Avis Hit with New Rental Car Class Action Lawsuit Over Fuel Service Charge

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A proposed class action lawsuit claims Avis ultimately forces certain rental car customers to pay for fuel twice by improperly imposing a fuel service charge on those who opt to fill a vehicle’s gas tank before returning it to the company.

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The 30-page Avis lawsuit alleges the rental car company improperly levies the fuel service charge at issue on customers who select the company’s “Self-Service” fueling option, which purportedly allows a consumer to avoid paying fuel service charges by requiring the driver to fill the vehicle’s gas tank before returning it to Avis. Avis assesses the fuel service charge on “Self-Service” customers despite acknowledging a full fuel tank upon the return of a vehicle and the customer’s selection of the self-service fuel option, the filing says.

“As a result, consumers who utilize the Self-Service option are ultimately forced to pay for fuel twice,” the complaint against Avis Budget Group, Avis Rent A Car System and Budget Rent A Car System summarizes. “First, they pay to fill the rental vehicle with fuel before dropping it off, as required by the Self-Service fuel option. Second, they are required to pay the fuel service charge after they return the vehicle.”

According to the case, Avis advertises to consumers three fuel plans: a “fuel service option,” whereby a consumer is required to pay in advance for a full tank of gas at an “undisclosed market rate”; a “self-service” option, which ostensibly allows the customer to avoid paying fuel service charges altogether; and “EZFuel,” which allows a consumer who drives less than 75 miles to pay a flat fee for gas and return the vehicle without refueling it.

In particular, Avis represents that, for consumers who select the self-service fuel plan, “Avis will not charge you for fuel,” the case points out. Similarly, Budget also touts that the self-service option means a driver will “avoid any refueling service charge” when the car is brought back with a full tank, the suit says.

Despite the foregoing, Avis and Budget improperly hit self-service drivers with the fuel service charge, which the companies allegedly pocket as 100 percent profit, the lawsuit claims.

The case accuses Avis and Budget of concealing the fuel service charge by failing to provide consumers with a printed receipt upon return of a vehicle. This places the burden on customers to search for their receipt and contact the companies if there are any errors, such as the fuel service charge, the suit relays.

The class action lawsuit looks to cover all United States residents who rented a vehicle from Avis and/or Budget and selected the self-service fuel plan but were charged a fuel service fee despite returning the vehicle with a full tank.

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