastructure.

Read More →
Ad Loading...