After hearing from frustrated travelers across New York, Assemblyman Angelo Santabarbara is introducing new legislation to guarantee that rental car companies honor confirmed reservations – and face penalties if they don’t.

The Guaranteed Reservation Protection for Rental Car Customers Act (A8522) would require rental car companies to provide the reserved vehicle at the agreed-upon price, or a comparable or better model at no additional cost. If a rental company fails to deliver, it would be required to either cover the customer’s reasonable transportation expenses or face legal penalties for deceptive practices. Companies would also have to publicly post clear reservation policies online and at rental counters.

“Travelers plan carefully. They book flights, hotels, and rental cars well in advance. Showing up after a long trip only to find your car is ‘no longer available’ – and being told you have to pay double the price – is unacceptable,” said Assemblyman Santabarbara. “This bill ensures that a reservation actually means something, and that customers are treated fairly.”

Consumer complaints about rental car overbooking and last-minute surcharges have spiked in recent years. Across airports and cities in New York, travelers have faced mounting frustration – and there is currently no consistent statewide protection in place.

“This is about basic fairness,” Santabarbara added. “When you make a reservation, you deserve to trust that it will be honored. No surprises. No excuses.”

The legislation is aimed at closing a growing gap in consumer protection laws. The proposal comes at a time when travel is rebounding, and reliability is more important than ever for families, businesses, and visitors to New York.