Car rental companies overcharging New Yorkers for E-Z Pass: Report

Days ahead of what is expected to be one of the busiest holidays on highways across the country, New York City’s comptroller said residents relying on rental car companies are getting overcharged for E-Z Pass access.

In a report released Sunday, Stringer noted that eight out of 11 car rental companies charge customers for E-Z Pass at the cash rate instead of the discounted rate for the pass — easily doubling or tripling what actual pass owners pay.

The comptroller’s office based their conclusions on a four-day trip to Schenectady from Brooklyn via the New York State Thruway and the George Washington Bridge.

The trip would usually cost E-Z Pass owners about $23 dollars in tolls. That number jumps to as low as $41.40 to a high of $85.96 for renters.

Stringer noted that more than half of the city doesn’t own a car, forcing them to rely on car rental services.

“Rental car companies shouldn’t be allowed to saddle these consumers with unfair E-Z Pass charges,” the comptroller said in a statement. “At this time of year, New Yorkers should be using their hard-earned money to put turkey on the table, not line the pockets of car rental companies.”

Stringer, a former state assemblyman for Manhattan, wants a state law to force rental car companies to pass on what they save on E-Z Pass charges onto customers’ bills, and that customers expect a clear explanation of how much they can expect to shell out for the pass.