Claiming geographic discrimination, three lawmakers want to put the brakes on car rental companies that charge higher rates to residents living in certain boroughs.
A survey of 11 car companies that do business in the five boroughs found two – Thrifty and Dollar, which are owned by the same parent company – charge Brooklyn, Queens and Bronx residents an additional fee based on their residence.
Brooklynites pay an additional $55 daily to rent from either of those companies, Bronx residents pay $53 per day and Queens dwellers are charged $11 each day, according to a survey from Manhattan Borough President Scott Stringer, state Sen. Daniel Squadron (D-Manhattan/Brooklyn) and Assemblyman Brian Kavanagh (D-Manhattan).
Staten Island and Manhattan residents are not subject to any extra fee.
“They’re taking advantage, gouging consumers,” Stringer said. “It’s basic discrimination … you’re taking advantage of somebody who happens to live beyond Manhattan and that’s not right.”
“It’s crazy that some of my constituents get penalized for living on the other side of the harbor,” added Squadron. “To discriminate against people who live in certain boroughs is unfair and crazy. Companies shouldn’t be charging communities. They should be figuring out their price points and applying them fairly.”
He and Kavanagh are each co-sponsoring state bills likely to be introduced next week that would make it unlawful for car rental companies to charge customers more based on where they live. A similar bill stalled in committee last year.
Stringer urged residents to shop around and avoid paying what he called a “borough tax.”
Thrifty and Dollar, whose parent company could not be reached for comment, charge the additional fee for consumers renting in New York State, Newark, N.J. or Philadelphia. The fee applies regardless of where the customer intends to drive the rental car.