# Rental Counter Report — full digest

Generated for AI crawlers. Facts in Public record sections cite primary sources; settlements often include no admission of wrongdoing. Reviews are customer opinions.

## Routes Car Rental
- URL: https://rentalcounterreport.pages.dev/company/routes-car-rental
- TL;DR: Independent consumer reports and news coverage describe surprise counter charges and long waits. Denver7 Investigates reported more than 500 BBB complaints company-wide over three years and said Routes issued some refunds after the station got involved. The Orlando BBB profile was rated F (not accredited) when checked in Oct 2026. No U.S. class action or AG judgment specific to Routes was located in public dockets reviewed as of Oct 15, 2026. Firsthand review on this site: Amex Travel quote $487.50 vs $1,459.29 charged at Orlando counter (Oct 11, 2026).
- Legal entity: Routes Car Rental / Routes Car Rental USA Inc. (Canadian-linked operations reported; Orlando counter at 8443 McCoy Rd)
- HQ: Headquarters profile associated with Mississauga, Ontario (Canada); U.S. locations including Orlando, FL
- Researched: 2026-10-15
  - [2024] Denver7 Investigates coverage (News investigation) — https://www.denver7.com/news/investigations/colorado-customers-call-out-rental-car-company-over-surprise-charges-long-waits
  - [2026-10-11] Orlando counter over-quote report published on this site (Published review) — /review/1

## Advantage Rent A Car
- URL: https://rentalcounterreport.pages.dev/company/advantage-rent-a-car
- TL;DR: California AG and Alameda/San Mateo DAs announced a $4.6 million stipulated judgment (Apr 15, 2019) alleging Advantage/E-Z charged artificially inflated repair estimates and failed to pass repair discounts to renters as California law requires. $1M restitution + $3.6M penalties/costs; permanent injunction. Company did not admit liability in the typical stipulated-judgment sense of no trial findings. Advantage Opco filed Chapter 11 in May 2020; brand later continued in limited affiliate form.
- Legal entity: Historically Advantage Opco, LLC d/b/a Advantage Rent A Car and E-Z Rent-A-Car LLC; brands later associated with Orlando Rentco LLC / affiliate model after Chapter 11
- HQ: Historically Orlando, Florida (5950 Hazeltine National Dr. area addresses appear in company privacy materials)
- Researched: 2026-10-15
  - [2019-04-15] CA AG $4.6M settlement with Advantage / E-Z (Stipulated judgment) — https://oag.ca.gov/news/press-releases/attorney-general-becerra-announces-46-million-settlement-involving-florida-based
  - [2020-01] San Diego airport fee class allegations (multi-defendant) (Lawsuit filing (see docket for disposition)) — https://www.classaction.org/news/category/advantage-rent-a-car
  - [2020-05] Advantage Opco Chapter 11 (Chapter 11 filed) — https://www.autorentalnews.com/news/advantage-rent-a-car-files-for-chapter-11-bankruptcy

## Fox Rent A Car
- URL: https://rentalcounterreport.pages.dev/company/fox-rent-a-car
- TL;DR: California Attorney General and San Mateo County DA obtained a $700,000-plus consumer-protection judgment (Nov 2006) alleging Fox charged GPS-based geographic surcharges and coerced purchase of renter's liability protection. Fox did not admit wrongdoing. Fox was also named among defendants in later California airport fee antitrust litigation (Shames).
- Legal entity: Fox Rent A Car, Inc. (Europcar Mobility Group / Europcar USA brand relationship reported in company materials)
- HQ: Corporate offices historically Los Angeles, CA; company materials also list Tulsa, OK addresses associated with corporate operations
- Researched: 2026-10-15
  - [2006-11-09] CA AG / San Mateo DA $700K+ settlement judgment (Judgment entered (no admission)) — https://oag.ca.gov/news/press-releases/attorney-general-lockyer-announces-700000-plus-consumer-protection-settlement
  - [2006-11] OAG consumer FAQ and case materials (Public guidance) — https://oag.ca.gov/consumers/content/faqs_foxcarrental

