Parking ticket or camera fine in a rental car?
The short answer
The fine goes to the rental company, because the car is registered to it. The company passes the fine on to you and adds its own administrative fee: Hertz up to $42 per notice and Avis up to $50 per violation. Notices often arrive weeks or months after the trip. If you already paid the ticket yourself, keep the proof, because you may still be charged unless you show it.
Free call. We answer 24/7, every day of the year.
Or leave your number and we'll call you back.
Key takeaways
- Tickets and camera fines on a rental car go to the rental company first, then to you.
- Hertz charges an administrative fee of up to $42 per notice, on top of the fine.
- Avis charges a reasonable administrative fee of up to $50 per violation.
- Enterprise has a proof-of-payment appeal if you already paid the ticket yourself.
If this is you right now
Three months after your trip, an email arrives: a $35 camera fine from a city you drove through once, plus a processing fee from the rental company. You don't remember the intersection, and you're not sure whether paying it means admitting anything.
How much do rental companies charge to process a ticket?
| Company | Administrative fee | Good to know |
|---|---|---|
| Hertz | Up to $42 per notice, plus the fine | Hertz says its parking, traffic and toll violations are processed by a company called Verra Mobility |
| Avis | A reasonable fee of up to $50 per violation, where the law allows | Set out in Avis's rental terms |
| Enterprise | Its “standard administrative fee” | Enterprise doesn't publish the amount. If you already paid the agency, it has a proof-of-payment appeal |
From each company's own website, checked 24 October 2026.
Renting with Budget, National, Alamo or another company? Leave your number and we'll check it for your booking.
Why did the ticket arrive months after my rental?
Cities and toll agencies send the notice to the registered owner, which is the rental company. It then matches the date and plate to your rental agreement and charges or writes to you. Each step takes time, so weeks or months is common.
Should I pay it, appeal it or dispute it?
- Check it's yours: compare the date, time and place with your rental dates and route, and the plate with your agreement.
- Already paid the agency yourself? Send the proof: a receipt from the issuing agency, a bank or card statement showing the payment, or a cashed cheque.
- Want to contest the ticket itself? That usually goes to the city or agency that issued it, not the rental company. Ask whether the rental company has already paid it.
- The admin fee is in your rental terms, so a card dispute over the fee alone rarely works. A dispute has a better case if the ticket wasn't yours.
Toll violations work the same way
A toll you drove through without paying can arrive the same way, with the company's toll fees on top. See rental car toll fees by company.
Questions people ask
What happens if I get a parking ticket in a rental car?
The ticket goes to the rental company as the registered owner. It passes the fine on to you, usually with an administrative fee: Hertz up to $42 per notice, Avis up to $50 per violation.
Why was I charged a fee for a ticket on my rental car?
Rental companies charge an administrative fee for handling tickets and fines. It's set out in the rental terms and comes on top of the fine.
I already paid the ticket. Why is the rental company charging me?
The company may not know you've paid. Send proof of payment; Enterprise has a proof-of-payment appeal for exactly this.
Can I fight a camera ticket from a rental car?
Usually with the city or agency that issued it, not the rental company. Check first whether the rental company has already paid it.
Related help
- Charged after you returned the car
- Rental car toll fees, company by company
- Charged an extra day for a late return
OneCall Rental is an independent service and is not affiliated with any rental company or travel site.
What happens when you call
Leave your name and number
That's all we need to start.
A real person calls you back
During our hours, 24/7, every day of the year. They stay with you until it's sorted.
We find you a way forward
And explain it in plain words.
You see everything in writing before you pay a cent
Nothing is charged until you say yes.
Pickup, drop-off, and everything in between. You've always got someone.
Charged after you returned the car?
Your agent helps you understand the charge, gather your evidence and challenge it the right way. You stay in control.
Free call. We answer 24/7, every day of the year.