Civ. Code, § 1939.05 · Chapter 1.5. Rental Passenger Vehicle Transactions
Civ. Code, § 1939.05
Text — As published in the Legislative Counsel's database, tables dated October 18, 2026 (pubinfo_2025.zip)
(a) The total amount of the renter’s liability to the rental company resulting from damage to the rented vehicle shall not exceed the sum of the following:
(1) The estimated cost of parts which the rental company would have to pay to replace damaged vehicle parts.
(2) The estimated cost of labor to replace damaged vehicle parts, which shall not exceed the product of (A) the rate for labor usually paid by the rental company to replace vehicle parts of the type that were damaged and (B) the estimated time for replacement.
(3) The estimated cost of labor to repair damaged vehicle parts, which shall not exceed the lesser of the following:
(A) The product of the rate for labor usually paid by the rental company to repair vehicle parts of the type that were damaged and the estimated time for repair.
(B) The sum of the estimated labor and parts costs determined under paragraphs (1) and (2) to replace the same vehicle parts.
(4) Actual charges for towing, storage, and impound fees paid by the rental company.
(b) For purposes of subdivision (a), all discounts and price reductions or adjustments that are or will be received by the rental company shall be subtracted from the estimate to the extent not already incorporated in the estimate, or otherwise promptly credited or refunded to the renter.
(c) For the purpose of converting the estimated time for repair into the same units of time in which the rental rate is expressed, a day shall be deemed to consist of eight hours.
(d) The administrative charge described in subdivision (f) of Section 1939.03 shall not exceed (1) fifty dollars ($50) if the total estimated cost for parts and labor is more than one hundred dollars ($100) up to and including five hundred dollars ($500), (2) one hundred dollars ($100) if the total estimated cost for parts and labor exceeds five hundred dollars ($500) up to and including one thousand five hundred dollars ($1,500), or (3) one hundred fifty dollars ($150) if the total estimated cost for parts and labor exceeds one thousand five hundred dollars ($1,500). An administrative charge shall not be imposed if the total estimated cost of parts and labor is one hundred dollars ($100) or less.
(e) The total amount of an authorized driver’s liability to the rental company, if any, for damage occurring during the authorized driver’s operation of the rented vehicle shall not exceed the amount of the renter’s liability under this section.
(f) A rental company shall not recover from an authorized driver an amount exceeding the renter’s liability under this section.
Notes and commentary — not statutory text
History
Added by Stats. 2016, Ch. 183, Sec. 5. (AB 2051) Effective January 1, 2017.
Source of truth
- Edition
- As published in the Legislative Counsel's database, tables dated October 18, 2026 (pubinfo_2025.zip)
- Official file
- https://leginfo.legislature.ca.gov/faces/codes_displaySection.xhtml?lawCode=CIV§ionNum=1939.05.
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