Tesla Model S
Credit: Tesla, Inc.

March 6, 2024 - Washington, D.C. — On Tuesday, Senator Tom Cotton released the following:

Senator Tom Cotton (R-Arkansas) and Senator Kevin Cramer (R-North Dakota) today introduced the Requiring EV Notification and Transparency (RENT) Act, legislation that would increase transparency of electric vehicle rental cars and prevent rental companies from taking advantage of consumers. The legislation would apply to car companies operating in two or more states, within five miles of an airport, or ones that have a motor vehicle fleet of 1,000 or more vehicles.

“Rental car companies should not advance Democrats’ radical climate agenda and make customers rent EVs if they don’t want to. Policies that force EVs on Americans who either don’t want or can’t afford them are unfair, and our legislation will prevent these companies from taking advantage of consumers,” said Senator Cotton.

“Consumers who book a standard gas-powered car should not be forced to rent electric vehicles they don’t want simply because the rental company says so. Ignoring the preferences of consumers to further a climate crusade is wrong and must be stopped,” said Senator Cramer.

Text of the legislation may be found here.

The RENT Act would: 

• Prohibit rental car companies from renting EVs to customers unless they opt-in to renting an EV.
• Require rental companies to notify customers that no gas-powered cars are available prior to pick up.
• Allow customers to cancel rental car agreements without penalty if there are only EVs available.
  Source: Senator Tom Cotton