Rental Cars Cannot Have Chipped Windows?
greatpph asked:
Is it true that they are required by law not to rent any cars that have a chip, less than pencil point in size??
Is it true that they are required by law not to rent any cars that have a chip, less than pencil point in size??
I rented a car and when they were checking the car, they told me they were checking for cracks in the window, didn’t see any, so signed and agreed. When I return the car, the car rental company say there is a chip on the windsheild, and by law, they have to replace the whole window, not just repair the chip. They have already charged my credit card.
Where can I find more information about this “law” they are referring to?
TIA!
Tagged with: Car Rental Company • Pencil Point • Rent Cars
Filed under: Auto Glass Repairs
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Even if it isn’t a law, the contract you signed holds you responsible for all damage (unless you pay for the optional LDW coverage). They are fully within their rights to charge you. But your credit card probably has insurance to cover this and should reimburse you if you submit a claim.
In AZ I would tell you they are full of crap. I have rented cars with cracked windows and they use chip repair companies. As for replace the whole window they were just out to ***** you
chips can be repaired if their not too large very cheaply. i would contest the charge made to the credit card company. most generally, how u got the car is how the car should be brought back. but things that u dont have any control over can happen on the road.
a stone could spin lose from a semi, hit, and cause a chip in the windsheild. if the stone is big enough, it could easily cause a large *****.
state laws vary, but if a chip isnt in the field of vision, it isnt grounds to be pulled over. a split going across half of the windsheild is illegal in ohio. i have yet to be pulled over for a small stone chip at the base of the windsheild. a chip can wind up turning into a cracked windsheild tho. it would most likely happen in the northern states than the south from going from cold to hot from the defroster.
I am not saying that the company you rented from is doing this, but several years ago I saw a news “investigational report” about rental car companies who “scammed” their customers on vehicle damage claims, and the “chipped windshield” topped the list. Are you absolutely positive that the windshield did not have a chip in it already before you drove the car off the rental lot or that it did have one when checked in? Either way. as stated before, your credit card should have rental car collision damage coverage and will reimburse you for the charges.