## Hertz
- URL: https://rentalcounterreport.pages.dev/company/hertz
- TL;DR: Hertz announced in Dec 2022 it would pay about $168 million to settle 364 pending claims that it filed wrongful vehicle-theft reports against customers (leading in some cases to arrest). Separately, Hertz resolved an earlier PlatePass/toll-related class action (~$11M, rentals ~2006–2010). Dollar/Thrifty (Hertz brands) also faced Florida AG attention over PlatePass toll-fee disclosures. Hertz rental terms include individual arbitration and a class-action waiver with a limited opt-out.
- Legal entity: The Hertz Corporation / Hertz Global Holdings, Inc. (also operates Dollar and Thrifty brands)
- HQ: 8501 Williams Road, Estero, Florida 33928
- Researched: 2026-10-15
  - [2013] Hertz PlatePass class settlement (~$11M) (Closed settlement) — https://topclassactions.com/lawsuit-settlements/closed-settlements/hertz-platepass-class-action-lawsuit-settlement/
  - [2019] Florida AG consumer alerts on Dollar/Thrifty PlatePass toll fees (AG consumer alert / claims process) — https://www.myfloridalegal.com/newsrelease/consumer-alert-claims-process-improper-toll-and-car-rental-fees
  - [2022-12-05] ~$168M resolution of wrongful theft-report claims (Settled claims (company announcement)) — https://newsroom.hertz.com/press-releases/press-release-details/hertz-announces-settlement-agreements-related-to-past-legal-claims/

## Payless Car Rental
- URL: https://rentalcounterreport.pages.dev/company/payless-car-rental
- TL;DR: Payless (Avis Budget) settled a long-running U.S. class action (Bacon v. Avis Budget) alleging customers were charged Gas Service Option (GSO) and Roadside Protection (RSP) after declining them. A ~$19 million settlement covered U.S./Canada residents who rented from Payless in the U.S. from Jan 1, 2016–Nov 25, 2023 and paid GSO and/or RSP. Final approval hearing Dec 9, 2025; payments reported issued starting May 15, 2026. Defendants did not admit wrongdoing.
- Legal entity: Payless Car Rental, Inc. (subsidiary of Avis Budget Group, Inc.)
- HQ: Tulsa, Oklahoma (Avis Budget Group corporate: Parsippany, New Jersey)
- Researched: 2026-10-15
  - [2016-09] Bacon et al. v. Avis Budget Group / Payless filed (Settled (no admission of wrongdoing)) — https://www.classaction.org/media/bacon-et-al-v-avis-budget-group-inc-et-al-settlement.pdf
  - [2025-08-21] Preliminary approval of ~$19M settlement (Preliminary approval) — https://www.paylessrentalsettlement.com/
  - [2025-12-09] Final approval hearing (Final approval / distribution) — https://www.paylessrentalsettlement.com/faq

## Sixt Rent A Car
- URL: https://rentalcounterreport.pages.dev/company/sixt-rent-a-car
- TL;DR: A federal class action in S.D. Florida (Calderon et al. v. Sixt Rent A Car, LLC, No. 0:19-cv-62408) alleged Sixt billed unauthorized post-rental damage charges including estimated repair, administrative fees, diminished value, and loss of use. Settlement preliminarily approved Feb 26, 2025; final approval July 16, 2025. Eligible class members who filed valid claims could receive ~70% of qualifying paid charges. Sixt did not admit wrongdoing.
- Legal entity: Sixt Rent A Car, LLC (U.S. operating entity; part of Sixt SE group)
- HQ: Fort Lauderdale, Florida (U.S. operations)
- Researched: 2026-10-15
  - [2019] Calderon et al. v. Sixt Rent A Car, LLC filed (Filed) — https://www.classaction.org/media/calderon-et-al-v-sixt-rent-a-car-llc-second-amended-complaint.pdf
  - [2025-02-26] Preliminary approval of class settlement (Preliminary approval) — https://www.calderoncarrentaldamagesettlement.com/
  - [2025-07-16] Final approval (Final approval) — https://www.calderoncarrentaldamagesettlement.com/page/dates

## Reviews
### Booked at $487.50 through Amex Travel, charged $1,459.29 at the counter
- Routes Car Rental | Orlando, FL (8443 McCoy Rd) | 2026-10-11 | 1/5
- Quoted $487.50 → charged $1,459.29
- https://rentalcounterreport.pages.dev/review/1
- I booked a 12-day minivan rental through Amex Travel for my father-in-law, who was the driver. The Amex Travel quote was $487.50 total, including $129.31 in taxes and fees. At the Orlando counter (8443 McCoy Rd) on October 11, 2026, my card was charged $1,459.29.

The difference came mostly from three optional add-ons: roadside protection (RSP, $107.88), TLW ($179.88) and a CDW3 collision waiver ($539.88), $827.64 in total. These were added after we told the agent we already had insurance, and a…